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CURTIS KRUEGERPinellas' normally placid beachfront waves could offer a few thrills today for people with surf fever.
TREASURE ISLAND - They stared hungrily into the undulating green sea, cheering softly each time a long wave rose and broke into foam.
"They have that surf fever," said Kathy Danielson, 48, who was not immune herself. She closed her St. Petersburg home interiors shop Tuesday afternoon, grabbed a surfboard and headed to Sunset Beach for what may prove to be the best surf conditions in years.
"Tomorrow, I think it's going to be way bigger, probably 7-8 feet," said Kyle Kaman, 18, a senior at Boca Ciega High School. "That would be epic."
A couple dozen surfers used to the Gulf of Mexico's normally tame waters gathered Tuesday at Sunset Beach, practically salivating over a rare prospect of ideal waves and wind that could culminate today.
Word on the beach was that Hurricane Ivan would send waves toward Pinellas, at the same time that its swirling winds would circle around and blow off the beach into the gulf. If that proves true this morning, the wind will blow directly into the waves, helping the waves stand up longer. It would create an ideal day for surfing.
"It should actually give us quality surf instead of this windblown slop-chop that we usually get," said Lenny Stamos, owner Lenny's Surf Shop on St. Pete Beach.
"The big thing here is having that offshore wind," agreed Bill Cadzow, 36, a Largo firefighter hoping to ride a few waves before reporting to work later Tuesday.
National Weather Service forecaster Richard Rude confirmed the surfers were on to something.
"In the morning I would go with maybe 5-7, possibly increasing as the day goes on to maybe 7-9," said Rude, predicting how high the waves would rise up today. He confirmed the hurricane would produce winds heading from shore to sea.
He also offered a word of caution: "It could be slightly dangerous because there's possibly a strong undertow and rip currents ... I'd kind of emphasize that you need to be safe out there and know your limits." The weather service issued a high surf advisory.
Teenagers rode skimboards in smaller 2-foot waves Tuesday afternoon, while others simply stood on the shore and gazed into the gulf for signs of the big stuff.
"It's coming, it's just a matter of time," said Randy Cody, 36, also a Largo firefighter.
The nice thing about offshore winds is that they create clean, uninterrupted waves. Normally, the wind moves in the same direction as the waves, which pushes them down and churns them "like a washing machine," he said.
Most surfers who came to the beach Tuesday said their greatest anticipation was for today.
"It'll be the swell of the century," Kaman said, "unless something else comes along."