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No wind or waves for me this weekend. Friday there were six footers at Flys, caught by Jon Jeff Eric et. al (me at work). Saturday I was unmoved by the tale, but Sunday I was walking out the door to head to Shinnecock East when a huge crash in the kitchen meant my morning would be not spent on waves. Packing up to go home Sunday night the wind began blowing from the East. 6.2 easy. The comedy continues.
Photo at Flys last Friday by Jeff Schultz.
As seen on a New York City cab. Harness? Lines? I guess it's all about abs and scent.
Shark Week is coming on the Discovery Channel (25th anniversary!) and it's as good a thing to think about as the wind I'm missing today (of course it blows mid-week!) There's a whole bunch of good shark videos and more on this Shark Week post at scubadiving.com. In particular check out the "Be careful reaching for that fish" clip.
And of course there is the story of my own shark encounter a few years ago. That was enough live shark for me for a lifetime. Better to enjoy from the safety of a digital device!
Ah, Ponquoguing. Before the windless hell of 2011 it meant wavesailing in the playful surf of Ponquogue.
During the windless hell of 2011, however, it meant SUPsurfing at Ponquogue, which involves both beachbound and westbound (ie headed to New York City) waves. A bit of a mess, but fun.
In the windless and waveless hell of 2012, Ponquoguing means doing the 2011 thing in smaller surf.
But as Wayne said on the beach, it beats working!
(Photo by Jeff Schultz)
Meet the Fanatic All-Wave. 9'2" of all kinds of fun. It's Sally's flatwater SUP board, my wave SUP, and a fine nonplaning freestyle windsurfing board for both of us. I used to freestyle on a Bic Techno (153 liters)...the All-Wave is 160 liters yet it's more frisky than the Bic. Haven't tried it in planing winds yet (haven't tried any board in planing wind in quite awhile) but will report when I do.
(Sally shows off the new ride.)
"The best wave is found at Flys," say the Wise. And they drive there in their 4WD Flymobiles. The never-to-be-deterred Peconic Jeff elects to drive his 2WD to the Bowl, park, paddle out, and hustle across the Shinnecock Inlet channel whilst cabin cruisers, commercial fishing boats, knuckleheads and miscellaneous water traffic come through (they're all drinking, I believe.) Furthermore fishing lures splash near Jeff's board thrown by haters on the jetty. Once across the inlet channel it's another 200 yards to the break, which is decent but not great.
"The best break this year," the wise repeat. Tiana, K and L roads, Neptunes, the Mecox launches, Olde Towne etc etc...they apparently are the worse for wear. Like Jeff I am 2WD-encumbered, so along with Christian and against my better judgement I've round trip SUPed the channel at Shinnecock twice. Even had a reasonably good time. But paddling back with Christian last week, we made the right turn to come in at the Bowl and found ourselves facing a bit of a headwind. This after a few hours busting it at Flys. We was tired. Managed to get in, but what if it had come up another ten knots? That would have sucked, methinks. Been dangerous above and beyond the trans-channel death paddle. So I've been wanting to hit some other spots and see just how poorly they compare to Flys.
Southampton Surf Camp has been held at Flying Point, so I headed there Thursday with OG Puffin Steve. Shortly after we arrived the knee-high waves upped to thigh and the occasional waist. They became increasingly mannerly and well spaced, mostly rights but the occasional left. Then some waist to stomach sets appeared, and we had a fine time! Best ride was Steve and I sharing a long friendly waist high wave that Steve declared historic (I believe marking the first time he's had a conversation while on a wave.) There were so many waves, zero dues to pay, nobody there but us...it was my best SUP session of the year certainly. And I think the wave was better than what I've seen at Flys.
I will be returning to Flying Point, and eschewing the Trans-channel death paddle.
(Top Photo: Having crossed the uncrossable I might as well catch a few. Middle Photo: Christian wonders how many close calls he can have so near the inlet. Bottom: I demonstrate classic Puffin technique. Photos by Jeff Schultz)
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