Wednesday Sandbanks Video

Another great video by Nic Chapleau, capturing the fun conditions.

Link for full size

Sandbanks Windsurfing Oct 7th,2009 from Nicolas Chapleau on Vimeo.

Damn, that was fun!

Holy crap... Just had one of the best wave-riding sessions of my life.

Sandbanks again, surprise surprise. This place is THE best wave sailing spot in mainland Ontario/Quebec no doubt.

I did a real early shift and was there by 7:30. The waves looked pretty disappointing to start, but there was potential. Mac's looked lame, so I went to Outlet Beach. It was also pretty marginal, but all of a sudden, ramped up to nuclear. Rigged 3.7 and played around, or should I say, got spanked around, in building waves and winds 30 gusting 40. It sapped a lot of my strength, and was not the best call, since it was practically on-shore. A few others were out too, and eventually it was the 3.0's and 3.2's that dominated the spot. Everyone else was getting spit out.

One knob tried to launch a kite in that, and was swiftly rejected. I reckon he was pretty lucky to get out of that idiocy unscathed... but what do I know about kiting...

Ilan, Jack and I popped up to Mac's, and lots of the Quebec gang was already there! At MY spot!! I don't even know why I bother going to the beach anymore. Mac's is the best spot at Sandbanks, no doubt about it... hence i like to call it my spot.

It really surprised me. Again, out on 3.7, maxed, but with much less shorebreak and infinitely more rideable waves... coming in in sweet sets, up to mast high I'm guessing. First run out was probably the best waveride of my life. Nothing fancy, just down-the-line bomb with about 6 or 7 solid gouges on the waveface... I've never had a wave that good in all my life, Maui, Hatteras, Oz, NZ, you name it. Best wave ever. I think it was just luck, but those types of waves kept rolling in, and it was the best session I can remember in a long time. Lots of powered bottom turns followed by slashy and carvey top-turns.

Props again to the Quebec and Ottawa gangs for some great times. With luck, there might be some video and maybe some photos.

I'll be dreaming about this one for a while.

Sandbanks is yummy.

It has been a long time coming, but everything lined up for an epic near-classic Sandbanks day. The directions were not all that perfect, but it just goes to show that Sandbanks has a good lot of variety to it and just being so exposed to the big part of the lake, can deliver challenging conditions and nice waves - you just gotta go to the right spot!

Well, Mac's was the right spot. Could have had a bit more West in it, but that is splitting hairs. It was awesome. The wind ramped up around 2pm to a juicy 30-40kts from the Southwest. It was a mad rig-down frenzy as people rigged smaller and smaller. In the end, I was maxed out on the 3.7, while others were around the same size and smaller, down to 3.2. The waves on the outside got pretty damn large. It was an interesting mixture of messy choppy, interspersed regularly with big meaty mast-high sets coming through, enough to produce beautiful flat jibing areas on the wave faces and between. On the inside, it got interesting. As I said, a bit more angle to it and it would have been a touch more smackable, but it was still awesome. If you were in the right spot, you could get a handful of turns, perhaps sometimes even more. A smaller-than-average Ottawa and Quebec contingent made the trip this time, but all these guys are fun, and solid solid sailors. It was a pleasure to sail the spot with such a good gang, and there was a great vibe all around.

Needless to say, the lack of sailing lately is definitely showing up in my abilities, control and confidence. It was a battle to sail that long (I think I must have sailed at least 4-5 solid hours in the end), but I was dead tired by the end and slept like a log (after barely making a dark, rainy & ugly drive home). To top that off, being juiced on a 3.7 is not exactly my best scenario for trying tricks. I tried a few back loops, a couple pushies and forwards, but I don't think I landed anything but a few out of control shove-its. Near the end in fact, I was so tired I was barely able to make any top-turns without losing grip on the sail.

Amazing. Epic. You name it. Days like this make you realize why we windsurfers endure those long windless spells, just waiting for these amazing days to come along. Epic Sandbanks, strong winds and warm weather: More please!!

... and a great video done by Nic Chapleau!

Not the vacation I was hoping for...

Well, that wraps up 2 weeks of the worst vacation ever, by vacation standards. We were off to Montreal and the Quebec City areas for one week just to do some camping with our family, relax and get outdoors for a while. Well, three days in and Bradley has an awkward fall in a play park and busts his little femur. Poor little guy. Anyway, we spend the next 10 days confined to a hospital in the west end of Quebec City while Bradley enjoys the pleasures of traction. He was casted last Thursday, but unfortunately, things are not set right and he will need to endure some more traction, probably, and get recasted. Thankfully, at least we are back home in Kingston now.

Hatteras in the spring for 2 weeks - hopefully that one will be better. Stoked to get the boys on board.



UPDATE: The doc here in Ktown says the situation ain't so bad. Apparently, about 20% of most femur cast jobs need resetting after a couple of weeks. Next week, they will do another X-ray, and then likely redo the cast at a better angle. Anyway, good news is that there is no delay to his healing and no need for more traction. Time for a case of beer... Parenting is frickin' stressful.

SUP or Big-Fatty?

Just looking for a few opinions. I've got these wee twin boys you see, who are nearing 3yrs old and I'm keen to get them out on the front of a board with me, here and there when the conditions suit (i.e. light, flat & shallow).

At the moment, I would never invest in a SUP just for myself, BUT, I certainly wouldn't mind playing around with one. The main purpose though is for family sailing. So, is the big wide 200L-ish beginner board the better bet, or a padded SUP? I would think that the beginner wide-style board would offer a lot better ease of introduction of the kids, and anyone else for that matter, to the sport, but the SUP would have that bit of extra bonus for me, and I bet my wife too would take an interest. Both is not an option.

Any thoughts?

The heavy-weight contenders:
In this corner, weighing in at a girthy 13.5kg and standing at a height of 280cm tall and spanning a massive width of 85cm: the big, the bloated, the incredibly stable... "Goya Surf".

AND, in the opposing corner, wearing the stark grey paint job and cushy EVA padding, weighing in at a wee 11.3kg, but dwarfing all who dare oppose him at whopping 345cm in height: the long, the slim, the cruisy... Quatro 11'4" SUP!

Ding ding ding!!

Four Dimensions

Check out the Four Dimensions Trailer. Looks like some neat angles and cinematography a la Matrix.

http://www.fourdimensionsmovie.com/

Windsurfer International

Check out this new on-line Windsurf Journal. Pretty sweet!

Lightwind Kit

Well, I finally bit the bullet and have invested in a sweet light-wind setup.
Check out this beast.



5.5" of bliss...

PFD's for Windsurfers in Canada?

Transport Canada legislates lifejacket/Personal Floatation Device (PFD) use for windsurfers in Canada via it's Small Vessel Regulations. It IS the law, punishable by $255 in fines if caught without a PFD... and this has happened before, in a number of places in Canada. The marine police units know the laws and are enforcing them.

We've debated this with Transport Canada for eons. Once again, the SVR is up for review and this is yet another opportunity to let TC know what we think about mandatory PFD use.

Links:
- current Small Vessel Regulations
- Safe Boating Guide
- proposed Small Vessel Regulations

Included in these regulations of course, are the following usual general provisions (summarized) for windsurfers:
- Clause 204(1): Sailboards need to carry PFDs, life saving appliances, vessel safety equipment and fire protection equipment.
- Clause 204(2): Sailboarders cannot use auto-inflating lifejackets.
- Clause 219: As long as sailboarders are WEARING their PFD, as opposed to just strapping it around the mast or boom, sailboards are exempt from the silly unreasonable stuff - life saving appliances (15m of bouyannt rope, flashlight and flares), vessel safety equipment (a paddle or anchor) and fire protection equipment (fire extinguisher).

During 2003, Windsurfing Canada (WC) took a fairly aggressive approach to dealing with the previous revisions and made considerable effort to have sailboards essentially de-legislated, with the primary intent to allow choice for boardsailors with respect to PFD use. At one point in time, we were even successful, a subsequent draft of the SVR had sailboards essentially removed from the regulations. However, near the last minute (2005), upon recommendations from the Ontario Recreational Boating Advisory Council (ORBAC), legislation was returned to its former glory and the result: continued legislated PFD use.

2003 Windsurfing Canada report on PFD's

You may also be interested in what others think. Probably the most significant supporting document is that prepared by the US Windsurfing Association (USWA)

1991 Updated USWA Report on PFD's

If you are as passionate about this issue as I am, or even halfway so, please consider writing to the gentleman in charge of the revisions and acting as liaison with the public and various organizations with respect to alterations to the proposed SVR:

Kevin Monahan
Project Manager
Regulatory Services and Quality Assurance (AMSX)
Transport Canada, Marine Safety
Place de Ville, Tower C
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0N8
Telephone: 613-998-8207
Fax: 613-991-5670
Email: kevin.monahan@tc.gc.ca

In any correspondence to TC, be sure to quote Canada Gazette, Part I, revisions dated Ottawa, April 2, 2009, published on April 25th, 2009.
Comments are due in writing by May 25, 2009.

If there are any other sailors out there who feel that PFD use should be their own personal choice, I highly recommend writing a letter or email to TC to support alterations to the proposed changes to the Small Vessel Regulations.

An Amateur Freestyler's Take on Stubby Fins

I experimented quite a bit last year with a chopped-down stubby freestyle fin. I took a pretty big old MFC Freestyle fin and chopped it down to 18cm, then ground back the material so it wasn't quite so thick and stiff. I sailed this quite a bit with my 105L Goya X1 and sail size from 4.7 to 5.3, mostly over a two week stay in Cape Hatteras in spring 2008. Here is my verdict.

First off, some background: I am old and stiff. Being from Kingston, time on the water is limited and this only contributes to being stuck in the slow-lane on freestyle progression. I've been sticking vulcans for years and spocks & grubbies for several, but quite inconsistently. I am working on tricks like flakas and shakas, and continue to put in the hours on the spocks/540's and grubbies. So, while I am working hard on spinny flat-water freestyle tricks, I am not a pro and not going for extra rotations... never mind switch stance, clew-first or one-handed.

My diagnosis is this: First and foremost, getting and staying upwind becomes a challenge. Why is this a problem? Well, maybe it's just me, but as a freestyler, I find there is considerable benefit to being on the smallest sail possible, yet sufficient to get me planing. So - ultimately, this translates to being under- to moderately powered, but rarely overpowered. Hence, already the lower power available dictates that upwind sailing will not be straightforward. Throw on a stubby fin and there is significantly compromised ability to angle upwind during reaches. What I have noticed however is that because of these apparent limitations, it vastly changes ones stance and approach to getting upwind. The standard approach tends to be pressuring the fin to deliver and maintain that upwind angle. However, with the stubby fin, you tend to adapt your style to rely much more on the rail of the board to cut in and grab the water to help you keep your board angled up wind.

One might ask: Why do you need to go upwind? The answer for that is easy. Watch any pro video of almost any modern freestyle move and you will immediately notice that they are executed on a downwind reach, anywhere from subtle (spocks) to extreme (ponches). So, if you are doing relatively short reaches to maximize your transitions (when and where you get to try your tricks), then you spend an awful lot of time heading downwind in the transitions and aggressively upwind in the reaches. I suppose that is why freestylers might tend to upset the standard back-and-forthers (BAFs) out there - we are all over the frickin' place!

Secondly, did the fin help me with my moves? Short answer is no, it did not. While a massive slalom or freeride fin (25-30cm) in that same board would create significant spin-control issues, I typically run a 23cm MFC freestyle fin anyway. In the spectrum of fins, freestyle fins are generally on the small side already. So, the typical 23cm fin I use doesn't really discourage board spin like say a 28cm swept slalom fin does. Note that I have actually played on the odd board with a slalom fin since my spock days and you really, REALLY have to watch out for how fast those fins re-catch and want to spin the board once you are sliding backwards. This is actually quite dangerous, since if you don't spin your intial airborn part of the spock around enough, it is almost as likely that the fin will catch and the board will want to spin back the way you came!! This can result in 'rotini-body' and excrutiating back, leg and ankle twist. Even when you do spin enough and the rotation continues in the intended direction, the board spins very VERY fast. This is definitely a benefit of the relatively small and straight freestyle fins - a sailor has considerably more control over the direction and speed of the boards rotation, or at least, so it seems for me.

So, what is my opinion? Well, with regards to those stubbies - personally, I think they have considerable benefit for sailors at the pro-level, in particular, for those less challenged by the compromise in upwind performance and those needing to 'cut-out' or 'spin-out' the fin to accomplish a second rotation. Certainly, when you look back at the archives on "The Future" and "double-flakas", they are not actually doubles, to be precise - they are often a single spock/flaka with a second on-the-water rotation (not meaning any disrespect - incredible moves far beyond me!). In this situation, obviously a stubby fin is beneficial to make that fin release easy for the second rotation. Nowadays, when you see a triple flaka, like this one by Golitto, he actually gets airborn like a true flaka on two of those three rotations. Incredible really. Now it would seem, the benefit of the shortest fin possible is that it is easier to get it out of the water (as opposed to spinning it out).

Summary: Using a stubby follows a trend that pro's have demonstrated works for them. For the average aspiring freestyler, I don't believe the benefit is worth the trade-off (lack of upwind-ability: less opportunity to try tricks!). Saying that - it is certainly fun to experiment, recycle those old fins and figure out what works for you! Now I wonder what a purpose-built stubby would feel like, perhaps like this little gem in an 18...

Dream Quiver

Yes, I am at work. That doesn't mean I don't day dream... Give me a break eh? It's Monday morning.

I often browse the Quatro and Goya sites and think, if money was no object, what would my dream quiver look like (within reason).

Well, I've figured it out.

First off, I don't race. I don't care about going fast, I just want to ride waves and do tricks. Is that so wrong? I don't think so.

Boards: Definitely need a floaty freestyle board. The 105 Goya X1 is perfect. Love it... Looking forward to updating from my '07 model. Next on the list - probably a mid-size FSW model - I'll take the 2009 Quatro FSW 85 please... Then, for the nice windy days, a Wave 72. That would be plenty - 3 boards to do it all. BUT, if $$ were truly no object, I'd have to get on the band wagon and pick up a 75L twin fin to try, just for that 1 day every year or so when I get to do some real wave sailing ;)


Sails: Easy... I'll take the W3D in 5.7 and down. But, maybe rather than go with the W3D in the tiny sizes, just to mix it up a bit, I'll give the Guru a shot in sub 4.5. Looks good to me.


OK, now that I've got that dream quiver all sorted out, I can go back to work and continue the futility of making $$ no object.

Big Blow... during a big drought.

Going through one of the longest recent-memory windsurfing droughts. Oh man, it's been over two months and will probably be another one before getting out there. Also, for the first year in a long time, this cat will be sailing no new toys... definitely feeling the $$$ crunch of 7wks in Costa Rica and daddyhood - two boys who appear to need food and shelter after all.

Saying that, it blew like shtink here yesterday and tore a good chunk of the solid ice sheet on the Kingston harbour out and away! Amazing, 100% solid just two days ago, now today, half of the ice is gone. Check out the iWind graph. It's a shame these storms don't come in over the summer months!! ARGH! 30-40kts all day, just WASTED!


Check out this shot of the yacht club near Richardson Beach - definitely some massive ice heave as the big southwesterlies push huge ice blocks up and over the KYC revetment. Impressive.

Just imagine what it would have done to the silly groyne that is proposed by the City for Richardson Beach "to improve water access". I suspect that thing would have been deposited on the yacht club's driveway if it had been built last year.

The bright side of this big blow is that the ice is out VERY early this year, which bodes well for some good spring sessions, albeit frickin' cold. Should be fun! Any takers?

Lake Arenal report

Hola from Puerto Viejo. Just reporting on last week for those interested – Nic and Aaron.

Lake Arenal was pretty sweet. It was not the epicness that was expected of the place, but saying that, I still had a great time. I sailed every day, although, the first two days and the last were the strongest winds, the last day in particular being noteworthy.

I guess the one thing that you do not hear in the advertisements is that the winds, when not cranking, are actually quite gusty, particularly when clouds are coming overhead or rain showers are passing through, which was about 1/2 the time while I was there. But, in the end, I was told by some regulars that it was not the best week. Most said that, in their experience, it is by far the most reliable high wind destination you can find down south, and that is why there are lots of people who keep coming back (or move here part-time in the winter).

Here’s my run down:
Saturday – arrived at noon – sailed all afternoon, fairly solid on 4.2/74L.
Sunday – sailed all day, starting to waiver, but made the 4.2/84L combo work.
Monday – rainy, gusty – sailed 4.7/84 on/off for 15/20 min chunks throughout the day.
Tuesday – ditto, but less.
Wednesday – 5.4/101L, small chop, gusty, rainy. Short 1/2hr 4.7 session at the end of the day nicely powered.
Thursday – improving, but not all there – sailed 5.0 for bits and pieces.
Friday – had to leave by 1pm, but CRANKED all morning. Sailed 4.2 overpowered with 74L. This day was the main day for me that showed the places potential. In one 500m reach, I could typically hit a number of decent ramps for several shove-its, tabletops and backloop attempts. Lots to hit on port, nothing much on starboard on the way back in.

I reckon I would say this even if I was not sponsored, but my Quatro’s and Goya Sails put those Pryde’s and JP’s to shame. They are not terrible in any sense, and maybe it has a lot to do with just being familiar with my own stuff, but the bigger JP FSW’s did not enjoy planing too early and sometimes the rigs felt lifeless. Saying that, as soon as I was powered up on the small stuff in higher winds, I enjoyed the 4.2 and 74 RWW and 84 FSW. I’m sure my displeasure with the big stuff was also in part since it was really gusty. Next time, I will try to bring my own equipment, but travelling with the twins is enough to lug around.

Despite my lofty goals, I learned nothing. I made some slight progress on shaka’s, but I’d say it is probably a very subtle lesson I learned to take another small step towards getting them one of these millennia. It is a TOUGH place to learn flat-water freestyle type tricks, since there really is NO flat-water to speak of. It is a B&J destination, and if the wind is strong, there is certainly lots of potential to learned aerial moves, but don’t expect too much improvement on the slidey stuff. If you do progress on those sorts of tricks, hats off, you will be killing it when you head back to your local flat patch of water.


TicoWinds is very well run by Peter Hopley and gang. Good amount of gear there in a range of volumes and sail sizes. Great fulfilling lunches & drinks keep you hydrated and powered for the afternoon. About 1/2 windsurfing, 1/2 kiting during my stay, but I reckon kiting is taking over there.

Have either of you been before? Do you know where you will stay? I found that any info on-line, from TicoWinds or otherwise, was a bit lacking in giving the lay of the land in that area. Basically, TicoWinds is not affiliated or situated at any hotel/resort/restaurant (as I thought, for some reason). It is pretty much strictly a rental concession in a long jutting-out piece of nature reserve land in the west end of Lake Arenal. From the paved road, it is a nice 15min walk in on a dirt/mud road. This entrance is about 1km to the north/east from an intersection where there is a nice coffee shop/restaurant (decent latte's, depending on who is there ;). Up the hill, there is Mystica (accomodation, restaurant, yoga retreat), and then you get into Sabalito, about 2km up that hill (which is where a few people were staying).

In the other direction, about 1-2km away, is a small town called Rio Piedras where there are a couple small Pulperia’s (grocery stores), but not much else. I was told that up the road from there, is Rock River Lodge (open) and a number of other rentals.

In other words, the area is really sparse. Unless you are there with a buddy, or end up being at a place where other sailors are staying, there is NOTHING happening in the evenings - so make the most of the social atmosphere during the day at TicoWinds.


I stayed at a place called Equus BBQ, which is about 200m closer to TicoWinds from the coffee shop. I was in a small basic cabina without kitchen for $20/night. Decent enough place, but in the evening, I was bored silly - there is only so much fiendish Soduko one can do. Due to our kids and being with them previous to this in San Jose and elsewhere, I spent the first couple nights sleeping like a log - 8pm to 7am, but then I was caught up with rest – yet still, nothing to do in the evenings.

If you have a car, you can get around a bit, but without one, its not very safe to be walking or biking on the road for km’s on end to hook up with a buddy, unless they are very close-by. Internet is not easy to come by, especially if you don’t come equipped. Mystica has wireless for those with laptops, and presumably staying there or buying something to eat. There may be other such places around, but I did not know where they were. If you are not getting a rental car, definitely ask for the bus schedule when you are in Tilaran - get the schedules for Tilaran to La Fortuna, Tilaran to Arenal and vice versa. Tilaran is 12km away ($6000 colones cab ride) and Arenal is about the same I think, maybe a bit farther. La Fortuna is an hour away by car, or 2 if you take the bus.

Sorry, but not a single photo to share for you!

Enjoy!! I definitely did, despite the remoteness of the place and lack of the best conditions.

Off to Arenal...

We're chilling in San Jose today, but I am off tomorrow to Arenal. Hoping for a solid week of nuking winds before rejoining the familia in Puerto Viejo.

Military style

RMC is short for Royal Military College. Its located in Kingston, bounded between the Cataraqui River outlet to the west and Navy Bay to the east. They've got a really cool little windsurfing club - lots of enthusiasm, lots of keen participants and a sweet as club house: The RMC Windsurf Club.

Picture this: It's cold and rainy, but frickin' windy. Not exactly inviting. But RMC is totally THE place. The club house is part of a maintenance building: heated, sliding garage doors on the back (to get gear in) and on the front by the water (to get out), showers, rigging space... It's blissful. Not to mention the floating dock which makes it dead-easy to get in and out - your feet never have to touch bottom! And in Kingston, that is a big deal.

Anyway, long story short, sailed there last thursday on an extended lunch break with my friend Greg (RMC club VP) - about 10°C, pissing rain and 25-30kt southerlies. A totally fun spot. The reach across the little bay can't be more than 200m, so its a bit tough to find ramps coming into the bay on such 'short notice'. But it was certainly working well on Thursday and I finally got the chance to rejuvinate my shove-its in strong winds. It is SO much easier in strong winds than on big gear. I also claim my first waterstart-out (feet-in) Wymaroo!! Stoked on that.

I love that place! Kudos to RMC for having such a neat club and lots of energy to go with it. Thanks to Greg for the photos.

This could be the last session of the year. Nothing but -ve temps in the forecast until next weekend. Sunday has some promise, but highs of 3-4C. Fingers crossed for southerlies!!! Otherwise, done. :(

Better late than never.

I've been back and forth to Sandbanks a number of times this fall hoping to score one of them gem sessions that the place CAN deliver. Unfortunately, amongst the bad calls on my part, bad forecasts and ultimately the lack of strong winds this fall, I've never managed to get it... until yesterday.

My cold weather tolerance is definitely on the decline. It was 5C and 25-30knots and had blown reasonably strong from the SW since a day before. Was it good? It was awesome!! Bummer about the cold and finger that seems to have frost damage...

It was a great time sharing waves with some mates from Montreal. Those guys have a ton of passion, will to drive for conditions and resilience to cold. We started at Outlet Beach and sailed in some side-on conditions for a while. The cold and gloves quickly sap the strength though... A couple hours later, we packed it up and went to MacDonald's farm.

Let me tell you about MacDonald's farm: We should have gone there right from the start. When its working, that place rocks - and it WAS working. Down-the-line bliss.

Geek Coastal Engineering talk:
Simply based on the size of the Great Lakes alone, it is actually impossible to find true side-shore conditions, since we actually don't get true 'swell', as it is often called by many. In engineering terms, 'swell' is a term to describe waves that result from distant storms that travel large distances to hit shore. The Lakes, while big, are not big enough to get swell, but we get 'locally generated seas', which are waves that result from storms/winds on the spot. Because 'seas' are created that way, the wind and waves go in the same direction, contrary to say Maui, where swell comes straight in from the north and winds come from the east = sideshore. The only way we can get sideshore conditions in Lake Ontario is with the added effect of wave diffraction (or wrapping), based on shoreline features and effect. This is what happens at MacD's.

So, yup, we arrive, rig and feast like pigs on probably one of the only front-side days any of us will get all year. It is a true shame it is such a rarity. Give me once a week on 4.7 at Mac's and shit - I'm picking up and moving right there.

OK, yeah I admit, it ain't Maui and not even close, but for a bunch of kooks from Ontario and Quebec, it feels pretty damn incredible.

Did I mention it was cold?

Props to the Montreal crew - Amine, Hugues, Ilan, Jean-Francois and Christian - for a great time.

Kingston Freestyle Jam

Oh yeah, I forgot to report on the Freestyle Jam held back in late September...

First things first! We magically got wind on that weekend! Brilliant - a legit comp could be run. It was a breezy SSW wind, just enough south in it to know it would die before noon. Getting a bunch of childless 18-20yr olds up and going before 9am seems to be a big challenge, but it happened. Heats were starting by 9am!

The chosen location was Emily St, just for that added bit of exposure to be had there, over last years site - RMC. It was blowing about 20kts, enough for everyone to be on 5.0, give or take. In the end, there were about 12 competitors, most under 20, with Zeni and myself capping off the older crew, me taking the lead as the most geriatric.

Well, it went off great! Everyone was busting moves left right and centre. Emily is a bit challenging with large, closely spaced chop coming in on the SSW - very difficult to find a flat patch for anything. Regardless, Phil Soltysiak was out there busting his top-of-the-line pro-level moves when us mere mortals were just trying to stick a damn spock already...

What can I say but to congratulate Phil and his buddies for putting on this event and to come complete with more energy and enthusiasm than this City has seen at Emily St since the 1983 Worlds. Choice!

In the end, Phil took the victory with this old kook in second. The official report can be seen here. Mikael Breuvart took first place honours in the pro-kids division. Congrats to Mikael for taking home a nice Sailworks Revo 5.6 and winning the highly-versatile 45L waveboard. ;)

Fun times for sure.

Oh, and thanks to the various photographers from which I have pinched photos.

2008 - The year that Wasn't.

Man, 2008 has been a tough one around here. Usually the fall has the uncanny ability to remind us that you CAN actually get strong winds around here. It's been really wierd - Kingston - often the place that gets those strong winds the most has barely been the recipient of a single gale lashing yet, and it is now November. Quebec/Vermont have been getting the goods, and shit, even Erie and Huron. For some reason, there have been some big fat systems that just seem to pass us by, or, crank during the night.

Oh well, just gotta move on. Winter is coming, as is my family's trip to Costa Rica. Stoked on that and looking forward to my token week in Arenal. Fingers are crossed for crankage. Aside from that, who knows where 2009 will lead us.

Just to make sure this post isn't completely baron of footage, here are a couple shots of my boys ripping it up on Halloween.

The Black Shot...

A new move by Boujmaa - it's being called a crazy-pete into switch forward. Pretty neat stuff, but I'm not sure that he sticks any of these in the video (the attempt(s) start around 1:10) - rotation appears to be way out of control. It would be neat to see one landed!

Fall is here, and with it the winds!

Finally we are getting some sailing!! YEAH!

Last friday was decent 4.7 at Everitt on strong but gusty southerlies. Monday was solid 4.7 WSW at Ellerbeck. Fun stuff. I love the 4.7/105L Goya X1 combo - everything just seems easier when powered up on that sail & board. No luck on flakas, but the forwards were meaty and the spocks were flowing...

Good winds in the forecast too for Friday and Sunday. The Kingston Freestyle Jam is probably going to go this weekend, so that should be a fun time getting whooped by Phil Soltysiak and watching his switch and double wizardry.