Surf's Up at Malaga Cove
Saturday, 9AM. Palos Verdes, Malaga Cove. Beautiful weather has this place alive with surfers and divers. It seems that all the rain and our recent weather conditions had kept most people at bay....not today. This was a full-on party in the parking lot, with trailer vans from the local diving group, that had bunnies running around, and barbques fired up. This was their annual Easter egg-diving hunt. They sure know how to do it right.

We all parked up the road. (The dive group had claim to the parking lot). This worked out fine as it made the hike down to the water closer.

Our paddling party of five was Steve and Vicky Brown, Chris Mantino, Jack Brisley, and me. Before we make the hike down, Jack and Chris had to make a few custom fittings on their new boats. This was done with Jack's cordless saw-zall. Chris commented that it sure beats the bread-knife method. Steve and Vicky head down and launch off the rocks and head out around the point to check for surf. Now, being a new boat and a demo-trial run, Chris chooses the non-gauging surf launch. Me and Jack follow. We all meet back up and decide that where we launched is the best place to surf, and hang out at the far rocky side, away from the surfers. I decide, after surfing a few waves, that this was a perfect photo-opp. With the weather and the waves being just right, and every body surfing and having fun, I hit the water with camera and helmet on. The object is to hit the red helmet. ( I'm still waiting for that helmet-cam) I suggest this so I can get some close action shots. Everybody likes this idea,... maybe too much. I must say, like the commercial on T.V. for golf's PGA, "These Guys are really THAT GOOD".

Steve and Vicky had been away for two weeks flying and hadn't been able to paddle at all. I could see and hear that they both were right back at home... in the water. After an hour or so in the water shooting, I became a bit numb and headed in to let the sun warm me before getting back in my boat to play some more in the surf.

Every body joins up on the shore. Steve and Vicky had to cut it short to make a previous engagement. Jack and Chris take this opportunity to try out each other's new Kayaks. We surfed and played for about an hour or so, and as the conditions turned poor, we hit the shore.

Hanging out telling stories of the past and planning trips of the future, we make our final ascent, the hike up the hill.

A great day in and on the water with some good people and great paddlers!

There were some camera, i.e.. battery problems, but all in all, I still managed to capture some good action shots. Check out the pics.

Until next time,
    Victor (Paparazzi) Martin

Submitted on March 28, 2005