Motocross on the Water
by Spennie, 4/15/07

   It's Sunday, April 15th, and I've just finished a few chores around the house, looks kinda breezy here in Newbury Park, wonder what Leo's doing? (Leo Carrillo Beach State Park) Yumpin Yiminy, it just jumped up to 24 from 18, WooHoo!! Wifey's busy in the yard and doesn't want to stop, so I hop in the Wind Junkie Funmobile and haul ass to Leo.

   When I get there I can see that yes, it's rampaging, no, there's no waves to speak of (dang), and there's only one guy out. There's 2 or 3 others on the sand desperately trying to downhaul more, and 1 or 2 guys rigging down to 4.1 or so. Bill K. goes out on a 4.5 and is positively LIT, so I pull out my 4.7 Gaastra Grind and my beloved Exocet Universal Wave 88.

   Here's the thing: When you're 6'4" and 205 like me, rigging for high wind is very tricky. Can't just rig a small sail and "make it work", you have to hit pretty close to right on or you're either schlogging or getting spanked. So I go with the 4.7, and after watching the guys on the water, downhaul the crap out of it, but leave the outhaul a little soft for extra power to get going.

   WRONG! Did I say extra power? My first run out I'm going 350 miles per hour, it's like riding a motocross bike through the whoop-de-doos with the throttle taped on full. I'm so wound up I'm afraid to jump, figure I'll land down in Santa Monica on top of one of the skyscapers. I come in close to shore for some outhaul and footstrap adjustment (damn booties!), then go back out for some more punishment. It's wild but fun, horrifying and exhilarating, fast and furious. I discovered later that the average wind had jumped up to 27 or so while I was out. 27!

   I've had enough after about 45 minutes of this, and go in just in time for the wind to drop off. Lucky! Can't wait for the next session.

--Spennie