Friday at The Mother

[RandyL]

I just added a few more shots to the Gallery.
What a perfect day

[RandyL]

Hendy put together a clip of some late day fun in the waves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umtNYYCOEGQ

[Tighe]

nice job Keith. Obviously shot at the end of the day as the wind was coming down and we were all toast. It was a great session though amongst those bright bright breakers illuminated by the setting sun. What fun.

[MK]

I get why it's called the Mother. I'm so wrecked today after riding her the first time yesterday.

Strange to ride the swell and waves. I must have sounded like a repeating tape recorder (do they still make those?): "This is nothing like flat water back in the cities!" I got my butt kicked by the Mother yesterday and loved it. I was worked over like a buffet in an eating contest. I think I was in shock by the difference in terrain. In hind sight I can't wait to go back but am glad I can recooperate today. 4 words: I bu pro fin.

I really felt like a beginner out there and was humbled. The surf and wash must have swept my feet out from me 20 times. I really enjoy getting a little air but never felt comfy with where to land so didn't ever push that part. Plenty of options to launch off the face of waves but I always felt a little off balance. The wind was steady and only slightly gusty.

I was so toast I really wondered if I could have the strength to drive back to the cities. I got home and blinked a couple of times and my next recollection was waking up this morning to go coach volleyball. Totally spent. I couldn't even hang out and enjoy the post session recap. I wouldn't have been much of a contribution unless my thousand yard stare and slumped posture was welcomed. I think Adam said it best on the beach yesterday when he just dropped his arms with an expression of exhaustion.

The good pain, great day, great day.

[cdelp]

RANDY!!!!!!
Great to see you out there! Jade green water, smiles, and sun. It is an amazing thing to throw a jibe as you carve down a wave and end up surfing the wave at the end of a jibe. The only thing more amazing is to do it with a friend. Thanks.
I don't know who was getting the serious air, but I was doing serious hooting and arm pumping for the kiters that were launching way over my mast. Hope to be joining your ranks soon, but I am much to green with my new kite to be competent or confident to be on the water.

[Chip]

Wow, what a day! It was great to see so many folks enjoying the Mother at her best. Chris, sorry I missed you. Hope we can get a nuclear session in yet this season while the water is still warm.. A good Nor’easter is long overdue.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but the day just went on and on and on. I was a little mortified to find out I had been on the water over 4 hours when I quit. I am still paying for it now 2 day later.

[Geo]

It was Great to see so many out...interesting how we all find ways to be up there on a "work day". I had a great time kiting, and although under- and over-powered on 9M and 14M at various times, was still glad that I didn't have to break out on the windsurfer. Then later I was talking to a Calhoun windsurfer (Michael?) who said he was riding 135L+7.5M....now I see the connection between Calhoun and The Mother! And it was working well for him; there is no way my "large" 100L board + 6M sail would have worked.

I also had a lofty-experience next to shore...probably what Randy was talking about. Kite stalled out just as I landed, and I figured that those of you standing under it wouldn't really want to get clothes-lined. Grabbed the center lines to get it taut and going back in the up direction again, creating 15' heel skid marks in the sand. Kite understandably lofted up, and I bet if it was nuking, it might have been ugly. I didn't pull the release (since I actually had control by that point), but the advice was good anyway. Sorry to those of you that were right near by. Since there were so many kites out on the sand, I should have just come down another 50' up the beach. That, and not stalled the kite, of course.

I think that might be the only time that I've gotten to sail up there when it was sunny most of the day. And warm! Amazing.

[Elkman]

I was out there being a tourist on Friday afternoon. I was actually in Duluth to skate the North Shore Inline Marathon, so I came by to watch. With my current kiteboarding skill level, there's no way I would have been able to cope with all the waves and anything else that's difficult about Superior, so that's why I was just watching. (Also, if I had gone kiting on Friday, my legs would have been trashed and I would have had problems skating 26.2 miles from Two Harbors to Duluth on Saturday.)

I took a bunch of photos, so if anyone wants, I can upload them to the gallery.

[Tighe]

would love to see them Todd. How'd the marathon go? Sounds like fun event