Yeah, it’s that time again, ....
... to a new board -- the latest, the turniest, the fastest up on a plane, the board that will take you places on a wave you never thought you would be able to go -- is a brand new set of footstraps and a sweet set of fins. But at least I put some fresh straps on her. And I’m talking about my six year old 85 quad LS. A board that in its time, certainly was the turniest, fastest up on a plane and took me places on a wave I never thought I would go. And more impressive to me is the fact that board has survived what is going on six Pistol years. That has to be kind of like dog years. And according to my water log, that’s 322 days on some of the toughest water around. And sure, while I’ve already aged out of the masters age class, I‘m still hucking the forwards and off the lips and charging conditions well beyond my abilities on a regular basis. So my deepest respect to not only the shaping, but the construction of that 85. And while there’s nothing like an old friend when the Cape wind is in one of her more freaky moods, I know I should think about doing more than fresh straps.
Indeed, trying a custom that Dwight just brought back from Maui was a resounding wake up call. For as I suspected, Mr. Teboul and crew have been at it large and come far with the shapes these years. I had already upgraded my floaty board a couple years ago to great effect. And my numbers the last couple years show a distinct bias now toward the new floaty stick even when I could be riding smaller. Well thinner anyway, as the 92 Pyramid is the same length as the old 85. And the Pyramid easily out performs the LS in all but the windiest and most hectic conditions.
It’s a tough call. There’s no budget for it. It’s fiscally irresponsible. But it’s windsurfing we’re talking about here. And that’s 5.3 on the 92 Pyramid.
So the next best thing ...
6/5/16
... when my trainer starts beating me up to go sail the Rock. But there was some swell showing in the Cape and I refused.
In other news, “the blob” seems to have abated and lately, the ocean temps on the south coast have been in the low fifties. And that’s a bit of a cool down after most of a year in the high fifties. That’s no small difference in how you feel when you are getting rinsed or doing a big swim. Just ask Leo.
The set up for the Pistol River Wave bash is coming right along. I’m trying something a little different with the set up of the judging stand and look forward to seeing it come together. And minus tides early that week should bode well for some sandsaiing in the Cape if there’s enough wind for that. And how about the south swells on the outside of the forecast?
Anyway, I look forward to seeing you crew and getting to hang out a little and hear some story.
In keeping with my promise to make Boardhead International live up to its name, let me introduce our featured riders, all the way from Vancouver, Canada. Jennifer Carlisle and her companion Ryan Allderman just scored an amazing first week of their vacation. Indeed, we’d been sailing every day. Mostly the Rock at first but then that SW swell started showing so it was all about the Cape. All the shots in this report are from Friday June 3rd and were taken by Ryan, Jen and Ben Page (who is by the way from England -- and was giving his knee a rest after tweaking it the day before).
And how’s this for a parting shot by Ryan? Guess that’s it until the next report unless we see you here for the Bash.
With respect and gratitude. ________________\_
It’s been a lot of fun sailing with Ryan and Jen, they’ve really been going for it. And huge gratitude out to Ryan for taking the time out to shoot that off the lip that leads this report. I was especially glad to see that one since I actually landed it. Sure it wasn’t pretty, as it was one of those extended emerge from the soup sort of recoveries but I did manage to pull out front and continued to ride. Felt so good up at the top too. Thanks again man.