I did the challenge a few years ago. It was a paddle battle for 40 minutes, and I ended up the victor, only to find myself in a rip some 300 yards out. To make matters worse, I wore a fullsuit thinking it was cold. 300 yards out, in a monster rip, wearing a fullsuit for the first time that year in 72 degree water. One hour of solid paddling; 40 minutes east, 20 minutes west. Had I worn something under the suit, I would have stripped it off, and made it in with no issue, but the beach was packed and I had a three block walk home. To make matters worse, there were long double overhead peaks sweeping right and left all around me that I had no chance of catching due to a severe case on noodlearm.

Making it to the beach did feel damn good though...

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I was right.

Lots of detached kelp.

Brad Jacobson's been on a roll with his surf videos. This one's a marvel, the sort of persistence that's typical of San Francisco. As a warm Floridian, I need a 4/3 for southern California 60º water and 60º air with clouds (marine layer). A bit restricting, but makes the impossible possible. And today's suits are way better than my late 90s 6/4/5 in Oregon.