THE TIDES OF MARCH

The East Coast gets a bad rap sometimes when it comes to wave quality. But that's just fine with those who live there and reap rewards like this one. Raven Lundy.

An offshore wind teases the creamy green lines treading west. A motley collection of pickups, station wagons, and SUVs parked with haphazard excitement wait beneath weathered cottages. The air is crisp, but it’s March 2nd so the rubber-swathed people greet the fifty five degree air; they don’t complain. In fact, they rejoice.

"Beautiful day, huh?"
"Couldn’t be better."
"It really couldn’t."

From sunrise until the spitting south swell tuckered out on March 3rd a hair before sunset, it really couldn’t have been much better. Classic wintertime Cape Hatteras made one of its sporadic appearances for those willing to abide the dress code, and the booties-glove-and-hood clad attendees enjoyed a day of icy barrels.

The air is crisp, but it’s March 2nd so the rubber-swathed people greet the fifty five degree air; they don’t complain. In fact, they rejoice-CLICK FOR A FULL OBX GALLERY

Two days prior, a macking south wind swell smacked headfirst into Frisco, generating out of control overhead seas. With a learned, yet requisite East coast patience, locals and swell chasers anticipated the wrap around swell, and converged upon the Hatteras seashore. Luckily, a slough of dedicated East Coast photographers like Mickey McCarthy were on hand to capture the event as local rippers logged their share of cavetime.

This particular swell came in conjunction with a round of firing East coast surf. While the Carolina seas were still untamed on Friday, surfers along the Atlantic, as far North as New Jersey, capitalized on a powerful, related low pressure system. With a long period force infrequently seen on the Atlantic pumping through the water, the East coast was ablaze with paradisiacal winter conditions.

Few feelings match the sensation of a post-session shower (especially in the winter) but if these late winter swells keep up, East coast surfers might just get to enjoy a few more numbings and thawings before springtime turns up the heat for good.