A late afternoon soul session at The Point on Pepin yesterday was as good as it gets: sub-5.0 ESE wind, large clean and rolling swell at the buoy, glass in the jibatorium. Best of all, the crew I have known and sailed with, here and elsewhere in the world, since the late 1980's: Randy, Brian, Mike, Greg, Chris, Sid, Tim, Kevin (and a few new faces), with local Pete on the disabled list shooting his always excellent pics from the beach. The stoke as we say was full-on positive, and after a few hours in the harness I headed home once again grateful for the life that lets me do such things with such great people.
Though I have spent more time on the kite in the past couple of years, few things for me beat a high-wind swell-riding chop-blasting floater-jumping windsurfing session with old friends at a place like The Point when it's going off. As a crew we may be grayer now but everyone still rips with real intensity and passion. While some windsurfers gave it up completely for kiting, I will never part with my trusty wave stick and 4-meter sails. The days we get to play with such toys around here are few and far inbetween, and as long as I'm able I intend to show up when the frontal winds of spring and fall whip the whitecaps into liquid smoke.
Like today: Sid just called from Pepin and in his understated way said it's "pretty windy." It's certainly bigger than yesterday as we've had 45 mph gusts since noon. My wet stuff is still in the truck, my wife and daughter are grocery shopping (bless them)-- I think it's time to go.
Have fun today wherever you ride. Peace,
Bill[/i]
Pepin yesterday and today
Moderator: MK
Here's a few shots from yesterday. Batteries had died by the time it really picked up. It is still gratifying to watch others rip it up!
http://public.fotki.com/WindRider9/5507-pepin-se/
http://public.fotki.com/WindRider9/5507-pepin-se/
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freejoshua7
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