Saturday, October 17, 2009

11.22m

The Baltic sea has awakened after a long period without any noticeable waves. A low pressure has stabilized to the east of the Baltic sea producing strong N-NE winds over large parts of the Baltic sea. During Wednesday night a offshore bouye measured 11.22m waves in the south of the Baltic sea. That's big!!! and for a small sea as the Baltic sea, it's HUGE.

Monsters

Thursday morning there where some big sets rolling in at one of our favorite spots for this wind and swell direction. It was some of the biggest I have seen on this spot and it was on the edge of maxing out.

Classic Lineup

The water level and a strong rip made it challenging surf. Due to the high water level the waves was kind of flat and lacked some hollowness. For the longboarders it was paradise. Big flat waves that could be surfed all the way in from the outside reef.

Outside reef

Of cause there where exceptions, like this nice double overhead wave

Double overhead

During the day the size was dropping a bit and both the water level and current was falling a bit.

Why hesitate?

There where some nice steep takeoffs in between.

Takeoff

And some Dutch action

Bottom turn
Rider: Roelf Hans

Backside cutback
Rider: Roelf Hans

Hadn't it been for the high water level and strong current it would have been an epic day. There was a good size ground swell with a long period and the wind was offshore. Even though it was well worth a day off work and we ended up surfing for a good 5 hours.

I heard from a friend that conditions became better later on the evening just before dark. As usual "just before dark", such a shame, we really need to setup some light out there.

We never saw any 11.22m waves :(