One of the most influential surfers in history was born far from the oceans. Tom Blake, a Wisconsin native, arguably did as much for the evolution of surfing as Duke and the famous authors of the time who helped popularize this activity, such as Mark Twain and Jack London. He is the establisher of “surf …
Author Archives: Danny Schmiegel
Why is the weather always wrong?
Weather is described as the current state of the atmosphere. It is always around us in the form of clouds, rain, wind, and air temperature. Yet, predicting the weather beyond 7 days into the future is excruciatingly challenging. We as a society still have issues not being able to forecast correctly. But why? How have …
Atmospheric Rivers: Streams in the Sky
Californians, on a normal year, typically celebrate New Year’s Eve with parties in backyards, beaches, or rooftop bars. Not this year. It rained, a lot. In late 2022 into early 2023, a long channel of warm moist air called an atmospheric river, flowed up from the tropics into the mid-latitudes (30-60N). It brought rain and …
Ancient Water: A Brief History of Surfing
Surfing today is a worldwide cultural phenomenon. All around the world, surfers are able to share the spiritual bond that riding the oceans brings. This sport, however, has a rich history complete with roots in mythology, gender equality, and shameful colonialism. The origin story of surfing begins in the heart of the grandest of oceans, …
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Climate Crisis and Surfing: A Look Into The Future
Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, the Earth’s overall temperature has been rising. The heating of the planet is in strong correlation with increased human activity. Human activity is related to carbon dioxide (CO2) which is released every time coal, oil, or natural gas is burned. Greenhouse gases, such as CO2, capture the Sun’s …
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The P’s of Surfing: Tips to riding more waves
Surfing is not an easy sport. The art form of riding waves incorporates balance, cardiovascular endurance, and zen-like patience. However, there are still times in which it feels impossible to catch these offerings from Poseidon. The oceanic energy slips underneath without even the slightest push forward. The effect of seeing someone take the wave you …
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How to surf using tide data
This post is designed to be read following a previous Lazy Surfer post on tide basics. If you are unfamiliar with what a tide is or why tides form, Please check out the post here! “Ride of the Day” Photo by santabarbaraca.com Surfing and Tides In a previous post “All you need to know about …
Top 3 Coldest Waves in the World
Winter is coming. Soon, much of the world’s northern hemisphere will be subject to howling winds, frigid temperatures, and longer nights. In order to help the brave wintertime surfers get in the cold water spirit, or to spark an unconventional holiday break surf trip, here are the three coldest waves in the world that will …
All you need to know about tides.
First photo of the Earth taken from Apollo 8 on Moon in 1968. Tide Basics The world’s incomprehensibly gigantic oceans are an ideal location to become intimately connected with the ruthlessly raw power of nature. Hikers and beachgoers alike love to look at the mysterious beauty of the world’s bodies of water from dry land. …