"Have you ever surfed Big Waves?" The man asked me on Friday morning as I addressed a large group in Portsmouth. It's a question that we have all been asked. As surfers, it comes with the territory. Surfing and Big Waves. But for the last 10 years or so, I have a ready made answer. And quite frankly, I am not ashamed to admit it.

"Yes I have surfed Big Waves. But I am NOT a Big Wave Surfer."

To quote an old friend of mine, Sam George, I have been out in some big surf but I am not a big wave surfer. And really that just about sums it all up for me. I have paddled out into some big surf, but I hardly think of myself as a big wave surfer. I have been surfing for a longtime, and this year alone marks my 210th consecutive day. So all those big winter days this year, well I've been out there. I caught waves. I just don't consider myself a big wave surfer.

Certainly not in the way that the "Real" big wave surfers are. Strapped or un strapped.

I will never experience that in my life. And I'm cool with that. I will never surf some slab a million miles out to sea with giant sea serpents underneath my board ready to snatch me when I mess up. I will never sit in the pack at Mavericks and wait for a set wave. Same with Todos and Waimea. Not gonna happen with me. Not now anyway.

So how did my lack of desire to surf big waves happen?

Well, there was that one big day on the North Shore of Oahu that comes to mind. A day when the locals were calling it 8 to 12 foot Hawaiian. Now for all intents and purposes, I'm assuming that most of you who read this column know that the Hawaiians, and other macho chest thumping surfers, have a different measuring system than the rest of the world. I remember my first trip to the Islands in 1979. Whenever they were calling what was CLEARLY a 6' plus day- three feet! I knew I wasn't in Kansas anymore.

"You got to be shitting me?" I said to my friends.

"Those waves were way over head. How could anyone call this 3 feet?" I was exasperated. But alas my friends, that was the my introduction to the Hawaiian scale of measuring waves. So if we fast forward to the mid 80's and the the locals were calling the surf 8 to 12' Hawaiian. Well you do the math. But I have no problem and will stand my ground and say that some of those wave faces were easily 25 feet. I know this because I was out in that surf. That HUGE scary surf.

So was Kevin Grondin, Lenny Nichols, Mike "Zappy" Paugh, Harry Manzi, Mike "Iron Balls" Baytoff, and a few other local New England boys. Ask them. They will tell you. They may throw the 8-12 Hawaiian scale at you. But you guys are all smart enough to now know what that scale means. Suffice it to say, that I was not comfortable. In fact, I was anything but. Throw in the overcast skies, and a slight chill in the air, and well, you're getting the picture. It was a knot in your stomach, sphincter tightening kind of a day. The kind of day, where I should of been on the beach with my camera.

The details of that session are not necessary. I obviously lived to talk about it.

What is important is, that on that day, I made a secret pact with God. And I've been true to that pact on my end. That I would never knowingly paddle out into surf that was 15 to 25 feet again. My comfort range in big surf is 8 to 10 feet. That's as big as I want to go. Now, I mean. Where I'm at in my life today. Back when I was younger I would be tempted to see how big, and how scary I would paddle out in. Those days are behind me. Way behind me. Thank God.

And speaking of never experiencing certain surf related endeavors. There's a clip I posted on the column this week. It's a short clip of Julian Wilson. I suggest that you all watch it. It is without question some of the most mind boggling antics I've seen on a surfboard. Look, I am old enough to have seen a lot of new trends come and go in our beloved lifestyle. And I can recall cursing and snickering at the first early attempts at the "Airborne Assaults" of the kids boosting and punting airs.

But to be fair to myself and my other like minded friends. We only saw wasted waves.

Because in those days , 99% of the attempts to boost airs, ended in some flailing disaster. In fact, that percentage has only come down to about 75%. But I have to admit, I am truly impressed with what some of these kids can do. Julian Wilson is one of them. Surfing is all about that sensation we get when riding a wave. Can you imagine (because most of us can only imagine) what it must be like to launch yourself 6 to 10 feet up and out of a wave, spin completely around and then land back in the face of the wave without skipping a beat? That has got to be one of the GREATEST Surfing sensations on the planet. It has to be.

I can only imagine what that feels like.

I will NEVER be able to experience that. Just as the Surfing 60 foot giant slabs. I won't be included in that unique group. But I can certainly appreciate watching it. I guess watching surfers like Julian launching themselves into the great beyond is a sensation within itself. Same with watching the new crop of BIG wave surfers like Greg Long. I will always enjoy watching these innovative young athletes doing remarkable things on a surfboard. Whether it's on "YouTube" or "Vimeo," or in person. I'll never be too old to appreciate what these kids can do.

Now I can't really say the same about SUPS. Don't get me wrong, I can tolerate them.

But I just can't see the visual attraction with them. I guess I felt the same way about WindSurfers when they first came out. I remember thinking back then. OK they go fast, but they can't fit those damn things in the barrel. I guess to a certain extent, that's what's troubling me about the SUP. You really can't get barreled on them. Now I know some of you SUP guys are steaming right now, so just calm down. I said I can tolerate them. I just don't see the attraction in real surf. And by real surf, I'm talking around here. Not in Hawaii. Or some other tropical locale. I'm talking here in our neck of the woods.

I can see SUPPING on a hot lazy summer day along the coast. But when the surf gets big and there's already a crowd. The SUP brings a whole new wrinkle into that crowd situation. Maybe it's because I am an old school purist. I love watching longboarding and I love watching shortboarders. Gee I'm beginning to sound like one of those old crabby skiers back in the day when we first hit the slopes on our Snowboards. The skiers hated us. And some of the older skiers still do. But there's no denying what snowboarding has become. Especially for us surfers.

It's just that SUPS seem to be going backwards in the evolution of surfing's progression.

Uh oh, did I just write that? I know my SUP buddies are sharpening their paddles into spears and ready to stab me when I paddle by. But pay attention here kids. I don't mind the SUP. I have SUPPER friends. We kid each other all the time. I do NOT mind the SUP.

I just don't see the visual excitement and pleasure of watching them. I know there are some who can ride them. Hell, I ran a whole Bernie Baker photo gallery of Kai Lenny last week. And that kid was ripping. I also have a SUP section in my new movie. I don't mind the SUP. It just for me personally, I think it looks weird with that damn paddle in your hand. And that goofy buddha stance? Come on people.

Though, I wouldn't mind it if the SUP would secretly let me know when a set was coming. After all, they can see them way before we can.

Now for some of my Weekly Global Observances:
OK, so the protests in EGYPT sparked a series of similar protests in the Middle East that has many concerned worldwide. None more so than Israel and the United States. In fact, I think the protests in Egypt also sparked the protest in Wisconsin. The whole world is protesting. It's like we're living back in the late sixties and early 70's. Seriously this is serious stuff. People are dying voicing their opinions. The patience is wearing thin on some of the powers that be. Because until recently, they never had to deal with such uprisings. They are now and something's gonna give. Keep your fingers crossed.

66 years ago yesterday February 19th 1945, the US Marines hit the beach at IWO JIMA.
On February 23rd they 5 Marines and 1 Navy Corpsman raised the flag on top of Surabachi. The battle lasted more than a month later, and we had over 6,000 Marines killed trying to take that Island. Remember those who fought and died there.

The World War II Vets are not long for this world. If you have one in your life thank them.

Now for more important news. The Justin Bieber fans are in an uproar over their teen idol not getting any awards in the 2011 Grammy Awards. Is there NO justice in this world? How can the GRAMMY Big Wigs be so blind to this great talent? The Baby baby baby baby fans are so distraught. The twitter lines are all lit up.

Hey pop fans not to worry, the NEW Brittany Spears video and record is coming out!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: THE RUN REDUX IS OUT! Pick one up in the shops or email me and order one directly or go to www.surffreeordie.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mike O'Neill February 23, 2011!
Congrats to Mr and Mrs Wes Osswald on the birth of their Baby boy FINN.
Born on Wednesday February 16th, 2011. What a cool name huh. Finn.

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 December and January will be up before the end of this month . The DROPPING IN ON RALPH section will be up to DATE as soon as I can find the time to do it. There's just so much a man can do in a single day. But I do want to update that as it is entertaining to say the least. Because 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.

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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