Categories
Sports

Surf Report from White Ave, Holmes Beach

Live beach cam: https://amipost.com/surf-cam-holmes-beach/

  • Surf from Hurricane Ida August 29, 2021
Hurricane Ida passing by August 28th, 2021.
Holmes Beach, Anna Maria Island, Florida. Small surf as Tropical Storm Marco crosses Gulf of Mexico to Louisiana.
Tropical Storm Marco crossing western Gulf of Mexico, August 23, 2020.
Tropical Storm Marco, August 24, 2020, pushing out some swells.
Categories
Environment

March Beach Fog

Anna Maria beach in March fog
Anna Maria beach in March fog

Spring break has come and gone but spring has not yet arrived. Cool winds from the north collided with a warm air mass from the south and blanketed Anna Maria Island with thick fog for days.

The north wind pushed further south and let in more unseasonably cold temperatures.

Categories
News

Tropical Storm Isaac Effect On Anna Maria Island

All eyes were on the tropics last week as a depression formed into the named storm Isaac, which soon became tropical storm strength and headed into the Caribbean towards Hispaniola. Haiti took the first hit with heavy rains and flooding. Cuba was next in line with high surf and over-wash on the northern coast.

As Isaac continued unsubdued by land and on over the warm waters of the Florida Straights, intensification appeared likely but lack of vertical alignment of the core left the center ill-defined and passed by Key West with relatively little impact.

Meanwhile, Tampa prepared for the Republican Party national convention in the coming week but switched over to storm mode. The forecast path would bring Tropical Storm Isaac up the Gulf of Mexico coastline and risked dangerous consequences for the low-lying city and convention visitors.

Categories
Sports

Stand Up Paddle SUP Surfing on Anna Maria Island

Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP) is a great alternative board sport for the conditions we have on Anna Maria Island. Introduced to the mainland United States from Hawaii less than ten years ago, this form of surfing involves standing on a long board, ranging from seven to twelve feet, and using a long paddle.

The reason this increasingly popular sport makes sense for Anna Maria Island is that it doesn’t require waves for surfing or wind for sailboards and kite-boarding. It can be done on still waters, or it can be done in the surf. There are plenty of protected areas around the island where standup paddle boarding can be learned and practiced in relatively easy, safe conditions.

On flat water, touring or just poking around the waterways, longer boards in the 10 to 14 foot range have more glide than shorter boards from 9 down to 7 feet, that are better for turning in surf. Either way SUP is a great core workout and an excellent means of maintaining balance skills. A friend tells me it is not hard on his bad back. This makes it a good alternative to kayaking for people who have back problems when they sit for long periods in a kayak. Standup paddle boarding has the added advantage of offering an aerobic workout when aiming for speed. Serious athletes are taking it up for that reason and competitive events are becoming more popular.

Longtime local Shawn Duytschaver, known for the kayak rentals he has offered on the island for years, now offers standup paddleboard rentals and instruction at Palma Sola Causeway. He also sells the equipment. For more information he can be reached at 941-527-6355.

The local store in Holmes Beach, adjacent to the  West Coast Surf Shop  has been serving surfers’ needs since 1964, and stocks the best selection of surf wear and gear.

Categories
Environment News Sports

Holmes Beach Surfs Hurricane Ike Surge

Anna Maria Island beaches felt the effects of Hurricane Ike this week with several days of high surf and high water.

Every day this past week brought a good swell and copious waves as Ike passed 300 miles away to the south west of Anna Maria Island.

Hurricane Ike waves Anna Maria Island

The storm emerged off the coast of Cuba into the Gulf of Mexico with Tropical Storm strength winds and soon intensified into a Category 2-3 hurricane heading northwest.