The ASC Dung Day Team

Left to right: Chris Peterson, Missy Smith, Neal Carver, KC "Dumpy" Filer,
Dan "Crag" King, Rod "Suicide Rodriguez" Rodgers.
Not pictured: Tim 1 and Tim 2, and Eric Peterson

First surf check was at Indian River Inlet where a full-on orgy of VAS was on display.  Not much swell wrapping around to the Southside.  On to OC/Md for some checks at 64th and 48th St. Nothing but VAS.  Check the Wedge from across the Inlet but it looks sketch and there's too much easterly in the wind.  Way too much current and wind to risk a raft paddle over.  We've been exchanging cell reports with Neal during the last half-hour as he was setting up his team of ASCers and friends down at Assateague NS, so we headed down there to meet Chris Peterson during his premier ASC event and confront mother nature head on.

Dan and I walked down to the beach and met up with a gang of warriors.  Neal was the sole body out in the lineup with a few trying desperately to paddle out, but mostly sweeping south in the current.  After about 30 minutes of chewing the fat, KC appears from over the dune line.  He and I decide to paddle out and sample the goods.  We walked a hundred yards up the beach, found a good rip tide and paddled out into the VAS.  I made it out without too much difficulty.  Actually enjoyed duck diving the 6 footers - just good to be out in head high surf again.  After catching several decent waves, given the conditions, I caught a long one all the way into the inside so paddled on in and walked back up the beach for another go at it. Again, I didn't have much of a problem paddling out but the waves were now rather washed and flattened out. Caught one in and prepared to continue by "Weekend at 50" celebrations.

We popped several brewskis before Neal and his entourage departed.  Neal still had a few personal issues and statements to work out (see row 3 of the pics below). 

No Water Pics - You'd Understand If You Were There pics mostly by rodNDtube (click on pic for larger image)	Packing in after a session	Missy and Neal strapping down the Red Sled
KC: Why can't I ever find my wax?	Tim, Neal, KC	First ASC session
Neal's first session.	The new ASC trip mobile compliments Neal's shirt and pink cap	Neal's second session showed more desperation!
Post-session "fish stories" begin in earnest!	I just wanna go surfing!	KC "Dumpy" Filer loves pumpkins

Beth and Amy tend the grill	Dan and Svetlana
Kirk and KC deep in the topo pages of the Eastern coastline	Dan, Kirk, Amy during a "We're hungry!" time-out

We wasted little time before heading out and hitting it.  There was actually some decent swell but the wind was trashing it.  We watched as Chris and his brother Eric paddled out.  We immediately noticed the side shore current racing at 3 mph.  I tried to coach Missy and the two Tims through the paddle out but the waves and wind were prohibiting their progress.  I finally paddled out past the breakers and sat to rest. Missy and the two Tims went in to re-evaluate the situation.  I drifted quickly and caught two small worthless rides.  Then decided to walk back.  By this time Rod and Dan showed up and we chatted about the horrid conditions.

Rod suited up and several of us made second and third attempts to catch some waves.  Rod and I were able to make it all the way outside for a slider or two before heading back in and walking back up the beach.  I will say that there were a couple of head high peaks out there but, unfortunately there was no rhyme, reason or predictability to where they would break.

Sad but true, the best part of the day was after we loaded up for departure.  Rod and myself had packed coolers for post session relief.  So we popped open a few cold ones and everyone chilled out in the warm air and had a few brewskis. Talking crap as usual and trying to erase memories of a session that wasn't meat to be.  Then we headed home wishing for better days.

-Neal Carver 

Got a late start Saturday showing up at 64th street around 12:30.  Traffic was light and to my disappointment I found about 1000 4X4s on the beach w/ the fishin' tournament in full effect.  The waves?  I'll get to that.  The weather was a balmy 84F and the wind was West at about 3-5 kts.  My first look at the surf was very similar to the reaction I had on labor day...Find a place to park - FAST.  I slapped on some sunscreen and jogged down to the beach.  A fisherman walked up to me as I was getting ready to paddle out and warned me not to "get in the way" but I just brushed him off and paddled out to join the few others in the water. 

The waves were "...the best I've seen this place in a long time."  said one of the dudes in the lineup.  It was no-joke the best day of the summer.  Waist-chest lined-up peeling walls with NO (and yes I mean zero) wind.  Only about 15 guys out at 64th street.  I got one of the longest rides I've had since Costa Rica...I actually started laughing while riding the wave in total ecstasy as it just kept walling up in front of me...Snapped 4-5 times and cutback - all the way to the sand.  That one will stay in my memory for a long time.  Some freakin' long boarder dropped in right on top of me and we both ate it hard.  That tank of his managed a 3" gash in my rail but when the waves are good does it really matter?  YES it does!  He apologized plenty and gave me just about every wave that came between the two of us until I finally told him it was cool.  Kinda funny in a way, I guess.  I almost wished he'd drop in on me again - then I could have the whole peak to myself - Ha!  It was so beautiful, clean 
and warm.  After about a 2 hour sesh I took one in with spaghetti arms and a touch of dehydration.

I couldn't make up my mind whether I wanted to head North or South.  I opted for South and after grabbing some surf-fuel at the 7-11,  I made it to the NP around 3:00.  Todd were you there?  I thought I saw your blazer?  Anyway, some of the set waves were a tad bigger and at least 3X the crowd.  There was a little bump from the now SW winds but it was light enough to keep it walled up and fun.  I got more waves than I could count until my back, neck and shoulders throbbed and it was physically painful to paddle back out.  Headed in around 6:00 - doubly exhausted, twice as hungry and 10 times the stoke. 
Spoke w/ a few guys from the 62nd street LB Club and they had been there all day.  (For as often as I see those guys at the NP they should rename their club.)  One of the dudes said that the morning was "perfect" - but had gotten worse in the afternoon (subsequent to my arrival).  Grabbed a hotdog at the State Park and sat on the dunes watching the surf for about 1/2 hour then headed home.

A lot of useless detail I know, but hey it was a beautiful day - great surf, warm weather and light winds - that's what surfing is about.  Shame on the wave snobs for not checking the forecast the night before!

PS - Rod, This makes up for the I didn't go when it was epic and you sentenced me to 1' wind slop.  What's your excuse?

- Mike

Bummer for us, kudos for you! I thought it might be good but sometimes that's just the how the ball bounces. Went out today (Sunday) in VAS conditions, but caught a few good waves any ways for my fourth day in the water out of the last eight. Way to get on it Mike... and Todd the night before. I did notice Hatteras going off at chest to head+ with only 5 or 6 people at the Lighthouse all day!