READY, SET, SNOOZE!: SUN 7.17.2011 MORN

Crew: Christina

Ran into: Rick and Jimmy

Time: 0930-1030, 1 hr.

Conditions: Sunny, onshore wind, cold water, 1-2 feet, inconsistent, more crowded than yesterday.

Last night I talked to Klaude, and we planned on meeting at 26^th again. The swell forecast is small, and the drive down south doesn't seem worth it for 2-3 foot surf. Unexpectedly, I had to drive Lauren to Hollywood last night for her friend's party, which threw a slight wrench in my rest plan. The end result, I woke up late.

It's 0815 when I hit the snooze button for the last time. I see nothing but pure blue through the cracks of the blinds. There's no time for breakfast. The day looks warm, there's no wind, so I plan on trunking it. I get a text from Klaude at 0821. It reads: We're surfing 26^th. I spend a good fifteen minutes driving around and looking for free parking. It seems hopeless. I drive back up 27^th St. and find Rick changing out of his wetsuit. I should be happy, but I'm a little bummed. I missed a chance to surf with him. He says he just finished surfing with Jimmy, it's small, but it's fun. Jimmy double parks around the corner, stops to chit chat, and then they both leave.

As I'm changing into my shorts, I see what looks like Klaude's van parked in the top lot. When I reach the walkpath, I see Christina arriving at the same time. She's ditched the wetsuit too. “Is anyone else coming out?” She asks.

“Klaude should be out here. I think I saw his van.”

When we reach the sand, Christina's friend Rich joins us. The lineup is even thicker than yesterday, some locals are mixed in with new faces, every little peak is taken, and the waves are even smaller than yesterday's; it's a longboard day. I try to make out Klaude and company among the masses but can't. I paddle just north of the tower, but there's no sign. I paddle back south and don't see him. I wander feeling like a lost member of a tribe trying to pick up of the scent of his people.

The onshore wind starts, and I start to feel a little chilly. Thirty minutes into the session my teeth are chattering. Not as warm as I thought. I catch a couple waves right from the start, but the lack of power prevents me from doing much on my thruster. I sit by Christina and Rich, but I need to escape the crowd. I go more south but can't escape. In an hour the cold is too much to handle. I catch my last wave in and head back. I wish I woke up earlier.