This is from Coastal Watch today:
"Swell size: 2ft E
The swell is clean in the 2ft range from the E this morning with light W winds early. The winds are forecast to go SW to SE with a strong SSE change later in the day. The tide is low at 8.15am, coming in to a high at 2pm. Small ones all along the open beaches this morning on the incoming tide before the strong S change comes through."

Now, I have surfed for a long time, so I know that 2ft is head height or a bit over. But lately these guys have been measuring in Tyrannosaurus Rex feet. Or maybe Laird is doing the reports.
I had great waves today here on an open stretch of the Sunny Coast but the big sets were big enough to give you a little buzz on the take-off. That means it's more than 2ft IMHO.
When it gets to what they call 3ft, it's really quite hefty on our open beaches like Kawana or Sunshine (chuck the board on the horrie sets sort of stuff) . And 4ft? No-one – I mean no-one is out on the stretches most open to the swell. Why? Because it's too BIG, that's why.
I know a surfer's foot isn't 12 inches. But still… maybe it's time to get less macho and more real on the surf scale … in my humble view.
What do you reckon?

Well to me 3ft is head high. 2ft it's chest. Usually I will just say head high our overhead etc. Yeh but those knobs make me laugh. One day 1 ft is knee high, then they are saying 2 ft and it's over head,-:)

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chrispychru said...
Well to me 3ft is head high. 2ft it's chest.

Correct - with 1ft being around knee to waist; and 4ft being over head high.

My rough rule of thumb is x2 (3ft being head high = 6ft).

Yeah I hear you ^^^.
Maybe it's here on the Sunshine Coast – some of the busiest beaches (Mooloolaba through to Maroochydore) are semi-protected, with the swell getting bigger at each as you head north – or south past the protective point that diverts the swell a bit.
If the checkers are looking on that protected stretch, I guess the rest of us can add up to 50% for the swell-magnet spots. Be nice if they factored it in, but maybe they stay close to home. At least if they are consistent we can work out that 3ft+ means duck-diving for an hour and coming in a km up the beach...
Or – maybe I'm just crouching down more as I get older.

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GPA said...

chrispychru said...
Well to me 3ft is head high. 2ft it's chest.

Correct - with 1ft being around knee to waist; and 4ft being over head high.

My rough rule of thumb is x2 (3ft being head high = 6ft).

+1

And then there is the question of where is the measurement taken, whether it be described by the number of feet or by which part of the body it reaches.

Is it measured from the back of the wave or from the surrounding sea level or from where you do your bottom turn, opinions.

Ive got to say Ive always given an indication of size in feet but I think I like the body measurement method better.

But hangon, Im over 6' tall what then if the other person giving the measurment is a surfing dwarf, very confusing.

My foot is a size 11.

Isnt it Smaller the dick bigger the foot.

If some one askes How big was it?
Answer, Do I look like I carry a tape measure..

Knee, waist, head high, etc are a much better guide IMO.

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SP said...
Isnt it Smaller the dick bigger the foot.

How big was it?
Do I look like I carry a tape measure..

Knee, waist, head high, etc are a much better guide IMO.

Harsh SP.

From our local surf reports I call their 2 foot chest high and 3 foot head high.
Its great when they report 1 foot because I know its really 2 foot and not many
would bother to leave home for 1 foot.

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McHenry said...

SP said...
Isnt it Smaller the dick bigger the foot.

How big was it?
Do I look like I carry a tape measure..

Knee, waist, head high, etc are a much better guide IMO.

Harsh SP.

Yeah i should of had a few but i was on my phone. And wasnt making comment on your feet...

But calling wave size is a bit of a wank, different locations call thing different but for me
a foot is flat. - knee high.
2 foot is knee to waist,
3 foot chest - head high. 4 ft above that then 6-8... 8-10 then ****ing large.... no need for any crap in between. I have a personal aversion to people who use odd numbers when it is over 4ft its 4-6 not 5 ft. or 7 ft.....

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SP said...

McHenry said...

SP said...
Isnt it Smaller the dick bigger the foot.

How big was it?
Do I look like I carry a tape measure..

Knee, waist, head high, etc are a much better guide IMO.

Harsh SP.

Yeah i should of had a few but i was on my phone. And wasnt making comment on your feet...

But calling wave size is a bit of a wank, different locations call thing different but for me
a foot is flat. - knee high.
2 foot is knee to waist,
3 foot chest - head high. 4 ft above that then 6-8... 8-10 then ****ing large.... no need for any crap in between. I have a personal aversion to people who use odd numbers when it is over 4ft its 4-6 not 5 ft. or 7 ft.....

I agree, its all about the location. One of my local reports is saying 1-2ft today, but when you look at the web cam its like a pond. I guess the best idea is to just go for a drive and have a look.