Winter in Maine.

[Yeti]

Days like this keep you alive.


The buoys reported 11-12 second periods. Paddling out was interesting, as long as you stayed on top.


Sets were strongly organized, with larger sets of three waves arriving every 5 minutes.


As the tide came in, things started to close out, meaning you had to stay on the face or get slammed.


Other spots might have warmer water, but I'll take my home waters for the scenery. Hey, 40F is warm for January.


Another peak down the beach went both ways.


The waiting game.


One last wave after sunset.

[Tuckerman]

Nice thanks man

[Ottime]

Where is your home beach? Been a while since I surfed in Maine - and I have never stayed around between Jan-March. You guys are core. I was weak and would head south to Long Island for the mid winter chill.

[Hugh Conway]

That looks fun. And cold

[Yeti]

Where is your home beach?

This is Higgins. I now live by another break farther down the coast, but Higgins is where it all began for me.

[pappag]

The waiting game.

Is that a "What I Ride" I spot?

[vtdownhiller]

Higgins...is that in scarborough?

[willywhit]

what's the water temp up there ? low 40's ???
I used to winter surf in RI and south of Boston, gotta give ya props-ice cream headaches are rough
how bad is the shrinkage ?
this shot was taken off of Scituate last week during the Noreaster we just had

[Yeti]

Is that a "What I Ride" I spot?

Yes. When it's "crowded", 4 out of the 12 boards out are August WIRs. I'll confess that the first one I saw looked cool, until I realized they were the blue jeans of surfing.

Higgins...is that in scarborough?

Yes.

what's the water temp up there ? low 40's ???

Tuesday night the water was 40F, air 36F. It does get colder than that; water temps in the mid-30s are not uncommon during cold snaps, and it does get below freezing at times. It's comfortable enough until a pearled wave turns your wetsuit into a firehose, with your face playing the role of nozzle.

[Ottime]

Sweet - btw, I hear that Outside Wells Jetties is breaking well...

[peterslovo]

Monday morning down my way in Maine was super windy, good size, and really fun. Sets were well overhead. First image is me, 2nd is a friend about to take one on the head.





Some other images (kudos to local photog Eug Cole) of us and the few other folks that were out that day can be seen here:
http://eugecole.exposuremanager.com/g/surfing_012808

Tuesday was a bit smaller, but perfect and clean, with light offshores in the morning, turning W and chopping things up by 12:30.

I love Maine in winter!

[Yeti]

Last week here, across the river.

[stayalert]

That shot of minot is cool I've been out there (slightly different weather) in a canoe.