TRINITY UNIVERSITY (surf camp # 7) 2007

OH, OH, OH....this is tide guides final SURFING camp of 2007, it has been an absolutely terrific season (Professor Minor surfed 40 days down here and rode probably a 1000 waves) this is more than i deserve, but what the hell I'm 55 already. Tonight the Houston Yaught Clubs Annual Regatta is arriving here in Port "A", having departed from Houston, and before dusk billowing sails fill the horizon, I have heard that the "Elisha" a original 150 foot square rigger is part of the regatta. This awesome display is visible from our front row seats in our beach chairs. Trinity has arrived in the School van, ten students Oliver, Jason, Jessica, Stephanie, Daniele, Paul, Jeff, Darren, Christen, Ally, and after introductions we walk in the darkness on the soft sand to the waters edge and chat. Waves are nearly flat tonight, so we can let the tide wash our feet. Next morning a swell has arrived. Tide Guide has eased up on a long standing tradition, i usually cease and desist surfing once the water temp drops below 80. Saturday morning the temp is 72, YYYYYOOOOwwwww, but once in and with this building swell it feels OK. Everybody is having a blast. We do 3 sessions. Sitting around the camp fire after a hardy dinner Saturday night, Stephanie asks a question? WHAT IS THE WORD FOR THE SOUND OF A WAVE. No one could answer her, and i can guarantee nobody gets into Trinity University who is a dummy. But still no answer, so we are working on it, we even decided that it would be OK to coin our own word. Sunday Oliver carries on a Trinity tradition, he had carved a pumpkin last evening while every one ate some-mores. And now he cuts open the bottom and puts it on his head and then goes out for a surf, and he stands up. Waves have bumped up this morning to 10 foot outside, to much for students and i ask them to stay on the inside, Jason and Oliver assume duties in camp while some students are sleeping in, i go out at 8.30 a.m. and get some dynamite waves, big drops, i surf for over an hour, this will be my last surf this year and its a hit.....!!!!!

LEISURE LEARNING UNLIMITED (surf camp # 6) 2007

Jeff Mason, Davey McGaughey, Laura Speirs returned for their second surf camp of this season, Davey with a brand new board of his own, they arrive before sundown, and get in a session and waves are fair, and to quote Mr. Mason "any day at surf camp is better than a day in the office". Derek and Shannon arrive for their second Tide Guide Surf Camp of this season, and I am amazed, they have bought their own surf boards, out for a session they go before sundown. After sundown, Ying Hu and Karen Reeves arrive for their first go at surfing. Troy Donavan arrives for second surf camp of season. Then father daughter James and Jennifer arrive. On saturday we had warm water and fair waves, if you could make it outside there where 6 to 8 foot drops. inside where most everyone surfed the periods where 4 to 5 seconds so quite challenging for the new surfers. Ying Hu on the SandDollar made it outside with me and she was brave and since she is so light she was launched into quite a few waves and stood up on a couple. Jeff, Davey, and Troy are doing great. Laura is having fun on shore cheering on Davey. Just a great day. During mid day in between session 3 and 4 we all walked down to the Fishing Pier to go all the way out to the end for the great view and to talk. We were minding our own business leaning against the railing watching surfers below us. However, above us, on a light post perched a large Pelican. I am wearing my new surf sombrero custom made palm weave. I begin to hear "rain drops", then i hear screams and screeches.......and all of a sudden a aroma or odor. I look up and this Pelican is minding his own business, just sitting there getting some sun, after having squirted out a few minnows. I see Ying Hu running down the deck, bent over holding her mouth. Now i dont want to seem insensitive or unaffected but I am a fisherman and please i dont want to seem like i really enjoy the scent of minnows, but actually i dont mind it, but Ying is gagging, well I am getting a little chukle out of it all, and she and Karen will say I am exagerating but Ying threw up, and then she ran off the pier and jumped in the gulf. Sunday real blown out, and I the big tandem board out, i work with James and he stands up on two short rides, although long enough to join the "30 foot club", Jennifer stood up, but not quite 30 feet. Karen had some fun launches. i had a blast and used the USS COUCH POTATO tide guides 12 foot tandem board on sunday. all you have to do is get it moving, drop it in, all 12 feet of it, bang on the back deck to keep it from pearling and then it will cruise all the way to shore.....!!!!!!!!

LEISURE LEARNING UNLIMITED surf camp #5 2007

I can count to 20 during summers, because I'm usually barefoot. And if I remmeber plus or minus a year, LEISURE LEARNING UNLIMITED has produced more surfers for TIDE GUIDE than tide guide and this business relationship has lasted 15 years, with hundreds of graduates. This weekend Shawn Shulze from Rosenburg arrived after dark and has the 10' 2" 'CANE" he had me build for him, he is surfing well now after 3 years at camp, and I have him pumped up for his first ride on a real Hurrican swell someday soon. Robin Fortenberry and his wife Mellisa arrive, this is Robins 41st birthday present. The two cousins Tracy and Leslie arrive. We are missing two teenage boys, before we all retire just before midnight.
Dawn's waves look good. Starbuck/Cowboy coffee brewed and some cinamon tea. Strawberry Stew, and lots of fresh fruit. Surfers are allowed to sleep in. Beach still real clean since Hurricane Dean washed it a month ago. Yesterday I was out and a surfer told me about his brother who had a turtle fly out of the water and break his nose, we have had two collisions with these monsters this summer during Tide Guide Surf Camp. Weather this camp is so stable that I feel I can relax all weekend, light winds, not that hot, cool nights, fair waves, warm warm water, soft sand and its September and the first day of fall starts Sunday.......
After every one is up and has had curative time in Tide Guides custom beach chairs. I ring the camp cow bell "surf camp 30 minutes". We still have no teenagers in camp, they had signed up and where looking forward to this surf camp. Get boards down and assigned, this is a fun experience for everyone since they mostly have never even touched a surfboard, I have them comb and wax....Then on this perfect morning we climb up the familiar sand dune behind camp to look at our beach break, to talk about surfing and enjoy the sights.
With all surfers with their boards at waters edge, I say set your boards down and lets all go for a swim, I carry my board out, and as they duck waves and swim I catch a couple waves for them to observe, stand up and turn around surfing backwards to show off, whatever "I'm 55 already, bald, no flat belly". But I can surf as good as I want...
Now its their turn and we do a long 1 1/2 hour session, the rip takes us all the way down to the Fishing Pier. Long walk back dragging surfboards. We do 3 sessions as a group this fine day, and Shawn and Robin do 4. Robin has shared with us that next August he will compete in a authentic Iron Man competition up in Canada. This is just awsome to me. About 5:00 p.m. everyone is Pretty worn out and every one has some color now on their skin to show off at work. Tracy is going to be in a wedding pretty soon so she will look real sporty. Mellissa reports while over at the showers that a tiny green frog jumped onto the sink while she was brushing her teeth. Terrific dinner, Shawn brought Louisiana "boodang" sausage, very good. Beach chairs out under the stars, and we drink ice coffee and relax and chat, and most of us have some ibuprophen.
Early dawn on this first day of fall waves have dropped except for a small wind swell. Cow Bell goes off, "surf camp 30 minutes". This time, we all gather as a group, then paddle together 300 yards offshore to look for dolphins, Tracy and Leslie can't believe they are out here this far from shore, Shawn, Robin and Mellissa went 200 yards past us, it is real quiet out this far, we can hear them talking and Shawns laugh travels for miles.

Real good surf camp #5.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO, surf camp #4 2007

This camp had no hazardous weather conditions as the weekend for the camp approached. Thirteen campus students arrive at 9:10 p.m. friday eve. I had gotten nervous at 9:00 p.m. and made a call to Eliot Howard the University director for this camp and left a message, and then both vans arrive ten minutes later with happy campers, somehow I knew that would happen (the travelers where in town and eating out and then stopped at one of the souvenier shops). Trip leader Carlos and I had met last week, and we walk everyone in the darkness down to waters edge, and everyone loves the feel of the 86 degree surf water, they enjoy their arrival. Camp is already and more tents are pitched, and 8 students get to stay in the Tide Guide Casa Grande (with cots). Pirateing is a in thing this year apparetnly on Campus and two Pirate Flags are hoisted around camp. New L.E.D. lights are shinning and alluminating camp, My primitive kerosene TIKI Torch adds to the ambiance. Lights out for me shortly after they arive, but some students walked down to the pier, camp is low on surf wax for tomorrow so I had asked Rob whom is also a staff on this trip if they would buy some at the surf shack on the pier.
Real terrific morning, surf picked up overnite. Carlos has a group at the tide line and he is leading a TAI CI practice, I join this for sure, as I can use the strecthing. Beautiful birds are diving into the water in front of us, the waves sound southing, and the sun is not to hot yet.
Starbucks coffee, strawberry stew, fresh fruits, and the waves are going to last all day so I won't rush surf camp. A good reason to come to surf camp is to be on island time, I learned that a long time ago. At 8:30 a.m. I ring the cow bell and shout "surf camp in 20 minutes".
All 14 of us trail up to the highest sand dune behind camp. A steep climb uphill and I tell them this is a 20 foot wave, we walk through beach morning glory, and quite a few students have picked a flower and have them in their hair "Hawiian Style". I give a surf and saftey talk up here and a "Goofy Foot Test", I have had all of them select a buddy to share a board with during this camp, and then I demonstrate with one of the ladies, I tell her to imagine there is a surfboard on the sand in front of her, then to close her eyes and pretend she is going to step onto the board. I give her a gentle shove forward, she happens to put her right foot forward first, which might mean that she would be a goofy foot. All the students do this test with their buddy. I explain that now the back foot is where you will put the string that is attached to the surfboard. On down the dunes through the morning glory and over to camp for more demonstrations and board assignments and board combing and waxing. Some of the guys are getting impatient to get on the water, so I speed it up, but I cant help it, I'm and old guy, even though I have some classic and enviable longbaords, I'm to lazy to carry the things, I drag them, holding one end up, even my own "CANE" worth $1,200.00 I drag across the sand, this really unnerves some friends of mine. So I announce "here is your first bad habit in surfing" if you want you can drag the board. Later in the day, this makes more sense to some. Although some won't drag the board, must be liverals..... O.K. surf camp #4, session #1 and waves are sweet, not to big, no crowds. We stay out 1 1/2 hours. Then into camp for watermellon, I ring the bell again, "second session 20 minutes". Second session great, Carlos gets to try my board, as he had brought his own 6' 10". My "CANE" is 10' 2". he likes the length especially on these smaller waves. Back in for surfer lunch, real lite. Then we take a walk, everyone joins and we stroll down to the pier for a break. Back for Session #3. Some go out for session #4.
Sunday before dawn Jonas and Chris have slipped into the surf in front of camp, swam out 300 yards and head for the pier 1500 yards away, then back to shore, and then a run back to camp, then 50 sit ups. Jonas will be joining the Air Force upon graduation. I don't detect a cowardly bone in his body, he also found a shark tooth beach combing. Surf Camp is in major Island Time, so I hold off ringing surf camp bell for awhile. Nina finds a shark tooth while beach combing. Carlos and I get Nina and her girlfriend Sal and grab the biggest board in camp, and we plan to get Nina on a wave, she gets out to the second bar about waist deep at this tide with us and we get her on the board, but it still is pretty intimidating and she gets wiped-out. Carlos and I know when to cease pressing the point, Nina weighs 100 pounds or so when she is wet, and she announces, I am fine just being at surf camp, and I don't intend on getting back on that surfboard. We all laugh.
Well I don't know what else to write, plus thats enough, it was a great camp.....

HURRICANE DEAN "SURF CAMP #3 2007"

This system reached category 5, lucky for us looking forward to this weekends surf camp #3, the "CANE" went ashore at lower latitudes in Mexico. I watched it carefully and was hoping i wouldn't have to cancel. I arrived on the beach Thursday afternoon, 24 hours ago the storm surge had 2 feet of water where our camp would be set up. The surge was gone and the beach swept beautifully clean, and all that remained were large 12 maybe some 15 foot faces, just awesome. Mr. Minor wasted little time after arrival and got his "Cane" out and into the line up, some 400 yards offshore. With my 10 foot Tide Guide Gun, I can drop into the outside bombs. Drops where vertical, waves would jack up in peaks, you had to move around out there to stay in the drop zone. Quite bumpy on the faces of this summer swell due to east winds, so not many people out here. Surfed an hour and a half before i was out of strenght.
Next morning I made the dawn patrol to meet with my big wave surf partner Kevin, there is less wind, and swell still in the 12 foot range, fairly clean and some terrific fast rail rides after long bottom turns, just what us longboarders come down here for. Saw a couple of old surf friends, makes you feel a little safer out here.
While I was out surfing some human being stole a board off the surf camp trailer. I've been doing this for 8 years, so I'm not to surprised i guess, it is one of my best boards though, a 12 foot teaching board. Constable Jim Rector filed a report, and Ranger Linda Davis and Ranger Jamie at the Ranger Station helped later in the day retrieve the board, what luck, i did not press charges against the people who had it.
First surf students in camp are Nancy and Mike, then Tiffany and her 15 year old cousin Kelsey call me after dark for directions, they where just getting off the fairy boat and i asked them if they could see the moon, and to just follow it, meaning drive east until they hit the beach, they thought that was a fun way to get to their first surf camp. Nate and Eileen arrive, and Mary Beth and her sister Kari. All students make it and i am glad we will have camp.
Saturday morning Dean is gone, however some nice rideable wind swell is up and everyone is out with me by 9:00a.m.. Four sessions are surfed, every one is doing well and with some help from Tide Guide most everyone has been able to stand up. After lunch Kelsy applied two different sun tan lotions and she had a cosmetic reaction and a slight rash on her face so she stays in camp in the shade, and Kari is a little amazed by the size of the waves and the size of the longboard i gave her, so she is just happy to watch her Big Sister Mary Beth surf. Mike is riding well and Nancy has gotten up, Eileen is a natural and Nate will not be outdone and he is going for lots of waves. Tiffany is using the Sand Dollar a 8 foot board just perfect for her and she has made some beautiful drops and carves. All is well we had a fabulous time at surf camp #3.

TIDE GUIDE "SURF CAMP" # 2

ieJune 22, 23, 24. We missed the rain by one day, this has perhaps been one of the wettest summers in texas for a long long time. Also heavy winds unti today friday, so when i arrived this afternoon there where 8 to 10 foot peaks out there, pretty tough to get out and the line up was 300 yards offshore, but i went out and caught some bombs. But got a little nervous, I made a decision couple of years ago that i wouldnt surf alone when its big, since i now support a 7 year old daughter. So i was nervous because the leash i had on was old. So i rode a big one in, and drove over to the Board House and boght a new one. All guests arrived, some after dark, but all is well. Saturday morn still overcast but no rain. Shawn Shultz, this is year 4, and he had me build him a "Cane" 10 foot 2 inch just like mine. wind has dropped from yesterday, the waves are pouring in, so i get all my new guests, acquainted on shore with the etiquette of surfing and then take the new ones out on the second sand bar and watch and help them. We do 3 forty minute sessions, then take a walk together down to the fishing pier to watch other surfers from up on the deck of the pier, and to have some ice cream from the snack bar. Back for session #4. Conditions have really cleaned up, and i get, Minh Phan, Derek and Shannon Englert set up again on the 2nd bar, Shawn Girl friend Laeni is staying ashore, and Shawn and I are going out to the outside lineup. OOOOOHHHH man, this turns out to be my best session this year, clean 8 some 10 foot peaks and clean drops, i had a blast, and Shawn is picking up a couple and he is getting it. Now what is the deal with these turtles, with my head down on the deck and paddling about as hard as possible to get back out thru the impact zone, I get Konked on the head by a turtle, about as big as a Stetson, I screamed, and the monster flapped its flippers on my bald head. This happened to Davie McGaughey last month. Surf camp # 2 was excellent.

TIDE GUIDE "SURF CAMP" # 1 2007

<
This is Tide Guides 8th season running bonafide surf camps. 2 nights and 2 days on the beach, and surfing the shore break at Port Aransas, Texas. Very pleased to have some return surfers in camp, Jeff Mason, must be year number 4 now, he is a Hewlett Packard man during the week in Houston or somewhere on the globe, and is becoming a promising surfer. On Saturday both he and I rode a wave side by side, and in control enough to talk, so this is what makes these safari's so much fun. One of Jeff's colleages, Davie McGaughey whom hails from Scotland, was learning with us and had a sea turtle jump out of the water and land on the deck of his longboard, bumping into him. Davies girlfriend had a thick Scottish accent and a couple times i had to ask her "Could you please say that agian". We had a father, Daughter Toby and Kara Meyers with us. Kara surfed a little bit with her father Saturday, and then she became a little uncomfortable with the Sargassam Seaweed we had this trip. It was quite thick 50 feet out from shore, and she couldn't stand having it in her long pretty hair, she said, "i had to wash my hair 4 times". But she got up on the board and her father was proud of her. Troy Donovan, graduated class and rode his longboard over the 30 feet. Any one who can do this gets to sign their name on the awning in camp. So he is now in the 30 foot club. I had a chance to talk with Morgan Faulkner, we've known each other for a few years now, he runs a surf camp, and gets lots of the young kids, so he and i talk and have a good relationship. Also met Ted, the owner of the new surf shop in town. Surf camp #1 was great.