I’m headed for a week off, which was intended to be a staycation with plenty of surf opportunities. But with more big swell forthcoming (Surfline says it’s up to 10 foot in Morro Bay this morning), we’ll have to play it by ear.

Last weekend I found myself watching a few daring souls test the heavy waters in Cayucos. There were a few good barrels but mostly a lot of hard wipeouts that didn’t exactly make me want to paddle out. Apparently, it was even bigger and thicker the next day when Tribune web editor Brian Milne was out shooting photos with his new Cannon. Check out his cool photo gallery here. (That fat wave above is from Cayucos Pier.)

For those, like me, who chicken out when it comes to big waves, you can still get the Stoke next Thursday, when the first annual Surf Symposium takes place at Downtown Brew in SLO. The night will feature a board shaping seminar with local shaper Shane Stoneman, who will also perform some of his mellow music with guest musicians backing him. (Click here to see a video I put together of Stoneman.) Trevor Povah’s local film “Lost in the Middle” will also be screened, and there will be surf giveaways.

Photo: Brian Milne

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So I loaded my board into the car Saturday, then hauled out to the beach, only to find that it was huge out there.

I guess that big swell arrived a little early. Because at A-Beach in Morro Bay it looked to be a good 12- to 15-foot. And, well – that’s a few feet bigger than I’d like it to be.

It was a little smaller at Cayucos Pier, but the waves were punishing. So I watched a few guys get mangled and headed to the Rock, where I overheard a park guy say the Harbor Patrol had to rescue a surfer earlier.

So no surf for me this weekend.

But to get you Stoked, I recently did a surf video of local slider Jaime Hannula. Check it out here.

Hannula is leaving this month for Australia to compete in the ASP tour. Once ranked #9 in North America, she hopes to win at least one big contest as a pro.

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Visiting Cayucos area site of test drilling by state engineers are three members of the Morro Bay-Cayucos Joint Atomic-Seawater Reclamation Committee (left to right) Joe Giannini, Jack Lindemann and chairman Duval Williams.

January 9, 1966

The Atomic Age was on the march. Three years earlier Cal Poly had installed a micro wattage demonstration reactor. In nine months PG&E would announce their choice of Diablo Canyon as the location for their multi-unit nuclear plant.

Why not a nuclear fired electric plant in Cayucos?

Governor Pat Brown was in the midst of an ambitious construction cycle to bring water to southern California. President Lyndon Johnson was spending money on his Great Society programs. In a year one would be out of office and the other would be sinking in the mire of the Vietnam War but for a brief time there was a nuclear-fueled gleam in north coast booster’s eyes.

Quoting from the uncredited article:

CAYUCOS — Test drilling began this week near here to determine if this area is a suitable site for an atomic power facility.

Under direction of a state geologist, Cliff Farrell, corings were being taken to see how earthquake-proof and stable a site north of Cayucos is.

Cayucos is one of five California sites under consideration for a $100 million joint California-federal nuclear powered electrical station.

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Thirty-five years ago, San Luis Obispo County native Tony Corley wrote a letter to Surfer Magazine, hoping to recruit other African-American surfers to communicate and share waves.

While the second letter he received was a racist threat with crude drawings and the letters “KKK,” subsequent mail came from many African-American surfers who were interested in hooking up. Thus, the Black Surfing Association was born.

This weekend, the Southern California chapter of the BSA will put on a free surfing clinic at a beach known as the Ink Well in Santa Monica. The Ink Well, once a “colored only” beach, is an important place in the history of African-American surfing because it marks the spot where Nick Gabaldon, the first documented black surfer, started surfing.

Gabaldon was tragically killed in a surf accident in 1951. A decade later, Corley started surfing in Cayucos.

You can read more about the BSA and Gabaldon here.

Tribune file photo: Courtesy of Tony Corley

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My pants are soaked.

I just shot some video for an upcoming feature on surfer/shaper/painter/musician Shane Stoneman, and, well — I really wanted to get some shots of him in the water. So, of course, I just had to get to the ocean.

I know — tough gig.

That video, which will also feature music from Stoneman’s new CD, “Days Gone By,” will accompany the online version of our Stoneman profile in next Thursday’s Ticket. Meanwhile, for those of you starved for water photos, check out this spread by Arroyo Grande’s Chris Burkard. I’ve mentioned him before, but since he’s one of the best up-and-coming surf phographers out there, he deserves to be noted again. Besides, the 21-year-old Burkard was recently named senior photographer at “Water” magazine — kind of a big deal.

In this spread, you’ll notice several shots of San Luis Obispo County places, including the cover, of Burkard at Avila Beach. (Don’t worry, local chargers — no “secret spots” are uncovered.) Burkard also currently has photos of Bali featured on Surfline, which owns “Water.”

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Call me weird, but some times I just like to look at surfboards.

That weird?

I’m the same way with drums and guitars. I’ll go into a store, and I’ll just . . . feel them.

So it must have been quite a sight to see the entire stock of Central Coast Surf Boards being moved from its old building to the new location on Marsh Street. (That’s a photo of some of the movers above.)

CCS has been around for a while. But like many independent stores, its vitality could be impacted by corporations offering the same products for less. For instance, Costco sells boards, which, some have pointed out, are made in China. 

One would assume Wal-Mart will be next.

Anyway, I wasn’t planning on whining about China, the economy or Wal-Mart. Besides, it’s not like I have enough money to buy a new surfboard right now.  That economic stimulus check that’s coming?

Bills.

When I think of bills, what I really want to think about is surfing. And since a lot of bills are due this week, here are my favorite surf spots in SLO County:

1.) A-Beach. Even on the most crowded days, you can usually find a stretch of beach here that’s less busy, proving that this ain’t Southern California. And, of course, there’s always great views of the Rock from here. Speaking of:

2.) The Rock. Remember that movie where the guys yells, “I love the smell of bird crap in the morning!”  Okay, so I just made that up. True, there are lots of birds here. And true, birds tend to smell. But sometimes the power plant makes the water freakishly warm, which — while freaky — is kind of nice in the summer.

3.) Shell Beach. When it gets too big or windy everywhere else, it’s nice to escape to calmer conditions here. I prefer the old guy vibe of Silver Shoals, which is more of a longboard spot. Check out the gentle peeler to the right here. That’s Silver Shoals for you.

4.) Pismo Pier. This site took a big hit when the city decided to put meters in the parking lot. But the locals know where to go to avoid them. Since this place is pretty touristy in the summer, I usually hang in Morro Bay. But Pismo pier, even if it doesn’t have the greatest surf, offers a great SoCal feel.

5.) Cayucos pier. There are quite a few old timers here who are really good, so there’s an interesting (and a little intimidating) vibe. And it’s seldom really good here. But when it is, the place is just classic. When it’s mellow, it’s a nice retreat. But it can also toss you around on bigger days.

Photos: Nick Lucero, Dave Middlecamp, Joe Johnston, Jayson Mellom

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