GUT INTEL, TUE 23JUN2015

Loc: Huntington Cliffs

Time: 0700-0900

Conditions: 3 FT+, sunny, onshore, choppy, fast

     Yesterday’s plan for today was to surf HB in the morning, but Bri and I got lazy last night, so I retexted Cassady and Hideki and told them that we’d be staying local.

     This morning, I turn off my alarm at 0515 and get sprung awake from a series of texts. The WHC is already at Rosecrans. What stands out is a text from Hideki that reads: The Cliffs look good, come down!

     I look at the HB cams. Doesn’t really look that good. I check the Porto cam. Looks cleaner but a little fast. I could stay here, trust the cams, but I have a buddy at ground zero with the official word—it’s good. What’s a girl to do?

#

     Passing Bolsa Chica and entering Seapoint, I see some small scattered peaks rolling in. Doesn’t look like classic HB, that’s for sure, but it definitely looks better than the last time I got skunked at Goldenwest.

     The first lot is packed at The Cliffs, so Bri and I park at the next one over. Without checking the surf, we change and head down the hill. It’s Bri’s first time here, so she’s sketchy about scaling the dirt decline to get down to the beach.

     When we reach the water, there’s a pack of surfers in front of the gap, which is the actual path to get down just east of us, and then there’s another group at the western tip of The Cliffs. I don’t see Hideki, so we paddle out in between the two groups.

     The current drags us west. The water’s choppy. The peaks are sectiony from the onshore wind and the low tide. However, there’s only a thin crowd, and despite the onshore wind, the surface conditions are still semi groomed. This place does well on a low tide, and the way that peaks still sprout up on the outside sandbars is testament to HB’s appeal.

     I catch a few closeouts, but most waves are fast and shouldery, the kind when you’re already way down the line by the time you pop up, open face dissolved.

     The current has us paddling the whole session. The group to our west leaves. Only a few heads are at the gap now.

     Aside from the mediocre shape, there are those random set waves that A-frame on the outside, and Bri and I are fortunate to be their only takers. Again, this isn’t classic HB, no perfect down-the-line almonds. Instead, they are spilling but open and racy. My waves are single hitters. I get a backhand snap. One ride I connect a frontside snap into a small floater. A few waves are so decent that they actually stand up and slot. Me being a fool, I set up for turns instead, missing the hollow sections. Either way, I’m stoked that there is decent shape for delivery.

     When Bri and I leave and turn to look at the ocean, it’s hard to believe we had as much fun as we did. The ocean looks choppy and drained. Yet, when we drive away on PCH, the surf still looks groomed from Goldenwest on eastward.

     We do breakfast in Sunset Beach afterwards. Bri shows me the surf over there, too. I’ve never seen that part of the beach before.

     Driving back, I’m pretty satisfied. Thanks to Hideki’s intel, Bri and I had a worthy session. I’m sure local would’ve been fun, too, but I’m glad I followed the gut intel.