This past weekend in Santa Cruz was a good one for wave riders. It's summer time, typically a season for lousy surf conditions. About the most you can expect in this situation is some gutless, inconsistent and small windswell, or some problematic southern hemi waves.

However, a string of south-west swells dovetailed, sending waves our way for all of last week, and certainly the weekend. Along with wind and tide particulars, we experienced a rather unusual and welcome combination of ingredients. The recipe yielded some unexpected results.

My own weekend started late Thursday afternoon, as I paddled to the tip of the reef at Kook's Kove. The normal north-west winds were present, but light enough that the scene was still surfable. Long lulls were prevalent, puncuated by sporadic south-west waves and sets. The best of these were head high, or slightly taller. The best of these presented long walls for multiple carving turns, rides of a 100 meters or more, and even a hollow section or two.

After one particularly macking wave, I washed ashore. Realizing I couldn't top that ride, and the next one like it could be 20 or 30 minutes in the future. Meantime, a string of surfers were arriving on the scene, evidence that the work day was coming to an end. So I bagged it and hiked up the trail, along the cliff, and through the Brussell's sprouts fields that were being irrigated by large powerful agricultural sprinkler systems. No worries mate, I still had my wetsuit covering me.

Saturday morning I convinced Mike to go with me to DogMan's left. This is a seldom surfed place that likes the low low low tides and a straight south swell. The place was happening, but wasn't the best I have ever seen it. The long lulls were still occuring, and the angle of the swell was a bit too westerly to really start the waves firing across the reef and onto the sandy beach. But I caught a few classic backside rides at this place that isn't a surf break, except when it is. Mike paddled about in preparation for our upcoming Mexico trip, then we left.

On the way to town, we stopped to check Dave's Place, which looked to be the best spot that morning. Too bad we didn't call it for this break, as the lefts were really lining well with the reef. A handful of surfers were out, even though the tide was too low for the conditions. Several more surfers were in the parking lot, waiting for more water to come with the tide change. Mike and I discussed coming back for a Sunday dawn patrol.

Sunday I went solo, and made several wrong calls. Eventually, I paddled about at Dave's Place, but the wind was already on it, and the surfing was not so good. Pete and Stass were in the parking lot, headed further into DogLand where the winds would be even more fierce.

On the trip home, I went through town, only to see the places I should have surfed. All along West Cliff, spots that seldom break were indeed happening. Weasel Reef was hollow and tubey. Most surprising was SaberJets, a non-spot for surfing, except when it is. Two intrepid surfers were on it, splitting peaks by going left and right. Man I should have been there.

Of course the Lane and Cowells were crowded beyond all reason. Too bad I didn't snap the camera, as the photo ops were there for the taking. But I had to get home in time for the rest of Sunday, so words will have to suffice.

And all the seldom surfs spots will remain unpictured in DogMan's Chronicles, at least for now. Maybe next time, whenever that might be.

CU Out There,

DogMan