Hey Chip!
Saw the crew out yesterday, perfect 5.0 conditions for me, I went WAY outside and rode the waves in time and time again. Saw you guys, looked like the Kite Crew was having fun (I bought my kite, hope to be joining you guys soon!). Saw a windsurfer, but I was heading in after starting early in the morning. I am working all day today , hope to hear posts on how it was.
Monday Morning looks big at Duluth
Moderator: MK
Re: Monday Morning looks big at Duluth
I slept at 22nd st. and about 3am my van felt like it was going down a bumpy road. Great to wake up to dry conditions and an awesome dawn patrol on my 4.1m. The outside was sick, so I spent most of the time playing the inside with power to spare for port ramp after port ramp. The rain started around 8:30 and made things pretty squally. The squall lines and the play of the wind with the dunes made for some of the most challenging conditions. You could go wound in a 3.5M gust, feeling very solid and then...what happened to the wind? Sometimes it seemed the wave would suck the power of the wind...other times the lift from the dune...and other times I just couldn't figure it out. I rigged up to my 4.5m to try and avoid the punishment from the wind lulls, but it was just too much. Chip later told me he was getting gusts to 48.
Tim showed up around 9:30 and Pete shortly after. I really wish I could have had some footage following Tim out. It was beautiful. We'd have great runs out and then the extreme pinch to get back to Tott Lott. I warned Pete about going outside, essentially saying it was not sailable. Minutes later, there's Tim, on the outside making it look easy. I went out and found the terrain completely smoothed out from the heavier rain. Very surreal. Pete was working the inside with determination and gumption like I've never seen. I'd make some runs, come in and rest, make some more, and then retreat to my van. These guys get the hero award, going strong until noon. The pelting rain on the outside felt like buckshot, but it didn't seem to bother Tim.
So the rain came around 8:30 and pretty much stayed all day for those of you sulking about not getting some of this. My car temp read 39 degrees for about forty miles south of Duluth, before it started to slowly rise.
Chip dropped by on his way to lunch. We all consulted on the events of the day. Judd and Dave are sailing their boat back from the Apostles. I'm now home. What a different world Mother brews up for us. It just doesn't get any better.
Tim showed up around 9:30 and Pete shortly after. I really wish I could have had some footage following Tim out. It was beautiful. We'd have great runs out and then the extreme pinch to get back to Tott Lott. I warned Pete about going outside, essentially saying it was not sailable. Minutes later, there's Tim, on the outside making it look easy. I went out and found the terrain completely smoothed out from the heavier rain. Very surreal. Pete was working the inside with determination and gumption like I've never seen. I'd make some runs, come in and rest, make some more, and then retreat to my van. These guys get the hero award, going strong until noon. The pelting rain on the outside felt like buckshot, but it didn't seem to bother Tim.
So the rain came around 8:30 and pretty much stayed all day for those of you sulking about not getting some of this. My car temp read 39 degrees for about forty miles south of Duluth, before it started to slowly rise.
Chip dropped by on his way to lunch. We all consulted on the events of the day. Judd and Dave are sailing their boat back from the Apostles. I'm now home. What a different world Mother brews up for us. It just doesn't get any better.
Ride...just be it!
www.just-be-it.com
www.just-be-it.com
Re: Monday Morning looks big at Duluth
I waited untill the rain cleared out around 2:30 and headed out alone on my 9m after a while I saw Tim windsurfing over near the tot lot.
WOW it was BIG out there
definatly some 10 footers on the outside. I noticed the wind got a little fluky as I got close to the tot lot... but as I went down the shore there was more and more power untill I was close to the airport and I could barely hold my 9.
I rode for about an hour on the surfboard untill I got crushed by a wave. I quickly made it back to my board just before the next monster came allong and broke right on top of me, I think the wave pulled one if my lines because as soon as I got my head out of the water I see my kite driving straight into the water... just in time to get caught in the big wave that just hit me. the kite came out of the wave on a wingtip and was easy to get back in the air. after that I had had enough and packed it up.
can't wait for more big stuff like that
WOW it was BIG out there
definatly some 10 footers on the outside. I noticed the wind got a little fluky as I got close to the tot lot... but as I went down the shore there was more and more power untill I was close to the airport and I could barely hold my 9. I rode for about an hour on the surfboard untill I got crushed by a wave. I quickly made it back to my board just before the next monster came allong and broke right on top of me, I think the wave pulled one if my lines because as soon as I got my head out of the water I see my kite driving straight into the water... just in time to get caught in the big wave that just hit me. the kite came out of the wave on a wingtip and was easy to get back in the air. after that I had had enough and packed it up.
can't wait for more big stuff like that
Jon Stroh
Re: Monday Morning looks big at Duluth
I seriously hope those guys didn't sail back from Bayfield today. Trying to surf in through the Superior Entry in a big boat would NOT be fun. Particularly after the wind died off and the waves started to stand up.. The Duluth Entry would be just about off limits.
Jon talked me into finally going home a rigging up to windsurf about 3:30. We both rigged 5.x something sails. I carried my sail down the the beach and the waves were roaring. I was a bit skeptical that the wind was still up enough. One of my "measures" is whether I have trouble carrying my rig down to the beach, into the wind. It was too easy. My wife said it wasn't windy enough too. She's usually right. I generally don't listen to her advise and get pummeled in the surf. This time I did listen and stayed on the beach and watched Jon try to launch. It was too light and the waves way too mean. Jon got thrashed, came in for my bigger sail and then got thrashed some more. I was happy to have stayed on the beach for change.
You're right Randy, I'll wait for more wind (maybe less rain and a bit warmer temps too.) I've been out in 30 something temps way too much this year already.
Glad you guys got a some Gnarly Mother today - enjoy.
Jon talked me into finally going home a rigging up to windsurf about 3:30. We both rigged 5.x something sails. I carried my sail down the the beach and the waves were roaring. I was a bit skeptical that the wind was still up enough. One of my "measures" is whether I have trouble carrying my rig down to the beach, into the wind. It was too easy. My wife said it wasn't windy enough too. She's usually right. I generally don't listen to her advise and get pummeled in the surf. This time I did listen and stayed on the beach and watched Jon try to launch. It was too light and the waves way too mean. Jon got thrashed, came in for my bigger sail and then got thrashed some more. I was happy to have stayed on the beach for change.
You're right Randy, I'll wait for more wind (maybe less rain and a bit warmer temps too.) I've been out in 30 something temps way too much this year already.
Glad you guys got a some Gnarly Mother today - enjoy.
Re: Monday Morning looks big at Duluth
Pulled into the Tot Lot and, as usual, there's Randy. Soon Pete pulled in after making the long Drive.
Rigged a 3.6 and took several attempts to get to the outside. Spotted Randy ripping and hit some nice jumps. To me on the inside there's no time to relax, it's one forearm busting breaking wave after another. On outside it may be big, but you can also relax. Like Chris said, from the outside you can catch a wave, then quickly head back out for another.
I think we'll see Pete more often, he was having a good day.
After a quick seista, The winds had diminished and were getting fluky, I went from 3.6 to 4.6 to 5.6. Got to the outside, but soon realized the process of getting out had destroyed the 5.6 at the clew. That's the second sail claimed by Lake Superior. Made one last feeble attempt with the 4.6.
The RUC (NOAA Exptl.) does a great job forecasting Lake Superior wind, and had a good handle on today's forecast. It showed strongest wind in the AM, then diminishing winds and a northerly shift as the the low approached during the afternoon. That may explain stroh's observation the the winds were stronger to the east.
Can't wait until next time.
Tim
Rigged a 3.6 and took several attempts to get to the outside. Spotted Randy ripping and hit some nice jumps. To me on the inside there's no time to relax, it's one forearm busting breaking wave after another. On outside it may be big, but you can also relax. Like Chris said, from the outside you can catch a wave, then quickly head back out for another.
I think we'll see Pete more often, he was having a good day.
After a quick seista, The winds had diminished and were getting fluky, I went from 3.6 to 4.6 to 5.6. Got to the outside, but soon realized the process of getting out had destroyed the 5.6 at the clew. That's the second sail claimed by Lake Superior. Made one last feeble attempt with the 4.6.
The RUC (NOAA Exptl.) does a great job forecasting Lake Superior wind, and had a good handle on today's forecast. It showed strongest wind in the AM, then diminishing winds and a northerly shift as the the low approached during the afternoon. That may explain stroh's observation the the winds were stronger to the east.
Can't wait until next time.
Tim
Re: Monday Morning looks big at Duluth
Diego and I got up to the Mother about 1pm Sunday. Fit windsurfing and kiting stuff for both of us in his station wagon, which worked well if you didn't need to actaully see the guy sitting next to in the front seat. Pulled up and saw Jeff and Michael just arriving, too, with Stroh later. Maybe that was Chris out on the windsurfer?
Diego rigged a 5.8 on his 86L. I didn't bring anything that big (Oh NO! I guess I am a kiter, now!) so rigged a 9M kite. Tighe had lent me his 2008 Fuse (way nice of you, T!). It is hard to judge what to rig up there if you don;t go often: you SEE 3.5 conditions (4-5' waves on our case) and the wind seems like it is only 6.0 or whatever. Unfortunately, the wind was pretty much onshore for most of the afternoon, so Diego just didn't have the board to get out/back. Even on the kite, it was some work to get upwind enough to play consistently.
After some less than optimal windsurfing, Diego got his first kite baptism in the Mother. It would have been a bummer to not try it out if we were up there. He didn't give up, even though there were a lot of equipment issues.
The wind shifted a bit during the afternoon, and even mellowed just a bit. The waves evened out to big smoothies toward the east (where the wind seemed to drop a bit, too.) For while there, everything seemed easy. The Fuse worked GREAT; a bigger board wouldn't have been as surfy, and a smaller one wouldn't have been floaty enough. It is a hybrid that is meant to go directional one way more than the other, but even on the "toe" side, it gripped pretty well. Michael let me use his cool Slingshot surfboard. Stiff, floaty, fun, surfy (Of course!), but I am just not good enough to jibe that thing, especially in the conditions (what?! you mean you actually have to practice?). After getting crushed by a couple of waves (in my no-gonna-be-a-drysuit-today drysuit), it was nice to switch back to the Fuse - much more forgiving. Diego had just finished making a Fuse shape (dubbed the Wind Witch), too, so we tried it out. It is a bit flatter, with sharper rails, so it pulled upwind a bit tighter. When it isn't set up as a directional, it should be nice and comfy. Diego definitely has his kiteboard-making skills dialed.
Big thanks to Michael for grabbing my kite what seemed like a dozen times...my harness released (unhooked, dude!), caught a line (and the dune stopped my kite with lots of help from Michael). Got to respect the wind on that beach. Good to sail with others. thanks, guys.
We stayed out until about 5:30 or 6 pm. You don't realize how cold the water is until your head is kind of throbbing from the ice cream headache. Even so, it really doesn't seem cold when you are out. Because I don't have the hands of steel like Chris or Chip, I appreciated having gloves with the kite. Fingers still worked after a long 3 sessions. Only saw Randy when we were packing up (don't know why I didn't recognize him out there), so we knew everything was right with the world. Pizza and stories at Pizza Luce (ever had the mashed potato and garlic pizza? mmmmm). Got home after 11pm. Diego drove, I kept My wife Dawn said I was kicking her in my sleep. Nice dreams of popping off the crest, I guess.
Hard to believe that we can do that kind of sailing in Minnesota.
Diego rigged a 5.8 on his 86L. I didn't bring anything that big (Oh NO! I guess I am a kiter, now!) so rigged a 9M kite. Tighe had lent me his 2008 Fuse (way nice of you, T!). It is hard to judge what to rig up there if you don;t go often: you SEE 3.5 conditions (4-5' waves on our case) and the wind seems like it is only 6.0 or whatever. Unfortunately, the wind was pretty much onshore for most of the afternoon, so Diego just didn't have the board to get out/back. Even on the kite, it was some work to get upwind enough to play consistently.
After some less than optimal windsurfing, Diego got his first kite baptism in the Mother. It would have been a bummer to not try it out if we were up there. He didn't give up, even though there were a lot of equipment issues.
The wind shifted a bit during the afternoon, and even mellowed just a bit. The waves evened out to big smoothies toward the east (where the wind seemed to drop a bit, too.) For while there, everything seemed easy. The Fuse worked GREAT; a bigger board wouldn't have been as surfy, and a smaller one wouldn't have been floaty enough. It is a hybrid that is meant to go directional one way more than the other, but even on the "toe" side, it gripped pretty well. Michael let me use his cool Slingshot surfboard. Stiff, floaty, fun, surfy (Of course!), but I am just not good enough to jibe that thing, especially in the conditions (what?! you mean you actually have to practice?). After getting crushed by a couple of waves (in my no-gonna-be-a-drysuit-today drysuit), it was nice to switch back to the Fuse - much more forgiving. Diego had just finished making a Fuse shape (dubbed the Wind Witch), too, so we tried it out. It is a bit flatter, with sharper rails, so it pulled upwind a bit tighter. When it isn't set up as a directional, it should be nice and comfy. Diego definitely has his kiteboard-making skills dialed.
Big thanks to Michael for grabbing my kite what seemed like a dozen times...my harness released (unhooked, dude!), caught a line (and the dune stopped my kite with lots of help from Michael). Got to respect the wind on that beach. Good to sail with others. thanks, guys.
We stayed out until about 5:30 or 6 pm. You don't realize how cold the water is until your head is kind of throbbing from the ice cream headache. Even so, it really doesn't seem cold when you are out. Because I don't have the hands of steel like Chris or Chip, I appreciated having gloves with the kite. Fingers still worked after a long 3 sessions. Only saw Randy when we were packing up (don't know why I didn't recognize him out there), so we knew everything was right with the world. Pizza and stories at Pizza Luce (ever had the mashed potato and garlic pizza? mmmmm). Got home after 11pm. Diego drove, I kept My wife Dawn said I was kicking her in my sleep. Nice dreams of popping off the crest, I guess.
Hard to believe that we can do that kind of sailing in Minnesota.
Re: Monday Morning looks big at Duluth
Cripes, I thought I had the skills to just blast out through the beach break and finally score a ride on the outside (3rd visit to Park Point). As mentioned, the wind was up and down. I battled the beach break through many cycles of forearm fatigue and frustration. Got a great full body workout it seems struggling with my gear. Finally, I found myself on the outside, in the sickest terrain I have ever been in. It didn't last long however as the wind was not allowing me to stay fully powered and in control of my path. Holy crikes, better head off to avoid being munched by this big bitch of a wave, shit, I'm on the inside again. I suspect if I had a chosen a floatier board I may have been able to stay powered up and been able to experience more riding on the outside. I eventually did rig bigger but 4.5 wasn't enough and I just called it a day. What I did get, I'd like more of, so, I look forward to the next big push. Great to see Randy and Tim up there.
Re: Monday Morning looks big at Duluth
Glad to meet you, Geoff and Diego. My freind, Jeff Weiber has a lot of great video of you, Jon Stroh and a bit of myself, if he could somehow post it! I want to ride the surf like you guys. I will keep coming back until I can. You were very inspiring to me. Until then, ride safe, and I will practice in my dreams.
Michael
Michael
" Real living begins on the far side of despair " _ Jean Paul Sartre