2024 Sailing Season: 2024-09-02 Big Westerlies

Sunday, Sept 1, 2024

Ted, Louise, Devyn and Hunter

The forecast Sunday was for wind coming late in the day. Louise and I went for a bike ride down to the waterfront to check out the swap meet. Who knew you could buy a fairly decent 20 year old windsurfing board for $5.00, but there were several for sale at that price - and not selling. While we were there, Wyatt Miller came up to say hi! He is enjoying NOT working for Sling Shot, and is taking the summer off. He is looking forward to getting back to Pro-Windsurf at La Ventana in the fall.

We then toured the waterfront before heading home, checking out the different launch sites for Louise. The water on the river was like glass. There were lots of people out wake boarding, and paddling.

It was starting to get hot by the time we got home. At 1:00 there still wasn't much sign of wind, so we took the bikes down to the Freshies Bagels and Juice Shop for lunch. We could tell as we were eating that the wind was starting to pickup. We stopped by the Event site on our way home, and met Dale Cook, who was rigging for his daughter. He told us we had better rig because the wind was coming in fast.

When we got home, Ross was getting ready to leave to go kiting. He went to the event site and had an over powered session on his 4.0.

Louise and I went to Luhr Jensen Park. I rigged a 3.5 for Louise and a 5m for me. Louise did really well, staying upwind and getting a few foil rides. I was quite over powered in the gusts, but made it work. We sailed for about an hour. I had fun going back and forth watching Louise and staying relatively close - but not too close. It wasn't comfortable sailing for either of us, but it was pretty good. Louise said it was definitely NOT her best day, but it was her best day ever in the Gorge!

While at Luhr Jensen, we ran into George Keller, who we know from La Ventana. He had been windsurfing, then switched to winging, then switched back. It was good to see him!

We met Ross at pFriem's Family Brewer for a beer. Hunter, who we know from La Ventana came over to say hi. His girl friend, Devyn, works at pFriem's and was getting off soon. It was great to see the two of them. They got engaged this year, and will be getting married in a couple of weeks! Wow! They will be in La Ventana from the beginning of January through to the end of February. We are looking forward to seeing them there again this winter!

While at pFriem's George Keller came over to say hi again, and then we saw Tyson Poor going past. He said hello and seemed pleased to see us! It was a real La Ventana Home Coming.

Since we were already there, and had already consumed a few beers, we decided to stay there for supper. The food was excellent as usual!

Early to bed - very tired!

Monday, September 2, 2024.

Louise - off for a Lesson!

When I turned on my phone at 8:30, I saw that I had a message from Carlos, of Gorge Kite. He had called at 7:00 to say they had a cancellation, and that they could take Louise for a lesson right away. They wanted us there by 9:00. We got there at 9:05. They set Louise up with a headset and then took her out on the downwind side of the Sandbar where it is not very wavy for her lesson. Izeke, her instructor rode behind in a Jetski, giving Louise instructions via a headset. Louise said the headset worked great. Unfortunately it was very windy, and gusty. Izeke gave Louise some good tips, but she has had better days. Still - it is progress.

Louise's lesson lasted 2.5 hours. She was pretty tired when they were all done. We went back to the townhouse for lunch.

Ross was heading out to Mosier, so we said we would meet him there after we ate lunch. As we were driving out of Hood River, Ross called to say that the coast guard had just shut the sailing site down, for their water-bomber operations. Apparently it was quite gusty anyway.

So... we went to the Event Site. I think Ross and I got the last two parking spots. I have never seen it so busy. Ross took his 3m kite and was way overpowered most of the time. I took out a 3.5m wing and my new 909 front foil. It was not comfortable sailing and there were lots of people everywhere, especially near the Event Site!

On my first reach out, I was almost killed by a kiter! Seriously! I looked up and there was a guy jumping quite high and right upwind of me. He was coming down almost on top of me. I kept my course and he crashed about 5 feet away from me upwind. Then his kite came down and the lines were over my shoulder and my kite. I had to move the lines from around my head, and then try to get them off my wing before they cut it! "He said - Sorry Man, I made a mistake". I don't think I can print what I said! WTF! All these people around and very gusty wind, and this asshole, who obviously isn't a great kiter, is trying to make a jumping height record.... WTF!

Anyway, I worked my way upwind where there were fewer people. There were some nice swells and I made some nice jibes, but... I also made some very ugly jibes and some I didn't finish at all!!! I came in after about 15km, feeling pretty tired and pretty beat up. Good sail - learning experience!

While we were de-rigging, we ran into Missy and Steve, another couple that we know from La Ventana. Great to see them and catch up. They are both REALLY enjoying retirement, although Steve is still doing some work!

We sat in the parking lot to de-brief. Kit, who is from Calgary, and is a friend of Cam's, came to join us for a while. He came down a few days ago and he is here to do some kiting for the next couple of weeks - or more...... Good to see him again.

Ross, Louise and I went to Double Mountain Brewery for supper. More than enough food, and excellent salad and pizza as usual! Early to bed - Very tired.