Duluth this weekend?

[Tighe]

I struggled with the choice, stay or go, stay or go. Then I called Randy and he and Roger were heading North. They pulled over and I caught up to them and we headed up together....THANKS for waiting guys. Not a lot of wind on the way up then we came over the hill. We could see white caps from on top of the hill, 5miles away.....definitely a good sign. We pulled up, Randy J was smiling ear to ear. Denis had just come in on his 11m Rev II and was rigging down. I got to hop on the 11m, Sweet no rigging.

The first 1/2 hour was monster chop, and no clean waves. I was bit disappointed, then they cleaned up and it was time for the FUSE. LOVE THAT BOARD. I'd work my way, way upwind then ride the waves straight downwind. The faces were huge. Stroh if you thought those were 3 to 4 footers you gotta stop riding Calhoun. Easy 6-10' on the outside. They weren't as clean as they can get, but if you chose it right you could grab a set with 40-60 feet of glossies in between and play all the way in.

I took only the Lunacy and the FUSE and switched off between them. Both loved the terrain for different reasons. The Lunacy loves the flat troughs and you could sweep huge turns into a face loading the lines and springing to the moon. The Fuse loves riding the surface. So much terrain.

The last 2 hours I was lit on the 11m REV II. Really really nice kite.

Everyone was going off. I saw Bryce do a huge Deadman, Mike was skying as usual. Terry was looking dialed on the water and in the air. Barry was slashing it up on his surfboard. Geoff, Adam and Randy were disappearing in the troughs on the outside. Denis was pulling sweet kiteloops. Eric was looking so dialed. Jim, Kevin, Roger, Patrick and other were ripping it up. So many smiles and great energy on the water.

Great to share the day with all of you.

thank you thank you thank you mother...

[Kevinousdigian]

Barry and I hit the water about 2:30. The first hour I kited tentatively on my crazyfly through the chop. I was inspired by Mike W and Tighe carving on his Fuse so I went in and got mine. The wind and waves kept building and I got more comfortable during the next hour. Then from 4:30 - almost 6 I felt real dialed in.

The wind was stronger than it had been all day and waves had enlarged with some huge glossy waves that would go on and on. The wind clocked a little more NE which made riding toe side so fun. I'm glad I had 4-5 'training' 9m days at Reddy creek to get ready for riding this big stuff. A few times I sheeted out the kited and rode the power of the waves all the way in - what a rush! It was too bad more people couldn't have stayed to enjoy the best wind/waves of the day, it felt kind of weird being the only kiter after seeing 15-20 earlier in the day. It was fun seeing Randy J. still out carving them up on the windsurfer.

I had windsurfed for 20 years and last August I had my best ever windsurfing day up at Duluth. Now I've kited for 1+ year and that last hour yesterday was easily the best rides I've had. Both sports are great but you can do so much more kiting and it's easier that I'm looking forward to more days on Superior!

Kevin

[RandyL]

What a Blast!!!
Here is a few shots of the day.

[RandyL]

more

[RandyL]

[RandyL]

[Geo]

Yeah...I forgot to mention - it was my first day riding a kite at Duluth, too. I was gonna windsurf, but the wind was a bit marginal early. It picked up, along with my confidence when I realized how much easier it is to adjust to the conditions on the kite rather than the windsurfer. Not nearly the effort trying to break out, and hanging in the kite a bit when the wave crashes over you is SO MUCH easier than pulling the sail out of the whitewater. I kept thinking I outta go rig the windsurfer, but "one more" run down those wave faces on the kite, and I never switched over.

I tried Tighe's lunacy, too. The long, narrow shape seemed perfect for the big waves; gives it the kind of surfboard type of ride that one gets from a windsurfer. Nice, smooth. Mmmmm. Thanks, Tighe.

[Tighe]

Thanks for posting the shots Randy. FUN FUN Day.

Geoff, the board you tried was the FUSE. Directional stance and fin set up, that you can ride like a twin tip. Love that board.

[krazykatie]

nice photos! and i stayed home.....why?

[Randy]

Hey, Brian, did you forget a fin? Barry found a Powerbox fin at the beach and not sure if it is yours or Andrew?? from Puerto Rico? Anyway, I have it, so reply with your address and I can send it your way.

Stroh....Terry D., Brian and I were thinking like you. With the way it built through the day I thought for sure it'd be monster in the morning. After brews at Fitgers, we decided to meet 22nd street early am, only to find Sky Harbor readings of 17, diminished surf, and dropping winds.

We took off to Reddy Creek and kited 12-13M in ESE winds. Jeff and Larry showed up before I had to leave... The fall colors, huge riding posse, strong vibe, terrain, Duluth hospitality, Mille Lacs seagulls and eagles.... my aching back feels much better.

[BSMITH]

Sweeet! Yup, that's my fin. 11137 Vessey Circle, Bloomngton MN, 55437
Your the best Randy!

[Kevinousdigian]

Brian doesn't the 10 day mrf show some more NE wind for Duluth this Sunday again?
I think it would make more sense for you to meet Randy at Park Point to pick up your fin and while your there you may as well windsurf for awhile.... I think that is a valid excuse any spouse would understand.

[Tighe]

I could do that again

[Stroh]

looks like we could get some more sat & sunday... it's a litle to far out to tell though. It's still blowing NE out there now lots of whitecaps but I don't think it's enough.

can't wait for more

Jon

[BSMITH]

Brian doesn't the 10 day mrf show some more NE wind for Duluth this Sunday again?
I think it would make more sense for you to meet Randy at Park Point to pick up your fin and while your there you may as well windsurf for awhile.... I think that is a valid excuse any spouse would understand.

I will be at the Diamond Nationals karate tounament this weekend

...and i lost the anchor a couple of years ago.


I'm free freeeeeeeeeeeeeee!