LAKAWA

It was gusty 5.0-6.0 early. I took off and went for a road bike ride and of course it really came up about 5:00-7:00 p.m. A friend and I put our heads down and bucked the southerlies for an hour then turned away and sailed back! Not windsurfing but definitely close to it...

Quetzalcoatl, aka "Windsurf Man," your stoke is contagious! Your posts remind me of the early years when Tighe created this site (first as LAWA: "Lake Area Windsurfing Advisory," later LAKAWA to accommodate kiting). In the beginning it was just Tighe, Scott Chapman and me posting...

Hey Randy, we've had the best late summer winds here on northern Lake Michigan in years. I've been getting in about three 15-25 kite sessions and one or two 25-35 windsurfing sessions a week on the big lake since late July. As you note, these are usually the "dog days!" I'll be back in MN ...

Great to see everyone back on the water yesterday at Cannon for the season opener! Brian, Mike, Chris, Tim, Andy, Doug, Pete, Jeff H., Jeff C., Rob (the Professor) and Eric worked out the winter kinks with sunshine, 80 degrees, 35-45 mph southerlies, and 3.7-4.7m sails. With few exceptions, I first ...

Got there late, about 4:00 p.m., sun came out but not enough for a 4.7. Thought about kiting but went for a mt. bike ride instead.

I'm in. It's not up yet down here. Late session looks best....

Hey Randy, so good to see that you're still "cross riding" both windsurfer and kite board ! I too still go back-and-forth between the two and this summer like you added SUP to the mix. Check out this 21 year-old from Maui, Kai Lenny, who is a pro-level surfer, tow-in surfer, windsurfer, ki...

I was solo, which kept me especially present in the high wind, cold air and cold water. A good drysuit is critical, as you say, but so is paying attention to what's going on both outside and inside of you. Without a buddy on the water, I came in before I got too cold and enjoyed the feeling of livin...

Hey Dave, Byllesby rocked this afternoon. I sailed 3.7m for 45 min. and then decided to retreat to the truck and a thermos of coffee before getting really chilled. It was howling W 30-40 with magic carpet swells. Pete, how was Pepin?

It's gusting into the 40's down here right now. Can't get away today. Looking for strong west winds and cloudless skies tomorrow afternoon at Byllesby or Pepin, WI!

Oh so sorry to have missed it! I was coming back from North Dakota and for four hours yesterday drove straight into the teeth of 40mph SE winds on 94 from Fargo to the Cities. Gas mileage for my truck was close to single digits. . ..

Glad you got the 3.7m wet!

Hey Z, we've had a handful of high-wind windsurfing sessions down here in the past two weeks, where've you been? Past two days were sweet light wind kiting. If tomorrow brings a strong true SE'ster, let's head to Pepin for the annual meeting of the Lakes City Swell Riders. . . .

Bill

is looking good! After a summer of kiting hoping to revert this afternoon to my old-school high-wind four-oh pole-boarding ways. . . .

Possibly our final shorty wetsuit sessions of the year (unless you're Chris Lock, who wears his shorty when it's snowing)!

Bill

Brian, Z--I'm shocked! I knew you dudes were pups, but not that I'm two freaking decades older than you! And our kids are the same age. . . ! I will say this about aging: it only deepens and enriches my sense of gratitude for the health and good fortune to kite and windsurf in the first place. Bill

Happy Birthday, Brother Randy! Did you ride with the Mother on Sunday? I just got back from a summer on Lake Michigan and am looking forward to some Minnesota fall sessions. My guitar is re-strung and ready for some blues, too....

Hey George, sorry we didn't meet up for a session but glad you had a great trip! Late summer-early fall is such a sweet time on Lake Michigan with warm water and ridable winds nearly every day....

Hey George, sorry we didn't meet up for a session but glad you had a great trip! Late summer-early fall is such a sweet time on Lake Michigan with warm water and ridable winds nearly every day....

SW 15-25 right now and fading--ride now, if you can, afternoon forecast is for light winds! Cheers,

Bill

Breakdown on SE at Point Betsie and next land you might see is Wisconsin. Lee Pt. on the bay side is good for S-SE. If the wind comes up I'll see you there--

Hey George, I missed NE dawn patrol this morning due to a late night after the Michigan-Notre Dame game! The wind went easterly and calmed down during the day and then clocked back to the north about 5:00 p.m. at about 15-20 mph for a hour, enough for a short 11m session. Did you guys get some? Tomo...