Just in case you haven't seen it, go check out the latest closeout list. There are lots of good deals to be had.
We just experienced our first major winter storm of the year. I caught a mellow session at the front of the storm on Monday at Half Moon Bay. 4.7 and 108l Skate... was a little underpowered but always planing. The wind was very steady, and the wind wasn't too cold.
Tuesday was a whole different story. Super up and down winds with a torrential downpour. I skipped this sesh, because the first major rain of the season usually results in the worst urban runoff you can imagine. All that crap collecting all summer long ends up in our water. Some fun was had by some sailors at HMB and Berkeley. Can't wait for the next HMB sesh!
Sorry to report that local windsurfer Bill Weir passed away yesterday after a year long battle w/ cancer. A memorial service is scheduled for 2pm on Monday at Crissy.
I remember back to the 2004 US Nationals in SF, which Bill and JK organized. It was a huge event with a fenced in rigging area, scaffolded perch for judges and announcers, corporate sponsors. A show of what was possible for a windsurfing event and hopefully a precursor of bigger things to come. Bill talked of one day bringing a PWA event to SF.
The event even attracted some pros like Jimmy Diaz, Phil McGain, Sam Ireland... and I remember Bill leading all of them from start to finish in the first slalom race in 25knots. The whole crowd was cheering on the locals, and Bill and JK were #1 and #2 around the first mark.
Wow! We just had a huge day at 3rd Ave. For those of you unfamiliar with this spot, this place gets the biggest and baddest of any spot in the Bay Area. While epic conditions aren't necessarily the norm here, it is a fairly reliable spot, and when it chooses to go off, it does so in an unrivaled manner. The deep water shipping channel is about one or two miles from the launch, and that's where things really start to get interesting. Huge, clean swell and strong winds will kick your ass if you're not careful. I was totally lit on my 3.7 and 81l wave board.
Here are some quotes of after session reports (ASRs) I received this evening:
Jacob: Jesus
Aaron: Is that your ASR for today Jacob? If so, I actually agree this time.
Me: Hmm, I'd describe it more like OMFG!!!!
GS (formatting preserved for your benefit): OMFG? Omnipotent Magnificent Fabulous Gnarly!
SIGMA-K is what I call it:
Shit, I got my ass
KICKED!!!
Sofi: BHO (Barely Hanging On) riding swell EXCLuSiVlY going 5 mph up wind my board felt like 152 bic techno with 48 cm fin my sail was a 7.4 barely downhauled... I needed it ahhh!
Heidi: Thanks to Merediths 77 bad-ass board and her 3.5, thanks also to Mike who walked my gear down to the launch,,,,(what a guy) I had a chance to meet the devil at 3rd ave today, I looked him in the face, well, at least I got out and made it back all in one piece. my first time at 3rd, wow!
Check out the latest video from the Human Catapult. You may have seen his latest expose in Windsurfing Magazine, or you may have seen him sailing around the Bay. Anyway, he's been filming lately, and he likes to spend some time editing.
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