Ramsey today

drknap · Post by **drknap** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:23 pm

Super steady at Ramsey today around 15 mph SE wind from noon to about 2 pm allowing for some great "dialed in" mid wind riding. Mike W, Randy J and myself where having a blast.

It switched to more southerly around 3 pm and picked up to a gusty 15-20+ mph and building . Avery was just getting started on his 11m roo pro. Lots of others just arriving.

What a solid session today! Thanks for sharing the fun.

Eric P · Post by **Eric P** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:35 pm

The plan was to meet Terry D out at reddy after work today, but the wind just didn't fill out, then the thunderstorms came in. I'm canceling, hopefully only till tomorrow. Glad you guys had a good day. The forcast looked great.

mdh01 · Post by **mdh01** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:49 pm

Kurt,
What did you rig for the conditions at Ramsey today? Curious what combination (board and kite) worked for you with the 15mph wind...

Also, I have a Crazy Fly question for you...is there an email address I can use to message you?

Mark
mdh001@gmail.com

drknap · Post by **drknap** » Mon May 21, 2007 7:05 pm

Mark, today I was on a 13m waroo pro and a 132x44 crazyfly pro board. This is what I'm riding 95% of the time lately. A great combo today from noon to 3pm at Ramsey. One mid sized bow/sle kite and a couple of boards will go a long way. I'd be happy to talk crazy-fly. I can be reached at 651-485-4571 or kurtwalstrom@yahoo.com

avery · Post by **avery** » Mon May 21, 2007 7:41 pm

I also have a new CrazyFly it is 137x44 and a 125x41 on the way, you are free to try them out if you see me on the beach. Give a call if you have questions on my board sizes. 6512474801 or averyschroeder@mac.com

ice_kmauve · Post by **ice_kmauve** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:54 pm

made it out to the Rammer today around 5. Light traffic on the way so I was happy. Gusty and varying from the SSE. Estimate 13-25, gusts occasional to 30. Perfect terroritory for the 12m. During the surges I had some pretty nice riding. Well, it couldn't have been all that light since I was on the small board the entire time. I lost my board for quite a while. Do not give up on finding your board. It's just over the next wave, and even though body dragging is like when your little brother has the hose directed into your face, you will eventually get to your board.

Some real happy riding. I caught some sweet boosts that must have been personal high jumps for me. Man I was so freakin high. To watch the waves just recede below you... It's almost indescribable.

side note: Todd Hanson, in the pic gallery I noticed you on a Caution board. What type is it? Do you still have it and do you want to sell it? I would like to get my hands on a slightly larger Caution redline 2006 because I love my 122 but it is a bit small..

Randy · Post by **Randy** » Tue May 22, 2007 6:38 am

It was a wonderful day...very Maui like, with the steady winds, warm weather and lack of congestion on the lake and beach. Especially fun to see such a mixture of new and old faces, wide smiles no matter what the skill level or vehicle of choice.
Especially fun to see Scott Freeman on the beach as we recalled the summer of '88, record wind and lowest water level. Scott has The Gorge Surf Shop in Hood River. He left to run this in '89 and has never looked back, except on those occassions when he returns to see his mother and family. He says the spring has been awesome with lots of wind and strong current for some of the best conditions yet.
Anyway, thanks to all for the great community feel yesterday. Looking like strong south wind today...St. Croix? Cannon? Pepin? Green Lake?

djmadmike · Post by **djmadmike** » Tue May 22, 2007 8:16 am

Anyone headed out to Ramsey today (Tues?) Looks like S to SE wind. Thoughts on Ramsey on a pure South wind? I know SE is good.

I am still working on getting out of one thing yet (fingers crossed)

Mike N

johnbaker17 · Post by **johnbaker17** » Tue May 22, 2007 8:19 am

South will work, but if there's any west in it at all, it gets really gusty and hard to work with. I'd love to get out there this evening after work, but with a newborn in the house I doubt it'll happen.

Dave Z · Post by **Dave Z** » Tue May 22, 2007 9:45 am

Wow....the Summer of '88! Brings back some good memories and given the current dry conditions it makes me wonder if we're headed for a year like that. A dead lawn and lots of wind - it would be perfect!

Randy - I thought you'd be up on Superior yesterday - it was blowin' up there too.

Hope the rain and T-storms hold off so I can make it to Ramsey late. On top of wife, kids and work I somehow got roped into coaching my daughters soccer team - so when practice gets done at 7:30 tonight I hope to get in some rides before sunset.

Piotr · Post by **Piotr** » Tue May 22, 2007 10:16 am

The forecast for today does not say any different direction than yesterday (mostly SSE, very little S, no W) only even stronger. So, in my opinion, if Ramsey was so good yesterday, it should be as good or even better today. Am I right?

Mike: I am planning to be at Ramsey today too.

Piotr

djmadmike · Post by **djmadmike** » Tue May 22, 2007 10:38 am

I could not change my afternoon around, so I will try to hit up Ramsey at 6pm ETA tonight. Probably just some pole boarding, but depends on the gusts for my 12M kite and conditions.

Mike N

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Tue May 22, 2007 10:59 am

Hate to be the Mom here, but please be careful at Ramsey today. Only very experienced riders should ride in onshore conditions, specially when concrete walls and signs and buildings are downwind. This recommendation gets stronger and stronger with the wind strength. When things go wrong in high winds they go wrong very fast.

If you're not 100% confident in your skills in very strong winds, head to a lake with sideshore conditions and give yourself a large buffer zone downwind.

BTW, I've got some cookies in the over for any you kids when you're done playing : )

Piotr · Post by **Piotr** » Tue May 22, 2007 1:27 pm

Tighe:

Everybody needs the Mom; thanks for your comment.

Just for clarification: does your feedback apply to both windsurfers and kite-boarders or is it one group specific? The way you wrote it, it looks like it applies to both. However, I do not realize how onshore (even strong) winds can be dangerous for windsurfers.

Could you please comment?

Piotr

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Tue May 22, 2007 1:42 pm

While windsurfing can be more dangerous in higher winds, the recommendation was primarily for kiters.

ride safe

ice_kmauve · Post by **ice_kmauve** » Tue May 22, 2007 10:33 pm

Well, yesterday was better. Today threw you around a lot and then left you with a whimper of the wind you had just been feeling. the kind of day where you get ripped off your board, only to see your kite hindenburg for lack of wind as you bite the wave.

Well, I exaggerate somewhat, but you know what I mean.

Thanks Randy for help during that f'd launch. After kite was safely launched, I pulled back on the bar to see what kind of power I was dealing with, only to find myself floating ten feet above the beach. Randy quickly arrested the kite thereafter, and also Roger held me down. Thanks guys. Also, thanks for the ride back to the beach.

Tighe's right.. go out a ways, and build in a buffer zone. The danger of these winds is only partially due to their strength.. it is also the destructive effects of them dropping to zero, and then bursting back suddenly to 30. (Twice during the launch my kite crashed due to no wind.. that's really f'd up, given the huge winds today) You tend to get caught off guard (and dragged).

Even so, got some nice runs in, and was glad to be out. Don't mean to sound ungrateful. I'm grateful.

Where was everybody?? The rammer's getting lonely. At one point there were only two kites on the water, with 25-30 SSE..

Note: kurt, I will work on the backrolls. But today was really flukey.

drknap · Post by **drknap** » Wed May 23, 2007 7:45 am

due to a tremendously annoying interference in my life called work, I wasn't able to get to ramsey until 6pm.

I agree Dave, Very difficult kiting. 10mph and not enough to get planning then a gust of 35 would come through and rip you off the water.

I'm heading to Ramsey this am for dawn patrol. ETA 820

JRN · Post by **JRN** » Wed May 23, 2007 4:13 pm

Hells Bells Kiter Dudes, We musta had a dozen or more windsurfers out there ON TUESDAY....oh yeah, poleboarders don't count...

It was a rockin' good day to be riding a sailboard. Super Nukin' speed runs, drag racing, chop hoppin, & grabbing some air to boot. Left me with a big smile and an urgent need for pain killers. Hope to re-join the kiter ranks at Milly on Thursday....check out the experimental...Woops, I mean I have to go help Terry with some landscaping.

Jim N.

drknap · Post by **drknap** » Wed May 23, 2007 4:49 pm

scored a decent session from 0830 to 1030. 15 to 25 mph winds S/SE. Still gusty but not as bad as yesterday. Terry caught the tail end of it but then it shut off at around 1030. Must of come back up for you Jim. Rare that a dawn patrol produces but it did today.

baskinT · Post by **baskinT** » Wed May 23, 2007 4:51 pm

I felt quite lucky to meet Scott Freeman yesteday. Got ample download of Gorge Information in about half hour. Oh, I let the word out on the shore, and somewhat hinted here too, but here it is one more. This trip is somewhat contingent upon me being employed with my current employer. The place I work at announced major restructuring in the last month. I am okay now, but things happen fast.

I am Gorge bound this summer. Travel dates are between July 20th and Aug5th. I am planning a road trip with my dog, and we will be camping. Reserved a tent-site at Marry Hill State Park on the WA side, but I will be checking out other campsites as well. Just to get started. Don't know too many people there, so I really welcomed the opportunity to meet Scott and hear his stories.

Wanted to thank Jerry Farr for pointing him to me because I had no idea what was going on. For all I know, I could be de-rigging my sail and work on another bottle of beer.

But hey, I think everyone deserved a cold one yesterday. Great conditions. After blown away with 6.7 at the gusts, the 5.9 NP Excess felt great. In those gusts could use maybe a 100 liter board, but the 115 liter Syncro worked out fine.

In case anyone have an interesting Gorge story and tips, please advise. You can write to me at baskint@hotmail.com (or cell # 651.307.8957). Unfortunately the little Ford Escape will be all packed with windsurf gear, doggy stuff, camp, and a mtn bike so I am afraid I cannot offer anyone a ride. But would love to meet you out there. I heard Scott will be there, but I don't think he would want to be seen a rookie like me. I plan to hang low, stay healthy and try to advance with windsurfing. Learning to kite board is enticing, but I am not sure my budget will allow me this year. Looking forward to it.

Thanks in advance.

Baskin

LAKAWA

Ramsey today

Ramsey today

Great vibe

Hells Bells!!!!!!!!

nice to meet Scott Freeman and seek more Gorge tips...