Fall Gorge Trip: Friday - Another Windy day at the Hatchery

It was blowing fairly hard when we got up.

Spencer and I arrived at the Hatchery around 10:00am.

Everyone else was about an hour later.

Spencer rigged 3.2 on the Acid, and I was on my 4.8 and Freexxx Board.

We had a very good morning session in big swell with not many people around.

Everyone else rigged 4.2 or 3.7 - except Andreas, who was on the 4.8.

It was a very relaxing day compared to yesterday, but still one of the best days of the week.

The wind picked up around noon. Ross had stopped at Realwinds earlier in the day and talked Laurie into lending him a 2.7 for Spencer. That really saved the day, because Spencer would have been done at noon if he wasn't able to rig down.

Kent REALLY likes his new yellow Realwinds 250 board.

Great wave rides by Kent, Andreas, Ross, Harold and Blain.

Incredible jumps by Ross, Gerry, Kent and Mike.

I had some very nice Jumps in the Morning - and some of my best wave rides yet (but I'm not in the same league as Andreas, Ross, Kent or Blain.....)

Ross spent some time teaching Spencer how to wave ride. He had lots of fun carving wave faces - and this also helped him keep downwind. Everyone was very impressed. Spencer was also trying some jumping. Some of them on purpose and some not. In the moring he had a few big crashes - He landed on the rig duing one - and his harness went through the 3.3m sail. Thanks Mike - for the Sail tape (Mine is in the kitchen at home...)

We came off the water at about 5:30. It was getting dark by the time we were de-rigged and ready to leave.

Andreas broke his Mast Base. I guess if you are going to break something - the mast base is about the cheapest piece of equipment on the rig......

Mike - Styling in the waves...

Kent and Jim - taking a break to watch the action...

Jim had a late lunch - and got stung by a wasp which was hiding in his sandwich. He got about 5 bites in his mouth. It took him quite a while to recover. He sounded like he had been to the dentist......

Some of us got to see Mr. Happy Face much more closely than we expected to. I'm not saying who - but I know one young boy who will be watching more closely next time.