New Year Not Kind to Hampton Surfers

I always knew that by writing a local surf blog that I would be at the mercy of the local surf conditions. And well, it's no secret that sometimes here in New England the wave machine breaks down. In other words, we get flat spells. Long flat spells.

The new year has not been good to the local surfers.

Although, we did get some great early snow conditions that helped the snowboarders get in some early powder runs. But the surf itself? Not so good. And this blog is based on the local surf scene. The photographers who contribute to the blog each week by sending me photos are equally dependent on the surf.

And well, there was no waist high or better this week. Hardly.

However, there was surf out west. As in California. And one of the benefits of being a surfer is, you tend to travel and meet surfers and other photographers in your surf travels. This blog has reached out and connected with many of those surfers and photographers that I have met over the years.

Some of whom have lived here in New England at one point in their lives. And let's face it, once you have been here in New England, and have sampled our waves and our culture, it's hard to not want to return and reconnect.

This weekly blog is one way of doing that.

And thank God for that. Because if it were not for the pics that several of my west coast photogs have sent I would not have the goods this week. And by the goods I mean the amazing photos that the Phantom has sent in (posted here) as well as ex-NH native Steve Dillon also sent along (posted here).

Heck I even have a few from Tony Szabo in the readers section. Tony was another ex-New Englander who moved out west about 20 years ago. So the surf connection thrives on the internet. And it keeps this week's blog fresh. Because you will not see these pics anywhere else.

Thank you my Westies!

[Photo 1] OK speaking of photographers. I got a series of photos yesterday by a local surfer/photographer who is a fan of this blog. Her name is Nicole and she shot a bunch of photos using her I-phone. Well, I have to tell you.

The pics were great. I mean really good.

The quality of the photos were amazing. To think that we can all pull out our cellphones and snap pics that are clearly pro like is mind boggling. I looked at my NIKON and thought gee should I toss this thing and just get an iPhone? Maybe that's extreme. But it sure opened my eyes to what the possibilities are out there with these damn smart phones.

Or as I am fond of calling them "Smart Ass" phones.

So all you surfing cellphone users out there, start shooting the surf and anything else that is surf or New England related, and send them off to me. I am convinced that the majority of photos and videos being shot today, and in the future, will come from these little hand held devices.

Be smart and take smart phone photos.

Now for Some Of My Weekly Global Observances:

Hey this flu thing is pretty scary. I mean people are dying out there. There's always something that can jump up and bite you. This flu is one of them. Take precautions my friends. Get your flu shots and avoid crowds and those who are sick. Be smart this flu season.