Photo: cabo sunset
anthony ghiglia

For southern California surfers there's nothing better than watching the wave forecast and drooling over the predicted arrival of a large south swell. Fat lines, warm water and ... shit ... crowds. Not just crowds ... but hoards to be precise. If you happened to catch the clip on Surfline (see image below) of the Andrew Doheny surfing Lowers during the height of last week's south swell, it's clear that escaping the feeding frenzy is near impossible, and unless you re ripping shredder or just a compete A-hole, getting waves on a busy day in the lineup is like trying get a parking space in Hollywood on a Saturday night. Forget it.


Screen grab from Surline's coverage of last week's swell. Lowers main peak...packed.

Fortunately there are options. You don't have to resign yourself to shoulder-to-shoulder paddle battles and post surf bitterness. There's a little secret that everyone actually knows about, but rarely takes advantage off in reality. All it takes is some quick thinking, a good search engine and the willingness to pull the proverbial trigger with a closed-eye "fuck it" and a swipe of the plastic.

It's Cabo - close enough to be cheaper than a flight to mainland Mex, far enough that the Baja bandits won't slash your tires (or your neck). Instead, it s trunks, tacos and enough cold Modelos to wash away the nightmarish memories of California s crowded breaks.

Last weekend the same south that left Lowers head high and stacked with headhunters, hit Cabo s East Cape right where it counts with well offshore and well overhead conditions. There to greet it were some good friends of BNQT.com. Jason Ford, former pro snowboarder and publisher of Future Snowboarding Magazine. Scotty Conley (brother of Billabong XXL Awards nominee, Brian Conley), pro snowboarders Jeremy "big mountain" Jones and the venerable JP Walker, joined by ex women's pro and now super agent, Roberta Rodger.

This crew of surf enthusiasts spotted the swell, opted to forgo localism and instead booked a quick flight to Cabo ($350 RT), rented a condo on the beach for $60 bucks a night, and enjoyed the sweet fruit of uncrowded, 75 degree, double overhead point breaks all weekend long.

All that's left to say is, when s the next swell??




How's this for a view from your balcony?


Spot check. Ford photo


In Cabo, there's only one way to roll, in Big Red! Ghiglia photo


An unidentified local jumps for joy at the uncrowded pumping surf. Ford photo


Jeremy Jones doesn't screw around - from AK pow lines to Cabo surf and sun. Joined by Scotty Conley and photog Anthony Ghiglia. Ford photo


JP Walker and Roberta Rodger living the good life. Ghiglia photo


The only good thing about one swell ending is the anticipation for the next. Cabo suset. Ghiglia photo