Connecting The Dots
Session At Sebastian Inlet & A Brush With The Law
by Zach Weisberg
Online Editor

I woke up confused on a black leather couch. My eyes stung from lack of sleep and a camera lens snapped in my face. Then I remembered what was going on: East Coast Trip. Day Two. Time was ticking.

The morning kicked off strong with a couple Lambadas – "not the forbidden dance," our host Dave Begley cautioned, "the forbidden breakfast sandwich. It's ridiculous."

After desayuno at Las Olas (our second Cuban restaurant in as many meals) and despedidas from Begley and the glow of Miami, we made miniscule progress north to Lake Worth Pier.

Unbeknownst to much of the world's surf community, Lake Worth Pier houses a library of East Coast surf history. And we had the most entertaining surf custodians imaginable to relay its story: Mutton-chopped Reef Road ripper, Peter Mendia, and longtime SURFER Contributor and current Editor of Outdoor Life Magazine, Terry Gibson.

"This is the first spot that held a contest on the East Coast," said Gibson pointing to Lake Worth Pier. "It also was involved in the formation of the Eastern Surfing Association. This place probably had more to do with East Coast surfing history than Sebastian Inlet and nobody even realizes it."

"And it had the gnarliest vibe back in the day," added Mendia.

Gibson then recounted a tale of a visiting surfer who phoned his friends about a swell in the presence of the wrong local. The story ended with a broken board and a poor guy tied to a parking meter with his own leash.

Who says localism isn't entertaining?

We soon found ourselves seated at a restaurant offering alligator tacos, and local stories unraveled like yarn from a pitcher of Yuengling. After exchanging tales of Lake Worth's history for the better part of two hours, the time came to make a move.

With no waves to be found in West Palm Beach and 1400 miles left to go, we headed north to Eastern Surf Magazine where Editor Matt Pruett whisked us away to Sebastian Inlet. After all, this is a surf trip. Almost twenty-four hours had passed and not a drop of Atlantic had flushed my skin, so we put that to bed with a warm session at Florida's crown jewel.

Alek Parker, Phillip Waters, Oliver Kurtz and a few other locals joined us in ridding the airport grime. It was all but gone as puffy pink clouds ushered the sun to sleep behind the dunes. The local crew left as quickly as the mosquitos came, and not five minutes passed before red and blue lights escorted us to the side of the road after leaving Sebastian Inlet.

Melbourne Beach's finest informed us that our vehicle reached 59 MPH in a 40 MPH zone. He then looked in the back of the truck. He then looked at us. He then asked us what we were doing and whom this truck belonged to.

Patrick told him he didn't even consider himself a speeder. To which the officer replied: "You are tonight."

Patrick thought about it for a second and agreed. "Yeah, I guess I am a speeder tonight."

Full speed ahead to Daytona Beach.

- Zach Weisberg
Online Editor

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