A kill fee is when an article or story doesn't make it to the print or web page...
This can be due to several factors, time of story passing due date. etc..
anywho, this was for ESPN but never ran due to one thing or another...
it happens and no stress.. here it is.. enjoy
July is FAR from the surfing "season" in Texas but this summer could be one to write in the books. Meteorologists are predicting that the 2010 hurricane season will see the most storms on record in history for the Texas riviera. Hurricane Alex kicked off the season with the earliest recorded storm in June and bringing to light the fact that locals must be prepared for the worst asap. Alex jammed into Mexico causing flooding and damage sparring South Padre and the rest of Texas for now.
A welcome break from the flatness of the hot Texas summer, local surfers were blessed with 4-5 days of surf from the storm. Hurricane season means a lot of hoping for the Gulf surfers and a little remorse knowing that the bad side of the hurricane will affect someone close by. Its a catch 22 scenario where someone is getting the waves of their life on the Gulf and another is battening down the hatches in a hell of wind, rains, flood and lack of electricity and running water.
Hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico gives locals a chance to surf during a predominately flat season and might even have a chance to rub elbows and share waves to visiting pro surfers who are trying to find a new niche in Texas surfing. Any good boy scout knows to always be prepared for anything. Once a Texan surfer is ready to fight the good fight with one of these bad boy storms; windows boarded up, water, fuel and food stored up, then and only then can you slip out an enjoy some humid, ever changing wind surf in the warm 82 degree water that is fueling a hell storm a hundred miles away. Be prepared and enjoy the waves mother nature has to offer.
Photo Captions:
Zak May enjoys the break from tattoo work to get a few hacks in.
Justin Jalufka updates the surf report at MDC shop and slips out for a few bands of rain for himself.
Morgan Faulkner splits his time between Sunset beach in the winter and sun covered Bob Hall Pier during hurricane season.
Tim "Tiny" Scott enjoys some tip time in Port A. Port Aransas was on the "dirty" side of Hurricane Alex yet there were still moments of sun and good waves, surfers can't be too picky about windy conditions when you live in Texas.
South Padre Island was spared this time when Mexico took one for the team but this is just the tip of the iceberg for them this year as most locals still haven't recovered from Dolly.