When I walk outside these days, there's a bluster in the air. It's not often warm. Sometimes... I shiver.
It wasn't always like this. Just last month I could run around town in shorts. There was no chill, no shivering, only heat and sweat. Times have changed, and so has the weather. I'm left feeling nostalgic.
To indulge this nostalgia, I'm sharing with you an account of the time I spent earlier this year representing the SCA at the US Open of Surfing. It was late July/early August. The sun was high and the waves were higher. Equipped with an iPad and an android phone, my mission was to craft a series of 140-character dispatches that would let you, the reader, feel like you were right there on Huntington Beach, cheering on SCA spokeswoman Lakey Peterson as she attempted to triumph in the country's largest pro-surfing competition.
Can you smell the sunscreen? Can you feel the sand in your toenails? Not yet, my friend, but read on. WARNING: You should probably don some shades before you click here to read my full coverage of the 2012 U.S. Open of Surfing [1].
For those of you who forgot your shades today, here are a few highlights. You'll have to make do with squinting:
Our #goLakey [2] banner just got a shout out from the announcers! @the_sca [3] @lakeypeterson [4] twitter.com/mrjoethurston/… [5]
— joe thurston (@mrjoethurston) August 1, 2012 [6]
Lakey poses w/ fans after her round 3 win at the @usopenofsurf [7]. @lakeypeterson [4] @the_sca [3] twitter.com/mrjoethurston/… [8]
— joe thurston (@mrjoethurston) August 1, 2012 [9]
First ever trip to In 'n Out Burger, everything ordered "animal style." twitter.com/mrjoethurston/… [10]
— joe thurston (@mrjoethurston) August 2, 2012 [11]
17 yr old Brazilian pro Gabriel Medina rides a wave in rnd 3 of the @usopenofsurf [7]. @the_sca [3]instagr.am/p/N1XooTs2TH/ [12]
— joe thurston (@mrjoethurston) August 2, 2012 [13]
Well, I just rented a surfboard. The release I signed at the surf shop has me thinking I'm in for sun, fun, and certain death. @the_sca [3]
— joe thurston (@mrjoethurston) August 2, 2012 [14]
Our very own Surfer Joe @mrjoethurston [15] gets a little help zipping up his wetsuit. @the_sca [3] twitter.com/EvanEscamilla/… [16]
— Evan (@EvanEscamilla) August 3, 2012 [17]
Lakey in action! @lakeypeterson [4] got a HUGE 9.83 on this wave! @the_sca [3] is beaming w/ pride! #goLakey [2] instagr.am/p/N4TKshs2WC/ [18]
— joe thurston (@mrjoethurston) August 3, 2012 [19]
Tobias points out that @the_sca [3] can't #savetheplanet [20] w/o help from the world's surf fans. @usopenofsurf [7] @lakeypeterson [4] twitter.com/mrjoethurston/… [21]
— joe thurston (@mrjoethurston) August 3, 2012 [22]
#Conservation [23] is trending at the @usopenofsurf [7]. @evanescamilla [24] shows off @the_sca [3] goods: twitter.com/mrjoethurston/… [25]
— joe thurston (@mrjoethurston) August 4, 2012 [26]
Desert eagle surveyor & @the_sca [3] alum Craig Dicht's family joins us for fun, sun, & service at the @usopenofsurf [7]. twitter.com/mrjoethurston/… [27]
— joe thurston (@mrjoethurston) August 4, 2012 [28]
#Cleanupthebeach [29] service project at the @usopenofsurf [7] has begun! @lakeypeterson [4] helps #savetheplanet [20] w/ @the_sca [3]: twitter.com/mrjoethurston/… [30]
— joe thurston (@mrjoethurston) August 4, 2012 [31]
Samuel & David help surf fans keep the beach clean w/ @the_sca [3] at the @usopenofsurf [7]. #cleanupthebeach [32] #savetheplanet [20] twitter.com/mrjoethurston/… [33]
— joe thurston (@mrjoethurston) August 4, 2012 [34]
And the win goes to @lakeypeterson [4]! Big congrats from @the_sca [3] on your @usopenofsurf [7] triumph! #goLakey [2]instagr.am/p/N9cKg0M2cV/ [35]
— joe thurston (@mrjoethurston) August 5, 2012 [36]
One last thing: To celebrate our involvement with the Open, we teamed up with Lakey to give away a surf weekend in her hometown, Santa Barbara. Read all about the lucky winner here [37].