For the first time in a long time, I actually got to see a decent wave break in Jersey. Seems like there were decent waves for two days out of the past two and a half months, and both days I had other photoshoot commitments I couldn’t break – much to my dismay. Thankfully I got my priorities in order this week, and managed to make sure I had off on Thursday, knowing there would be good waves, and probably snow on the beach – a sure bet money making combo.
Come Wednesday night, it was clear that Thursday morning was going to be hell. At 10pm, I brushed a few inches of snow off my car and headed out to pick up some pizza. When I peeped out the door at 11pm, the snow I brushed off was replaced by literally 5 inches of snow. 5 inches in ONE hour. Sweet.
I love snow – it covers up the dirt and grime of the city, and temporarily alleviates the hell that is living in a concrete jungle with below freezing overcast weather. The city turns into a circus and comical situations go down around every corner. Just the sight of mustache wielding hipsters sketching out trying to ride their fixed gears through slush makes my heart glow. Best part is that I have a car with all wheel drive, and I’m not a complete retard, so driving in the snow usually isn’t that bad – FYI if you turn your steering wheel all the way over or are heavy on the gas pedal, you’re gonna have a bad time.
Woke up at 5:30am on Thursday morning and started checking the models, buoys, weather reports, road cameras, and Facebook (status updates are surprisingly one of the best wave reporting services I know of). It was a dicey call, and I admit I did take a 15 minute nap to think it over / let my brother get a head start so I wasn’t checking every beachbreak on the Jersey coast. Like a true city dweller, I used a broom to get the snow off my car – 18 inches, and only took a half hour. The roads weren’t too shabby, until I got into Camden County. Camden, I know you’re bankrupt but if you’re going to plow the roads at all, you might as well lower the plow to the ground, rather than plow the top 10 inches and leave 5 inches of hard packed slush on the road. I’m not even talking about just back roads either, it was just as bad on 295 – an interstate highway and I’m going 23mph. Blowing it.
3 Hours, multiple middle fingers, a sore voice from screaming at people, a near 40mph T-boning, and an ultimate punk rock playlist later, I rolled up to the infamously ironic “don’t label this in photos” spot. Overhead and clean with snow on the ground and light offshore winds, not a soul out. Praise Allah! I actually had plans to be back in Philly at 1pm, so I thought I would only have time to shoot for an hour and be out so I didn’t bring a board or wetsuit. I’m an idiot. Of course the 1pm appointment got cancelled and I was able to hang around all day, but I only had gear to shoot land.
Come evening, I remembered the other plus of having 18 inches of snow on the ground – Urban shredding! Hopped back in the car, waved to the friendly folks of Asbury Park, and headed back to the City of Brotherly Loathe. After a quick peek of the Volcom contest – which was an awesome event: epic waves, slippa whacks, and freakin Wiggolly Dantas! – I headed out to Museum Mountain. Urban shredding isn’t easy; you have to dodge police and security cameras, avoid sledding groms, and really get creative about how you can stunt off usually benign buildings. Luckily I was with motivated crew, and although we’re not the Forum team of 2001, we still manage to get pretty wild out there. We set up a few hits, got on a rail / wall or two, and capped the night at 1am with a dicey chute run that was never meant to ever be ridden down.
All said and done, it was a super long, very tiring, and productive day. Check below to see some of the results, and hopefully I will be able to get the better shots (not shown here) run in some form or another. Keep an eye out for the next snow storm as I’m sure we’ll get get more work done. Oh wait, its literally snowing again as I write this. Outta my way awkward neighbors shoveling snow from infront of your car and dumping infront of mine – Rocky statue here I come!
Bring It On.
Beautiful day to surf
Empty Tube.
Empty Tube #2.
Jamie may not have made this one...
When its cold, spitting tubes don't feel all that good.
Hope Ocean City was good and uncrowded...
He looks confused because this is when I told him I had to poop so badly that I didn't think I could make it to the car.
Occupied Tube.
Occupied Tube #2.
Thats some nice denim too.
Brad looking like hes escaping from prison
Wall Sliding - almost as fun as Ass Sliding.
Jesse's repertoire is a bit more old school - Indy Nosebone
Terje Haakonsen
Alex's Indy / Heisman
Safety Shifty? You got it.
Who's this Bad Mofo that keeps hitting me up?
Trust me that gap is huuuuuge.
This is the real art at the museum
Shout out to reader "BUllshitt": he wanted proof of our stories. See B? Proof it actually snowed!
