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By Patrick Rizzo, msnbc.com
Images as Hurricane Earl races toward the Eastern seaboard of the United States: Thousands of tourists fleeing Cape Hatteras; a local hotel with a sign that says “Earl you are not welcome here”; and homeowners along the coast battening down the hatches.
But there’s one group that is excited for the storm’s approach, as the New York Times noted today: East Coast surfers, who are accustomed to envying their peers in places with larger waves, such as California or Hawaii.
Hurricane season is one of the rare times when East Coast waves can reach world-class heights.
As of Thursday morning, Earl, a Category 4 storm, was packing winds at around 145 miles per hour. The storm is located about 410 miles south of Cape Hatteras, N.C., and is moving north-northwest near 18 mph, on a path that seemed certain to delight surfers from Florida to New England.
While watches and warnings were posted along the Atlantic coast for most of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and part of Massachusetts, surf cams on websites such as Surfline.com show top breaks along the coast packed with surfers enjoying the larger-than-usual waves.
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I admire these people. I can't even swim and I'm over 60 years old.
Another group that loves to see these storms are the active alcoholics, a hurricane party at the local bar is an event that they just might remember the next day.
LOL!!!
Really
get ready the next one is Feona, lol, burn notice
I thought for sure they were going to say the Westboro Baptist Church was picketing there.
A shame those folks haven't scheduled some baptisms about now. (Relax all you 'thumpers', it's just a joke.)
I was just down there yesterday looking for Al Roker. Had a nice lunch... Beautiful day... no Al though.
Good one, Porkbevr!
They may not be physically there, but no doubt the Westboro people will somehow claim this massive storm is God's wrath against homosexuality or whatever.
I can never figure how anyone would call a God benevolent that would harm or kill the majority of good innocent people as revenge on a minority these religious nuts oppose. If that's the God we're supposed to believe in, then prayer, going to church, or anything you do is meaningless against the acts of a cruel and unjust super-being's whim. And if He's that bad on earth, how can anyone expect much better if there's an after life.
The same fools who will need to be rescued from floodwaters later on, or will simply be washed out to sea. All for a momentary thrill.
Kinda reminds me of Patrick Swayze in Point Break
Beverly- I was thinking the same thing...at the end of the movie when he went after the big one!
RIP, Patrick!
These surfers are probably collecting unemployment. Get a job!
In NC, they're mostly Marines from Camp Lejeune. But nice assumption.
do you even know a surfer? you live in nevada. many of them are kids in high school and college. for some of the, surfing IS their job, and they're paid for it. the majority of older ones surf from first light till work and then after. you can't afford a board on unemployment anyways. don't comment on what you don't know about, it might make you look foolish.
and no, the majority of them are locals who have grown up surfing their whole lives, not marines.
A pox upon you, land lubber
That is what my ex boyfriend is currently doing. I hope him and all the other surfers are having a blast while being as safe as possible. This is not the time to learn to surf. And all the naysayers- there are plenty of dangerous activities you probably engage in (like speeding, smoking, eating too much, not paying attention while driving) just let them have their fun and wish them well. Someone should enjoy the hurricane!
These are the dorks that your tax payer dollars pay to rescue and put rescuers' lives at risk.
Most surfers know their limits....its the kooks that can't surf who paddle out and fail miserably.
The east coast doesn't fire up with "World Class Waves" just during hurricane season....in fact the best season for surf from Miami to Cape Cod is during the winter - and that is without big named storms. With that being said - I wish I could paddle out - stupid work.
Just as long as we don't waste tax dollars rescuing anyone who gets in over their head, it suits me fine. If people want to risk their lives for a thrill, I say go for it. Just don't expect anyone to risk theirs to save you.
There is one group who will be happiest of all, but seem to be overlooked. Electrical workers and other clean-up people will be making Thousands of dollars this holiday weekend. Nice end of summer bonus.
Too bad I have to work; Damn right I'd be out there!
Those surfers are crazy and amazing all at once. We were in Atlantic Beach NC a few years ago when a hurricane was on it's way. The hotel we stayed at had this 700 foot long, very high dock (maybe 30 feet high), extending out into the ocean. We were standing towards the end, watching the surf roll past, and the surfers in the water. All of a sudden we saw this group of young surfers, boards in hand, running to the end of the pier. Without missing a beat, at top speed, they hurled themselves over the end and into the water. I watched them paddle their boards into the surf and have wild rides into the beach area, only to run the pier again to save time getting out in the water far enough to catch the next wild ride. Thankfully, no one was hurt. I assure you, it was a sight to behold, these fearless surfers, both male and female, having a blast in the crazy high waves.
when the storm finally hit, after we were forced to evacuate, the long pier was washed out to see. I understand it was rebuilt after the storm. I'm glad we were able to get out of harms way. That storm sure did look spooky.
You sitting at your desk, getting fat and breathing thru your mouth raises my health insurance costs....@Cygnus_X-1
It's great fun. We've traveled down to Padre Island to surf every time a hurricane comes near enough to affect the surf.
@Mike- I know, I was thinking insurance adjusters and contractors. Big money!
Be excellent to each other. And........... Party on Dudes!
The surf is one thing. The riptides that are created with this kind of storm are deadly, so we can be fairly sure we'll read about a surfer dying before this is all done. Yes, I know, big waves. Yup.
ah heck...they are still young enough to have big dreams..let them have their moment in the sun...or the big surf if that's what they want!
Yup! Rode out two cat 2 hurricanes on Seista Key Beach Sarasota..1973 &75. Normally puny surf...the wave action was freakin awesome dudes! Hey, when you're young and stupid, believing you are immortal... I can relate to the temptation... too bad there's going to be a number of surfer dudes swept away into oblivion. The Atlantic is a whole different animal from the shallows of the gulf. Plus..looks like this is a bit more powerful than a cat 2.
Geo-free got it right!!!
Best advice I've read all day!
Have you never surfed? The thrill is most certainly not temporary.
In reality, the MEDIA is the most excited group. You are all going to get your picture taken in 100+ mph wind to show the whole world just how stupid collectively you are. My favorite scene in the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" is when the reporter is reporting on the bad weather and the billboard takes him out.
Lawd have mercy. Once in a blue moon situation! My daughter-in-law is so pissed off due to fact she just gave birth two days ago & my son is on "Maternity Leave" from his job & HAS to take advantage of the waves! He totally looks at this(storm/waves) as a great "Omen" & a "Blessed Event" & that their son is meant to have a remarkable,successful & joyful life! Hahaha. He really believes this!
I spent every summer in NC on the Outer Banks, been through multiple Nor'easters and hurricanes. My father taught us all how to snorkel, swim, surf, and boogie board there. If you have been taught how to behave in the ocean it becomes much safer. Rip tides don't have to be deadly, during my SCUBA certification course we learned how to escape a rip tide safely, people who don't respect the ocean should stay the hell out of it. I have yet to meet a REAL surfer who didn't respect and understand the ocean and its inhabitants.
Got 3 hours of overhead surf this am, battened down the hatches on my house and boat, and am now in the office doing the daily grind and hoping the hurricane veers to the northwest as predicted. Not all of us are jumping off the piers, consequences be damned. And by the way, surfers and riptides get along just fine - they make it much easier to paddle out in big waves, and you can paddle through them on a surfboard, unlike a swimmer