Surfski Knowledge Base

Reivers Dustin
01/19/08 #4014

It was a good day. Quite a turn out this morning. LB tried to get
people to connect with each other before the launching. The idea is
to, like, offer up at least one brain cell to make a pre-paddle
plan. It was similar to the attention span of freshman students at a
sex-ed class. Well anyway four of us: Simon, Kirk, LB & MG
connected. We picked up Eric as we started out. Simon thought about
the rest of the pack and decided to drop back with that group, (more
than one brain cell involved). It sure is difficult to get paddlers
attention on anything but getting out there.

Conditions were pretty good. The wind was very steady from the S.E.
and there were some nice runners in with the regular chop. It was
cold. Especially for Kirk, having acclimated to sunny Southern
hemisphere. Wave direction was pretty much true North so the wall
was really rockin. Because the wind was SW it didn't seem to have
that funnel effect off of Blanchard Mtn. It was still a slog from
the end of the wall to Govn'rs Pt.

Around Chuckanut Isl we were joined by LG. We climbed out away from
Govn'r Pt due West to get into clean waves and turned North on some
great rides. Going down the wall was pretty technical and it was
hard work against the wind to get to Govn'rs. But the ride back was
classic great stuff. Even so, it seemed that the best waves were
from the north part of the wall back into the bay. I'm not sure why
we always beat ourselves up going down the wall. Maybe we are
building some skill and confidence in that kind of slop. It's like
eating your boiled peas before you can have dessert. Cold boiled
peas. Blea.

Larry Bussinger <lbussing@…>
01/21/08 #4016

As it turned out, Simon stayed with Mark and I stayed with Rick.
Both had trouble getting comfortable with the conditions and both
went over twice. It was good practice for me to just sit in one spot
and “monitor” the self-rescue and stay positioned in case Rick needed
help. Its not as easy as it sounds. It was also good for both to
get “advice” about how to handle the rough stuff. Ricks leash gave
him problems because although it is strong, it was too long and he
got tangled up in it. I also blew my whistle seconds after Rick went
in the first time and I'm not sure if even Rick heard it20 ft. away.
Pretty worthless. I thought it'd be a little better than that

Re: a rather spritely run
Larry Goolsby
01/21/08 #4017

Larry……I appreciated that you and Simon stayed back with Rick and
Marc and I'm sure they appreciated it too. Too often we have this
mindset that we need to plunder down the Wall when in fact, the best
rides are just north of Post Point. Next time it's my turn to hang
back.
LG

Re: a rather spritely run
Larry Bussinger <lbussing@…>
01/21/08 #4018

It wasn't a my turn / your turn thing. I haven't been going out
enough this winter to be in shape or on form. I wasn't feeling
comfortable going past the wall. Practicing “not paddling” was what
I needed to be doing. Larry B

Re: a rather spritely run
rlingblo <rlingblo@…>
01/21/08 #4019

And “Yes!”, Marc and I both did appreciate having you guys hang
around us. Thanks. I feel priviledged to paddle in this community
that is so supportive and ecouraging to everyone.

Rick L.

Re: a rather spritely run
Jeff Hegedus <jhegedus@…>
01/22/08 #4020

You only went over twice? Shoot, that doesn't even qualify as 'underwater research.' [I
remember that day, my first season, that you and Reivers nursed me back in, must have
been two dozen remounts…]