Ramp 34

On the first Tuesday in Hatteras, I tried sailing Ramp34 just north of Avon, just to partake in some of the waves... While I was already pretty spent from a couple days of high winds following a long winter of hibernation, Keith McCulloch who happened to be sailing there as well, was kind enough to focus his lens on me for a moment on probably the only wave I got in that short session.

Big props to Keith, and for the advice on how to get my Subaru out on the beach and back without getting stuck.

Hatteras final day...

After a few days of light winds, it was nice to score a big fat sound-side day on Saturday, before pushing home in the lead-sled. I sailed with Amine and Christine mostly on the sound side around the big-island.

First on the water, I went out with the 105 Goya X1 and 4.2 Guru. Fun combo. I played around a bit in the flats near the Big Island hoping to make some progress on flakas. Status: denied. Progress: Zero. Man, that trick is bizarre... I'm having a really tough time cracking the initiation part of it.

Amine then popped out from his new digs at the 'Octaview' equipped with 4.2 and wee little Quatro Wave 63... I switched to my Wave 76 and we headed out for some fun. Lots of small shove-it potential out there, and worked on some ugly port-side forward attempts too. The extra pounds I have been shlepping around really revealed themselves in lee of the island. Amine would some how manage to rip right through the marginal gusty winds back there while I barely could keep on a plane. At some point, it's clear that I'm going to have to stop with the excess beer and donuts ;)

Definitely a great session to finish off our stay! I basically sailed until I couldn't hold on any longer and my hands were fully blistered. Thankfully, a Quebec sailor named Michel was keeping an eye out with his camera and snapped a few shots (loopy shots embedded above). Check out his blog here.

All in all, Hatteras was a score! We stayed two weeks and I sailed most days, mostly powered up on sails ranging from 3.7 up to 5.3, but also with my boys on the big fat beginner board in 5 kts at the Canadian Hole. Honestly, unless you are a parent, you probably cannot fathom how incredible it is to have your 3yr old kids asking to go out windsurfing.

Amateur Aeron V-Grip Boom Review

Just had two weeks in Hatteras with lots of winds using a couple of new 140-190 Aeron V-Grip continuous alloy booms purchased at 2-Rad in Quebec.

The summary: I like them.

It is quite simple: if you have never been a fan on splashing out $500+ on carbon but have been tempted by the extra inherent stiffness, these might be for you. I've always ridden alloy booms and have maybe, at most, bent or broken one on average every couple of years. I'm 165-175lbs and I play fairly hard on the gear - get catapulted, land on them, loop them, etc...

From what I can tell, by feel only (not having weighed them), they are a touch heavier, than say the newly released Chinook Pro-Alloy, or most other standard booms out there. This is reasonably to be expected, as there is some additional material in the tube cross-section, so the stiffness does come at a small price. But, the weight never bothered me at all, if indeed they are heavier at all. Maybe one day I can actually weigh them side by side with others to do a factual comparison.

What about the V-Grip shape? Well - I found it neither irritating, nor beneficial in terms of hand/forearm stress/strain and palm and finger blistering (something us less-frequent sailors have to deal with when we go on intensive windsurf holidays). I would not say I prefer the v-grip cross-sectional shape any better or worse over plain round. i.e. it's pretty neutral.

They are definitely stiff. Not sure how they compare to carbon, but if all you have ridden prior to these is typical two-piece arm alloy booms, then stepping to continuous (one-piece tube) V-grip shape is definitely a large improvement. I cannot say how much simply the continuous tube would have added in terms of stiffness...

Oh, did I mention the boom head? I really like it! Since switching to RDMs nearly 7 yrs ago now, a problem has always been the need for a shim. I did ride a couple of older Chinook Triple-Clamps without shims and crushed two RDMs trying to get them to grip enough without dropping while riding. So, since then, I have always used shims in fear of repeating the same mistake. But, the Aeron's have such an excellent RDM adaptor included in the boom head, that there is no more need for after-market shims!! YEAH!! I noticed while gazing at the new Chinook Pro-Alloy's in Ocean Air in Avon, that they also appear to have a decently revamped boom head as well with a good integrated RDM shim. Similar looking in fact, but maybe only a touch less beefy looking.

In the end, yes, I definitely like them and look forward to putting on lots of mileage. If anyone wants a few more details, photos or more scrutinous opinion on specific features, let me know. As you can tell, I'm not very techy in my description and analysis but this is me. If I would have had a few different booms to compare side-by-side, perhaps I could offer a bit more...

UPDATE (Jul6-10):

While I can say I am pretty satisfied with the stiffness, boom head, tube shape etc... there is one item that I foresee becoming a problem. The grip is already starting to wear through around my harness line straps. I'm using pretty industry-standard lines, DaKine fixed lines to be precise, and the area around where they attach to the boom is already getting mangled. I suspect this will become a problem, as I need to move them around for various sail sizes...

Hatteras...

Some light winds here in Hatteras today and the last couple days...
But, we did have an awesome play at the Canadian Hole with our boys yesterday. They absolutely loved playing in the shallows. Both took long rides with me on the board and were asking for more, despite shivering uncontrollably. Great times!

I might try renting a Quatro SUP 11'4" today from Olaf at the Avon Sail House.

Still lots of wind.

Wow, good year for Hatteras this one. Sailed a couple days ago fully wound on the 4.7 in the sound - sweet fun trading loops with Amine. Yesterday was a fun photoshoot with Steve Slaby at the Canadian Hole. Hopefully together me have managed to get some nice ones! Big props to Steve for standing in waist deep water for nearly 2 hours.

Today will probably be the last day of this recent "Bermuda High", which has delivered consistent 25kt winds every sunny afternoon for the last 3-4 days. Today will be an ocean session with Bill, Keith and a number of other locals up at Salvo Ramp 23. Should be a fun air-fest with small ramps and strong winds. Stoked.

Tomorrow: Time for a trip to the Manteo aquarium with the family... light winds and rain.

Lots of wind...

Still blowing. Had a couple of days of rest, but now its back on. Sailed the Canadian Hole yesterday, nicely lit on the 4.7. Great to see some excellent freestylers out playing in the froth. Local Stewart Proctor and Lopi were certainly doing well.

Again today. Picked up around 3pm, went out on a 5.2 but needed to rig down soon thereafter. Through on the 4.7, but within 1/2hr could have easily been on the 4.2. Great fun sail with Amine, him on 4.0/63L, me on 4.7/105. Fun trading loops out in the sound.

Lots more wind to come... should be solid evening session tomorrow followed by a big day on Monday! Cracker!

Cape Hatteras is beautiful.

Cape Hatteras is a really neat place. If you are the type for long beaches, lots of waves and not much to do aside from enjoying the good company you came with, or making the most of the slow paced towns along the Cape, then this place is for you.

It just so happens, we are getting lots of wind this time. You never know what you are going to get here. Sometimes you get nothing, but sometimes you get choice wind and maybe even waves all week (or two) long.

Here are a few more photos.

Oh, and the forecast looks good too.

Oops, not a rest day after all.

It picked up this afternoon. 4.7 for 2 hours. However, this dumb ass figured he could get away with shorts and a rash guard. Frozen solid by the end. Thank goodness for the hot tub!

Having a hard time keeping upwind with the new 20cm fin. I don't know how real free-stylers do it.

And another fun little run in the a.m. with B-Rad...

Wind on the way...

Rest day today and yesterday, but good forecast for coming 5 days straight! YEAH! Blister's take more than two days to heal dammit.

Best Session Ever....

One dock start, one tack, one frozen and wet kid, smiling and wanting more...

... and dinner with friends.

Hatteras Day4

Could be a rest day today. I was hoping for another morning session at the slick, but alas, Ma Nature did not produce her magic.

Hands are wrecked, arms are sore... a rest day or two is what the doctor ordered.

The weekend is looking good with potential for evening session on Thursday and Friday.

Hatteras Day3

Got a nice early morning warning from Andy McKinney. Windy, still. Met up at the Buxton slick, and had the good fortune to meet and sail a fun but short freestyle session with Stuart and Andy. What a blast, trading tricks, good times... wish it would have lasted more than an hour!

Thanks to Keith M for snapping one photo of me yesterday at ramp 34, on Bill Bells blog. I think that was the only wave I found, and thankfully he did not snap that shot 1 second later when I miss-timed that top turn.

Hatteras Day2 pt 2&3

Windy, still. I tried to chase down Bill Bell up at Oregon Inlet, but only managed to get north about 1 mile to Ramp 34, where I found a couple of guys (Keith and Jim), and decided to give it a shot there. Tire pressure down to 25psi, I took the Subey out on the beach and rigged up there with the big 4WD trucks in the peltering sand. I couldn't get it right out there. Rigged the 4.4 and 76 and just couldn't keep on a plane (potato chips? extra 15lbs?)... and I couldn't find the waves either. I didn't give it much chance either - it was sapping all my strength. Packed it in, came back to the house and Pt 3:

Sailed another 1hr in the sound, fully lit on the 3.7/105. I am much more a freestlyer than a wave sailor I realize, even though quite the hack at both. I did manage a few nice shove-its, some forwards, a few wymaroo attempts, spocks, flaka trys etc... Fun stuff, and by the end, no one else out whatsoever.

Still kooking it up though... doing lots of dumb things and just not quite comfy with it all. But still loving it!!

Hatteras Day2 pt 1

Windy. Very. Again. Sailed 3.7 with the 105 in the sound. Kookery is prevailing. I can't even seem to tack anymore. Gotta iron out the cobwebs here.

Pt2 on the ocean side to follow. Lets hope there are some tales of nice rides rather than bashing in the shorebreak.

Hatteras Day1

Windy. Very. We pulled into Avon at about 2pm and our house was all ready for us. Ran the bags and family up, and rigged like a madman. It looked to be blowing 25-30kts out on the sound. I rigged a 4.2 and 105L and got blown off the water pretty quick. The 4.2 Guru was nice and forgiving, but not that forgiving. I guess it was 30+. Switched to the 3.7 Guru and Q 76 waveboard. Problematic for my fat ass. I struggled. Very rusty. Best move of the day was a fat flat-water forward right in front of my kids who came down to the water for a peak.

Nice to be sailing again. Lots of wind in the forecast.

Sailed a bit later on a bizarro 3.7/105 combo. That 105 is smooth as. Love it already. And it carves much better than the older version.

Didn't see anyone out there I know yet. I think I caught a glimpse of Amine or Christine a few hundred metres downwind, hope to catch up with them soon!

I'm sore, and the hand blisters have a solid head start. Damn pansy desk-job hands...

Hatteras bound!!

It's been a long winter! I haven't sailed since late November. This is unusual - usually I get away for a trip or two to get my fix, but this year I was flat out of holiday time and dollars. Needless to say I am desperate to get out on the water.

Scott MacDonald photo, 2008.

I'll be staying with my family at 30 Miles Out, behind the Dairy Queen in Avon, on North Albacore. If you are down there and keen to get out for a session together, feel free to drop by. While for some the big island in front of our place can be a pain in the arse, for a freestyler, it is an added bonus because of the nice flat-water it always creates downwind of it.

And joy! I'll be testing out a bunch of new gear. The 2010 Goya X1, 2010 Goya sails and a couple new Aeron V-grip booms!!

Fingers crossed for lots of wind!

Shadowbox Action

The footage from Maui often blows me away and gets me scheming on ways to get the hell out of this office and head there for some waves! The latest video footage is some sweet as action from a recent nuking session at Ho'okipa. Check out this video by Jake Miller, taken about a week ago during an impromptu jump-off. What is extra neat about it is that each rider had a "Shadowbox" GPS unit attached, which not only measures XY geographic positioning, but also elevation. So, the actual heights of the jumps were derived from the record flight path data.

Check out the great jump-off video here, by SnakeBite Films.

Click here for more info on the Shadowbox.

2010 Resolutions....

While I really don't believe in these, especially around New Years, I do have some goals for 2010. These kinda stem from a recent forum thread on WindsurfCanada.com.

Definitely a few goals.

In the trick department, I have really stagnated the last couple of years. Perhaps this is since I'm spreading myself and time on the water a bit too thin for bagging some of these relatively difficult and unusual moves. I'm also extremely out of shape.

In the big scheme of things, these tricks aren't actually considered that hard anymore. That doesn't mean they are easy in any sense, but I'm getting old dammit... and these into the wind rotation moves are a whole new bag of worms.

Not yet decided, but 2010 is the year for at least one of these flat-water freestyle moves:
- Flakas (here's a link to a pretty in-depth article on the commitment and learning curve on this one, care of Boardseeker.com)(Oh, and here is the original Swayze by the inventor Web pedrick)
- Shakas (While I wish I could say I've made progress on these since this absolute fluke claim in New Zealand, I cannot.)
- hell, I'll even take Goiters... (or Ponches, I suppose is what they are called in the freestyle world)

Apparently, analysis by a sailing buddy Amine Fadous from Montreal while in Hatteras a couple of years ago, suggests that my flaka attempts look a lot more like goiter/ponch attempts... so hey, maybe I should just go with the flow...

And aerials:
- one handed forwards (Here is a nice one by Albeau)
- port-side forwards
- pushloops (Here's a nice basic one by Gollito, care of Continent Seven)

Alright then, on a different perspective, here are a few other things:
- Start gradually widening my footstraps, both for better ability to get over the centreline (apparently important for flakas), and also to reduce the chance of screwing up my ankles.
- Go a notch longer with harness lines and accordingly raise the boom a notch as well. I tend to ride with a fairly low boom... which probably makes it a bit harder to get weight on the mast and middle of the board for, again, those damn flakas.
- Keep experimenting with smaller FS fins. I wrote a wee stubby-fin analysis way back when about my take on stubby cut-down fins, but I think it is time to re-evaluate - especially since my new ride came with a gem - a nice 20cm MFC FS Pro UL.

And finally, I hope to write a couple articles for magazine submission, topics to remain nameless until they actually get published. Or more accurately stated: IF they get published...

So, that's it folks... Those are my goals. Let's see what the year brings. What about you?

Pansy-ism.

OK, I made up this word. But I think it adequately describes what is happening to me. I'm turning into a pansy.

Monday was absolutely ripping. Probably 25-30kts from the south in the afternoon, and 8°C. Not too shabby. Once upon a time I would have jumped all over that, suited up and made the most of it.

Well, unfortunately I am reporting that the on-set of pansy-ism has firmly taken a stronghold on my psyche for cold-weather sailing. I didn't even consider it.

I guess I have to admit that a few other minor factors were weighing in:
- All my gear is in storage in Watertown, NY.
- I currently don't own a single boom.
- The bays are covered in ice.
- It was pissing rain with snow-melt and the sewers were bypassing something fierce.

So, I guess I couldn't really have gone if I wanted to.... but c'mon! - I should have at least been thinking about it!! ;)

2010 Kit

I managed to convince my financial advisor that I absolutely NEED some new gear since the old stuff, quite frankly, didn't work anymore...

Success!

Fedex is due to arrive any day now, with some brand spanky new stuff. It's going to be a long four months til Hatteras.

Update: It's here!
I love the green beast. Can't wait to try it.