The lifeguards at Pensacola Beach (500+ miles from Galveston) are saying they've never seen a hurricane as far away as Ike affect the surf like it's done. They had to rescue several surfers yesterday after Ike slammed them against the bottom hard enough to break their surfboards. (Surfers tend to be excellent swimmers and regularly assist in rescues, not get rescued themselves.) The cops are flat out telling people don't surf, don't swim, don't wade, don't even put your toe in the water. It'll grab you, suck you into the Gulf, and you'll die. Period.