2024 Sailing Season: 2024-09-09 - Sailing the Event Site

This is the new thing. It is unstable as all heck, but you use it to get upwind,
then stuff it in your pocket and pump the board with the waves back downwind.
(I won't be trying this anytime soon!)

Today the forecast was for wind all day. After much discussion and waffling a decision was finally made to head for the Event Site - just to have a look. I knew we were staying when Blaine said he had paid until 6:00pm.

Kent and I were first on the water. Kent was on his 3.2 and 600 foil, and I was on my 4.5m Wing and 909.

I tried to keep up with Kent, but he went straight upwind out of site. I played around between Luhr Jensen Park and the Hook, mostly because there were fewer people there. It was fun riding swell on the far side, although I found the waves a bit mixed up today. I had a great session and came in after 22km very tired.

Brad, Blaine and Big Air Jim were all out on their 3.2's. Jim came in shortly after I did and had a great session. Brad and Blaine stayed out until almost 2:00. I managed to get some photos of Brad's jibes.

Brad - making it look easy!

Big Air Jim - riding high!

Cam took out a 4m wing and had a great session, heading up to the hatchery to sail with Kent, Ross and Andreas. Cam accidentally foiled over the sandbar. He started to realize it was getting shallow. He jibed and hit the bottom. He was only waste deep, so he had to walk a long way until it was deep enough to get going! Kent got worried because he was taking so long, so sailed over to see what was happening. Cam was yelling at him to stay away - fortunately for Kent he was able to jibe and get away without hitting the sand.

Kent did 68km before deciding to come in for lunch. He had some good crashes, but really enjoyed the swell just below the Hatchery.

Kent - coming in for lunch - after 68km

Ross was on his 4m kite and Andreas was on his 6! Both had a long session. Today was the first day of the season when kite launching was allowed from the Event Site, so they both took advantage and didn't have to walk their gear all the way to the sandbar to launch. For the second day in a row, Andreas was able to go faster than Kent... WTF... now Kent will have to purchase a whole new set of gear!!!

Ross - smooth.....

Vadim was on his 5.3, and had his best day of the trip.

Both Kent and I fully planned to go out for a second session after lunch, but the wind started to lighten up and we could see some lulls, and we were comfortable sitting in the sun in our lawn chairs, so we ended up calling it a day.

Big Air Jim, Blaine and Cam did decided to go out for a second session. Unfortunately the wind continued lightening up. Jim and Blaine put up their 4.5's but it wasn't enough. They got a few runs, but nothing epic. Jim tried a 4.5 and then went 5.2 and was foiling 50% of the time. He added a shim and says the foil is way better balanced.

Andreas - trying out a new front foil!

Kent spent the afternoon repairing his board. Apparently he went "Over the Handle Bars" with some force, and cracked the front of his board with his mast or boom. He made a pretty good dent in it! Fortunately he is OK!

It was a lazy afternoon for the most part with several "Pop's" consumed on the beach, and lots of discussion about everything in general.

At home, we heard that Harold and Robert got out at Pigeon Lake for a session. Harold apparently ripped his 6.1 sail in half. He then went to his 5.3, and ripped that one too. He finally sailed 5.7 and had a good time! I think he probably needs a new quiver since the sails are as old as he is (almost). Maybe Sailworks can help. Mike also got out for two sessions at Alberta Beach. I hear they were the best sessions ever!

Also in the news, Handré would like to introduce Shepherd Ellis, a healthy 6lb, 7oz boy. Both he and his mom are healthy, and Handré is enjoying his new role as Oupa!

Shepherd Ellis - Future Windsurf Foiler! Grip strength on chest hair showing great potential.

Also, Al has made it home, but didn't get great gas mileage on the last leg as he was bucking 30-50kph headwinds. I guess that is why Harold, Mike and Robert had such great days!

If the group trying to make a decision where to sail this morning was painful, making the decision about where to eat supper was way, way worse. Late in the day, I went back to the townhouse to work on this blog and my photos and asked that they send me a text about where they were going for supper. After 7:00 ,PM. I rode my bike down to the Event Site to see what was going on. The group was still there sitting in the sun drinking beer and eating pretzels.

The wind was almost dead calm, but Andreas (after a few beers), decided it would be a good time to go out on his foil board, 8m kite and small front foil. He actually made it work a few times, but did have some good crashes. The best crash was at the start. He pumped up on the foil and started to race across the river at Mach 2 but noticed that he had not started his watch. He reached over, touched the button, and drove the foil straight to the bottom of the river. The splash looked spectacular from shore.

The other late day occurrence was the free dental clinic on the shore. No chair, no lights, but expert and helpful advice.

Finally we decided to just walk down to pFriems, but then someone had to go back to the Condo first. Then Jim had to drive back to the Condo to drop off his trailer. Then everyone decided to go back to the condo. Then some thought we should order in something, maybe pizza. Then some thought they should walk downtown to see what was going on. Then some thought we should get BBQ from Lilo's Hawaiian BBQ. Then some thought they would go down to Double Mountain Pizza. I was still on my bike, so I rode up to Lilo's and bought a BBQ Takeout. Kent and Ross drove up and did the same. We got there just before the place closed at 8:00. Kent, Ross and I had a nice evening at the condo enjoying our meals. The others went down to double mountain and had a great meal also.

Wow, another great day!