Thursday, December 20, 2007

Ice climbing time is here...


Well, with the decline of the windsurf season comes the start of ice climbing season... SWEET!! Hooking up with an old buddy from Uni, Paul, to hit the ice in Gananoque. Hopefully she'll be in by the 26th!! Yeah baby... can't wait to swing those tools.

Happy Holidays!


Happy Holidays everyone! To whomever may be looking anyway...

New MFC Site

A new MFC website is up as well - looks great! Tried to score a sponsorship with these fellers as well, but as you can see from their team list, they prefer GOOD riders... ;)


Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Thanks to Quatro & Goya!

Big thanks to Quatro and Goya, my sponsors, for keeping me on as a team rider for 2008! Stoked for that. Thankfully, I guess every team needs a token kook! ;)



Goya Website

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Back to Canada


It's been a struggle, is all I can say, re-adjusting back to North American life. So many changes and big events have happened in 2007 it is pretty crazy. Chalk up the birth of twin boys, change in jobs, move back to Canada, getting hitched... It's been nuts - in so many ways joyous but also a deep internal struggle to accept we are back... back to a place I know too well.

Anyway, don't want to make this post a whiner-fest. Needless to say, the lack of sailing in Kingston Ontario has been taking its toll, mentally and on the skills. Summer was meagre. I only owned a 5.3 and nice 105L freestyle board and that just isn't enough for this palce. A 6.0 is critical. So, missed some decent 6.0 days, but tough to even think about going to that size again. The 5.7 I had in NZ got used 3 times in lame conditions and was promtly sold. 5.7 wind means its a mountain bike day. All in all: the gecko's have improved.

But alas, fall has delivered a few days that have rekindled my spirits, so not all is lost. I have found my 540's again and in the ideal conditions, they are happening at a decent success rate... I put a hell of an effort into flakas one day in Lake Ontario Park, in dead flat water, to no avail but notwithstanding the tendonitis that has since developed in my shoulder. I hate that move!! ;) I also promptly lost my wedding band after 9 days of marriage, also in Lake Ontario Park while sailing damnit. Yesterday proved that I can still pull the odd nice shove-it out of my arse too. I hope that one is on video!!! Tried to tweak that bitch as much as I could, and planed out of it nicely.

So, the blog is back. Not much of the season left, but I'll post when I can. I'm keen to see if anyone at all checks out this blog anymore, its been dead for a long time!! If you do read it, please leave a comment. Otherwise I'll declare it officially close.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Wow!


Well, Christmas came early. It's our last few lingering days here in Wellington, before we push of to Taranaki. All I wanted for Christmas was another good session in Lyall Bay. Well, Santa was listening cuz he delivered not only one, but two killer sessions in strong southerly winds and big swell.

Yesterday was already enough to make me happy. A nice 25kts coming through from the south, dishing out head to logo high waves, with some of the bigger sets coming in at mast high. Mmmm, yummy. With just a few of us out, it was an all you can eat buffet on good waves, with some of my best gougiest top turns ever. Loved it, couldn't get enough. Quite frankly, I made a pig of myself. So, after a beaut session, I was quite content to pack things in here...

But, sure enough, Friday delivered, and how... It topped Thursday, hands down. Wind was up from 25kts increasing to 35 gusting 40, again from the south, producing bigger and bigger meaty waves. Lots of guys out today and great fun to sail with the Welly crew - Troy, James, Clayton, Lawrence, Colin and a few others... Great times, lots of big waves, huge airs and good rides. This was IT!! The best I have seen Lyall Bay, and just on time.

A photographer from Wind&Kite was on hand, so maybe, if I am lucky, I can score a few photos, or even land one in the next edition of the magazine. We shall see.

Anyway, this was a fabulous way to wrap up my Wellington windsurfing. I couldn't have asked for better conditions. I will miss Wellington and all the great friends I've made here.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

NZ Wave Nationals

... are on this weekend in Taranaki. I'm slated to compete, but the forecast is looking lame-O! Will follow up with a report...

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Ah sweet water...

Another big thank you to my special sweetie Cheryl for letting me out on a day pass, for what will likely be my last go at Plimmerton.

...and it was good! Scored a solid 3hrs on 3.7 in head high waves. The wind direction was NNW so it seemed, which allowed for somewhat easy bottom turns and frontside hits. Some waves were rewarding 4-6turns, but those were the best ones. Regardless, it was a blast and it was nice to sail with some of me mates again.

Once again, try as I may, no backloops were stuck. I think I need to give up - its getting really frustrating. There is improvement and getting closer, but sheesh man!!

Cover

Forgot to put this one up...

Probably the highlight of my windsurfing career! Made the cover of New Zealand Wind&Kite Magazine last month. Leland took this shot during the first Freewave Event held in Evan's Bay last November. Thanks mate!


Too bad I had to share it with a tea bagger...

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Shit and pissed on...

Yes - thats what all you prospective parents have to look forward to.

Long before your children learn the meaning of respect, you will get shit and pissed on.

I reckon that the piss-on was deliberate. Thanks Bradley.

The projectile shit on the other hand... well, I guess just happened to be in the way of it. Thankfully, I ducked and weaved and not a single particle hit me - it shot clear over onto the couch across the room. Amazing really, and something to behold... if only it weren't faeces.

All over the 540's

Today was another day pass day. Cheryl's friend Lara is here visiting from Vermont and is a stellar helping hand. Today in fact, all that help let me get out for a sail in the ditch.

The cobwebs are starting to encroach on my repertoire... Grubby's were a touch weak today, but on the other hand, the 540's were still coming - my new favorite move, cuz they still seem so frickin' hard to pull off.

Friday, February 16, 2007

Down but not out.

I owe my sanity to Cheryl. She is incredible.

I had my first day pass yesterday and a second bonus half day pass today. This weekend was the final Freewave Event of the '06/07 year, but, yesterday was a big nuker!

Friday was huge in Lyall Bay - winds cranked up to 30kts+ and the waves were up beyond mast high. Despite being tired as hell, I made the most of the day pass and sailed like a demon from 2-5pm. The airtime was huge!!! I stuck a nice big floater crazy pete, but once again - could not nab the elusive backloop. Definitely had some of my biggest attempts ever!

Today unfortunately, the wind just did not develop and with the shite forecast, the Freewave is done. Third place finish for me! Have to be happy enough with that!

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Last Sail I reckon...

Squeezed in what will likely prove to be my last pre-child windsurf session last night. Try as I may, I could not stick the pushloops. I was just not willing to hold on!! ARGH!! The one that I came closest on was a direct result of accidentally hooking in mid-rotation - completed the rotation but landed on my sail... Thankfully my hands were still on the boom!

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Freewave #3.


Back to the ditch. It was slated for Plimmerton, but I generously acted as windy dummy, or more appropriately, wind complete idiot, as the wind was absolute shite and turned worse. A thumbs down for Plimmerton again.


The ditch was doin' wierd stuff too. There has been some nutty wind patterns around here the last week or two and everything was messy. T'was gusty and slightly E of N leaving a bit of a wind shadow by the normal Hatchery-style jibatorium. Bugga!


Anyway, it went off... I swapped between the 95 and 76 L boards, but stuck to the guns on the 4.4. Once again, Tom Taylor blew the competition to pieces with his goiters and flakas, and I think he may have even nabbed a shaka in there too, the bastard. I definitely witnessed a pretty sweet switch-chacho attempt. Hands-down he deserved the victory.


I kept to the usual standards to keep myself in 2nd spot, landing my grubbies, spocks, one-handed shove-it, forwards and a meagre upwind 3 to top off the lighter inside wind kookery. Clayton followed up in 3rd. I saw him do some real long clean body drags and snappy forwards. James was whipping up a willyskip frenzy and Troy was coming close to those shove-its himself. To top off the action, Gary made a special guest appearance during heats 3 through 5 tossing out his awesome looking wymaroos and one-footers.


Another fun day! So, I sit tenuously in 3rd place overall and it all comes down to the final event. Word on the streets is that Tom is back to school and will not make it, so the top podium position is up for grabs!!! Clayton is at 7pts and will head into the final event with the advantage and lead, with me at 9pts, James following up at 11pts, and Woo at 14. All I can say is that if the event is in the Ditch, I have a fighting chance at #1 or #2. If it's at Plimmy or Lyall Bay, I am f#%$ed and will be hoping to claw my way into 3rd overall. On the other hand, if Tom shows up, I am also in trouble where ever mother nature takes the event. February 17 is the day.


Thankfully, the babies will be here soon. With my 3 wks of paternity leave, no doubt I'll be sailing everyday and be as sharp as a knife. ;) Oh wait, maybe I have that wrong... Perhaps sleepless, exhausted and fat is more appropriate.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Trying shakas in Evan's Bay on a grey overcast light wind day. Another nice shot by Leland.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Xmas Holidays...

It's been a while since my last update... Oops.

We had a pretty sweet holiday on the South Island for Christmas and windsurfing was not the focus, but I squeeked in a few days on the stick. Did some incredible hiking up in the mountains of Nelson Lakes and Hanmer Springs and enjoyed the remote beaches of Golden Bay. One particular hike up Mt. Isobel in Hanmer Springs comes to mind. Cheryl kindly shuttled me around the base of the mountain so I could gain access from the remote north-side via a pole-marked ridge route. The weather was all over the map - I shlogged up the steep incline deeper and deeper into the fog. Many times, I could not see the next marker until I ventured out past the last one... making it a bit difficult to find the way up the ridge with any degree of confidence. Weather went from drizzle, to driving hail, to snow, then to sun!! This short day hike reminded me how much I love hiking, and especially more challenging, off-the-beaten path routes... the elements almost make it even more fun!

Another One of the highlights was exploring the Whanganui Inlet in Golden Bay with Cheryl. It was a long dusty gravel road in but at the end was a jewel remote beach at the outlet of the Putarau river. Stunning views of the ocean, white beach and towering cliffs were everywhere. I couldn't help but think about how incredible it would be to pull up and camp there for several weeks, enjoying the remoteness and natural beauty. You could climb new routes there for weeks and never do the same climb twice... there was so much quality rock there, not to mention big-ass waves for sailing. It was somewhat windy there on the day, and I gave it a shot in the big waves... Unfortunately, it was not enough for the lone 5-0 pole-boarder and I had to leave the fun to the collection of tea-baggers who had invaded the spot on this day.

On the kid front - thankfully no premature labour on this trip! We happily remain a two-person family unit for now. We are at 35wks+1day and the signals of pending dad/mom-hood are getting a bit more frequent. Despite gaining a few notches towards hardcore status last weekend, a we little stomach bug had caused Cheryl some contractions last night and I feel the grip of Daiperdad-mania creeping in. Our first sleepless night of many to come... but all is good and things have somewhat settled. The next ultrasound is next week... if we make it that far. As of last night, every single neo-natal bed in NZ is occupied. Hold 'em in there Charla!

Pics to be added shortly...