The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Snow Board and other photos by Peconic Jeff

Peconic Jeff has the eye.   When he puts a camera between that eye (I think it's his right one) and water sport stuff, I'm always a fan of the result.

Here are two recent Puffin pleasers...Snow Board (self explanatory) and a shot from a recent Meschutt sesh that I overcropped for a blog post, so I want to highlight it in its full glory.   Go to Jeff's Flickr page to see these images in even fuller glory, plus his recent work with Mecox ice boats, advection fog (I have no idea) the obligatory bowl of fruit and more.

Random Puffin

No boards or sails here.  Sometimes puffining takes me to strange places.   This young lady is named Rhiannon, and was a member of a puffin club (a penguin may have been involved as well.)   In addition to puffins she blogs about fashion.   I have a GREAT puffin tie, but no photo of me wearing it.  Something to do in April...

I've been reflecting (ie feeling sorry for myself) on the lack of SUPing (missed ALL OF WINTER) and sparse windsurfing conditions of late.   I will be off the water for the next week, but will still have windsurfing stuff here (particularly if Jeff shoots any new photos!)

Forward Loop Simulator? Look at the video...

Ely of the Yahoo Long Island Windsurfers Forum recently posted the following loop video (who he credits to his friend Darryl in Maui).   Describing itself as a Loop DVD trailer, it's a loose, fun collection of loops and loop drills...plus all of two and a half seconds of a loop simulator (go to 2:34 if you're in a rush.)  Perhaps they're saving a full explanation of the simulator for the DVD.  In any event  I'm intrigued.  I was going to type "I'll try anything" but as anyone who has tried forward loops knows, the trying is trying.  Scarifying and whatnot.   So I can use any and all steps to get me closer.  I must try to figure out how to rig this up:

Missing Meschutt

There was no wind in the forecast.  "I was drinking coffee, looked at the wind readings, and when it said '23' I said 'that's gotta be wrong'" said the Wolf as he derigged.   Frank had promised his family he'd be home Saturday morning, but had to rush away from breakfast.   I took my time coming east because of the windless forecast but the 4.7-5.2 blow at Meschutt was caught by these two, Peconic Jeff and Christian.   By the time I arrived holes in the wind were quite large, and I had to balance rigging to sail for an hour in flukey winds (also high tide, meaning no Meschutt magic ramps) vs. going home and assembling our new grill for wife points. 

I chose sailing, rigged, then the holes looked even worse so I bagged it.   When I got to the house the trees were howling, so I'm fairly sure I made all the wrong choices (though the grill looks good!)

Red & White Motoring (new photos, old sesh)

 Late April of last year we had a nuking sesh (sails 3.7-4.2 at Sebonac Inlet) caught by Scott, Jon, Bill, Bruce, CD, the Wolf, Peconic Jeff and your editor. Today some photos from that session materialized, taken by Tom Boyle. If you were there, if you’re a fan of the motley crew, or you’d just like to see more Peconic windsurfing,  check out Tom’s collection from the day. (Top to bottom: Four outbound towards Robins Island, Scott just about jumping onto the beach, me "red & white motoring" which was photographer Tom's title for the shot. Thanks again Tom!)

Andy Brandt Old School Trickery

T'was ten years ago in Aruba when I was out snapping photos of my wife windsurfing when Andy Brandt sailed by.  Even back before freestyle windsurfing  became the cool new thing, Andy simply could not sail in a straightforward manner on his own time.   Here he is carving an inside-the-boom, back-to-sail planing tack, on a Bic Techno.    These days when teaching freestyle Andy focuses on Vulcans and Spocks and Flakas and double Leapard loops and all things aerial, but if you ask nice he'll work with you on carving moves too.  As well as jibing and tacking and waterstarting and everything else.   Andy Brandt and ABK Boardsports come to Long Island for their Spring clinic on May 20-22.

Deboned Gathering, and Bill is the Wind Sacrifice

I’d sent an email to a bunch of guys Sunday morning, listening to the wind in the trees.    An hour later I heard from Christian:

“Deboned gathering as I'm sure you know by now.”

Had Christian been filleted, and everybody knew but me?  Damn!   I called for details…”deboned” was his iPhone’s spellcheck rendition of Sebonac.   ‘nuff said.

Arrived at Sebonac Inlet to find Christian, Peconic Jeff, CPU John, Dr. Pain, Frank, Scott, Bill and John Hulse waiting to see the wind would come back.  It had been 5.2 or better, but nobody was sailing now.    After half an hour of shooting the breeze (rimshot we’re here all week, ladies and gentlemen) Bill and Hulse decided hanging at Sebonac didn’t meet their refined-in-Puerto-Rico standards, and left.    The wind came up immediately.

My first three runs had the 5.3 on my 109 freestyle board.    Then I thought I’d try boarding down to the 93 FSW…the wind was building.    Within half an hour I had the 5.3 dancing on my 77.   Good times!    There was jumpin’ and jibin’ and tackin’ and Sebonac’s special backside miniwave sailing.  
Christian (bones and all) called it a perfect beginning to the Spring season, and that’s just what it felt like.  Dr. Pain even broke out a pair of shorts.

(Top:  Frank rips into one.  Middle:  Does this drysuit make my butt look big?   I prepare to blow a duckjibe while the crew heads in for a closer look.  Bottom:  The doctor has warm weather on the brain.   The good photos are by Jeff.)

James’ Windsurfing Man Cave

Having been married for well over a decade, I am well trained to “put away my toys”.  But I remember what it was like to have a boom in my living room.  And guitars used to hang from the walls!   But a new video on James’ Blog provides me a glimpse of true windsurfing man-caveness.    If I had windsurfed in my 20’s this work of art and design may well have been mine!

 

Ponquogue Finally Serves It Up

I was standing on the beach, facing the eastern wind with my mouth wide open.   I wanted to eat the air, so good did it taste.  It was cold, but clean…immaculate…and it reminded me of a pristine Carribean breeze.  Carribean ice cream!  It was delicious.

Perhaps it tasted so good because I’d been missing Ponquogue.   I hadn’t sailed there since October 2009, nor paddled the place since January 2010!  That’s a long time for one of my favorite spots.    It was blowing a hearty 5.3, and Jon Ford, Peconic Jeff, the Wolf and I were on it.   Waves were 4-6 feet, though at times it was hard to pick out the sets.   Jeff had an excellent back loop attempt (the Wolf said it looked like he nearly landed it) I had the best down the line ride of my year (okay it was only my third ocean day of 2011, but I’m trying to get better so every “good” and “best” is a win) Jon Ford had a typically fine day, and even the Wolf with dodgy knee was happy to get out and catch a little.

The guys are back at it today, while I had to pass.   But my arms ache just enough to remind me of that wave…

Robby Framed (or isn't he?)

(Two people...see the comments...have expressed doubt that it's Robby Naish in the photo.  My world is shaken...I've seen this thing before and been told that it's Robby, but examing the original art with a magnifying glass (and blowing it up in Photoshop) provides inconclusive results.   So maybe I screwed this up.  The original post is below...meanwhile I'm going to search for an answer elsewhere.  What follows is my original post:)

 

I was at my mom's place looking through a group of framed family photos when I noticed some old packaging stuck inside the back of one of the frames.   I pulled it out and there was Robby Naish, on what looks like a late 80's Neil Pryde rig.    The Babe Ruth of windsurfing in a stock photo...I wonder how many windsurfers bought the frame back in the day and just put it on their mantlepiece.

East Coast Windsurfing Festival IV…Save the Date!

It’s Baaaack…the fourth annual East Coast Windsurfing Festival!  Two time King of the East freestyle champion Mike Burns sez “mark your calendars for June 11th and 12th and expect the usual big turnout with lots of action and fun.”   We’re talkin’ Heckscher, y’all.  There will be freestyle, there will be racing, there will be a great time had by all.  

Save the date.

(Don't know what you've been missing?  Or perhaps you want to relive the thrill of victory and the agony of being beaten by Pete?  Here's The Peconic Puffin's coverage of the last three festivals.    The official web site will be updated soon.   Photo from one of last year's races by Bill Doutney.)

Fantasy Windsurfing Update: I Rule!

If you’re not in or following Windsport Magazine’s Fantasy Windsurfing league (like fantasy baseball, working from the Professional Windsurfing Association results) then you’re missing the fun.   But you’re probably happy not to be crushed by me, as I rule!  To be more precise, I’m in second place. Amongst people I know.  But check it out…Pete Dekay is doing best amongst people I know and have sailed with, but he’s the gosh darn EDITOR of Windsport Magazine, and if he wins there’s gonna be complaints.   Then there’s me!   Looking good in position 110.

You can check out the complete results on Windsport’s web site.  Below is my select list, along with some impartial observations:

55:   Pete Dekay.  Totally bogus…it’s his magazine/website!!!!!

110:  Me me me me me me me.

151:  Jon Ford.  Jon always says something nice when he passes me.  No doubt the same will happen here.

274:  Christian.  Christian says he’s still getting the kinks out.

386:  George Marr.    No doubt George is already on the phone to Pete Roesch giving him shit about leading him.

420: Radar Tom.   Tom is enjoying every second of being in front of #421…

421: Mike Burns.  Who’s King of the East now, Mike? Huh?  That’s right!

677: Derek Rijff.  Derek always finds fault in my technique (for which I pay him.)  How do I look now, D-man?

686: Buddha Mike.  He’s rearranging the collection of gods in his pickup this very moment.

702: Jill Marr (“#1 woman!" she points out)

723: Brendan Quinn.   Brendan is too laid back for competition.

825: Dennis Grunbeck   Dennis needs more time on smaller boards, but he's grateful for every sesh and happy to be in the running.

Low Slow Snow Freestyle Video

How much fun does it this look like? And low impact, too! Thanks Mark Paine for the tip.