"Oh my God... " I thought to myself when I saw the SWELL WATCH forecasts from WETSAND and Magic Seaweed on Sunday. "Is this real? The surf is really going to be this big Tuesday and Wednesday? " The color bars of dark RED on Wetsand were almost frightening. That's 20 to 25 feet! Gulp. Damn...I better get ready.

And like most of you who live here in New England that lump in my throat became a reality on Tuesday morning when this thing hit full force. The night before was big and getting bigger by the minute. But it was Tuesday morning that saw the biggest and most powerful surf since Hurricane BILL in 2009.

I would say this DECEMBER TO REMEMBER Swell on the 14th & 15th was more intense than BILL. Size wise, it was close. Except at certain spots this MASSIVE SWELL was bigger than BILL. It was clearly more intense just because of the elements we had to deal with. Currents, wind, and let's not forget the cold. After all it is December. Yea, I have no problems calling it bigger and more powerful than BILL. No problem.

The good side on this comparison was the crowd factor. During BILL it was a circus show out there. On the roads with gawking tourists and out in the water when anyone with half a brain and a soft top could paddle out. This was different. If you didn't have a winter suit and didn't have some kind of knowledge of both surfing and water skills you were not going out. Even if you only had half a brain. This was serious shit.

I saw waves on Tuesday break further out at some spots that I had not seen since the Massive Halloween Swell (Perfect Storm) swell of 1991. I'm not kidding. I saw waves that were topping off at 20' plus and NO ONE anywhere near by to challenge them. Some of those waves could have easily have been 25'. The Maine buoys were at 30 feet all day long. All I can say is I know what I saw. I know what I photographed. I saw waves that were at least a mile or more out to sea, at a location that we all drive by, that was easily some of the biggest waves I've ever seen around here. Ever.

For those of you who are thinking "Well, why didn't you surf it Ralph?"

Simply put, I am not a BIG Wave Surfer. I have been out in BIG Surf my entire life. I have ridden some big waves, but I am not a big wave surfer. I don't feel comfortable surfing big waves. I have no desire to want to surf Big Wave spots like: Mavericks, or Waimea, or Chopes, or Pipe, or some of the real crazy spots like Ship sterns, Cyclops, and JAWS. Not gonna do it. I am just not comfortable in Big Surf. So imagine the lump I had in my throat on Tuesday. I mean...for those of you who don't know, I'm surfing every day for a year. Here. In Northern New England.

I have to go out NO MATTER WHAT!

Catch a Wave For Molly. You've heard about it. Every day for 365 consecutive days.

So where did I surf? I surfed alone. I went to a popular spot and thought I could catch my wave there without getting my butt kicked. I was surprised to find NOT A SOUL out. Huh? I needed to catch my wave. So I went out alone. Actually, a friend was in his vehicle and watched me. Dave Cain had just pulled up to check it. He's my witness. I paddled out and caught a wave and rode it. Was it a big wave? No. Was the surf big where I surfed? Yes. Very big. But I did it. I caught my wave. I filled my daily quota of the day. Plus I have been battling a severe chest cold/cough for days.

Can I make it any harder on myself? I'm sure I could if I thought about it.

I did manage to shoot some insane photos and video though earlier in the day. I mean good Lord, the surf was breathtaking. It was so magnificent that I had to have it in my NEW movie. The RUN REDUX. So I pushed back my release date to Monday the 20th. It's almost done. I have some great new footage I've added. Including some footage of Steve Dillon who was home for his Mother's funeral. I told him I'd shoot him if we got a swell while he was here.

I'm glad I waited. I got Steve in some classic barrels.

He lives in California now. But his heart is still here in New England. I'm sure some of you can relate to that. But my movie is ALL footage from December 2009 to December 2010. Local Surfers , local musicians, local photographers. And by local I do mean that anyone who surfs here in New England. NO MATTER where you live. I mean it.

If you surf our waves enough. You are a local surfer. I don't care where you park your vehicle at night. Out on the water we are all locals. I know some of you older guys are thinking "Poor Ralph has lost it." That couldn't be further from the truth. If anything, I have found it (again). The joy of surfing.

The true absolute simple joy of surfing.

Surfing everyday has once again opened my eyes to the pristine beauty of surfing our waves here in New England. If you are one of those who have drifted away from this thing, this gift, this magical feeling that you may, or may not feel, is lost, I am here to tell you, that it is still there. Buried away under the stress and baggage that we all carry throughout our lives. It is still there.

Like those who find the Lord again. They are the happiest people. They are truly happy to be with God again in their lives. Good for them. God Bless them.

Surfing is like that. I mean, it is for me. I find myself talking to more strangers than I have ever done in my so called "miserable years." When I was a "Local". Oh I was a local alright. A local ass hole. Don't get me wrong. I am still going defend those from the bad seeds who try and spoil and poison what we have. And I will from time to time raise my voice if things get too negative in the water. But I am here to say, that the simple act of a riding a wave, is still the best feeling in the world. I know this because I do it everyday. That one ride I get sometimes feels so good, it lasts all day. That feeling is still there.

And that feeling has crossed over to my movie making as well.

The difference between my movies and the other movies out there by the pros is that simple as well. I shoot everyone. Or rather anyone who can surf. I'm not shooting beginners, or full blown kooks. I am however shooting every good wave and most times anyone who can surf. There's a real good chance that you could be in my new movie. I've seen it enough times and I know there are some riders who I just don't know who they are. That's the beauty of my SURF FREE OR DIE movies and really, that's the beauty of this weekly column. "WE" and by we, I mean we RPOTW photographers shoot everyone. There are NO filters on our lens that shoot only pros. Not that there's anything wrong with that. There is not.

It's just that here on RPOTW, we shoot everyone. That means you (if you can surf).

The unknowns have a showcase here. You have the potential to get your mug on this weekly column. All you have to do is paddle out and catch a wave and surf it. What a simple concept huh? The simple act of riding waves here in New England.

I hope and pray that you all have a wonderful Holiday season. Remember my friends, this season is all about Love and giving. And to echo what I wrote last week...there can be no greater gift, than the gift of love and friendship. Again if you know a surfer who is suffering... take them surfing. Because"Surfing Heals All Wounds".

Merry Christmas. Happy Chanukah. Happy Kwanza. Happy New Year! Rest in Peace Mrs Dillon. and Mr Chamberlain. God Bless You All.

Now for some of my Weekly Global Observances:

So the VOTE passed to repeal the DON'T ASK DON'T TELL Bill in the Military...today. I'm not quite sure how this will play out in our Military. I really don't. I have heard both sides give logical reasons as to why this could work and why it would not. My guess is the DON'T ASK DON'T TELL Policy Has been around since George Washington fought the British. Why change it now? I don't know...or rather, DON'T ASK me because you might not hear the answer you want me to give. All I do know is this. The Comics will have a ton of material to work with in the future either way.

Can we talk about The Patriots? Hello? OH MY GOD!!! After kicking the JETS ass at home we went to Soldier Field in Chicago and Kicked the BEARS ass in a freaking snowstorm! HUH??? Did I miss something here? In the beginning of the year we all thought they'd be a 500 team at best. Now? We're like the number one team in the NFL. Everyone and I mean everyone is talking about the PATS now.

How good is Tom Brady? He's like Snow White and the Four Dwarves. He's got his Little players Welka, Branch, Woodhead, Edleman. You can't stop those little bastards. They run through you and under you. You can't catch them. I watched Woodhouse last week literally run under some big defender. It was classic.

These Patriots of 2010 might just help me dislodge that 2007 bone that is stuck in my throat. Won't that be a great day to finally cough that up.

Let's do this boys! BEAT THE PACKERS tonight!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Due to the SWELL on DECEMBER 14th-15th the "DECEMBER TO REMEMBER" this
NEW SURF FREE OR DIE MOVIE The RUN Redux will now be released on or about DECEMBER 20th, 2010. SORRY for the delay...but it will be worth the wait. Trust me.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dave Fatello December 23rd!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Tony Berardini December 24th!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jesus Christ December 25th!
GET WELL Timmy McCarthy...we're ALL Praying for a quick recovery Tim!
Don't forget to Check the DAILY BLOG on My CATCH A WAVE FOR MOLLY. (Click
On the Banner on this page.) Started on July 26, 2010 ENDS July 26, 2011. A Wave
a day for 365 consecutive days. Just click on the banner ads on this page.

CHECK OUT THE NEW/Old YESTERDAY PAGE! ALL OLD New England and
beyond Surf Pics! *NEW PICS added each week!

*Check out the NEW updated DROPPING IN ON RALPH blog Section.
ALL of September, October, and November is NOW UP. CHECK IT OUT. REPEAT The DROPPING IN ON RALPH section is UP to DATE! And there's some great letters from you guys from all over the world. (And a few hurtful ones too). But check it out.
*This is the blog section of this website where you can write in and comment. The
only downside of this blog is, you actually have to use your REAL Name. No hiding behind some fake handle and name. If you want to comment, you have to man up,
and be yourself. I will post all comments, both good and bad.
You just have to be yourself.

Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to Ralph's Pic Of The Week
every week for the last 7 years. **Think about BUYING a Photo from any of the weeks
on RPOTW as a GREAT Gift Idea. A nice framed photo of your favorite Surfer!

Remember my friends...Surfing Heals All Wounds....
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.

Ralph