The numbers, ...
The numbers, ...
... and I am so grateful to have boosted my numbers back up into the zone of a more fully committed boardhead. Indeed, but after throwing down the worst statistics in most of three decades last year, I had a low bar. Yeah, sure, 105 days windsurfing with another 37 days skateboardsailing and 33 on the sand “only” make for 175 total days. Still about 25 days under target. And I guess I could throw some blame around, point up the degree to which the weather feels like it’s broken, explain my growing reticence to drive far to catch little and then appeal for sympathy that should rightly not be coming. But no. I will instead be nothing but grateful the apocalypse has been postponed and there has been so much of the pure magic in between the beatdowns.
Besides, lockdown has been easy time for me. Did some making, caught up on some maintenance, put some extra love on the dogs and gratefully, it hasn’t cut into my sailing nearly as much as it probably should have. And while crowding has never been a problem around here, this Summer, the lineup was noticeably empty. As for most the rest of the year, it’s noticeably empty anyway.
As for some details of the numbers, The new 98 ltr. cube pro was easily the board I used most and it was on the water for 95 of my sailing days. The 92 ltr. Pyramid saw at least one session on seventeen of my days. The 88 custom for ten with three more on my old 85 quad LS in onshore conditions.
The ’20 numbers are in, ...
12/21/20
One of the especial joys of 2020 for me was getting to hang’ shoot and sail with Boujmaa. I can’t help but feel I’m a better person just for getting to hang out with him and that I’m a better windsurfer getting to watching him shred.
Another highlight of the year was getting to hang out, shoot and sail with Vickie Abbott. Indeed, in certain circles, I have even claimed that I got to Mink her. Yeah, I’d gotten with the Mink program last WInter not long after they went into production having seen Ridge’s brother Kai running them on his boards. As an early adopter, there wasn’t much out there about them in terms of optimizing size choices and placement so I just started experimenting with them. But even from my first try, It was impressive how much more drive and grip I was getting. You might intuitively suspect the drag would be a problem but that’s not what I’m feeling at all. On the contrary, they feel faster. Especially in the turns when you can harvest the extra drive and either go farther into the turn or come out of it with more speed and confidence or even both. I’m feeling extra control on whitewater too. The real test was taking them off to confirm and when I did, all I could think about was putting another set back on. As well as on the other two boards I’ve been using.
That’s Vickie’s sixty something on the left getting the layout and installation with my 98 on the right. These are mediums from back before I found out smalls are more recommended for windsurfing. I’ve now got smalls on my 88 custom and will try switching down to small for the 98 when I get some more to work with.
So it’s been a challenging year of full of opportunities and I’m nothing but stoked for all the lessons, the inspirations, the reality checks, the demands and all the absolutely nasty conditions I survived and occasionally even got rides in. Stoked to still be out there, still trying to contribute, still getting better, still healthy and even more grateful than always. ____________|_
My second most sailed spot next to the Cape this last year was Whiskey Run. And I’ve been fond of saying it’s not just a kite spot any more. Back when NW was the more prevailing wind, this north facing beach was all too onshore. Now that we get so much more N wind and NNE, this spot presents as side shore and sometimes even just slightly offshore making for some fairly high quality riding. And I love being able to drive out on the beach in most conditions. The dogs are digging it too and it feels like distancing in it’s purest form.
These four shots come courtesy of Trina, and they were all shot at the Rogue jetty this last year. I’m thinking they look calendar worthy, but since they are of me, perhaps I’m not a reliable judge of that. I do know that Trina’s really been putting in the time and effort to up her photographic game and it shows. And not only in the impressive collection of images she has captured, but the weather she’s endured as well as the risks and fears we’ve all had to overcome. Much stoke and gratitude is due.