In the early days of surfing everybody measred it from the front, either in feet or relative to head height.
Not sure when the stupidity started but it really Pi#$es me off.
Are windsurfer more sensible than surfers???? (most here agree from the front makes more sense)
I've had this conversation/argument with a few younger surfers, (late 20s) and they just don't get it. I think it's a fashion/image thing, same as, "wearing helmets is uncool".

And I'm not convinced the scientific method is trough to peak. I thought it was mean sealevel to peak.
(That's one of the reasons given by people I've argued with.)
In the open ocean the trough is hard to measure cause it's such a gradual curve, whereas peak is easy, but not sure how they get mean sea level either.

its not that hard, if your surfing you always measure from the back cause when you get a wave and paddle back out your like "that last wave was easy 10ft" and no one can query it.

But if you measure from the back the boys will measure it for you, more like "bull**** it was only 3ft"

Most surfers talk it down whilst most windsurfers talk the size up
don't know why

It easy it's i just say it was big all small then you can let them use their own imagination

Gazza

quote:

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Originally posted by gazza

Most surfers talk it down whilst most windsurfers talk the size up
don't know why

It easy it's i just say it was big all small then you can let them use their own imagination

Gazza

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If its surfing or windsurfing I always use the reference to body height as the waves around here dont get much bigger than head high
Ankle, knee, waist, chest, shoulder, head, over head, head and a half, double head and 3 times over head

what a load of s..t
just hold your hand up (or down) and "repeat after me"
"this is how big it was"

regarding peak to trough.
It is easiest for a wave buoy to measure as it is the lowest point to highest. Mean sea level is useless as the relative wave height would vary with tide level.

Tossers who wish they were better endowed often say it is 2 foot when it is logo high.
People who need viagra to avoid a flacid tool pretend they are calling it in "hawaian size" as they have no other claim for attention.