Mother Superior!

Dave Z · Post by **Dave Z** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 11:17 am

Calm on the weekends and raging during the week (figures). Looks like a classic setup happening up in Duluth. Winds are already coming down the chute:

http://www.wdio.com/index.cfm?page=misc ... d=towercam

http://www.instacam.com/showcam.asp?id=DLTH1&size=S

...NE GALES POSSIBLE WED AND WED NIGHT...

.THIS AFTERNOON...E WIND 5 TO 15 KT INCREASING TO 10 TO 20 KT. WAVES
1 TO 3 FT.
.TONIGHT...E WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WAVES BUILDING TO 2 TO 4 FT.
.TUE...E WIND 10 TO 20 KT BACKING NE IN THE AFTERNOON. A CHANCE OF
RAIN SHOWERS. WAVES BUILDING TO 3 TO 5 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...NE WIND 10 TO 20 KT INCREASING TO 30 KT. AREAS OF FOG.
A CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS. WAVES BUILDING TO 4 TO 7 FT.
.WED...NE WIND TO 30 KT INCREASING TO GALES TO 35 KT BY LATE
MORNING. AREAS OF FOG. A CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS. WAVES BUILDING TO
7 TO 10 FT.
.WED NIGHT...NE GALES TO 35 KT DECREASING TO 30 KT WIND BY LATE
EVENING. AREAS OF FOG. A CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS. WAVES 7 TO 10 FT.
.THU...NE WIND TO 30 KT DECREASING TO 10 TO 20 KT LATE. AREAS OF FOG
IN THE MORNING. A CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE MORNING. WAVES SUBSIDING TO
3 TO 5 FT.

Chip · Post by **Chip** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 1:13 pm

That's fine if you don't mind sailing in ice! Looks like the ice may be off the beach on park point by the weekend - I ready, lets go Dave!

Boardsports USA · Post by **Boardsports USA** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 10:47 pm

We want to Kite Superior Tue or Wed. Is it all ice, large chunks of ice, or a little ice here and there? Looks like SE winds Tue & Wed...Where to launch? Never kited Superior in warm water, let alone 32 degrees...Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Thank you in advance!!

Jason

Dave Z · Post by **Dave Z** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 11:10 pm

A forecast of SE will almost always mean NE at the lakefront. Call the Sky Harbor Airport for a current reading: 218.720.4886 I think Chip mentioned it being side-shore there once.

Launching is almost always at the Tott Lott - go straight across the lift bridge.

Maybe Mike W, Coach or Tighe can weigh in as far as launching in the shore break from a kiters perspective. Wind and waves will be dead on shore.

Chip lives on the point so he can definitively give you the down-low. Dress warm!

cdelp · Post by **cdelp** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:40 am

Chip, if you are goin out, count me in!!

another resource that may be helpful is

http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/KDYT.html

Chip · Post by **Chip** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 8:19 am

I live just about in the center of the park point (near the rowing club) and the ice there is now extends out about 250 yards. The further south you go, the more ice. Right next to the bridge, it might be possible to launch. Wednesday may be a better chance if we get rain today as forecast. The waves have ground the ice into a snow cone – but there are still plenty of growlers rolling around the size of a car – not something you want to meet in the bottom turn of a 6 foot wave. Actually, you could probably safely sail in the bay at this point. There is still some ice, but with a NE wind at 30+, it will all be pushed to Superior..

Chip · Post by **Chip** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 8:23 am

For launch sites: If there is still ice and you must sail in the lake, try 21st avenue east. Drive south along the frontage road until you run out of road. I’ve never launched there but Randy has this time of year. If the ice is clear, try the Tot Lot – its listed in the LAKAWA sites. The bay will be good either way – that site is also on LAKAWA.

Chip · Post by **Chip** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 8:25 am

One more safety thing I just have to throw in - If the PP beach is totally covered with ice from one end of the other and you launch at 21st east, you are really taking a risk. If it blows as it is supposed to, you get in trouble and end up down wind into the ice, YOU WILL DIE. Just thought I would mention that….

cdelp · Post by **cdelp** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 3:38 pm

I laugh at the prospect of death. Bwa-ha-ha. If it blows and I have company (read : body retrieval team) I would be happy to windsurf tomorrow. Perhaps launching at lester river??

My cell 393-5859

Chip · Post by **Chip** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:47 pm

If you go, I'll go Chris....

Boardsports USA · Post by **Boardsports USA** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:19 pm

Are you guys gonna go for it tomorrow? Let me know man, I will give it a shot!!

Jason

Chip · Post by **Chip** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:26 pm

I see the forcast has backed off to 25 kts.. Near shore forcast isn't available yet. I'm a bit skepticle that it going to happen tomorrow. Its gotta be really big to get me in the water right now - but if it happens tomorrow, we'll let ya know..

Emily · Post by **Emily** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 10:06 pm

Hey guys-

A word of advice from a six year Duluth resident! DO NOT GO IN LAKE SUPERIOR WHEN THERE IS ICE!! Seriously, Chip was right, you will die. The spring is the coldest time to be in the lake, I race sailboats up there and there is no way I am in there before the middle of May anf that is just my feet

. It is still really cold then. Good luck, there are serious male side effects to this cold of water.

Emily

Stroh · Post by **Stroh** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 10:42 pm

Dave Z · Post by **Dave Z** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 11:32 pm

Hey Stroh - the surfers are always on it - even when there's chunks of ice in the line up from what I've seen. Check out http://www.unsalted.tv/ and http://www.lakesurf.com Definitely another board sport I'd like to get dialed into....someday.

Chip · Post by **Chip** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 9:29 am

Sorry guys - the wind is not happening today..... no waves either..

Emily · Post by **Emily** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 4:20 pm

Hey guys,

I know the guys that do that and even have their ESPN top 10 clip saved on my computer. I also feel that they are crazy and I tell them that everytime they ask me to try it out

Good luck. I told Jason from boardsports that I would come up and video tape with a rope ready to rescue him when he gets too cold if he goes this weekend.

Emily

Emily · Post by **Emily** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 4:22 pm

Dave,

If you are looking to learn the long board surf. There are outdoor rec classes available through UMD. These guys love it!

Chip · Post by **Chip** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 4:27 pm

Next time we sail at the Tot Lot, I'll bring my long board for you to try out. I've had one for 35 years - .. I'll stick to windsurfing.

Dave Z · Post by **Dave Z** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 4:56 pm

Thanks for the offer Chip. Windsurfing will always be my first love....but when you see those guys up at Stoney Point pulling into overhead barrels in early March - that gets me seriously stoked.