Classic Waconia

[Tighe]

wow.

Shimmering textured water, massive swells, sails on the water and far above. The air alive with vitality.

So many smiles. 7s and 9s were the call.

wow

sleep now.

[drknap]

Sounds like you guys did much better on the west side. It was up and down at WBL from 1 to 4pm. We were on 12-14m kites and only powered 50% of the time with lots of schlogging in between. It completely shut off at around 330 pm and several us packed up to go home. But it sounds like it came back big around 430. I felt gusts at home in st. paul that had to have been 40mph.

[Tighe]

wow, crazy that there would be that much difference. I talked to someone who said it rained in Mpls. I don't remember anything but sunny skys and big floaty cloads all day at Waconia. Weird but what a gift.

Crazy though that 50 miles would make that drastic a difference. It was smoke on the water kind of windy. Not sure what windsurfers were on but I think I would have been on a 4.0 or something. It takes a ton of wind for me to be overpowered on that 9m.

Sorry it didn't make it East.

How was it on Mille?

[baskinT]

Agree with Tighe. Again paid the price when I violated the rule of "windsurfing" -> "BRING EVERYTHING" to the beach. As I left home in Oakdale, it was not looking all that windy. The Waconia forecast predicted around 20 mph, gusts around 26 mph. So I left the small "stuff" in the garage. Big mistake.

As I arrived for the first time the Waconia's east launch, it was really delivering. My smallest sail was 5.9 and my mid-board was 115 Mistral Syncro. I talked to Tighe and Diego briefly, and decidedly to put in.

The first run was a blast. Since being the first time in Waconia, I sailed all the way by the docks behind the island. And that was a mistake. No wonder anyone else was sailing this way... But it was a learning experience. I got up with some schlogging, and made it back.

Got a lot of downhaul on the NP 5.9 Excess sail. I really like this one because it was full kevlar. I also came out from a sail take off accident during rigging, but it was close. My sail (as I was not watching) flipped and went over an SUV at the parking lot. Nothing seemed harmed including the SUV, but again even though there was no wind at the rig area, a gust could sneak in at any time.

Otherwise, all was good. I was overpowered about 40-50% of time, especially second session come back was really hard. Even though I opened up the sail, I got clobbered by the wind, the board turned into the wind and I was in the water. Stayed in the water for a few to catch my breath, and I was getting tired too, so that I called my last run. Also re-met Mike and Bryan whom I met last year at the Gorge and exchanged several stories. There are other west side faces I have seen but could not name. Diego mentioned about 15 windsurfers. Not bad. Water was not too cold. Had the boots on, but others did not have any boots. There was no need for gloves either. Wish I had my smaller 5.3 and 82 liter board. Next time I guess...

Overall Waconia really delivered with NW/W winds, and I would like to trip out there again (even though it takes an hour or more to get there from Oakdale). Thanks to Diego for asking me to come out and try Waconia. It was a blast. Very tired this morning, but I see branches swaying already. Let's rest and see what happens.

Take care,

[WildBill]

Yeah, WOW! I was having second thoughts about going out when I got there on a 9M Waroo I had never road(& new larger bar/pad, 1st water session of the season and being cool water) and a larger SX 151 board. I thought ah what the heck if I have to do the walk of shame so what at least I get the experience of being on the water in almost nuking winds. I was pleasantly surprised when I got out and could go up wind most of the time and not slide out. I must say when it really cranked though I wasn't exactly in control. The great thing is that usually only lasted a couple of minutes and the wind would go down slightly then the swells would come rolling at you and it was fun to surf and jump them. Glad I did it but I stayed out a tad long and without booties on (I can't seem to get in my board with them on) and the sun going down, I got a bit shivery and that's what made me come in. About the time I came in the wind lulled slightly then shifted to coming out of the north.

So in all that rambling. Great first water session of the season on higher water winds then I'd ever been on. 9M Waroo and 151 SX board held up well!

Tighe, it actually did rain in Waconia although quite briefly. I was at that new gas station on 5 just west of 30 and I went in to get some hot tea and when I got out my truck had big water droplets on it. Kinda weird as it was dry on the ground with only a few wetish spots here and there to confirm the rainfall. There were some wet roads here and there on the way home too.

[Bill S.]

Thanks to Brian for loaning me his 4.7m windsurfing rig for a sweet way-powered session (dumbly left my stuff at home and only brought kites). And, as my smallest kite is a 10m, thanks to Tighe for loaning me a 5m kite for a session. While it wasn't quite enough kite and led to a swim, I had a few rides in the rollers and 30-40 mph gusts that were worth the price of admission. Highlight: watching Chris B. send it in the smoke-on-the-water gusts. Up, up, and away...!

Bill

[Geo]

Hardly anything in Minneapolis, so I wasn't sure if it was even worth the trip out to Waconia. But the Experimental is so often right on...
Started out Kiting at maybe 2pm...wind was just coming up. My "new" 9M TD2 worked great, even as the wind chugged up and down. Came in right as it started to blow big.

Time for windsurfing. Forgot my masts, but was able to use Diego's 430 to rig a 5.2. Way too much - could easily have been on a 4.0 or 4.5 for the rest of the afternoon. Awesome wind great swell. BRING EVERYTHING. Downwinders are so much fun when it is going off because it is so easy to get way up wind to enjoy the ride.

And on a Saturday, even. Cool.

[chanrider]

One last story from me about Saturday… it involves peeing so send the kids away. I told this to my family today and they said “Don’t post that on the internet!” so here goes.

I had to pee on Saturday and my wetsuit already reeks so bad I can’t stand it. So I walked over the to port-a- johns at the Wack and remembering how rank they can be inside I thought “Well I just go quickly and quietly behind them, what’s the harm?”

With my luck the Carver County Sheriff drove right by just at that moment. I tiptoed away quickly and quietly zipping up ye ole wetsuit, but he hit the lights and pulled me over. He asked “Have you been drinking?” I said “No sir, just windsurfing , and this wetsuit is so awkward I didn’t want to go in the port a john but I know I should have.”

“Well, yeah,” said the sheriff. “ I know there was foliage, but from the road if Aunt Maude drove by and saw you and saw my car in the parking lot she would call the station ask why I wasn’t kicking your ass!” Well I couldn’t disagree and I just admitted what a dumbass I was. He agreed and we said goodbye and that was about it.

He was a pretty cool guy, and that’s what made this story funny, but I guess you had to be there. Given how windy it was I hope you were. Just a great day to be alive & peeing!

[Tighe]

Great story Mark.
Some of those guys are pretty nice, stoppin in and checkin how the day's treatin us. Must have been pretty embarrassing though.

I've always wondered what those folks who own the house across the road must think. It gets windy and the parking lot turns into a changing room. We'll probably see some ASSorted videos turn up on Youtube some day.