Hurricane Isaac

Here is a story I did that got lost in edit world and never surfaced unfortunately but these things happen...Thanks to the photography team for hustling to try and get this thing to light.Enjoy this original content from recent Hurricane Isaac in the Gulf. photo: GScott

All Eyes on Isaac Words by Jon Steele By Sat. the coconut wire was alive with talk of hurricane Isaac's similarities to Katrina. Local weather guru Wes Ellsworth downplayed the prediction that evening with the help of his new computer software and based on that, plans were set in motion by surf staved Texans. By Sunday the Texas surf bulletin board was on fire! One could fine predictions, forecasts and locations of where one would be hunkering down to score the best waves. Monday the early bird hunt was on in Galveston finding Gabe Prusmack and Rob Henson coming up short finding only fun loggable waves in spots that rarely broke. Local Galveston surfer Hank Eisenhour admits that "Even thought Isaac didn't get all time, we are all stoked with what we got. It was so fun, clean surf sure is nice."

photo David Burkhardt Tuesday found more size in the northern coast, perfect logging waves at Packery Channel in the central coast and South Padre starting to fill in nicely. Photographer David Burkhardt found himself shooting off the lifegaurd stand in super fun waist to shoulder high glassy peaks. Suddenly having calling 911 to assist in a drowning at the North Packery jetty. Local surfer Davis Eiermann was sprinting down the beach to assist fellow surfer Mark Knuckles and another woman who pulled the surfer from the water and started compressions. "It was heavy, recalls Davis of the incident. "The waves were really fun and then you have to jump into go mode and handle this. It was hard to handle." says Eiremann.

Two hours south of Packery Channel found waist high and building conditions is a secluded jetty in Port Mansfield with a steeper beach than the majority of the coast. Photographer JR Watson along with Californian Charlie Fawcett, Frank Curren, Matt Grote and Dylan Gordon who drove 3,120 miles to met up with Corpus Christi locals to surf alone. Well, alone with friends. Local Corpus boys Micah and Brad Steph, Nathan Floyd, Bubba Ganan met up with Morgan Faulkner Brittney and G Scott to scored empty clean small waves and Spanish Reale's from 1500's which were the first coins designed in the new world. photo: GScott

photo: GScott

Morgan Faulkner photo: GScott

Come midday half the group split back north to Bob Hall in hopes of it focusing energy there better while Morgan, Brittney and Texas lensman GScott stuck around for the evening. "Brittney Tupaj and I had Mansfield all to ourselves for about 4 hours." says Faulkner. "Super long rights, blue/green water, super fun and the jetski to save your arms from paddling!" Meanwhile JR and the boys scored fun overhead Bob Hall up in the central coast for the evening. " It was breaking on the outside and going all the way into the inside and doubling up pretty sick" exclaims Charlie Fawcett. photo: GScott

Further south after the South Padre gate closure incident at dawn between constables and eager surfers, the waves picked up to well overhead and rippable. Local Surfrider Foundation Chairman and all around beach badasss, Rob Nixon, came through with flying colors with a last minute phone call to open the park and quite harassing surfers. This allowed Wes Beck Jr. to find some fun barrels to pull into among the long lines and outside reforms and many others taking advantage of the rippable conditions.

photo: Mark Devillier SPI photo: GScott

The day ending with the swell maxing out at midnight and a few gems to be found in the morning by Wensday it was over. "I was surprised how many people surf in Texas and there is a good group of guys who rip. Not to many people would think it is like a "surf destination" but you get the right swell and you got some sick waves! says Charlie Fawcett of the trip."It was small most of the time but when there was waves it was really fun. The surf scene in Texas was rad." states visiting Curren, "Everyone would call you into waves and was super nice and they were stoked to have us over there to surf. Everything is literally bigger in Texas" says FrankThere were still gems here and there to pick off before going back to completely flat summer conditions and Texans are known to milk the surf as long as they can til the well goes dry. Such goes the frantic life of a Gulf Coast surfer until the next session of feast or famine.