I’m giving a talk today about the history of conservation in the TJ estuary. Here is what was planned.
4th Annual Walter Caloca Surf Contest in San Miguel Day 1
March 23, 2014 by Leave a Comment
On Saturday March 22, 2014 young surfers from Mexico and the U.S. gathered in San Miguel, Baja California to participate in the 4th Annual Walter Caloca Surf Contest. Organized by Alfredo Ramirez and United Athletes of the Pacific Ocean (UAPO) with the help of Zach Plopper and WILDCOAST/COSTASALVAJE, the event provided a forum for young surfers to rip 2-4′ waves and celebrate international friendships. Additionally, Day 1, included the SUP and bodyboard divisions.
It was a great day. Day 2 on March 23, is the open event. The photos here are all from Day 1.
Daniel Dedina with San Miguel local and artist Jaime Noia.
Afredo Ramirez of UAPO with competitors. The best part of this contest is bringing together surfers from Mexico and the U.S.
Girls contestants.
Daniel Dedina, Jack Stewart and Cameron Bartz from IB.
Jack Stewart and Cameron Bartz await their final heat.
Cameron Bartz.
Lance Mann
Paul Stewart.
Daniel Dedina
Dakotah Hooker
Josh Johnson
Dakotah Hooker.
Paul Stewart.
Javi Meza
Daniel Dedina
SUP finalists.
Grom finalists.
Girls finalists.
Bodyboard finalists.
Junior finalists.
Cameron Bartz, Paul Steward, Lance Mann and Daniel Dedina. It is great to see so many young surfers surfing and making friends south of the border. It is great for them to travel and make lots of friends up and down the coast. That is the true spirit of surfing.
Coastal Flooding in Imperial Beach
March 11, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The surf tripled in size on Saturday March 1st and by the end of the day was breaking out past the Imperial Beach Pier.
On Saturday March 1, 2014, the surf from an unusual almost Hurricane like storm (in its appearance) battered the coast of Southern California. The surf went from 3-5′ on Saturday morning to more than 10-15′ on Saturday afternoon. High tides and surf that evening resulted in coastal flooding in Imperial Beach and up and down the California coast (especially in the Santa Barbara area).
A satellite image of the unusual storm.
Swell forecast for Imperial Beach.
In Imperial Beach this swell combined with high tides to create coastal flooding. Surf topped over the sand berm along the beachfront especially in the Cortez/Descanso area and at the Palm Avenue Jetty. On Saturday afternoon surf broke well past the Imperial Beach Pier and over a mile offshore on distant reefs.
With high surf and high tides on the evening of March 1st, water came over the beach and into Seacoast Drive. Here is the end of Descanso Street the morning of March 2nd.
The end of Seacoast Drive, March 2nd.
The end of Encanto Street on March 2nd.
Ocean Lane just north of Palm Avenune, March 2nd.
Just north of Palm Avenue, March 2nd.
The end of Palm Avenue, March 2nd. Flooding worsened here during the morning high tide of March 2nd.
My New Book: Surfing the Border
March 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Here is the cover of my new forthcoming book, Surfing the Border: Adventures at the Edge of the Ocean. It is a collection of essays and articles I’ve written over the past three years about my adventures and life in California, Mexico and around the world. I’m hoping it will be out this summer if not before. 
King Tides and Coastal Flooding in Imperial Beach
January 31, 2014 by 1 Comment
Over the past few days in Imperial Beach we’ve had “King Tides” or the highest tides of the year (over 7 feet). The tides caused with larger than average surf (in the 4-8′ range and out of the west) resulted in coastal flooding. The San Diego Union-Tribune came down to shoot this video and was lucky to have Dr. Bob Guza of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography to explain why the flooding was happening. You can see the U-T video here: http://bcove.me/zyhb25e7
Cortez Street end in Imperial Beach on January 29, 2014.
The end of Seacoast Drive in Imperial Beach on January 29, 2014.
Dr. Robert Guza of Scripps Institution of Oceanography talking to a reporter about coastal flooding and king tides on January 30, 2014.
Researchers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography monitoring conditions in Imperial Beach on January 30, 2014.
Why I Love Imperial Beach: Photo Essay 2
January 27, 2014 by 2 Comments
Decoration on Seacoast Drive.
The statue, “Spirit of Imperial Beach” looking east toward Palm Avenue.
Part of the Bibbey’s Shell Shop Mural.
The opening of IB Yoga has been a very positive development for Imperial Beach.
The Plank is an IB landmark.
Local surfer Sean Fowler on the window of the Surf Hut.
My sons and their surf “grom” friends a few years ago. Growing up surfing in IB is a wonderful experience. There is a tight knit group of kids who have been surfing together since they were about five years old and now compete together in swimming and water polo. All of us surf dads are already preparing for their departure for college and adulthood. We’ll miss them and their infectious energy.
Why I Love Imperial Beach: Photo Essay 1
January 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I’ve lived in Imperial Beach since 1971. It is one of the last cool little blue collar beach towns left in Southern California. And I love the neat little ways in which people brighten up their businesses and our public plazas (courtesy of the Port of San Diego) along the beachfront. This is what gives our town character and makes us unique. And it is why I love my hometown of Imperial Beach.
The Imperial Beach Pier Plaza and a public art project called Surfhenge.
Mike Bibbey, the owner of Bibbey’s Shell Shop, is awesome–full of energy, passion and creativity.
I am very honored to have helped provide the information that was used in many of the plaques along the pier. The project honors the history of surfing the Tijuana Sloughs reef.
Bibbey’s Shell Shop is an IB landmark and this shark is a favorite photo stop for tourists and locals.
The IB mermaid at Bibbey’s Shell Shop.
I love Bibbey’s because it is community art that makes people happy.
The octopus door at Bibbey’s.
You have to really look close to see all of the details on the mural at Bibbey’s.
A stunning mural on the side of the building that is the location of IB Yoga–which is one of the many cool little businesses that have opened up in town over the past few years. We need more beautiful art like this around town and we need to continue to support local small businesses benefit the community.
A Trip to Todos Santos Island
January 9, 2014 by Leave a Comment
A couple of day’s before Christmas we celebrated my oldest son’s 18th birthday with a day-trip out to Baja’s Todos Santos Island. It was a magical day in a very special place.
Israel celebrating his 18th birthday.
A cyclops wave.
The lighthouse dominates the land and seascape.
Because the waves come out of deep water, it is hard to see the sets coming until they break on you.
The wave at Todos Santos is a beauty.
That’s me on a fun one.
My youngest son Daniel (15) gets a set wave.
One of the sets rolling through.
Israel.
Israel and Daniel sharing a small one. It gives me great pleasure to watch my sons surf together.
Daniel after a long day in the water.
Israel after his birthday surf session. He’d been asking me to take him for a couple of years.
2013 in Review
January 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.
Here’s a report on my top stories of the year for 2013.
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Tijuana-Ensenada Toll Road Alternative Route Update
January 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Traffic backing up on the start of the descent just south of La Mision
For those of you wondering about the toll road closure from La Fonda to San Miguel (northern end of Ensenada). I traveled on the La Mision-San Miguel free road twice in the past week. Expect the trip to take 30-45 minutes depending on traffic. Don’t try to pass on curves, don’ expect to travel more than 25-35 mph on average. Just enjoy the scenery and be safe. Get used to it because we’ll all be traveling that road a lot.
The section of the toll road that collapsed. This was totally preventable.
My estimate is that 75% of the free road could be widened with little enviro-social-and economic impact within the existing highway/utility easement which is very wide. The exception is the La Mision section and hill which is incredibly dangerous anyway and areas near businesses and homes.
Truck accident just south of La Mision on what is one of the most dangerous curves on the entire transpeninsular highway.
The fact is that the entire Ensenada community needs to pressure federal and state governments to quickly expand and make safer the free road and then seriously make an attempt to address the shocking underinvestment in upgrading the safety of the toll road area that collapsed. Anyone who traveled that road knew that authorities were making a less than stellar effort to improve the highway.
sergededina 