GP2004-A Good Time, with Bad Timing.  Got in two sessions yesterday at the Bunker.  
Morning fog made for a nice, quiet solo event with waist to shoulder slabs unaffected by
wind. The afternoon session was at a midtown popular spot that is usually crowded. I 
owned a peak for about 2 hours and got more than my share of fun walls, zippy tubettes
and sinus cloggings. This was more surf than I'd seen in all of the GP but as usual the 
event was about more than just the waves.

Early arrivers on Saturday testified there were good windswell sessions in the Frisco 
Pier area taking advantage of the mild weather, a waist to nipple pulse and NE winds 
that are somewhat offshore on the South facing beaches. Conditions were described as 
small but clean.

Since my 21st wedding anniversary was the night before I opted to arrive later. Out front 
of the beach house the NE winds were mulching the small windswell. On Sunday early 
searches were still concentrating on the South beaches scoring more 
small but clean surf. The Sunday afternoon group session down the beach from ramp 49 
where last years epic session took place was more notable for the great stoke, 
warm water, cold beers and building camaraderie than for any substantive waves.

As with all GPs in the past the attendees set the tone early. This was an unusually stoked 
and good natured group mixing ASers and Annapolis Surf Club members who blended well 
in both temperament and humor. What was notable this year was the cooking talent that 
raised the bar for group dinners including pan-seared tuna filets, and chicken pesto pasta. 
While enjoying one of these extraordinary meals I recalled the first GP where Mark Sisom 
was afflicted with a Bubba's BBQ fit of highly toxic pulled pork. These meals seemed light 
years away from that.

Aware of the kickoff date 9/11 the GP observed a moment silence to remember friends and 
acquaintances who were lost in the attack. Several of us had known people who were lost 
or endangered during that ordeal.

Over the next two days wind, waves and weather conditions deteriorated. We'd been through 
this before and spirits remained good due to the high quality food, drink and company. There 
was a rumor my behavior was questionable due to an afternoon and evening of drinking. Don't 
believe a word of what spurious lies you hear from Rod or others. I was just trying to put some 
silverware away.

Once the rains and strong winds came on Tuesday the GP collapsed like an old party balloon. 
It appeared we would get no help from Ivan and the conditions just seemed to get worse. The 
GP exodus began in earnest leaving the remaining half to contemplate weathering the predicted 
deluge. It appears they were wrong. The lingerers were able to score a lull in the drecky surf 
conditions on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Bunker beach has always offered something for me to ride while I relish or commiserate the 
events of the GP. Yesterday I woke up and scored better waves than I'd seen on the OB in my 
own back yard. My foggy morning session renewed my spirit and helped me put the GP in 
perspective. As much as we'd like to think it will be great as it was in 2003, this is an East 
Coast event subject to the vicissitudes and uncertainty that comes with the flaky nature of 
Atlantic storms.

This years event suffered from imperfect timing for some, going off during approximately the time 
when the OB would not be influenced by a hurricane, though this years Atlantic activity to date 
would indicate Sept is the optimum time to hold it. I don't know if there will be another GP or 
whether I'll be able to attend it. It may have run its course experiencing the very best and worst 
the OB can offer in its 6 year history.There was talk of moving the time and place, possibly to 
Florida. Or taking it international, maybe to the 3rd world like Costa Rica, France or LA. Time
will tell.

For the most part the majority of attendees will testify that no matter what conditions they 
experience, the event, people, camaraderie and stoke are things they will remember for quite a 
while. Some comment they were just happy to be there because it wasn't work.

You may hear other comments, but these are my recollections as of now. There may be some 
pics in the future, or not.

From: Foon (foon@removenewsguy.com)
Newsgroups: alt.surfing
Date: 2004-09-17 08:50:39 PST

Arrived post GP Wednesday afternoon. Surf was small blown and messy. Zero on the 
motivation meter. When I woke up this morning I could hear the difference. Through the fog I 
made out some decent peeling wavage just south of the bunker. After breakfast and coffee I took 
a walk down to check it out. Three waves later I was limping my way back to suit up (I don't do 
mornings too well) Ten minutes later I was paddling into better surf than I'd seen in all of the GP. 
Even with the tide coming in I saw and rode waist to chesthigh, clean and nicely spaced waves 
for over an hour. By then the impact zone was getting a little close in. I decided to hit midtown 
after high tide.

I went directly to 49th. No one out there but a loose crowd of over 15  guys were strung out from 
48th South to 37th with only 4 sitting on the poles at the end of 48th. I'd planned to get in at 48th
and drift south on a mild current but the peak at 49th was good and improving and I owned it 
exclusively for 2 hours.

The wind was all over the place but so slight it never ever factored into the surf equation. I 
noticed light NE at first, then E, then calm, then slight SW, then back to E. Only one time 
did I think of leaving because it was getting a bit rippley. That stopped within 30 minutes.

The waves were nice peaks with both lefts and rights, some closing out and a few peaking at 
headhigh. The sun was warm and hazy, everyone trunked it. In all a classic early Fall day with a 
very mellow crowd in the water and improving conditions.

The Ocean Club at 49th is currently under deconstruction as they tear down, remove and 
demolish the place to make way for a huge condo project; a few of the workers took a lunch 
break and paddled out for some waves then went back to destroying an OC landmark.

As of now (6:30 p.m.) the outgoing tide has taken it's toll. There are still 2-4 foot waves in 
the water and  the wind is still so flaccid it will probably die overnight.  Friday calls for rain 
and storms with increasing winds from the east.