Can anyone interpret a surf report for me? I want to know if it's safe/easy to surf around Linda Mar today.

Question

http://www.pacificwaverider.com/36n/

My husband and I are just beginning surfers... it's a beautiful day so we'd love to go to Pacifica beach and try it out, but we don't want it to be too rough cause last time we went, my husband got hit with the surfboard and almost got a concussion.

Here's a surf report...

http://www.pacificwaverider.com/36n/

Can anyone explain it to me and tell me if/when today would be good to go?

Answer 1

it says 2-3.  perfect for beginners.  Try surfline.com  it spells it out in more detail.  The thing with learning is not only to find the right size wave, but the right break.  some breaks dump over a lot harder than others,some will be nice and mushy.  You want a nice mushy break that is not to packed with people that are experienced (might get run over unfortunately).  practice riding the foam and standing up 1st.  knee to waist high is perfect for beginners.

As for reading a forecast, it takes practice.  6 feet at 7 seconds (one wave every seven seconds) is not as big as it sounds.  what that means is that the waves are going to come very close together (normally wind swell) and that they will not have the power that long period swell has.  the same 6 feet at 20 second periods (groundswell) is going to pack a wallup comparitively speaking.  As for tides, it varies from place to place.  wannasurf.com will tell you a TON about the breaks in your area.  it tells you the best tide, swell direction, and break type.  the more your surf, the more it will make sense.

Answer 2

I'm sorry but when your first learning your on the inside because you lack wave knowledge and its not a real safe place to be sounds like it was a loose board the person should of had better control of his stick as far as your question it can get real complicated so at first i suggest try to fined the angle of your shoreline thin that gives you a starting point to see what angle the swell is coming from but really just go to report pick your beach and read wave heights stay at the 2 to 3 range and be safe late

Answer 3

yes, it looks like a good day for you and your husband.  The wave height is between two and three feet and there is a light breeze.  Get out there and go surfing!!