Letter: - January 16, 2020

Just came from the pier and over the course of assessing the waves there were two beams from the pier in the water. One quite obvious and easy to avoid, the other was the size and shape of a spear. Evidently, the guys dismantling the pier are not doing a great job of keeping debris from falling in the water. Just something people should be aware of so they don’t get impaled. I’m not sure why or if it’s even against any OSHA code but I should think the construction company should have netting under the pier where they are working to keep things from falling in the water and injuring someone.

-Concerned surfer

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Surf Station Response:

Wow! We hope no one gets hurt!

-Surf Station

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Letter: - January 1, 2020

Hi Jack,

Congratulations! You’ve won the Surf Station $500 Gift Card!

To receive your gift card please send a email to Chris@Surf-Station.com within 3-5 Days and confirm that it is OK for us to publish your name on our social channels. (We won’t use your email address in the announcement.) If you have a Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter account and you are ok with us tagging you please let us know!

This is not required at all, but if you’re stoked about winning send us a selfie and share it with us!

If you have any questions please feel free to email me, Chris@surf-Station.com!

Have a great day!

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Letter: - December 25, 2019

I would like to wish everyone one at the Surf Station a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. As 2019 comes to a close the surfing community has lost of surf stores. Blue Sky in St. Augustine and Free Ride in Gainesville. We are very fortunate to have The Surf Station. Tory thanks to your dedication and the hard work of your employees. The stoke is alive and kicking in St. Augustine! May 2020 be a prosperous year. God Bless everyone in the surfing community.

– CB

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Surf Station Response:

Thanks so much Chris! Merry Christmas to you as well!

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Letter: - December 17, 2019

Hi Surf Station,

I got my shirts today they’re awesome thank you so much

-Jeffrey

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Surf Station Response:

Hi Jeffrey,

We are glad to hear it! Thank you so much for your business and have a great holiday season!

Best, Billy

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Letter: - November 29, 2019

Hi Josh,

I would like to thank you for your attention…. I’m already returning to my home in Brazil.
The boards arrived well in Houston, Texas.
I was very impressed with the quality of packaging produced by Surf Station! congratulations!
surely new business to come in the future.
Congrats to all the team.

best regards

Sergio Griffel
Brazil

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Surf Station Response:

Hi Sergio,

I’m very happy to hear the boards arrive safely and you are satisfied with our packing methods!

We all truly hope you enjoy them!

In the future if you need anything, please let me know and I’ll be happy to help.

All the best,

Josh

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Letter: - September 5, 2019

Hello,

In Thursday evening’s surf report it says that due to the nearby proximity of the swell source
the waves were peaky hollow tubes. Why is that? Why would a nearby energy source
produce a different type wave than a distant energy source? Isn’t energy, energy? I would think that the AMOUNT of energy would make a difference, not how far it has traveled.

Thank you, Anthony

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Surf Station Response:

Anthony,

We do not have scientific data to back it up but shop owner Tory Strange (and others) noticed over the years that the long lines of distant hurricane swells tend to close out. The wave has so much time and distance to form into long long lines is likely the reason plus they to to hit our sandbars head on with little angle. Close period waves do not have time to form into long lines as they are just (rapidly) forming and so are peakier, and thus better for surfing. The angle of the swell matters too. When Dorien was north of us the storm was sending angled waves which allow the swells to peel and close out less. Earlier this year we had a lose period swell from a local low and Tory took note and wrote this on his instagram about closer period swells : https://www.instagram.com/p/B0tzJm5hq8b/

-Surf Station

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Letter: - July 12, 2019

Hi guys,

My family and I have been going to your website almost daily for over a decade. We love Surf Station and half the toys in our garage have come from your store. May I ask who reviews/approves the content of the videos you post, and what their criteria for ‘appropriate’ is? M 11-year old son and I often check the surf report and watch some of your videos together. Current and recent features contain explicit language, ‘gangsta’ talk/ideology, sexual inuendo, etc. Is this a new trend/turn with Surf Station? In short, is your website going to remain family friendly?

Thanks,

Eric

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Surf Station Response:

Hi Eric,

My name is Brian and I am the graphic/web designer and also responsible for posting a lot of the surf video content on the website. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

My sincere apologies for the graphic nature of some of the recent videos. I try and preview all of them before posting but I am not always able to catch all of the music lyrics the editor’s choose for the videos. We try to keep the website family friendly as possible and I’ve removed a couple of the recent ones.

Again, sorry for the graphic content and that is never our intention.

-Brian

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Letter: - June 13, 2019

An old memory just came back to me of a time when I was maybe ten or twelve one hot summer day when I trying to master what must have ben my first real surfboard.

— I can’t really remember a lot about that particular day only that i’m sure i was having a blast and that the small south swell was wrapping around the jetty and making for some really fun rides.

What stands out in particular though was an old fella on an old long board that was also having a great time.When I say old I’m not sure how old when your ten or twelve everybody over twenty is old but this guy might have been any where from fifty to seventy.

When he caught a wave he never tried to get up he just rode the wave out on his knees but by the way he paddled and caught waves you could tell it wasn’t his first rodeo.

What was for sure was that he had the same smile on his face as this ten year old kid.

Who knows maybe he was a surfing pioneer of a by-gone era, all I know is he still had the stoke.

Now that I’m in my sixties I’m sure that I am king of the kooks and I feel more than just a little pain after a session, but rest assured you will still see the smile of a ten year old old on my face even when the day comes that I can only manage to get up to my knees.

Keep surfing friends

-Hop

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Letter: - June 12, 2019

Everyone is spoiled by social media. Please bring back the message board. I know everyone like Twitter and facebook but lets put it to a vote. See if it is worthy.
Cb

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Surf Station Response:

I’ll post your letter and see how many people want us to look into this. Anyone for the messageboard coming back?

Thank you CB!

-Tory

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Letter: - June 4, 2019

Hello Mr. Strange,

My name is Jonathan Roberts, I recently took a surfing lesson with Mikaela. Up front I wanted to say that it was awesome, she really cared, and was knowledgeable. Also, I wanted to just say thank you for creating the surf station. I read the history page on the website and was truly touched by it! As of present, I’m thinking about the next time I can go back home, St. Augustine, and surf again. Also, it would be a perfect time to pick up some surf station merch 😃. Thank you to you and all of the crew at the surf station for lighting a fire in me I never knew I had.
From one St. Augustinian to another, thank you!

Sincerely,
Jonathan Roberts

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Surf Station Response:

Jonathan,

THANK YOU SO MUCH! Your letter made my day. I am always stoked when someone takes the time to read and experience our story. We are blessed to have had such a great run. And the good news is, it’s not over as we strive to get better every day. Employees like Mikaela help us succeed in moving forward and at a great pace. We all love the ocean, and just want to share the happiness that it brings. Surfing is a great provider of stoke.

-Tory

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Letter: - May 10, 2019

hi I was looking into getting a surfboard for being towed behind my boat and I’m new to surfing what board do you recommend. ty

-Billy

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Surf Station Response:

Hi Billy,

Thanks for reaching out. Here’s a link to a few boards that are specifically designed to be towed behind a boat here.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks!

Josh

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Letter: - April 19, 2019

I surf at Anastasia Park as often as I can, usually solo and have always loved the place. I remember that Middles was apparently pretty good back in the day, but I have never known how far north to walk. From what I understand, it doesn’t break as good as it used to, but things can change when sand moves. Can you give me some idea?

-Chris

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Surf Station Response:

It’s about 1 mile down (or slightly less) from the entrance, as you walk on the beach from the park. Look for the bigger sand dune on the left. The break is right in front.

The break can be a little one way or another from there.

Here is some talk on Middles. That is me in the photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/BwUNGBnBUif/

-Tory

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Letter: - January 14, 2019

How does the Surf Station measure wave heights for it’s surf report? Over the years I’ve noticed that you all rate it smaller than other local or national forecasters. I would think from trough to crest if the wave is waist high it should be measured as roughly 3 feet. What am I missing here? Do you all measure waves from the back or some other way?

-Chris

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Surf Station Response:

Chris,

Thank you for your question. It’s just being conservative with the call, that’s all. That is why we call the waves the way we do. See, it is hard to tell many times when pulling up to the beach just how big the surf is, so best to be a little conservative, rather than get everyone excited, only to be let down. So for accuracy sake, we judge the wave more from the ocean level (the back of the wave) rather than it’s face. So no, we do not call a waist high wave 3 feet.

As a general rule you can go by the following:
• Flat is a flat ocean. Ankle high waves are considered flat
• Up to knee high may only be 1/2 a foot.
• Knee to thigh high = 1 foot;
• Thigh to waist/stomach high is 2 feet.
• Lots of days are 1 foot. Or to 1.5 feet; or 1-2 feet ,so there are variables in calling the surf on those days to give the viewer (or listener) the best feel of how the waves really are.
• Rib to chest high is 3 feet.
• Chest to head high is 4 feet; and so on up.
• It’s hardly ever consistently overhead so we rarely call the waves 5 feet or bigger.

With the above said, different surf reporters (and forecasters) call it differently. Judging the ocean and it’s waves are are like judging art – the beauty is the eye of the beholder.
On a given day, some surfers may see the oceans waves as not so good. Other surfers are more optimistic and thus see the waves as great! It’s not easy to appear accurate to both types of surfers. Their eyes are looking at the same thing, yet are seeing it differently.

If you are really into the surf and want to know the most of what is going on, it’s best to know who is doing the calling of the surf when checking our surf report (or any surf report) Even within our report there are differences. As much as we try to stay consistent, there are variables which keep us not spot on every time. Dean (the surf forecaster) is slightly more conservative than Tory (the surf reporter). New to the Surf Station surf report is David Smart. Also new reporter Eden Lange, and a few others may come in the mix. Over 30 years into this and we still feel we need to get better. We will all work together to bring you the best surf report we can!

-Tory

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Letter: - January 7, 2019

Tory,

I emailed the NWS office in Jacksonville asking about the St. Augustine Buoy. I was redirected to a website that installs the buoys. I emailed their site and the guy said they are going to try and re deploy the St. Augustine Buoy in two to three weeks. So this is a start to a happy New Year. Keeping my fingers crossed.

CB in Melrose

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Surf Station Response:

CB,

So good! We will look for it. If it pops up before we see, please shoot us an email or text and let us know so we can let the St. Augustine surf Community know. Thank you CB!

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Letter: - November 30, 2018

I’ve noticed that the St. Augustine buoy has not been giving readings the last couple months. I’m curious as to what makes the Canaveral buoy a better swell indicator for our area than the Fernandina buoy? Is the Canaveral one just a bit further offshore making it more reliable? I look at the buoy readings occasionally, and it’d be nice to know. I would have thought the Fernandina buoy would be a good indicator on N, NE and ENE swells and Canaveral for anything more E, ESE or SE. Since the report used the Canaveral buoy for the last Nor’Easter I just thought I would get the skinny. Thanks guys.

-Chris

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Surf Station Response:

Chris,
In the summer, the majority of our swells come from the East and ESE so we look to our East and South primarily. But you are right, we should shift our focus because in winter, new swells come from the north. We will add the Fernandina Buoy starting now. We used to look at the Fernandina Buoy, and it was great, but for a while there the readings got way off kilter. So we used the more consistent Grays Reef Buoy. Yes the Grays Reef Buoy it’s further north, but being further offshore the readings seem more consistent. Based on your letter we will try the Fenandina Buoy again, and see what happens.

Thank you for writing in! We don’t get the feedback we used to get when we had the Surf Station Message Board. Everyone is one Facebook now, and the way the algorithms work, it’s silly for us to try to communicate in a meaningful way with our audience there.  People don’t see it, so it is useless.  You did it the much better, old fashioned way, via a letter, which is awesome!

-Tory

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