Distraction #74

I grew up in one of those places that isn't known for much more than just being on the way to somewhere else. My parents and sister still live in Chadbourn NC so I still visit a bit. My plans for a trip to Hatteras got dashed due to some health issues in the family so I hit highway 74 to Chadbourn last friday. Lake Waccamaw is off 74 if you keep heading east past Whiteville. I took some gear just in case we got a little of the S wind in the extended forecast. Good thing too.

Sunday morning storms blew through pretty early. The S wind kicked in and picked up into the early afternoon. After some visiting I launched at the N end of the lake at Dales on a 5.2 There were some pretty big rollers coming in but I likely missed the highest wind from late morning/lunch. It was coming down as I rigged for my sister and myself. We struck out into the swell and some gusty S wind for a beautiful afternoon of sailing. She did great with the 3.5 on the GO (she loves the GO) and handled the rough conditions really well for her first time in the swell. She's past ready for the harness. Eventually I rigged the 5.8 and stayed pretty well powered. 5.2 & 5.8 on an inland lake is epic as far as I'm concerned. We stayed until after dark. Wonderful day.

Monday was forecasted to be the big day. WSW 20-30mph. Dales isn't the ideal spot for W so after more morning visiting I headed south to Carl's place near Big Creek. I've played volleyball with Carl "The Truth" for years. Great guy. That launch just works for SW around to NNW. My mom came out with me to take pics and watch- otherwise it was solo bump-n-jump from Big Creek to the state park shore. The trick is to launch in a spot that is side-on. The swell from the main lake acts just like ocean swell on the bars- side-on swell rolls at an angle to the wind making excellent ramps. Dead downwind you get the steep, pitching wave with whitecaps. Fun for some poor mans wave riding in either case. After about an hour and half on the 5.2 it was 4.7 madness on the 106L board until dark. I really needed the 85L board but didn't have it as usual. Mac and I had an amazing 7.5 sesh at Canadian Hole while down for the Windsurf Mag 2010 board tests. He pushed me to take deeper downwind angles than ever before. I did some of this on the 106L board too. Wow. I actually had a stiff neck after that full day of wild riding. My sister got off work a little early and took some great shots too. I hope you enjoy.

Epic Bump & Jump Sesh at the Big Creek Launch from r d moore on Vimeo.

Swell Shortboard Seshes & Formula In Swell at Dales Seafood

A Couple Awesome Belews Rides

Well I may as well start with current events. What an excellent week to be conscious, huh? It was a trifecta baby! Summer air temps, water warm enough for trunks and WIND. I hit Belews twice this week. Wednesday was an AHD diamond race / 7.5 day with Barry and Oscar. After the formula board the AHD now feels like a stick... lots of fun, still early planing and easy to carve on the plane. Thursday was a solo sesh at Belews. I knew the South wind had been cycling up and down but rigged the 7.5 and the 106L cross. It has been too long since I got some vids so I lashed on the GoPro too.


So I struck out nicely powered to start a gorgeous sunny day sesh. After a while the wind started ramping up a bit so I cam in and grabbed my impact vest. After additional ramping I then rigged the 5.8. The rest of the afternoon was pretty much equal parts 7.5/5.8 all on the cross. If I had another gopro it would be sweet to see the 5.8 conditions since the lake builds swell so quickly. At any rate it was wonderful to spend all day on the shortboard in the lake.

Lake Waccamaw Sesh


Last weekend I sailed with Leah and my sister at Lake Waccamaw. We launch at Dale's and I could not believe how warm it already was! Trunks were the call for sure. Leah rigged the AHD/5.2 and Jennifer used the SUP/5.8 I rigged the 9.5/formula just in time to catch the light S wind. I was perfectly powered but as time passed the swell got bigger. That lake is 5 miles across for S wind and I was on the down wind shore. Even the light breeze makes for white caps coming up on the eastern shore. Part of the time I ran slalom style- dodging the peaks and aiming for troughs to keep from pearling the windward rail. Otherwise it was just relentless money shots in the face and up the nose!(eh Josh?) The other part of the time I was wave riding. Sheeted out but still planing and riding the swell. I just couldn't get over how little wind there actually was for the size of those waves... definitely a first for me in those conditions but still tons of fun till dark.



2010 Hatteras Board Tests

Finally I participated in the Windsurf Magazine 2010 board tests at Hatteras. Thanks to Mac for hooking me up! Josh Sampiero drove up from Florida with a box truck full of 2010 gear. I rolled into Avon on Thursday and met Josh at Andy's new shop Windsurf NC where they were putting foot straps on some 2010 boards. Josh showed me the gear in the truck and I got so excited I was prancing around like a little school girl :D Rob already was in town and at the house so after a stop there we hit Canadian hole. After putting on all fins and straps we starting sailing boards. And boy did we sail. If that wasn't enough have new boards Stu came up and rigged new North sails for us.


We sailed Frisco Woods lit all day on a 4.2, the Buxton slick lit on a 5.2, and Canadian hole lit on everything from 8.0 down to 3.5 It suffices to say it is the best wind I've had yet on a week at Hatteras. I'm more stoked in 2010 than ever. Here is Josh at Canadian hole.