Surfing in a Hurricane

[Cookiely]

I was in the physicians office this morning and picked up a magazine concerning surfers who ride the 40-80 ft. waves. I believe the first to ride a 100 ft wave gets a half million dollars. Now, this great surfer mentions in the article his next challenge and desire is to surf inside a hurricane. My question is what are the conditions like wave wise inside the eye of a hurricane. I always thought it was calm like a sheet of glass. Surely, he didn't mean to surf in the eye wall? Any thoughts.

[NetZeroZeus]

Although there aren't winds in the eye of a hurricane, all the water that has been pushed will be in motion, so although there will be no wind, the waves WILL be there, and they will be big, at least, that's how I understand it.

[brunota2003]

in the eye? it will be crazy, the waves are there, however they are colliding with each other and to ships the eye presents a greater capsizing hazard than the eyewall does as the waves come from every direction...I dont really think it would be that smart to surf in the eye of a hurricane though?

[NetZeroZeus]

It's not really about being smart, it's about the challenge for them, without caring about the endangerment of their own life.

[Extremeweatherguy]

Also imagine if the surfer was stuck out there when the backside of the eye hit. It would be a certain death.

[dizzyfish]

That's just nuts to the max!

My first thought was - how's he gonna get out there with all the wind flying around - then how's he get back in?

Never mind the fact that he would probably drown.

I've been in the eye before - but not at the beach.

[WindRunner]

The waves situation under a hurricane still over the ocean is a little weird. First off, you know that the storm still has its surge, which you really can't tell is there because it's just a pile of water, i.e. the water level is higher. Second, the waves there are much smaller than they are at landfall because there is no surface (the beach/ocean floot) to force them out of the water, and the only waves present are whatever the wind can whip up. On that note, the fetch of the wind is much greater, so the size of the waves that the wind creates is much greater - the same is true of the surge, as the longer fetch will also increase the surge.

Of course, I needn't mention that the wind inside a hurricane is plenty to knock him off his board, unless he plans on constantly hiding behind the waves . . .

[Aslkahuna]

Those waves would not be suitable for surfing since the break would be chaotic. Just because they're big doesn't always mean that they are surfable. Curiously, two surfers did accidentally surf a tsunami some years ago (they also said never again). The big waves, surfers love are the big rollers that are generated by distant storms (such as those 40+ footers on the north shore of O'ahu which come from the Gulf of Alaska). Being an interference phenomenom, I doubt that a 100 foot Rogue would be a good wave to surf-not to mention that they are usually only found well out to sea.

Steve

[Stratosphere747]

Cortes Banks on a good day, tops the eye of any hurricane...

[caribepr]

Those waves would not be suitable for surfing since the break would be chaotic. Just because they're big doesn't always mean that they are surfable. Curiously, two surfers did accidentally surf a tsunami some years ago (they also said never again). The big waves, surfers love are the big rollers that are generated by distant storms (such as those 40+ footers on the north shore of O'ahu which come from the Gulf of Alaska). Being an interference phenomenom, I doubt that a 100 foot Rogue would be a good wave to surf-not to mention that they are usually only found well out to sea.

Steve

It's been a long time since my surfing days but as I remember (off Cocoa Beach area) pre-storm and post-storm was surfing time, not DURING the storm when exactly as described above was the case, slop surf, even if it was big. Of course that was before all extreme sport stuff, so maybe surfers are different now...and I won't get into what that difference might be

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

Only people that were killed in New Brunswick by Hurricane Bob in 1991 (then a strong TS with hurricane force gusts, by the time the actual center reached the area); were a couple of tourist watching the waves in the Bay of Fundy, during the actual height of the storm. I've always felt such behavior is VERY STUPID.

[DanKellFla]

Surfing was 80 pounds ago for me. Like caribepr said. Totally unsurfable waves. Just no fun. This sounds like an uneducated person who is very good at surfing and little else.

[Weatherfreak14]

I surf before hurricanes hit.

[tropicana]

I hope if they ever get to surf inside a hurricane, they will get it filmed too, becuase I wouldn't wanna miss that.

-justin-

[O Town]

I agree with others here that the waves during a hurricane are way to choppy to be riding. You want glassy waves and preferable the winds blowing outland not inland because it holds the waves up better. When the winds are blowing inland it tends to cut off the wave to quick. Maybe he will be surfing them way on the outside where the waves arent as choppy as they are closer to shore. Hubby used to surf alot when he was younger and I always went with him. They would go out before a storm, not generally in a storm but others did.

[JonathanBelles]

i surf before and after the hurricane, but my question is how do ou get to the eyewall? do you wait 5+ hours to get to it?

[Aslkahuna]

There was a video on the local news lst night showing some guy surfing a Tidal Bore in a Bay in Alaska. According to the sportscaster, the guy got a 15 minute ride out of the wave.

Steve

[caribepr]

Surfing was 80 pounds ago for me.

Of course you are referring to the weight of the old boards, right? These kids have everything soooooooo easy today!

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Here is a little dire for the surfers how about riding out a cat5...Then surf its waves? That would be a prize, how about setting it at a million dollars.

[brunota2003]

Anyone remember the episode of Gillian's Isle where that surfer guy rode in on the Tsunami wave? it was in the first season... Reminds me of that, just the difference would be the waves themselves...and the fact that it would be alot more dangerous...