Gulf Coast surfers head for the beach when winter cold fronts reach Florida

/

surfgulfJust after a cold front, when a stiff breeze has the rest of us zipping windbreakers, local surfers head for the shore.
Have wet suit, will paddle.
Warm sun, cool surf.
The boys of winter.
“This is the season for us,” says Matt Patten of Sarasota. “We’re all stoked.”
On the Gulf Coast, even waist-high waves are something to be savored. Depending on the conditions, surfers gather at the Venice Jetties or Anna Maria Island.
Last Wednesday, when there was a strong north wind, Patten headed to the south end of Lido Beach.
“I call it Lido-by-the-rocks,” jokes Patten, a 31-year-old with long hair hanging over the back of his suit. “Or Lido-by-the-pool. Whatever.”
It’s a day off for the head chef at the Fresh Start Cafe. Patten surfs for a few hours, teasing out long rides in low waves.
“This is decent,” he says, waving at the moderate surf. “Once it’s chest-high, that’s the fun zone.”

surf2veniceValentine surfing
Most Gulf Coast surfers head to the East Coast once in awhile. Better waves, bigger scene. Not too long a drive. Closer to home, they take what they can get.
On a good day, a few dozen surfers might be waiting for the same waves. That’s when laid-back local surfing isn’t quite so relaxed.
Chris Whittaker runs his own pressure washing business in Bradenton, which gives him a flexible schedule. When the surf’s up — he checks gulfster.com — he heads to the beach.
“It’s a few times a month, if we’re lucky,” says Whittaker, 32. “It depends on Mother Nature. And if I’m not working and I can get a baby sitter."
His dad often volunteers to watch his son. His wife, who has an office job, understands his passion for surfing. For Valentine’s Day, they took a trip to Palm Beach that included time together and time on the water. On the Gulf Coast, when conditions are right, he makes the most of it.
“I can go all day,” he says, “just taking breaks to eat and drink water.”

Rented wet suit
Philippe Guislain, another Lido Beach surfer, learned how to ride while growing up in Peru. A chilly day in February doesn’t bother him.
“I’m from the Pacific, so I’m used to the cold,” he says. “But you want to keep your core warm.”
He rents a wet suit for $10 a day from a local dive shop. If he had more time, he would buy one of his own.
Guislain, 26, works as a service rep for a dairy company.
“I try to get out when there’s surf and I have a day off — it doesn’t happen that often,” he says. “If it’s OK, I’ll surf for about 90 minutes. If it’s good, I’ll stay three hours in the water.”

Last modified: February 27, 2015
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be published without permissions. Links are encouraged.