Give me a break if this gets too long but I am to stoked not to ramble on.
I've made the trip to sail Superior four other times but each time have been under-powered and fighting the white water to stay out of the sand. I've always gone home wanting more and knowing the freedom to play is just over the shorebreak. Until Friday! I finally hit the big wind and waves on Superior and it is every bit of what comes out in Randy's and other's stories! Awesome!
It started as a bug to go to Mille Lacs for the first time since others had posted they were going and the forcast looked huge. After almost driving up Wednesday but opting to settle for some fun rides at Waconia instead, I was heart-set on sailing the big wind on a really big lake. So, when the promised wind started to explode all over the state Friday morning, I decided this was my chance to see what Mille Lacs has to offer.
Even though Aitken was light, every place west and northwest was going off big. All that wind just has to make it to Mille Lacs, right? So off I went with the excitement building every time the truck shook from the wind. But
as my exit got close, I noticed the trees were no longer bent over and driving was easy. I made a worried call to Aitken municipal..."wind 270 at 4" ??!
FOUR!! WILL I EVER F'N LEARN!!? NEVER, EVER LEAVE WIND TO FIND WIND!!
I tried Mora..."270 at 12 gusting 14". NOOOO!! What now? Green - 2 1/2 plus hours away. Waconia - at least 2 hours. Superior wasn't supposed to hit till later but a quick call saved me... "040 at 21 gusting 28". Thank you God! And I'm very sorry for everything I just thought or said in the last few minutes. Thank you!
So, plans change and now I will have less sailing time but it will be on Superior. YEA! This could be more than I hoped for! Past experience kept a cloud looming over my excitement though as I drove on.
As I crested the ridge and the lake came into view, I could see... whitecaps!! Lots of 'em! More than I have ever seen (when I was intending to sail). When I pulled into the Tot Lot lot, I knew this was my day!
I ran to measure the wind because there was nobody to ask and got a peak of 24 with an average over a minute or so of 21! Yea, baby! 5.1! Two others, Charlie and Jim, arrived while I took my readings. They had a little bad news... the water is 35 degrees. Ouch! I had packed for Mille Lacs. A 3/2 wetsuit no mits and warm water booties.
Oh well. Times a wastin'. I rigged up and hit the water. It sure was a bit chilly at first. Right away I knew this session on Park Point was different. I was powered. Way powered! Enough to hop a few breakers, outrun a few bigger ones and slash up though a gap or two.
Suddenly I realized I was OUT! That quick, I was out and loving it. I was free to pick the line from what had become an open playground with no beach to force decisions. An amusement park with no lines and no rulers to say "you can't go on this ride little boy". Free to carve and jump and rip!!! WAAAHOOOO!
Out toward the airport, the wind was way stronger and the waves were bigger and cleaner. I blasted overpowered downwind to carve the backside of a wave and across the smooth trough to launch off of a peaky medium sized face like none I had ever seen.
I floated down from the sky just in time to catch an awesome ride on a beautiful wave. But he ride had been far to short when I looked over and saw the crest right next to my head burst into a churning mass of foam! "Speed, I need SPEED... NOW!", was the voice in my head but I was in to deep to pull away and it drove me under for a quick lesson in respect.
I had ridden in far enough that the water was waist deep and I could hold my gear free of what seemed like the next hundred or so waves I took right in the face. Finally realizing there would be no break, I hopped on right after one of the smaller ones passed. There was plenty power to get over the next wall before hooking in to work out past the shore-break for more.
More of the best sailing since the first time hooked in, planing or the first time jumping. It was one of the days you wait and hope for after every thrilling new discovery becomes what you hope your next session will be. Another step. Another first time experience but no way the last because I will risk the skunkings any day for more rides like Superior dished out Friday!
The time to head home came all to quickly and as I was coming off the water, Randy pulled in with a childs look of anticipation and a smile that wouldn't fit on two faces. I met Chip and Chris before packing up my gear and as I pulled out of the lot I saw Randy franticly pulling on his suit to get his fix of Mother Superior's finest. And now I know what that is!
Friday. My first big day on Superior!
Moderator: MK
Now this is "stoke" for those who are still wonder
I've heard it said there are no 'good' decisions or 'bad' decisions, just decisions. In this case, you sure capture the spirit of attention and courage Mother Superior looks for both before you hit the water and after. Your story puts us all on The Lake and I suspect has most readers drooling for the next big lake day. I wish I could have taken a picture of you when I pulled into the parking lot...your WHOLE body was smiling. Your story made my no-wind Monday morning.
Ride...just be it!
www.just-be-it.com
www.just-be-it.com