Three Board Day at Ponquogue (on a Saturday!)

As I walked up the beach taking a break between bouts, George Pav said to me "it's amazing how much more tiring sailing in these conditions!"  "Waves are a whole different sport"  I agreed   I can't remember the last time my arms were still burned out a day after windsurfing.   But yesterday was too good for too long for anything less than total exhaustion.   

The gift of a Ponquogue session during the weekend is not to be passed up lightly, and few did.   There was a good crowd on it by 9am that grew through the morning and into the afternoon, including but not limited to (if I didn't get your name that's 'cause I'm as challenged with names as I am by waves):  Scott, Bill, Frank, George Pav, CD, Jonathan, the Wolf, Peconic Jeff, Stan, Jason, Jimi Sobek, the kiter with the Quigley van (I covet Quigley vans) and more.

It started out kinda light (5.5's to 6.2's on big boards) but classic Ponquogue...well mannered, well spaced shoulder-high waves with just enough umph.  Friendly.   After an hour the wind gods flipped the  switch to full on 5.2-5.7 and all of a sudden the jumping was up there with the surfing.  Everyone boarded down.   It kept coming on...time to rerig and bring out the small boards and 4.7's.   But by then the rising tide was playing havoc with the waves and shore break, and after an hour or so most folks headed down to the Bowl for Part II.    After an hour of being overpowered no matter what I rigged (last attempt with a 4.5) I realized I wasn't windsurfing, I was just being dragged around by my gear

  As I'd only had a few hours sleep the night before, I took my groggy and toasted self off the water, where even better men than I had had enough.  What a day! (All photos are video stills taken by the video goddess Chiaying:  at the top George Pav checks out a new sail, in the middle Frank jumps while Jon Ford looks on, at the bottom Scott thinks sky.   Let's look forward to the video to come from Jeff and Chiaying!)

Comments

[Bunty]

Boy am I jealous! I am just LONGING LONGING LONGING for some wave conditions. Right now we have around 75F (which is nice) but need to get out the waKe board not the waVe board!

[Joe Rouse]

That's awesome my friend. What are your 3 boards? Does Chiaying have a link?

[michael]

Joe, may you have some wave action soon! Re Chiaying, she is Peconic Jeff's girlfriend, so when the video is ready you can be sure he'll have it on his blog (I'll be linking to it too.)

Bunty, the three boards in question are:

Calamity Too (JP Freestyle 109)
an unnamed JP Freestyle Wave 93
Candy 77 (Fanatic Freestyle Wave 77)

also kicking around are the Millenium Puffin (a Bic Techno 153) a Mistral Superlight circa 1983, and Learning to Fly, (old Naish 8'11").

[Bunty]

Actually it wasn't me that asked that question but interesting reading what stuff you guys are on. Here in Malta it seems we also have a vast range of antiquated stuff and the most modern hi-tec gear.

[Michael]

I forgot to mention Jimi Sobeck in the original post (he's added now...sorry Jimi!) Also, check out Peconic Jeff's video of the day!