Shortboard Wavesailing

Keith says this is the best sesh of the year for him.  I think most would agree with him.  Lots of wavesailors and kiters out with side off conditions.  It was challenging getting out due to powerful current but the outside was very comfortable with my 5.0 and 94L board.  This was the next level for this humble beginner.

Keith's Photos



Some of my photos

Leslie Surf at the Point

Keith, Sam and I hit the point today for some light air wave sailing.  The sets were fun and we got a good wrap around the shoals the entire day.  Keith gets the style award but I am Mr Clean after going through the wash cycle so many times.  Ian, Ken A. and Sarah came out later so we pretty much had the whole point to ourselves.  Great times. Bill's blog has the goings on from the previous 2 days.

Keith's Point pics are here.  Nice!  Below are some of mine.

 Carnage

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Isaac Makes a Pass

I spent 3 great days with the OIB crew this weekend.  Saturday was sooo clean and the sets started coming in early so I got about 10 hours of paddle surfing the Fanatic Prowave 8'10 not counting some time on Kyle's longboard when we traded off.  That longboard was a ton of fun and Kyle was stoked on the SUP too!  Sunday was another 9-10 hours of paddle surfing... bigger but not quite as clean since there was a little side-on chop to deal with.  Monday I got a 3 hour side to side-on wave sailing sesh in on the Prowave.  The size was still there and T-storms just inland stoked up a nice breeze.  What a fantastic way to cap off the last day before heading back to work.

Once again I was having too much fun to take many pics but I did get a few from Saturday.  Chris and I had the place to ourselves most of early Saturday and Jace made it a little later Saturday and Sunday.

Hilarious.

August Action

I drove through lots of mist and rain to get there but the skies opened and we had a beautiful sunny day Friday.  Sam, Ken and I had a blast at C hole and then evening action in the ocean.  Like Keith said- hey it is August, we're lucky to get any wind at all.  Well, since it has been a vacuum in Greensboro I wholly agree.

Keith and Andy had the higher wind before we got there.

Threes Company

Fity is on it!!!!!!!!!!

Step Into Ripple

The Hawaii and Mavericks crews have been hounding Leah for some time about us all getting out to Belews Lake to share tow in techniques but Leah's schedule is prohibitive.  Imagine- the biggest and smallest wave surfers in the world getting together to show that it is all about making the most of what you have.  Laird we'll make it work eventually.

Leah learned short board wake surfing faster than I did when we first tried it with our friends Joe and Jennifer.  Adding the paddle gets you through chop from lots of summer boat traffic.  Click for video
  

The wave maker.  A 14' fiberglass tri hull with 40hp Suzuki.

The poor man's fat sack.  5 gallon water container.  We don't have to have it to surf but hey it also makes a nice cushion when the board is tight in the pocket.

Ocracoke Side-Off

Bill and I headed down to Ocracoke last Saturday afternoon to catch some side off conditions.  This was my first time making the trip so it was an adventure taking the ferry and driving to the south end of the island.  Conditions were nice when we rolled up- mostly waist high sets on a rising tide.  I rigged 4.7/85L and Bill was similar on a 91L twin.  My father in law made the trip to Hatteras with me this time.  His first time at the Outer Banks at all.  Rod took some good pics so here they are.  This was a short relaxing sesh before we hit old lighthouse again that evening.  Bill & Keith chronicle all the other days of action.  NE Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.


Photos by Rod Swonguer & Ralph


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 Rod.  Happy to away from blowing sand!

Who Needs Wind

This is the juice.