Jetty Heaven

[Randy]

I hadn't been to South Padre Island since 2007. It had been a regular spring visit for us since 1987. So great to see Phillip and Jibber. This place has the same welcoming feel as Worthington. Perhaps because of the great shared music passion found in so many riders. I've been blessed to meet up with Jerry Crow. He's introduced me to Nancy Cook and Michael Lafferty. They've welcomed me into their music scene at PadreRitaville. It just doesn't get better than riding boards and music, all in a day's time.
Anyway, for those of you who've experienced a jetty day, yesterday will forever be memorable. Staying with Judd and Dianne. We hit the water around 9. South Dakota Paul had been out since 8 and Jerry had done some windsurfing, but was switching over to kite. We saw close to a dozen dolphins playing the waves on the outside. I chose to windsurf and found conditions to be about as close to a good Kanaha day as I've ever experienced on the mainland. Long, beautiful troughs in waves close to 12'. Judd, Oklahoma Daniel, Chad, Paul and some other locals were truly in their element. I kited for a bit, but fatigued pretty fast in the starboard conditions. Definitely good reason to practice jumping both sides.
Highlights of the day: watching Dianne and Judd rip it up in monster conditions. Dianne was the only woman on the water. I'll never forget being on the outside, surrounded by a dozen dolphins that I could have reached out and touched. The day filled out with more locals arriving for the spectacular conditions. I've sailed the jetty a lot, but have never seen conditions like this before. Judd, Paul, and Daniel were the ever energized stamina monsters of the day. Teran came later in the day and graced us with his stylish riding. Will showed up and after Judd, last man standing, came in, the wind had died, the waves glassed, and the surfers had their field day. Will was the solo stand up paddler.
Famished, we went for pizza, took a nap, and off to PadreRitaville for more music. We sang a tribute to our dear friend, Jack Mertz, raised a toast, and felt his presence strong in the room. Still holding deep gratitude for Marc and Lloyd. My wife, Jane, said the lake's now frozen and she reported 35 swans in front of our house, six eagles fishing the remaining open waters. Dianne and I are soon off to The Church by the Sea to give gratitude for this great gift of life.
I know we're sometimes reluctant to make posts like this to avoid making people feel envious. I hope I haven't done this. I've always seen this forum as a great place to share the stoke, live through another's ride experience, and motivate us to follow our heart. Anyway, this was just too good to not post. Lovin' Texas.

[ollie]

Randy

Sorry, didn't work, still super jealous! It's ok though cause it adds to the stoke for next springs april treck.
Glad to hear about the super days on the water especially from people who really relish the ride! Grab a few big glassies for us here in Duluth cause they ain't happened here all fall.

Bryan Z

[JRN]

WOW! That is one session I wish I'd ridden. Most of my favorite riders on one of my favorite launches. Thanks for transporting the rest of us along for the ride, Randy. It made this shoulder season between soft and hard H2O a little more tolerable, just thinking of you all enjoying nature's gifts. I'm sure Jack, wherever he exists, would have been grinning ear to ear.

[johnz]

Awesome!!!

Don't ever apologize for a post like that.

Share... just post it!

[MK]

I want to reach out and touch the dolphins.

[Randy]

That monster high pressure finally made it down here. We've had a couple days of strong northerly winds. One smooth day at the Flats and yesterday we went to Boca Chica to ride the south side of the Jetty. Judd, Jerry Crow and myself took off in the 45 degree weather. It's a forty minute drive down to Brownsville and back out to the coast. Jerry detoured us down a rutted out road to view the Rio Grand. We were shortly escorted out by US Border Patrol. Hard to imagine all the drama that's taken place in that part of the river that's only about fifty yards wide.
Once the pavement ends it's a four mile drive along a desolate beach. Another day of watching the dolphins jumping in the waves. The N/NW winds were side off and made for some challenging adjustments. Jerry and I windsurfed. Judd kited. I made the mistake of going out before Jerry, a much more experienced rider. Got thrashed on my first run out, but eventually figured it out after following Jerry's lead. Judd played the waves like a pro. We were joined by Zach, a Corpus Christi rider on his way to Mexico.
Strange to be wearing my Bare drysuit, gloves and hoody down here.
The side off winds were pretty gusty. I was at the mouth of the Jetty when the winds died off and I couldn't water start for a few minutes. I had seen the dolphins with their rounded backs rising to the surface before, but found it a little unnerving when I saw a fin just holding a steady plane. Jerry had said there were a lot of black tip sharks in the area. It motivated a light wind waterstart.
Felt good to have port side jumps again.
Jerry and I tore down and drove the truck down the beach as Judd enjoyed a long downwinder.
Learned a lot today about boundaries.

[MK]

I don't want to touch the sharks.