Last 169 WindLogs |
Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125 Sail: 6.2 Avanti Echo
Last minute decision. I sailed for 3.5 hours straight. I was overpowered for the last hour, but I did not want to come in. I am not sure when I will sail again. I also hurt my left forearm derigging. My mast sleeve got caught on the mast extension collar (a design issue with the Severne extension) after I released the downhaul. Thankfully, it did not affect my sailing time. Stay healthy. Be smart. Not only for you, but for others.
Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125 Sail: 5.9 Severne Freek
Nearly perfect steady 20 mph wind and sunshine. A little choppy on the inside, but almost perfect day. I thought about going for a vulcan, but Brian's voice was in my ear. I agree, not a good time to get injured. I sailed for a little over 2 hours straight. I really enjoyed the break from work and thinking about the shitstorm still yet to come.
Board: '14 JP 93 FWP Sail: '19 EZZY 4.7 ELITE
010 - Got it about right but it felt big at times. Managed to clear the spoil on first tack and stayed between it and the bridge. Troutlines were gone and it was all solo out there. Higher gusts had the sail on the boom at times. Returned in one tack just before the peak ended.
Board: JP radical wave 65L Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18
Gorgeous cloudy day with head-high waves. I savored the feeling of being able to tackle a tangible challenge with instantaneous feedback, amid everything else so surreal lately. And I loved one more chance to bundle up just a little. I finally really felt my training paying off. For the past couple years I've been ok for about 45 minutes in the waves, then I start blowing jibes or falling on the wave or falling going through the shore break because my arms get shaky and can't apply the force i nedd at crucial times. I'd sail for an hour+, but the last part would get pretty sloppy. Due to the PSC trip I wanted to be physically able to sail a few quality hours a day, so I've been doing some arm exercises and a daily 10-20 minutes of abs. I sailed for almost 1.5 hours today and my arms still felt strong at the end. My trip got cancelled, but I expected that and it's really just a footnote at this point. I'm glad it gave me the extra push to get stronger. I'm going to keep it up. I've got another year of motivation now...time to get strong for spring 2021!
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18
It was a picture perfect day for windsurfing while the wold fell apart. I don't see my Mexico trip happening next month, but I'm taking inspiration from the athletes I follow and training anyway, so regardless of what happens at least I'm as fit as I can be. I did 50 jibes as a drill like in college to get my arms stronger and practice sailing unhooked more, to simulate wave sailing. I tend to get tired by the end of an hour wave sailing and things just fall apart, so that's what I want to surpass. Even if I don't travel anywhere.
No need for even a shorty anymore, so I did my annual sail in just a bathing suit. From now on it will be full sun protective gear unless we get a little front and need a warmer layer.
Board: '14 JP 93 FWP Sail: '19 EZZY 4.7 ELITE
009 - Finished before the peak today. Out between the spoil and bridge. There was a very long troutline across most of the middle flats. Not safe to sail over it so we lifted it to get under. Nice to have a dozen on the water, eight first timers and a handful to sail with on the outside.
Board: '14 JP 93 FWP Sail: '20 EZZY 5.2 WAVE
008 - Felt like more than yesterday and a little more east so it was out between the spoils. A few nice runs to the north end at the last. Back to the other side tomorrow.
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '20 EZZY 5.2 WAVE
007 - Nothing flat and sorta gusty during the peak today. Out and back to SI #1, could have used smaller board. Nice to have a bunch on the water.
Board: Burton Sail:
4 inches of fresh light fluffy. Too icy underneath the pow in the trees but out in the open was gorgeously lurvly.
Board: Starboard Foil-X 145 Sail: 6.3 Severne S-1
Brought the SUP, but was able to thankfully foil.
Board: Burton Sail:
A couple of runs in the afternoon sun.
Picked up L's stuff from her employee locker and made quick plans on driving to Corpus starting Friday, but the quick plans changed just as quickly and now we're (currently) not planning on it.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18
Jus' me and my shawty. #SpringBreak2020
Board: '14 JP 93 FWP Sail: '20 EZZY 5.2 WAVE
006 - Out past the spoil and near the bridge. Steady build-up, consistent power, water up a bit so it was slight chop inside. Mostly round trips back to the launch.
Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125, Starboard Foil-X 145 Sail: 6.2 Avanti Echo
The Foil-X saved the day. I am glad I did not drive to CC today. I think the local wind was as good or better. I ended up way upwind, and found it work to get back downwind in the gusty wind during the peak. I went out on my freestyle board at the end of my session, but only planed for a little bit.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18
For the mediocre conditions we got, it was technically not worth 7 hours of driving, but for the adventure and finally getting to try this place for the first time, it was. I sailed with Olivier, Phil, and Kelsey (not sure the spelling). We got there and I decided I was rigging 5.2. The guys immediately said they were rigging in the mid 4s, and I got advised that 5.2 was going to be too big. So I rigged 4.6. We all slogged for half the session and I regretted not listening to my gut...yet I couldn't get my brain around rigging bigger than an instructor and a pro who both know their stuff and are bigger than me. Oh well. It made things more of workout, which I really need. Sailed with dolphins sometimes. Saw SpaceX. We anticipated the high tide and left 2.5 hours ahead of it, but it was already coming up and resulted in driving through waves on the way out. Oops. My Subaru did awesome and I rewarded it with a luxurious bath. I could have done without the white knuckle departure, though.
Recording these names in case I ever go back, because I liked these two places: Antojitos Freddy (tacos on the way to the beach) and B&C car wash in San Benito - hand car wash for $6 and the soap smells like almond - best car wash ever.
Board: Burton Sail:
Sunny and warm
Board: Rodeo 98 Sail: 4.8 S1 Pro
Day trip to Corpus with the kids. I was overpowered on 4.8! 4.4 would have been better but the sensor doesn't really reflect the actual conditions. I felt like I was sailing dialed after so much recent time on the water. However, sick wave sailing does not equal freestyle. Tried to spock. Failed miserably.
The boys sailed 3.6 and 2.1 and they stayed out ages which was super duper cool.
Board: Burton Sail:
8" of fresh light bluebird puffy pow. Hiked with Roxi to the spot to earn the turns. Me on my snowshoes, she with her skins. I did 1 run, she did 2. My hips are hurting the day after.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18
Ended the Great Sailing Drought of 2020 with my first session since January. And it was a fun one. I forgot my freestyle board and freestyle fin and didn't pack my small sails, but ended up barely noticing or caring. I worked on basics and just tried to keep constantly moving to knock some rust off and build some muscle for my PSC trip. Happy that I got some fun monkey ducks (I'll never get tired of that move) and finally an actual jump jibe I think I can claim. I was overpowered and got flattened on all but one of my upwind 360s and push tack attempts, but it gave me a workout that I appreciated. For extra practice I made myself only water start (no touching bottom) in whatever direction I fell, plus tried sailing unhooked a little here and there. Phil S came, and it was fun watching his moves. I appreciate being part of a sport in which a world champ can just show up and park next to you.
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '20 EZZY 5.2 WAVE
005 - A bit weak at first but filled in well later. Out to the spoil and BAF between the IWC and the spoil.
Board: Burton Sail:
10 runs with Laura and Roxi. Fun in the sun with fast, carvable spring snow conditions.
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '20 EZZY 6.4 ZETA
004 - Out between the spoil island and bridge. Short peak and quick drop off. Fairly steady but on the light side.
Board: Burton Sail:
13" fresh fluff shred party with Laura, Mike, Julie, Ben and Jack.
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '20 EZZY 5.8 WAVE
003 - Out around the spoil and beyond. New sail felt great overpowered. Elite became Wave and 5.8 has 5 battens. It ramped up quite a bit, was a little choppy and fairly steady.
Board: Burton Sail:
Super sunny, super uncrowded spring like day. First time we rode the Cascade lift this season! It's so pretty way up there!
Bailey gets to play in the snow and then walk on the beach and swim within 40 minutes of each other on these types of days. Lucky dog! Lucky humans!
Board: Burton Sail:
Super fun sunny Monday!
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '20 EZZY 5.2 WAVE
002 - Watched it come and go twice then rigged for the third cycle which had a better low end. Mostly out between the spoils and back, light chop and small holes.
Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125, Starboard Foil-X 145 Sail: 6.2 Avanti Echo
I went out very briefly on the foil, but to my surprise it was windsurfing weather. A very nice hour of 20mph wind. Good weekend, I got my fix.
Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125, Starboard Foil-X 145 Sail: 6.2 Avanti Echo
Oh heck yes. I missed the first hour of 20mph wind, but I had a nice hour of it. Then I came in traded my board and foiled until sunset. My new foil board is AWESOME. It really is perfect for me and for what I need/want. No need to rig different. More time on the water. I love it so far.
Board: KT83 Sail: 4.8 S1 Pro
A slightly anti-climatic last day. Expected more wind and it was kind of flat. Worked on speed loops. A few were really good when I remembered to slide my hand way down the boom.
Board: KT83 Sail: 3.6 S1 Pro
What. A. Day!!!!
Oh boy. It had its ups and downs. I was so oh so close to landing a perfect push loop but the rotation was so fast the board jettisoned off my feet just before I landed so I ended up water starting out of it. Then I did possibly my best ever forward using the secret technique that all the pros use when they do massive stalled ones. I then proceeded to crash horribly trying it again. Cannonball!!! We then moved down to Big Bay and I couldn't find my groove. Sailed horribly but still water started out of a back loop shortly before I got spanked by a pretty big wave.
it has been an incredible week so far. Ben and Colin are exceptional coaches and also super cool and genuine guys. Tomorrow may be the last day with wind. Will see how it goes.
Board: KT83 Sail: 4.8 S1 Pro
Headed darn sarf for starboard tack sesh at Witsands. Beautiful blue water, white beaches and cliffs. Challenging conditions.
Coaching is back on tomorrow and the forecast looks a bit mental. I have 3 goals, any of which I would be happy to accomplish: ginormous stalled forward, clean back loop, clean push loop. Let's see what tomorrow brings!
Board: KT83 Sail: 4.8 S1 Pro
Kicked in late again, like after 6. And so it was super busy on the water. I had a really good time wave riding. Mostly one hit smacks. Then sunset at sunset the wind got reallly nice. And I got super close to making a back loop. Bens tips help a lot! Next time :)
The wind was a bit light, so there was a fair bit of slogging. The first real gust of the day got me planing on the inside and I was flying out between waves looking for a back loop ramp when I hit something hard and catapulted. "What the Heck was that!" I checked my fins and they were still intact. Then a kiter shouted at me from downwind and I realized I had hit his board full speed. It had been floating upside down. Abandoned. ;-) Later on he hunted me down to tell me I had sliced a big hole in it. Oopsy.
Board: KT83 Sail: 4.8 S1 Pro
Wind never really kicked in. Practiced forward loops on the beach. Then did 15 mins of slog and ride but it was a bit too light.
Board: KT83 Sail: 4.0 S1 Pro
Today was weird. I was trying stuff and making progress but just wasn't feeling the excitement. Maybe just tired and jet lagged, it's 8 hour time difference.
Worked on my backies, and made some progress. Also tried some pushies which I've never tried on this tack. Water started out of two of them using a top tip from Ben. Also crashed two. Horribly.
I'm here with Guillaume. Guillaume sails twice a year on average and is already busting massive forwards and working on backies. Sick!
Board: KT83 Sail: 3.6 S1 Pro
Stupendous first session in Cape Town with Ben Profit and Colin Dixon coaching clinic. Big wind day. Big moves. Sailed much too much.
Send it!!!
Board: Burton Sail:
5 inches?
Board: Burton Sail:
3 runs. 2 inches of pow over ice. Uninspiring. But, it's good to be over the cold that made me miss so many of the good days last week.
Board: Goya Quad 84 Sail: 4.8 S1 Pro
Got to the beach and it looked light and small. Olivier talked about checking out South Packery instead. Decided to give it a shot anyway and after a couple of warm up runs it suddenly stepped up a notch. Some chest high waves. Solid wind. Had a blast.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81, Starboard Nuevo Twin 82 Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18
I missed the morning reliable part of the front but sailed solo later in marginal wind. Waves were waist high if I caught the right set. I sailed both the Angulo and the Starboard to compare. I still don't feel like I click with a twin fin. It feels like I'm dragging more, planing slower, and can't turn as hard as I want to. Maybe it's my sailing, and maybe taking a clinic will help. Maybe it's also that the fins feel a little big, yet I don't want to invest $200-something in re-finning it. But it's super light. It makes me wonder if my Angulo has taken on water, or if the starboard is just built lighter. I'll stay open minded and test it more. Could turn into a bay board as Randy suggested.
Saw a mini vertical rainbow afterward, in a nearly cloudless sky.
Board: Starboard Foil-X 145 Sail: 6.2 Avanti Echo
Not much wind when I got there. The park ranger asked if I knew something (weather wise) he did not while rigging. I said I was going to go for it. I knew from last time that I would be OK since I can uphaul my new board. It turned out to be really nice. Sunny, 60's air temps, and plenty of flights. My board is the perfect volume and size for me. Footstraps are positioned well. I still feel it is hard to get my foot out of them easy with O'Neill booties. I need to try my Atans next time.
Board: Burton Sail:
Took L on my favorite tree run. Cruise on in this side of Forest Park, then eventually cross FP to that side of it. Then slip on into the next batch of trees, shred it, and exit on the HoneySuckler runout.
Take this for a bit, then slide softly into the Fright Trees, which I had never been in because I didn't want to be in a double black with trees alone, all by myself. Plus, I had just only "discovered" this area a couple sessions ago. All was happy, fun and festive in there, but the slope kept getting steeper and steeper until we eventually came upon the most frightening drop I've ever encountered. Sure there was 15" of light fluffy new pow, which will make a hero out of anyone, but the drop was frightening enough that we decided to hike back up and around it until we could exit out the side onto Tamarack. This was quite the workout. There were times when I took a step and my foot would sink and sink and sink, seemingly forever. The only thing that saved me in this situation was the broad surface area of the crotch.
The broad crotch saved my life today. 
Board: Burton Sail:
Another great one.
Board: Rodeo 98 Sail: 5.2 S1 Pro
Short but sweet session. Took a while to adjust to the bigger kit, then took a while to figure out how to do freestyle. Use it or lose it baby.
What was great about the session was that both kids sailed. They stayed out for a good half hour and my eldest (Benjamin) planed 3 times. I bought a used 3.6 S1 Pro in Oz for my upcoming trip to Cape Town and it is beyond light. Perfect for the boys to learn with. Pricy, but perfect.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18
Snow globe conditions on the beach (but with sand) and over head waves on the outside. On one of the last runs I caught that one crazy wave I’ll daydream about for a while. I banked a big turn and it just kept peeling and peeling behind me as I bombed down the line. With a big imagination leap it felt like one of those wave movies. I asked Mark later what I should have done, because I was just riding down the line on one rail a little high on the wave, fast and on the edge of control. He said to try going straight down and doing a big bottom turn. Duh, I guess, but I did not have the presence of mind at the time to realize if I had wiggle room to play some more. I still can't answer that. But stuff to think about and rehearse in my head when there's another big day. Goodbye to the ultra low tide of a few days ago; the beach was starting to flood and I had to move my car as a river formed.
Board: Burton Sail:
Really really really good day. In the words of Davie504...EPIC!
Really quite surprised at the top speed of 45mph. Good thing helmets are "in" in the 21st century.
Board: '14 JP 93 FWP Sail: '19 EZZY 4.7 ELITE
001 - Good peak and very low water. First out to the IWC and second to the bridge. Inside was a little choppy and outside fairly smooth with more wind. Lots of long round trips at first and later mostly stayed out between the spoil and bridge.
Board: Burton Sail:
True storm skiing. Check those wind speeds. Made 2 runs then called it.
Board: Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18
945th session I've recorded, and 1st of 2020. There's been quite a drought of fronts lately. And actually, today didn't really happen either. Wind and forecast both looked great at 5 and 6 am; by the time I took the water at 7, there was nada. No waves or wind. Also the lowest tide I have seen, which was cool to see but didn't help the sailing conditions.
Board: Burton Sail:
Fresh pow
Uncrow
Oh Wow!
Board: Starboard Foil-X 145 Sail: 6.7 Severne Blade
First session on the Foil-X. Shorter and more narrow than my Wizard 125, the volume appears to be perfect. I slogged on top of the water, easily uphauled it, and was sailing backwinded and clew first with ease. I had only one long flight, but footstraps and mast base appear to be right. I am not sure how much earlier it flies, but obviously no miracles happened today. The big 6.7m2 seemed fine on it. Brian S. was amazing today. He has 15lbs on me, and he was flying around on a foil mounted to a chopped off wakeboard and 10m2 foil kite. Wow. He says he can get going in as little as 6kts of wind. That's insanely efficient.
Board: Happy Sail: New Year
Happy New Year!
This is just my personal statistical analysis and summary of my windsurfing year for me to reflect on later. I have found it helpful to look back at past year end summaries to gain some perspective on how the wind was for that year and where my sailing is now relative to the past.
2019 was a tough year. Only 37 sessions, the lowest number since 2007. The majority sailed at the coast, but a slight increase in the percent of lake sessions (the Slingshot was likely responsible for the increase in lake sessions). No wavesailing this year. 27% sessions were in high wind. No new moves. Only one trip this year, to NC. The most challenging part of the year was dealing with intermittent chronic back pain. This makes the long drives to the coast more difficult. I am hoping this ends in 2020. I am not loyal to the foil, but I do enjoy it as a fun non-planing windsurfing option. Once the wind is planing I definitely prefer to windsurf. We will see if the new X-factor (Foil -X) will add a few more lightwind local sessions.
More peace and more love for each other. I wish everyone a healthy and happy 2020.
Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125, Slingshot Wizard 125 Sail: 5.9 Severne Freek
Bringing the foilboard was a last minute decision this morning before heading out. The forecast was 20-30mph. It was 17mph when I arrived. The foil made it tolerable. I went in @2pm due to a problem with my Chinook mechanical UJ. So, I decided to go out on the freestyle board with the 5.9m2 just for grins. Then the wind kicked in 25-30mph for 2 hours. Nice!
Board: KT83 Sail: 4.7 Goya
I planed somewhat. Worst spot in the world for jumping if you can barely plane. I would have had fun on my 5.2 and Goya 84. It's not actually a 4.7 Goya, I'm riding an old Severne S1 I bought here used 2 yrs ago. I just realized something!! The severne logo is a boomerang. I had no idea. Haha. You are welcome.
I was talking to someone on the beach who was also at Gnaraloo. Swapping road trip stories. He told me that last year he hit an emu on his way back south. I was like "You saw an EMU! So cool!".
The Coronation Beach camp site was full. Devastated I booked a hotel room. Then ordered a steak on room service. Ugh. Life sucks. ;-)
5 more hours of driving to Perth. Have to drop the van before 4:30pm. 11pm flight, 30 hours on a plane and then hopefully I will be home. Fingers crossed for a Port A sesh next week.
Board: KT83 Sail: 4.7 Goya
I drove out this morning (writing this on the 26th). As I left the camp sight I looked longingly at the perfect overhead lines peeling down the reef. I could have sailed and driven out late but everyone says don't drive at night. Too many kangaroos. And I was a little worried about the drive out on dirt roads.
I was the first one out on the water yesterday. I couldn't figure it out, it looked good to me. It was a bit light but I caught a few nice smooth ones. Gnaraloo is awesome! Pretty wild and out there. But the sailing is incredible. For sure one of the best wave sailing spots I have visited and I didn't even see a good swell.
Board: Burton Sail:
No new snow. We just went for the sunshine and exercise. Took the free bus which we can walk to from our house.
Board: KT83 Sail: 4.7 Goya
The swell kicked up a notch. Not massive, but head to a little overhead on the best waves. Really really good day. It feels super playful and skate parky at this size. I was smacking the lip super late and gouging in the buttery smoothness.
A kangaroo popped by my van and said hi. If you have Instagram you can see the pic in the link below, if you don't I don't think you can anymore, you could, but now you can't.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6aFAgfnpZJ/?igshid=3fudrhmgqtze
Board: KT83 Sail: 4.7 Goya
Started to feel my groove. Got a couple of nice hits. It's still pretty small. Might be bigger Wednesday.
Disaster struck this morning. My eggs didn't make the journey. They had vibrated themselves into little tiny pieces. The 30L of water I brought is also disappearing fast and I messed up with the stove gas. Assumed it was full but it ran out this morning. So now I feel like I'm a contestant in survivor. I'm already rationing my food. Can I make it on cold canned goods for 3 days? After only one day, how come all the women look like super models??
Most likely I'm going to have to make the 4-5 hour round trip to civilization. Not sure I can survive without a cuppa tea.
Board: KT83 Sail: 4.7 Goya
I made it! Lost a hubcap and some teeth on the super rough final section. OK maybe I was going a bit fast. I didn't actually loose any teeth though.
Gentle introduction to the spot. Waves were chest high st best. Sailed OK. Tried hard not to snake anyone's wave. I will wait a couple of days before I do that. ;-) All the locals speak German. Bizarre.
Oh and there is signal sometimes. Yay. Hence this post. Hi Brian. Hi Laura.
Guten nacht meine fraulines.
Board: KT83 Sail: 4.7 Goya
Sneaked, (snuck?) a week in West Oz off the back of a work trip. Have piece of crap minivan camper, will travel. If it makes it...
Fun session at 'Coros'. Side on jumping. The best place in the world to learn to port tack jump? Good times. Onward to Gnaraloo now for a few days. Fingers crossed.
Board: Burton Sail:
Really really good. 4" fresh of medium weight powder. Uncrowded.
Board: Burton Sail:
Not what I thought it was going to be. I thought this was going to be the first day downhill was open at HRM, but it had been open since the weekend. Doh.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81, JP radical wave 65L Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18
This is the first time I remember getting scared windsurfing since the hurricane dolly swell day. I had to look it up - 2008! This wasn't nearly as intense, but the wind clocked way offshore after I started, I couldn't ever fully relax and hook in, the waves were big, the wind was either a huge hole or so strong it was blowing the tops off the waves, and I had this sitting duck feeling of impending doom. I kept it together for 3 big runs (25 minutes) and caught 2 incredible big long waves, but it wasn't worth how sketchy it felt, and I basically fled with my tail between my legs. I couldn't get downwind back to my car because the current was still south, and I ended up walking a little. Odd sensation. I'm just glad I made it back. From just that short time my arms are shot. One of my most challenging sessions ever.
Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125 Sail: 6.2 Avanti Echo
Sailed for 3 hours straight, and then a short session to cap off the day. The 6.3m2 was too big, but wind was in the teens when I started. I was so happy my back held up. The day ended with warm seasons greetings. So nice to enjoy the day together.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18
Today has got to be the best or tied for the best south wind wave conditions I've ever sailed here. Great direction, clean waves, and my absolute perfect temperature (air 79, water 68). My new wetsuit showed its versatility, because it felt warm in 50 degrees yet didn't get me hot today. I didn't really need a wetsuit with the air this warm, but with the cooler water I wore it in case of a breakdown. My time was tight today, and then I got a flat tire on the JFK causeway on the way to the island! Ugggh. I was getting mentally ready to abandon sesh, but I limped to the first parking lot, started my stopwatch for motivation, and started a tire changing frenzy. After I had jacked up the car and halfway finished undoing the lug nuts, a huge guy pulled over and went full pit crew. He pulled off the tire, I tightened lug nuts while he lowered the jack, and he re-tightened everything while I stowed all the stuff, and he lifted the tire by the hole in the middle with two fingers to put it in my car. 9:30 later, I was back on the road and still got a full hour in and made it to our chili party on time. Yay! I would have finished on my own, but much slower, and I credit my session to him. People are awesome.
Board: Burton Sail:
The pow was not heavy.
Board: JP radical wave 65L Sail: 4.2 S2 Dragon '18
Nice, down-the-line waves in well-defined, head-high sets. Gusting into the 40s here and there, with water blowing over the jetties. I got one amazing ride all the way to the pier, some ok rides here and there, but for probably half the runs I was too overpowered to take full advantage, especially with my smallest sail still broken. Still well worth the trip. This was also my first time in a couple years wearing a functional wetsuit! I'd been wearing a triathlon wetsuit full of holes. My new O'Neill is so much warmer and easier to get on. It felt like cozy pajamas. Also first time in my booties (Roxy size 8, so I can look this up years later when I need to replace them.) Those also felt great without the holes I'm used to.
Board: '14 JP 93 FWP, '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '18 EZZY 5.3 ELITE, '19 EZZY 4.7 ELITE
069 - Nice to get out twice dropping in size for the surprise peak. Out to the IWC and back with light chop, well powered both times out. After the first few runs, shortened it to stay outside in waist deep water.
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '18 EZZY 5.3 ELITE
068 - OK at first staying outside between the bridge and spoil island. Started at the peak but it was slowly dropping.
Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125, Slingshot Wizard 125 Sail: 5.9 Severne Freek, 6.2 Avanti Echo
Good planing wind from 1-3p. Gusty with big holes. Foiled from 3-5p. The foil extended a good afternoon session to the evening.
Board: JP radical wave 65L Sail: 3.8 S2 Dragon '17, 4.2 S2 Dragon '18
Really fun to get wind during a time I could take a day off, so I had time to wait for the wind to settle in and even to rerig when I went through my sail. It was sloppier than I would have liked, but so warm for this time of year (high 60s) and bigger waves than we have had lately, so that was great. It was so strong...after breaking my first sail I debated the wisdom of rigging my bigger 4.2 and going back out, especially since Mike was on a 4.0. But I was having so much fun and had probably only sailed a half hour by then. So I rigged bigger and did not regret it. The 4.2 actually rode better for me and the wind backed off a hair, and I got my best rides.Good crowd there including the New Mexicans.
Board: Goya Quad 84 Sail: 4.0 S1 Pro
I haven't sailed much lately. Weekend wind seems to have been scarce. Today made up for all that. I forgot how much fun windsurfing can be. First session on my 4.0 and it was sweet. So light and flicky but with good drive. Had tons of fun jumping and hitting the occasional lip. It was tough to ride today, I think the tide was low so there was no juice on the inside waves but got enough decent rides on the outside to be satisfied. Got off the water after 3 hours when it dropped to 4.7 weather. Almost re-rigged and went back out but I'm getting too old to destroy my body like I used to. :)
Windsurfing rocks!!
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '18 EZZY 5.3 ELITE
067 - Out to the IWC and back was fairly steady at first but the low end slowly dropped too much. Outside was most power, some weeds in the middle and waist deep at the ends. Couldn't see the bridge and barely the houses in the heavy air.
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '18 EZZY 5.3 ELITE
066 - Better outside today with more south and a few inside holes. Lots of long round trips to the bridge and back.
Board: '14 JP 93 FWP Sail: '18 EZZY 5.3 ELITE
065 - Not quite as high as forecast but sunny and warm just rigged a bit small. Consistent for first half, out to the spoil and toward the bridge. Last two returns were not on plane.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18
The stats weren't looking great, but I gambled on dawn patrol, and conditions were excellent. Down the line all the way from the jetty to the pier. I have not had that long a ride since last year! I sailed til my arms gave out. Woohoo. Great morale boost after all these NW disappointments.
My wetsuit is swiss cheese. I thought I'd patched it well, but apparently not. It wasn't THAT cold out (50 degrees), but I got super chilled. Like white extremities and still shivering an hour after the drive back. I guess I might have to bite the bullet and get a new suit. The Monday front is looking actually cold. I have gotten stung by jellyfish every single time in the Gulf this Oct/Nov. What is going on?! I was remarking earlier in the year how I'd never seen so few. Like zero in the bay all spring or summer. Maybe they became gelatinous winter Texans?
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18
Why does every single front turn NW? Ughhhh. Glad I at least got in a magical steamy water session while it lasted. We get so few of those days. Waves averaging waist high but flattened out overnight and turned even more offshore, so my twilight insurance session turned out to be the only sesh I got. Wind was really variable compared to our usual. Anywhere from 18 to 28. These sails are awesome and smoothed things out nicely.
Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125 Sail: 5.2 Severne S-1 Pro
About as good as Lake Travis gets. I jumped off a piece of chop and got more air than I thought. I went with it and really landed hard. I later had my lower back go into muscle spasm waterstarting, so I had to cut the session short. I was bummed, as the conditions were excellent and it has been a really long time since I last sailed.
Board: '? RRD Wavetwin 66 Sail: Combat Fly HD 3.2
A beautiful, warmish, sunny West wind!! Absolutely fun!! Very nice swell!
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '18 EZZY 5.3 ELITE
064 - More than expected but with low end holes. First out was across the end of the boat ramp channel staying at the north end. Second out was best going up and into the north basin and much more consistent. Very high water allowed sailing across the sunken spoil and the sandbar anywhere.
Board: Goya Quad 84 Sail: 4.8 S1 Pro
Really nice conditions but I rigged a tad too small. It was 5.2 or 5.6 weather. Still had fun. It has been forever since I sailed.
I went for a back loop on one of the outside kickers and went really high. It got all funky and I let go of the sail and found myself falling face first still in the straps with enough time to wonder why I get myself into these situations. Made it to work by 1:30pm. I look like I slept on a bench after drinking a couple of bottles of cheap vodka.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18
Dawn patrol. I decided I have too many sails and I waste too much time debating what to rig when it's really just nuances. My sails are still pretty new, and I love them, so I'm not going to change anything immediately, but next time I update the quiver I think it will be just 3 sizes: windy, medium, and light. Sails have so much more range than they used to.
There was a fun wave by the pier, then the wind lightened just enough that I couldn't keep riding that one. The middle had a nice wave that I chased but never caught quite right. Despite not sailing all that well, I was really happy to get out. Still bath water, but this will probably be the last warm sesh. I am ready for the time change so we get more light to start earlier.
Board: '? RRD Wavetwin 66 Sail: Combat Fly HD 3.2
Overpowered on 3.2!! Wow, October 19th in the Gorge!!
Board: '? RRD WaveTwin 66 Sail: '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.5
OP'd short sess. L took my 3.2 cuz it looked a bit light, but then it wasn't.
Water is getting a bit too chilly for my tastes. End of the season? Time to wake up Buck McShreddyShred? Lots of snow dumped on the volcano today.
Relive 'Wall'
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18
Short sesh with Matt and Barry prior to city appreciation night at Nueces brewing. I could finally somewhat understand the packery magic, but I still greatly prefer port a.
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '09 NP Firefly 4.1
Flying maybe 50% of the time. The rest of the time allowed me to enjoy the ridiculousness beauty of autumnalness on living display up on the steepness of the cliffs surrounding me and my me-ness.
Just me and my me-ness at the point. All alone. All by myself. Well, except for Laura and Bailey and Brady hangin' out in Leisjx.
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '18 EZZY 5.3 ELITE
063 - Very nice between the spoil and bridge staying outside except for half dozen runs back to the launch. Normally knee deep was chest deep with light weeds and chop. Record high 95 F and it ramped up another notch after stopping.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 3.8 S2 Dragon '17
Really fun day for north west! I was supposed to be blown out and unsailable, but there were fun waist to chest high waves. My first time on the dragon 3.8 and also my first time on my 340 mast. So basically the lightest rig I've ever used. I've had the mast for months now; it just took me this long to get it to work and plus get the right conditions. Also my first time riding my new smaller makani wave fin. It definitely jibes in the outside better and cuts back better while not seeming to lose pointing ability. But I still wasn't bottom turning the way I wanted. I'm starting to see the appeal of the quads. Although I'm still not reaching the point of wanting one. Still very happy with what I've got.
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '18 EZZY 5.3 ELITE
062 - Great set-up both ways on the sandbar in very deep water but not much of a test of sore back Stayed on the water with only a few short runs otherwise mostly much needed exercise.
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '14 The Fly 3.2
Was this the last Hatch of the year?
Relive 'HatchFoil'
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: Maui Sails 3.8
Broke out the beanie, but still didn't need booties. A fun day!!
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7
Worked on the usual: jumping, tightening the turns, hooking in and committing. For foiling, it helps to move the harness lines more forward on the boom than you would for non-foiling.
Relive 'Foiling at the Hatchery'
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7
I didn't actually sail. The wind died after rigging and suiting up, as west winds are wont to do in the Gorge in October. But here is the Relive, which reflects the sum total of me moving 2 feet from behind the seat to sitting in the front seat with my wetsuit on and my phone packed against my chest in the waterproof pouch inside of it, staring out the window at the dying wind:
Relive 'J'
0 miles
0 minutes
0 elevation gain/loss
Board: Rodeo 98 Sail: 5.9 Freek
Great weekend. The wind didn’t pan out as forecast and I missed the dawn wave session - I was too lazy and it was too onshore. But the boys sailed and seemed to have a really good time which is awesome.
Board: Slingshot Wizard 125 Sail: 5.9 Severne Freek
I just saw the wind graph. Wow. The foil saved my bacon. It is never good if Mike is only doing LWF.
Board: '? RRD WaveTwin 66 Sail: '11 Naish Force 3.0
Got a text from UK Girl just as I was preparing to head out saying she was WB. This means "Wall Bound" for those not in the know. Checked iW and it had just started blasting!
Didn't want to risk waiting for L to get off work so I bolted out there at top speed. Hunger pangs struck by the time I hit The Dalles. Should I take the time to stop for 2 for 1 Sausage McMuff w/Egg at the east The Dalles McD? Unequiv YES!!! $3 for 2 of these bad boys. Gotta fuel the fire that fuels the windsurf! (Note to self: Don't ever stop at this McD again. The lineup at the exit ramp stop sign was too long and slow. Wait for Biggs instead.)
It was good that I didn't wait for L because I hit the peak of the day.
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: '11 Naish Force 3.0
The Wall is my happy place. I love it so much! I love the people, the swell, the road, the orchard, the launch. I almost cried watching Leisj in front of me on the way home (I was in the Prius since I came later after work) and I hadn't even had a beer.
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7
(This is going to be the most parenthetical dlog ever.)
Pulled up to an EMPTY parking lot. Not just empty at the point, but as far as my (good) eye can see down Spring Creek Hatchery Road. No cars. No Sprinters. Not one Subaru. Not even a pickup. Ghost town.
Did the ritual of taking Bailey down to the point allowing him to explore and do what dogs do, and allowing me to assess the wind (not like a total geek with an anonometer, mind you, but with my beer gut.) I decided 4.1 and foil. Made my way back to Leijsz and assembled the board. Felt some aweful strong gusts during board building, and so decided to go 3.7 instead. Rigged that, and by the time I got suited up, the water looked rather glassy. Deceptive as can be though. An inexperienced eye might think it's still windy because of a combination of the leftover swell and the low afternoon sun (as we descend into darkness here in the PNW). But my keen, experienced (good) eye knew the wind was now light and 3.7 was too small. Roxanne had warned earlier (via text) that the wind would fade quickly. Was this the fade?
Discouraged, I stood in the water in the "exit cove" (to coin a phrase), with board and rig unattached (afraid of commitment I am,) a tear falling from my (bad) eye. I even climbed out of the exit cove to look at the wind from a higher vantage point, leaving my board and rig floating freely in the wild Columbia. Oh well, gotta rack up those windlog session numbers, so WTF, let's drag my pasty white sack out there.
Shlogged 1/2 way across the channel, then...
It was AWESOME!!!!! BEST FOIL SESSION EVER!!!!!!!
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '14 The Fly 3.2
Lots of practice jumping and overpowered jibing on a gorgeous Autumn day.
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '09 NP Firefly 4.1
100!
I had planned on trying my first back loop on the foil as a celebration of 100 sesses. But, I think I've got the footstraps too wide and tall for that on this board. So I didn't try any for fear of my feet coming out of the straps.
As an alternative, I found myself getting forcefully bucked (like strong bull) off the board occasionally when I was getting a little too playful in the swell for my current skill level, resulting in me doing involutary back flips off the board and landing either head-first or neck-first.
The key to getting in the back strap while flying is to place the back foot in front of the back strap, with the front of the back strap touching the back side of the back foot. Then it's a quick and easy blind slide into the strap. Don't try to do it from having the back foot on the center line of the board.
A nice thing about foiling is that you are 2.9 feet taller so you can easily see if there is better swell lining up behind the most visible swell. So that makes me like 8 foot 9 inches tall...almost as tall as Mark.
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8
Mellow and fun. Carving 360s 0/10.
Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125, Slingshot Wizard 125 Sail: 5.9 Severne Freek
B! NOT C! - So much better. Made all my hellitacks, failed all my jibes. One jibe I launched and the end of the foil poked me in the side of my butt. Oww.
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard, '? RRD WaveTwin 66 Sail: '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.5
Started with the foil because it's fun. Then there was a sustained 34mph gust that just wouldn't go away, so I switched to the 66L, at which point the 34mph gust ceased.
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: '10 Naish Session 3.7
Really exciting type of wind with some crazy gusts and some bigish swell rolling through. Saw Buck get a hugish foil jump!
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '09 NP Firefly 4.1
A+ on the jumping. I was a jumping maniac on the swell. It's an odd sensation on a foil because you're already flying in the air prior to jumping. Getting the wing out of the water doesn't really feel all that different than when it's in the water.
A- on the getting the back foot in the strap while flying. I suspected there would come a time when I would think "what was so difficult about that?"
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8
Awesome fun until not as much fun overpowered.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 4.2 S2 Dragon '18
Windier than normal and more sideshore than normal. I think this was due to random tropical storm Imelda hitting north of here? Or some abnormal weather pattern I don't understand. I had a really clumsy day in general for some reason, and it carried over into sailing. I did have a few awesome rides. Got closed out and worked pretty epically a few times also. Given a couple of the falls I took, I feel lucky to have not come out injured. That didn't stop me from "just one more run" about 6 times, and I was rewarded with a pink sunset. There was a big surf lineup and a tailgate atmosphere on the beach with people watching them. Fun to see the stoke.
Board: Mistral Wave Score 78L Sail: 5.3 Gaastra Manic
156 So I didn't exactly dominate the field in my racing debut. In fact, I DNF'd it, hauling my gear out of a canal and walking so far back to my car that I got dehydrated. The Score and I did our best, but the fact that it was blowing 3 and gusting to 8 didn't help. If it blows 15+ I will return next year to prove that you dont' need a longboard to finish this race.
Board: Goya Quad 84 Sail: 4.8 S1 Pro
Side on jumping. Lashing rain. Nicely powered 4.8. Then it wasn’t. Then it was. Then it wasn’t. Then it was. Then it wasn’t. Then it was. Then it wasn’t. Then it wasn’t.
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8
After a week away in Yellowstone, which was amazing and I loved it, I am happy to return home to a place that continually takes my breath away and fills me with joy. A fun session with DW360s (still trying to get in the straps, but it is soo fun to make them on the swell out of the straps), lots of swell ducks and the such. It was fun to watch Buck fly jibe around me and I even saw him try a foil jump! Just 3 of us launched from the rocks, so lots of room on the water.
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.8
Back from a very successful bear hunting safari in Yellowstone.
Tried:
Afraid to try:
Didn't even think of trying:
Gorgeous, up and down, very autumn feeling day with only me, Laura, and North Wave Steve on the point.
PSB: Pfreim IPA from le kegerateur
Board: Starboard Trance 94 Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18
Surfing yesterday and LWF sesh today. A storm came, and I was suddenly planing. The girls tried the kids kayak. Snoopy's after.
The number of windlogs displayed in the home page just keeps growing...
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '18 EZZY 5.3 ELITE
061 - More wind and East today made it much better. Some out between the spoils at first but mostly on the drop-off both ways. The North end was very flat.
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: '10 Naish Session 3.7
After work sesh is always a bonus! Thanks to B and B for helping me carry my gear!
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '19 EZZY 5.8 ZETA
060 - Seemed windier than it was and not very consistent. Out between the spoils in small chop, not much on the drop-off and variable holes in/outside. Next couple probably similar.
Board: Slingshot Wizard 125 Sail: 5.9 Severne Freek
It has been hot as @#CK, and windless, and the forecast shows no wind for over a week. I was desperate. Wind today @4pm was forecasted 14mph on all sites, except iW which had 17mph. I spent yesterday trying to get the foil ready on my Falcon 138. I still can't decide if I made the wrong decision going with the Wizard 125 instead of the 150. I need to waterstart the 125, but can uphaul it in a pinch. When I arrived, I decided the gusts were good enough to go for it with the Wizard 125. Up and down, I had to wait for the gusts to waterstart, and luckily, I did not fall much. I mostly heli-tacked and jibed when off the foil. I wish I could rent a 150 to see if foiling in lighter wind with a bigger sail would be worth the extra volume. I still have not had a good session on position C with the i84. Perhaps it may require the mast base moved more forward. My best session to date was with the i84 and position B the first time I tried the i84 wing, but that also may have been a fluke.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81, Starboard Trance 94 Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18
Fun to get to bird! Even though I sailed pretty poorly. I did get some upwind 360s in the straps and worked on some basic skills on my opposite sides to practice for north wind. The fins on these boards both felt enormous, or maybe I'm just that out of practice on flat water, and I realized my freestyle fin that I love so much doesn't fit either board I brought. It only fits the board I dislike that I'm selling. Also realized my mast base screw looks very worn, and when I compared backups at the store, the chinkook carbon bases are so much heavier. It makes me not inspired to spend that money for a smaller and heavier product. I also want a smaller wave board fin. Randy said they can order stuff but don't stock it. Looks like I have some research to do. I sailed poorly but loved getting this session in and also catching up with Mike, Vanessa and Chris, Randy, Trina, and Chad. Oh and I stepped on a stinger or something random in the parking lot and my heel is now swollen and I can't put any weight in it. So that's fun.
Board: '? RRD Wavetwin 66 Sail: '11 Naish Force 3.4
We arrived to an almost empty parking lot with about 3 other cars. Rigged up and after about 30 minutes of niceness things started going crazy! People started pouring in and the wind ramped way up. I became quite overpowered, so I watched the rest of the action. Kind of regret not taking the 2.7 out, but it just seemed nuts out there with so many people and so much wind!! Fun spectating though.
Board: '? RRD WaveTwin 66 Sail: '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.5, '19 Ezzy Elite 2.7
1st sess 3.5. The wind kept building...and building...and building.
Between sesss watched the entertainment from the rocks. It was like being with a 4th of July crowd watching fireworks, with the collective consciousness of ooohs and aaaaahs.
2nd sess mellow 2.7. Tried a backie. Slashed up the bigly swell as best as I could.
Headed to Yellowstone for a week starting Monday to stare at wildlife and things that spew eruptionally.
Will he reach 100?! Stay tuned...
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: '10 Naish Session 3.7
I have to adjust to wearing my brace again while sailing and I was probably a bit over-powered, but it was a fun session. I do love 3.7 81liter combo!
Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85, '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7, '14 The Fly 3.2
1st sess I wasn't convinced non-foiling would be fun because it looked like lake chop in the channel and the inside wasn't so buttery. So I tried the 3.2 with the small wing. It was a good excercise in sailing and jibing over-powered. Made all the gybes.
2nd sess freestyle board and 3.7. Made the first 4 manual switch-over planing ducks, then couldn't make any more to save my life. One attempt in the swell had the board get airy elle born. But not in a switch kono sort of way. Some other sort of way.
Brass Monkey, Trunkin Monkey
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8
Suprisingly good session and then so pleasant to hang out on the point watching the sun set colors with Bailey and Brady, visiting dog.
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.8
Beautiful evening sess with only 4 or 5 people at the point. Tried my first flying duck jibe...EVER! Failed miserably.
Loving the 57cm wing once it's up and going. It's definitely more difficult to get it up and going, and it requires using a bigger sail. Wondering if I should replace the 84cm with a 76cm.
Funkin Trunkin It
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18
Still fun but...ouch. I switched gloves yesterday and developed a blister on each palm, and today those multiplied into 5 total blisters. A hard grip was painful. Waves a little more down the line than yesterday, shoulder high, still NE. Awesome to be sailing north conditions this early, in bath water. Finished the sesh with a rainbow overhead. Thank you, TS Ferdinand.
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '19 EZZY 5.8 ZETA
059 - A little tropical wave as TS Fernand forms and heads way south to Mexico. Out to the North Cabins and spoil across the boat ramp channel. Had a couple of issues with weeds, otherwise plenty of power rigged at max with just three others on the water.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18
SO FREAKING FUN. North season opener. I am not used to the ENE setup and often didn't pick the greatest lines, but I improved as it went on and did get some of my best rides in ages. Apart from some missed ride opportunities, my transitions felt rock solid and I got through some crazy situations and unplanned nose tacks remaining upright. So exhilarating emerging unscathed. I tried two back loops - first was a late decision debacle, second was 3/4 around and felt like my best attempt to date. Lawrence and Josh joined mid sesh. More tomorrow?
Uhhh, Mike? Sounds like you need a shovel and some rope in your trunky junky.
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7, Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8
I did two runs on the 3.8, came in and got the 4.8. I rarely switch sails, but it just wasn't going to work. Then the wind "really" kicked in, so I took the 3.7 out which Brian had previously rigged. I think a 4.2 is in our future...
Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85, '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.8
First sess on the Slingshot with the 57 Time Code, 2nd sess on the freestyle, same sail.
Interestingly, the 57cm TC wing ends up being easier to jibe. Ethan concurs. I think the extra speed gives more ultimate stability. There's more micro-wiggly that can occur, but the extra speed seems to provide a solid, almost inpenetrable base layer of stability.
Happy Locals Day! as they say
PSM: Igor & the Red Elvises at the Ruins!
PSB: Pfreim IPA. Blew the kegerator.
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '16 NP Wizard 4.8
Huge 4.8!!! Flying 95% of the time. Had to pump it skillfully though to get going.
Started trying DW360s for the first time EVER! The light winds, and me being the only one on the water reduced the fear of trying them to a squashable level. Sometimes there wasn't enough power though so jibing was the only option.
Interesting how sensitive jibing is such that if you need more downwind rail pressure to prevent the board from turning back upwind, all you have to do is press a little (but not too much!) with just the big toe on the back foot. Seriously.
Trunkard
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.5
BIG gusts!
Junk in the Trunk
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8
What an incredible way to get some exercise after spending the day at work helping other people enjoy the beautiful Gorge. Yes, I did miss the "real wind", but I was happy and surrounded by sexy foilers :)
Board: 82L Sail: 4.5
I’m in Perth with werk. Didn’t bring any windsurfing stuff coz it’s winter down-under. Not even suncream.
So I was twerkin pretty hard in the orifice and made the mistake of checking the weekend wind. 30 mph!! Uh-oh. Inner Mike started crowding my thoughts. I couldn’t concentrate. I called a Windsurf shop to see if they rented kit. They suggested I try Jez. Jez only did full week rentals he suggested Dave. I texted Dave. He fixed me up and recommended I sail Back Beach at Lancelin. Back Beach is immediately south of Lancelin Bay.
Dave’s suggestion was to park at the Lancelin car park and sail downwind a few reaches to the spot. When I arrived I saw a sign to Back Beach and decided to ignore the instructions and check it out. I reached a car park that had a sign “4WD only past this point”. I was in a front wheel drive compact but decided I would check it out anyway. It was rough but not terrible and after a while I drove over the crest of a hill to a beautiful sight. Bright blue water and white sand with spray whipping off the tops of the waves. Not a soul in sight for miles. “OMG!! It’s heaven” I thought. The sand was hard packed so I decided to drive further up wind. As I cruised up the beach the hard pack started to turn a bit soft, then softer still, then even softer. I was scared to stop so I pressed on, flooring the accelerator until I finally plowed into a patch of really deep stuff. My heart in my mouth I tried to reverse, digging the car deeper. Oh Mike. What have you done.
I sat for quite some time contemplating my stupidity when I saw a truck in the distance. I jumped out of the car and flagged them down. Thankfully they stopped. It was a young couple originally from Ireland. They didn’t have a tow rope but they did have some of those plastic things you put under the tires. We tried them but the car was too deep. “You have to dig it out” they said. “We will help you.”
“Thank god” I thought!
So we started digging out the sand from under the car. With our bare hands. We tried to get the car out a couple of times but it was still too deep. I was worried they were going to give up. They mentioned a local tow truck that would come out for $400. After 30 mins they said this was the last attempt. I imagine if you have read this far you are thinking what remarkably nice and helpful people these were. I know I was! But you are probably imagining sun, sand and blue skies. Am I right? What I didn’t mention was that the cold front hit hard whilst I was stranded wondering what to do. The wind was blowing 30+ and the rain was lashing down in sheets. These strangers were covered from head to toe in wet sand, soaked to the skin and shivering. I could not believe how committed they were to helping me out. So when they said last attempt, they meant it.
I stuck it in reverse, hit the accelerator and finally with a rush of relief, the car lifted up and out. I floored it and sped down the beach in reverse until the sand got nice and hard. I thanked the random strangers profusely. Offered them money which they refused to take then finally, I went windsurfing!
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.8
Yep
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: Neil Pryde Wizard 4.8
Sailing makes me happy :)
Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85 Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7, '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.8
A very relaxing day of sailing after a LOOOONNNNNGGGG windless stretch. 4 DAYS WITHOUT WIND!!!!! Longest wind drought ever anywhere...probably. SAD! (Well, there WAS strong east wind 2 of the 4 days, but only desperates and tourists engage the east winds.)
First sess 3.7. Second sess 3.8. Was going to foil 2nd sess with L's 3.4, but it looked too windy so I rigged the 3.8 and stayed on the freestyle board. Made a few planing duck tacks on the outside after switching my feet manually (the definitively uneasy way to get switch) and that felt super nice.
Who likes to Rock the Trunky Junky (on the second session)? I like to Rock the Trunky Wunky (on the 2nd sess.)
Will he reach 100 sesss?!!! Stay tuned!!!!
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: '11 Naish Force 3.4, '13 Combat HD 3.7
A bit up and down, but pretty fun. Mostly people we know on the water again. A bit disorganized swell, but some rides were possible. My leg did fantastic with two sessions!
Board: '14 JP 93 FWP Sail: '19 EZZY 4.7 ELITE
058 - Long solo session out the to IWC bridge and back. Very consistent power peaking close to overpowered when finished. Lots of weeds, dodging the big clumps and only light chop.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 4.6 S2 Dragon '18
One of my best days ever here. The waves were the same size as usual, but so smooth and gentle. Plus no surfers for the first half of the sesh. I love them and all that, but it's not as relaxed and free when you're looking out for people with the sun getting low. So you could basically try anything you wanted anywhere you wanted with no worry about getting worked, no big shore break, and very little consequence to falling. I feel like I was making everything I tried, cocky things I would not normally try there. I sailed out to the the blue water once and dove in backwards. Fun sesh!!
I like how this shows the last 100 logs now. Thanks Brian!
Board: '? RRD WaveTwin 66 Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7, '14 The Fly 3.2
First session perfectly powered on the 3.2. Nice swell. Not crowded. Took a nap then put up a 3.7, then gave it to Laura when she arrived.
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7
Nice until the barge came and of course killed the wind.
Board: Sail:
Huge turn out for King of the Hook. Fun time!!
Board: '? RRD Wavetwin 66 Sail: '11 Naish Force 3.0
oh dougs.
Board: Sail:
King of the Hook! Large turnout! We entered as a duo (riding on one board) and scored some free Andrew's movie tickets for best costumes.
PSM: Beastie Boys at the Ruins on the Hill. There's no possible encore past Sabotage. Period.
Board: '? RRD WaveTwin 66 Sail: '14 The Fly 3.2
Sick
But not THAT sick
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.5
Back on the 84 wing.
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7
I timed my 30 minutes perfectly :) Leg felt good :) Happy on the porch with pups :)
Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85, '? RRD WaveTwin 66 Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7, '14 The Fly 3.2
Windsurfed.
Board: '? RRD Wavetwin 66 Sail: Combat Fly HD 3.2
Short session to test out the knee and it performed great!! I was careful not to jump, which opened up more swell riding opportunities!
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '17 EZZY 6.4 ZETA
057 - Great set-up on the sandbar between the shop and north end. The wind was only a tease but needed the exercise.
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '19 EZZY 5.8 ZETA
056 - Mostly solo on the water going BAF on the sandbar. Flat with only small lulls and moderate power.
Board: '14 JP 93 FWP Sail: '19 EZZY 4.7 ELITE
055 - Higher wind and chop today going out to SI#2 and back with moderate power. Maybe a couple more to follow.
Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125 Sail: 6.2 Avanti Echo
Wind was a little better and I also rigged a little bigger. It was getting really nice @4p (when Mike was able to sail), but I noticed my europin on my Streamlined mast base was about to fail. I was using it instead of my Severne mast base because yesterday afternoon I noticed the tendon on it was cracking and about to fail. Time to order some parts. Thank goodness no breakdowns this weekend.
Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85, '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7, '14 The Fly 3.2
Leisjzerly day at the Hatch. Took a nap between sesss. 1st sess 3.7 freestyle, 2nd sess 3.2 foil. Tried the 57 wing, but it was:
difficult to fly
once flying, wanted to fly at full attention, always
willing to go upwind
I ending up at weezer cove and had to walk back my shit. Wyatt says move the mast track forward.
On the plus side, I did make 100% of the true flying jybes (1 out of 1 attempt) on the l'il tiny wing.
Also too:
Punk Trunk the 2nd sess
Didn't sail yesterday but Laura did. After 82 sesss on the season it's not unexpected to take a day off on an up and down kinda day on the day after a 2.7er.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 4.2 S2 Dragon '18
Almost carbon copy of yesterday but a little stiffer chop, and this time I was rigged right. Brian's question got me thinking more about sails. I love Ezzys. They have been the most consistent, solid, well-made and dependable wave sail I've ridden since I started sailing. I owned a few secondhand ones early on, and I got to rent the then-latest models when visiting punta San Carlos. I almost could not have a better opinion of a sail. Yet I have come to appreciate that the S2 dragons are my favorite sail I've ridden. It took me a while to get used to riding and tuning them. I even hurt both my wrists the first day. But now that I have gotten tuned in, they ride with this airy lightness. They have more power then any other sail I've ridden, yet they also depower so smoothly that on days like yesterday, when I was riding a full meter too big, I kept questioning whether I was even overpowered because I felt so steady and controlled. I only got my Dragons because the right deal came around just when my old sails were cratering. I had pretty moderate expectations and was going to use these for a until I figured out what I really wanted to aspire to. I fell in love along the way.
Board: Rodeo 98 Sail: 5.2 S1 Pro
Mark crashed in front of me. So I sprayed him. Psssfffttt! :-)
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: Maui Sails 3.5
A bit over powered and had a big jump right off the bat and when I landed my leg gave out on me a bit. It felt funny, so I asked Brian on shore to get my knee support thingy (not full on brace) and continued sailing. Seemed fine at the time, but now (the next day) my leg is swollen and no bueno. This seems like it happens around this time of year every year.
Board: Angulo Triumph 81 Sail: 5.2 S2 Dragon '18
The parking lot was as abandoned as a winter day. Not a soul around, and I played music and sang aloud while rigging just like during a solitary cold front morning. The wind meters suck right now, and they were reading in the teens and 20. It looked windy, but I didn't trust my gut, and I rigged big. I paid by being severely overpowered. Almost time I tried something I got it handed to me, although I made one pirhouette jibe and one crazy monkey duck that started out intended as a regular duck and I followed the 360 around when it went out of control. Every time I tried a lay down 360, my fin spun out. I can't find my trictionary - I know I moved it here recently in a box. Need to get organized.
Board: '14 JP 93 FWP Sail: '18 EZZY 5.3 ELITE
053 - Got it at peak time today, out between the spoils and back. Not real choppy and only a few holes, plenty of power rigged at max.
Board: Rodeo 98 Sail: 5.2 S1 Pro
Really nice day with the family. The kids seemed to have fun. Benjamin planed for the first time on the new 4.0 S1-Pro which is perfect for him, being ridiculously light.
Board: Flikka Custom Freestyle 125 Sail: 5.9 Severne Freek
TImed it well. I am not sure if I rigged right. I saw a lot of folks on 5.2's, so I guess I should have gone with the 6.2m2. The 5.9m2 felt pretty good especially in the gusts, but wind was lighter near Worldwinds and ruined many fully powered transitions. Zero vulcan attempts today. I still had a lot of fun. I hope tomorrow is even better.
Board: '19 JP 113 FWP Sail: '17 EZZY 6.4 ZETA
052 - Gentle rides on the drop-off both ways and not much at the ends. Good therapy for awhile and warm up for a breezy week-end.
Board: '? RRD WaveTwin 66 Sail: '19 Ezzy Elite 2.7
Windy! Feelin' spray in the parking lot which i don't remember ever feeling before so 2.7 seemed appropriate. And it mostly was.
Board: '? RRD Wavetwin 66 Sail: Combat Fly HD 3.2
A gorgeous day! Had a blast!
Board: '? RRD WaveTwin 66 Sail: '14 The Fly 3.2
Good day. All manner of everything on the water: wingnuts, efoilers pulling foilers, outriggers, old-school sups, foil sups, and a guy who seemed to be just bathing, or perhaps soaking.
Today I ate 2 1/2 pound burgers. One pre. One post.
Board: Fanatic Quad 81 Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7
I love where I live!!!
Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85, '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '15 Maui Sails Mutant 3.8
August style winds, frequently best suited for foiling. Switched boards from freestyle to foil and had a lurvely time of it.
Came home to a new 2019 Ezzy Elite 2.7 and Ezzy 315cm mast. Big Wednesday made us do it!
Trunkity Wunk? Yes please thank you
Board: '19 Slingshot 103 Wizard Sail: '09 NP Firefly 4.5
Was flyable for a bit then not so much.
Trunkity Junkity
Board: '16 JP Freestyle 85 Sail: '13 Combat HD 3.7
Couldn't make anything. Probably because Mike C was stealing all the mojo.
Board: Rodeo 98 Sail: 5.9 Freek
Was going out the back on my Spock attempts. Then whilst sailing along I had a vision, it cast me back to when I was learning to Vulcan 10 yrs ago. In the vision I was on an orange JP freestyle wave and when I went for the Vulcan I gazed downwards with my head directly over the mast foot during the whole move and suddenly starting making them.
After experiencing the vision I reproduced the feeling in my next attempt and slid backwards forever, but it was so unexpected I hadn’t pulled the sail across enough. Next go I did the same but reminded myself to pull the sail and schlack! Perfect Spock 540. I tried again. Kapow!! Another. Third go. Crack!! Almost planned out if it.
Then I lost it...