Beach erosion, flooded roads and power outages: Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel made their presence known this October, leaving surfers at Point Loma Nazarene University hesitant to catch any waves. Through high tides, storm surges and larger-than-normal waves, PLNU’s Sunset Cliffs and nearby beaches left these surfers with unexpected conditions and atypical challenges.
“Where we are, it’s really good in the winter time, based on the angle of the coast and where the swells are coming from,” Cale Schimmel, a second-year accounting major, said. “But these waves have definitely provided size and strength that we wouldn’t really expect for the fall, especially being at Sunset Cliffs. So it’s provided a fun run of swell when usually this has been a pretty lackluster time period.”
While winter is typically the desired season for local surfers according to Schimmel, the tropical storm has changed the seasonal pattern of the swell. This has not only impacted those who surf for leisure, but also those who compete on the PLNU’s surf club team.
“Overall the past couple weeks here at [PLNU], we’ve been getting a lot of south swells out front,” said Lilly Apostolakos, a second-year education major and girl’s shortboard surf competitor. “We definitely prefer more north or northwest swells, which should be arriving at this time of year, but haven’t yet due to these hurricanes continuing to bring south swells, which also brings the warm water.”
Through the Super El Niño and the storms that have migrated from the south, new winds and warmer water that typically don’t last this long have remained surging. These conditions, while negatively impacting the local landscape, are not necessarily a bad thing for those who have been surfing for many years.
“I would say it’s been good for the enthusiastic surfers,” Schimmel said. “It has provided lots of swell. For the average beachgoer, it’s been a bit more dangerous. We’ve seen high tides, less sand, and overall stronger ocean conditions. So I would recommend people who aren’t super comfortable in the water be mindful.”
While safety is a large concern with a storm to this extent, the discussion is also largely around preference rather than fear.
“Well, we have obviously a lot of rain right now and a lot of wind,” Ashley O’Regan, a second-year business marketing major, said. “Surfing is very dependent on the conditions. So if it’s windy and there’s a big swell, it’s just not gonna be great. I like to surf smaller, calm, Hawaii-style waves on my longboard, and then just glassy, big swell mornings.”
These conditions, while daring for some student surfers, have also impacted the PLNU surf team on a logistical level. With their first competition taking place after fall break, the storm impacted their accessibility and ability to surf for practice leading up to it.
“[We are] definitely having to explore and get creative going and surfing other places that maybe do better on a south swell versus out front, which typically does better on some different swell directions,” Apostolakos said.
With “pretty world class breaks out here” as O’Regan said, PLNU has rarely experienced weather conditions and water impacts to this extent and duration.
“Usually there’s like one big tropical storm in the late season coming out of summer, but to have like two or three in a month, I would say is something I haven’t noticed in San Diego in a couple years,” Schimmel said.
As there are those who could prefer reliable waves, and those who are excited by a challenge, the climate leaves the waves and swell unpredictable regardless, requiring adaptability.
“Surfing is really reliant on mother nature, and a lot of things outside your control, so [I’ve] just been trying to make the best of it,” Apostolakos said.
Kailyn Collette