Wave of the Winter unofficial winner Joseph Kimmel in the slot. When I apologized that there was no prize for winning JJ humbly said “I already got the prize”. Photo: Michael Dolan.
Wave of the Winter
Interview with the Barrel Slayer JJ Kimmel
JJ is a 29 year old graduate from USF working for an environmental company doing surveys. He lives in Gulfport. JJ was super humble when I spoke with him via the cellphone. He said it was unbelievable how many ripper shredders were out that day. He said that he is like the least of all the ripper shredders, just super humble, in disbelief that he got one of the best waves that day…
MW: When did you know the forecast was going to be good?
JJ: I was doing a survey in the woods and taking a break I looked at my phone and saw your forecast, this was Tuesday. I basically look at your forecast and then go check the models and buoys and verify if everything looks on.
I told my boss I had a doctor’s apnt and I went in and worked a half a day, I felt bad for lying but my boss surfs also. I got to the beach at 2 and it was crowded but within a couple hours 50% of the people left. (cont… below)
Exit left.
Tell us about the wave:
JJ: It was a solid set wave. There were a couple guys around. It came right to me. I’m not a great tube rider.
MW: Dude, you look like a pro you’ve got the chill stance, head up, arm down.
JJ: My best day getting barreled was at Playalinda NE swell, SW wind. MW: How did you get that style? JJ: My dad gave me a skateboard when I was five.
MW: Dude, congrats on Wave of the Winter. It looks a little bigger than CJ’s 2003 barrel.
JJ: I’m just so stoked to get barreled esp at home. It’s such a special feeling and when I saw Mike on the beach with the camera pumping his fist after that wave, it was just super cool.
CJ Hobgood 2003. Photo: John Purdy
WFL Saturday last day of a Surfy February 2015: Great month for surf… Next weeks front started out looking good on the models a few days ago but has got weak and backdoor since then. 50/50 that the next Friday front could produce thigh high lines. The downhill pattern into the SE we had for the last few weeks is on a break. Hopefully it comes back for the 2nd week in March. March is usually a good month for surf in WFL although it looks to start slow. Keep checking back into Monday to look at the Friday 3/6 surf chances. It’s been so flakey I would not start feeling confident unless it goes notch up into Tuesday. Have a great weekend.
Click below for the gallery.
Gulf Coasters Shred!
Straight SUCKED
Yeah it was barely what you’d call leftovers. I gave it an hour and bounced.
Word.
i wish u guys had been en the caribe this week and last, absolutely mental. i grew up surfing the gc, to go out at wishing well in epic conditions on tuesday 6ft glass, spitting barrels, my heart was in my throat but i did it and I got two really good tubes, only bad thing was i lost my sanuk beer cozy sandals on the beach, those things are so comfy… i’ll post a link to the gallery
Jack’s got the lingo! Sup wit dat hommie…
Haha! Hells yeah, Bfisch! Let’s see you out there next swell. If, you know, it actually produces anything worth getting in 58 degree water for…
Mdub, it looked so sick from your shots! Stoked you scored!!!!!!!!!
So, if it happens, where’s everybody going to go for the fabled south groundswell?
I’ve devised a code system we can use so the locals don’t get their pantaloons in a twist.
Obviously there’s Top Secrets, the north side of which I kind of hate but which seems to be the go to spot for these events.
I was thinking of checking Central American Snooze Time beach since it is favorably oriented al sur. Someone else recommended Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle beach, too.
Any recommendations down south near Schmanasota key?
TMNT??!, you lost me there Jack.
Hey admin, shoot me a text.
You’re overthinking it, d-bot.
Crossing my fingers for fun surf.
I want to come surf PR later in March……
I was.
Cracking up on the references LOL
Andy M holding it down!!! That’s a turn. Nice to see purdy and Shawn still ripping
TMNT, c’mon even I know exactly where that is… John, Andy and Shawn are the coolest guys. They are all humble and down to earth and they rip! So refreshing for me to hang out with them. I feel like I’m on their surf trip. Cool guys… Thanks gulfcoastin for the words.
watched Point break last night with Of all things, a martini on the Rocks. Low tide early morning rock reef barrels??? No shark fin soup please.
Jack, theres always angry dolphins pier but I heard Donatello’s at TMNT has been breaking pretty good
for all those NOT surfing @ HOME tomorrow please show some RESPECT. i just sharpened my fins if not!
JB, I’ve been cracking up all morning over “Angry Dolphins.” If that’s not the new official name for that spot, then there’s clearly no justice in this world.
It’s also a good suggestion. I will check it out tomorrow. Hoping to get all my work done today so I can move around tomorrow and try a few spots.
Going to wake up early check the bouys and winds and decide if I’m going to be “sick”
Is this a skip work in the morning or skip work in the afternoon kind of event? Got a thing at my son’s school in the evening, hopefully I can get a little salt on the skin, been a dry winter for me and my board.
Listen, I Didn’t Order crappy waves for tomorrow, But i am Effectively getting itchy about All the Chest High walls I am hoping to score
It’s good somewhere. Lots of swell in the water. Out back breaking at like knee to thigh … and there’s probably a waist high wave to be found somewhere in Pinellas. But looking at the swell direction and buoy size, if it were me and I had the day off, I wouldn’t be messing around in Pinellas. Have a feeling that there will be some very good pics up later from other spots.
Paddled out just north of middle jetty on sunset beach this morning. It was fun overall and for an hour or so pretty good. Nice take offs but not really lining up. There is plenty of swell in the water and I expect this afternoon will be worth your time if you can make it.
Waist high and bigger sets just North and across an inlet from your work Rob it was very VERY fun. I took an early, and long, liquid lunch. I love that place when it is uncrowded and fun.
anybody got a photo Id on the goofy in the tube? who is the guy snowballing his wave? paddling out or trying to snake?
check out the rest of the sequence, he hangs, goes past the snowball and gets nutted and comes out…anybody there? best day of the winter?
Not sure who it was but I was there. Definitely legit and best day of the winter. Really good and not just for the Gulf.
I took the shot, the goofy footer goes by JJ, st Pete dude who is super mellow and keeps the stoke in the water high. Shoulder hopper? too hell with him. definitely trying to snake as a lot of that was going on yesterday. had to sit this one out via injury but stoked to see all the boys score!!
Got out at whatever the code word for the crazy jacked up wave on AMI is. That is a gnarly wave! People were getting worked left and right there, many of them very good surfers, too. On the other hand, there were quite a few kooks out at that spot yesterday, though I’m told usually there aren’t.
I bodysurfed up there with a friend and of course we stayed just north of the buoy out of respect, but still got amazing rides. Nothing like dropping in on a head high wave, looking up, and seeing a 1.5 foot thick lip coming down on top of you. I hit the bottom many times yesterday.
The second session was at Top Secrets, of course, my home break, though it has been suffering since the erosion really kicked into high gear. The hole has migrated south and the cove isn’t working much at all anymore. Sweet spot seems to be right on top of the dogbones lately. I tried catching a few in all of the above and got some decent rides.
I was hoping someone would have snapped a photo but that’s how it goes, I guess.
Glad everybody scored yesterday and no one had any trouble.
Anybody got a good ding guy in s. Pinellas? Did a little damage yesterday. Say what you want about that spot it THROWS
7272787873 Mike Moore, best ding guy
who is JJ frm st pete? I think I know him
Thursday in AMI was epic for the Gulf and pretty darn good by any surf standards. Glad I took time off work to catch it. I stayed north of the main peak as old guys don’t mixed well with argo groms (anyone under 30 to me as I am 58 next month 🙂 ), plus I am rehabbing a shoulder injury and paddling at half speed. Anyway there were great waves all along that stretch. After my surf I watched my son, Matty and all the other young shredders getting shacked and boosting airs…very nice. The “old groms” like TC and Brandon were doin’ the same. Saw the guy’s board break that was in a Gulfster pic. So that was Jack and his cute bodysurfin’ buddy north of where I was? I told her they were hardcore charging it in a speedo and bikini, whereas I was in a 3/2 fullsuit and booties! Great day.
Micah – I’ll put him in touch with you.
You’re my new favorite person, DW. She’s single, by the way.
G.Morning….. loved the interview – and all the posts…. water is stilll too cold for me….feeling serious withdrawal pains -been a long winter for my bones….trying to be positive & hoping this winter season is a preview of a Spring and Summer filled with waves.
hang in there evy warmer wx on the way
keep an eye out caribe travelers: way far out but gfs shows storm south of newfoundland 3/11 putting 15 second NNE swell for PR later in mid march
Love the surf coach video…
i’ve watched it 3 times and counting, attack the take off, one pump and do something, do speed moves…. yada yada yada
where was this video 20yrs ago when I was a grom?
thanks for the updates bfisch, sorry wp keeps putting you in the queue, i check the comments every chance Im on the puter to make sure you guys get in asap
Fun little glassy wave for the groms this afternoon, knee thigh high.
Went east with Jane today and got some really fun rides at 2nd light and RC’s. Solid head plus, maybe a couple feet OH on some sets, and it was crazy fun. I can’t speak for the board surfers — it stayed pretty disorganized all day — but bodysurfers got big fun drops and occasionally long rides.