Tot Lot
Moderator: MK
superior
Sorry to miss all of the excitement this weekend. I'll be out in the afternoon if it comes up.
Looking good!
I'm just getting out the door now. Looking good. should be there by 3:30. See you there, Jim. Chip's post got me too jazzed to miss another Superior sesh, no matter how much trouble it gets me in to.
Ride...just be it!
www.just-be-it.com
www.just-be-it.com
Chickened Out
I stopped by the Tot Lot at 4:30 and watched Randy out in the surf having a great time. It was only 43 degrees here and I didn't have the ying to get my yang out on the water. Randy sure had it though - he was catching lots of air time out there - I should have had a camera. The weather radio said 29 mph but it was likely more like 20.
The surf was plenty big - at times Randy was almost disappearing between waves. They were running 3 - 4 feet (6 - 8 foot faces) with a few larger monsters thrown in. What really made it look huge were the waves that were breaking on the outside - beyond the regular surf zone. Lots of rip tides running the shore. Hopefully Randy will share some stories with us.
The surf was plenty big - at times Randy was almost disappearing between waves. They were running 3 - 4 feet (6 - 8 foot faces) with a few larger monsters thrown in. What really made it look huge were the waves that were breaking on the outside - beyond the regular surf zone. Lots of rip tides running the shore. Hopefully Randy will share some stories with us.
Saw Randy coming off the water at about 5:30. The big smile on his face caught my attention as I was driving by and I had to turn around to see how the session went. He said it was one of his best. I was a bit disappointed to see how big it had gotten. At noon it was hardly blowing yet, and the forecast didn't look that promising to me when I checked - I don't know how Randy manages to score more Lake time than those of us that live around here. Way to go Randy! 
In my world, this was one of my best!
They say we create our own reality, and if this is the case I did a pretty good job today. In my world I caught my biggest air off a twelve foot straight vertical face with 4M power running my 4.5M. I don't know how high I was 'cause I never look down, but it sure seemed like a very long float down...using a Mistral wave board for the first time...a very good board in the air and on the waves.
It was probably the trickiest session for getting out. I eventually busted through after a three mile run down the shoreline. The terrain was the most beautiful I've ever seen and I've finally learned the key to riding Superior's big waves...just don't go down in the trough for a bottom turn. The waves travel way too fast and their size in on shore conditions completely blocks the wind and consequently the speed you get from the sail. Soooo....it was an hour and a half of ecstasy (again, in my world) that let me off with little punishment (only one wash cycle).
Chip, you gotta find a way to get those photos from yesterday posted. Great seeing you and Jim...we'll just have to connect another day.
(ps. the air and water temp felt comfortable in my Bare, so thanks for reminding us Chip).
It was probably the trickiest session for getting out. I eventually busted through after a three mile run down the shoreline. The terrain was the most beautiful I've ever seen and I've finally learned the key to riding Superior's big waves...just don't go down in the trough for a bottom turn. The waves travel way too fast and their size in on shore conditions completely blocks the wind and consequently the speed you get from the sail. Soooo....it was an hour and a half of ecstasy (again, in my world) that let me off with little punishment (only one wash cycle).
Chip, you gotta find a way to get those photos from yesterday posted. Great seeing you and Jim...we'll just have to connect another day.
(ps. the air and water temp felt comfortable in my Bare, so thanks for reminding us Chip).
Ride...just be it!
www.just-be-it.com
www.just-be-it.com
our own reality
Yeah, if it had only been, say 20 degrees, or even 10 degrees warmer.... If you are on top side of your board the whole time then no problem, right? I remember a conversation comparing sailing on Lake Superior to other surf zones - it truly is a tall, wickedly cold mountain.
Like you said Randy, the trick with the surf here is that it is a grinding shore break. The waves are seconds apart. If you go down in the break you most likely are not going to be able to get back on your board any time soon - either no wind, you are body slammed by the next steam roller, or if you are really lucky, your posterior is tossed over the falls (at this point I like to grab the end of my mast and hang on). Then, worst of all, if your sail gets down into the water, you are stuck in the breaking surf. The rip currents down low are trying to push you and your rig out into the lake. The breaking waves can't push you in against it, and a great big washing machine is borne. Ala windsurfer purrreee. Let's see, should I really try to (keep from drowning) and get back on this board, or should I let myself get washed in to shore. If only those waves were a little farther apart. Maybe if I bought more life insurance. Life's difficult questions.
Hats off to you Randy, you set a high mark for all of us to achieve. Next time I'll make it onto the water.
Like you said Randy, the trick with the surf here is that it is a grinding shore break. The waves are seconds apart. If you go down in the break you most likely are not going to be able to get back on your board any time soon - either no wind, you are body slammed by the next steam roller, or if you are really lucky, your posterior is tossed over the falls (at this point I like to grab the end of my mast and hang on). Then, worst of all, if your sail gets down into the water, you are stuck in the breaking surf. The rip currents down low are trying to push you and your rig out into the lake. The breaking waves can't push you in against it, and a great big washing machine is borne. Ala windsurfer purrreee. Let's see, should I really try to (keep from drowning) and get back on this board, or should I let myself get washed in to shore. If only those waves were a little farther apart. Maybe if I bought more life insurance. Life's difficult questions.
Hats off to you Randy, you set a high mark for all of us to achieve. Next time I'll make it onto the water.