The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Great Photos: Stoke of the Wolf

The Wolf in head-high whitewater, winter SUP session.  Photograph by Jeff Schultz.   On his Facebook page Jeff wrote "It is only with the deepest respect and reverence that I mention this man is 69 years old.  #oldguysrule #growbolder."

Any time I'm talking to a water friend who says it's too cold to go out, or they're too old for conditions, or whatever their reason for not joining the sesh is, I invoke the Wolf.  I look forward to my next session with him, and hope Jeff gets more good photos!
 

Peconic Jeff Photography

P-Jeff (Peconic Jeff, Ponquogue Jeff, Photographer Jeff) has long been the principal source of imagery on the pages of the Peconic Puffin.   His stuff looks good here (which is why we use it) but if you REALLY want to appreciate some amazing scenes as captured by Jeff Schultz, hit the galleries:

East End Arts has a reception this Friday for an exhibit "The Muse" that features Jeff.  The show runs until March 7th.

Alex Ferrone Photography Gallery in Cutchogue includes Jeff in an exhibit "Small Works, Big Gifts" that runs through February 9th.

See the work of Jeff Schultz in person, unencumbered by puffinly blather!   Online check out jeff schultz photography, and like him on Facebook.

(Jeff's "Offshore" is one of my current favorites.)

Winners and Losers, 4-6 Foot Waves

I had a one hour window to sail.  It wasn't windy enough when I got to K Road, so I had to bag it, even though the forecast was for building winds, and the waves looked so nice.  As is my habit I asked Jeff to fill me in later on what I missed, so as to increase my jealousy.  Here's the report:

4.7 frontside DTL 2-3 bottom/top-turn rides on 4-6' waves, that's all you missed :)  Full powered at first, rode the 77L, then lulls (and a swim in the rinse zone) had me grabbing the 100L. At first, Scott & Frank were dragging their heels ("it's only 36F, I was expecting 40!" ... "aw man, the sun just disappeared behind those clouds!" ... "brrr, it's really cold!"), but once suited up and wave sailing, everyone was all smiles and plenty warm. Only thing holding us back from sailing another hour was our maxed out forearms. 

The flu kept Christian out of the ocean, but not from a bayside session. You'll have to get the report from him, though I do hope he's asleep and healing his weary self at this point.

 What else can I say but "oh man!"  Great for them though!

Exit The Mighty Larry Hoff

He's been stolen, actually.  By Michigan windsurfers.  We hate them.

Here is what our editor in chief posted on the Michigan thief windsurfers web site:

This is outrageous.  You're STEALING one of my (and many other Long Island sailors) favorite windsurfers!  The Mighty Larry Hoff is what he's properly called.  Andy Brandt of ABK calls him Larry the Legend, but that's because he forgot about The Mighty...   Some things you should know:

He's an excellent freestyle

He owns some of the most beaten up sails that it's possible to rig.

Check out his longboard too (if it didn't evaporate since I last saw it)

One of the ten nicest guys in the world.

What do we get?

Theiving Michiganites!

-M (EIC, PP)

Still, we wish Larry all the best!

(Photo of Larry going Gekko when he was still a proper Long Island windsurfer by Jeff Schultz).

Shark Attack Video (near miss) in Oz

Warning: The individual who almost becomes fish food uses an "f" term in this video. Video as seen on The Horse's Mouth (thanks Horse Joe!)

Scott Is Not Denied

The closest I got to windsurfing over the weekend was standing next to the loaded van. Texts and phone calls filled in the picture as I failed to get wet.

But not Scott. No. Scott was going to sail! Saturday's fog was crazy thick (visibility about 75 feet) but launch he did at Mattituck on a 4.7. Ice was not a problem, but Frank, Jeff, Christian and the Wolf concluded visibility was just too low. Peconic Jeff writes the rest of the crew chose "to find one excuse or another to keep dry/alive. Christian and I stood on the shore for a bit, listening to the chimp cackle echo forth from the deep fog." Afterwards Scott proclaimed it was Crazy Fun out there. We all looked forward to Sunday, though, as the forecast favored Sebonac.

Sunday morning came, windless. The skunk texts flew (complete with a Pepe Le Pew from Jeff). The wife had a list of things she wanted to do in the city, so we left Peconica early...and so missed the sesh! Argh! Jeff wrote "Then today Scott led us to Sebonac, where he, Joe, the Wolf & I scored a couple hours nuked on 4.7 and small boards. Sunny, scenic Sebonac was a joy for us Americans. Those with accents fared worse. A Brit (Felix) and Frenchman (Philipe) pined from the shore with no gear, and another Brit (Christian) suffered at home with sudden flu conditions. Meanwhile, the Italian representative (Tomas) arrived too late, and stood rigged and suited on the water's edge, watching the dying gusts and wondering how long till the next sesh." Scott is da man. Bone crazy, but still da man. (Top: Not the Flying Dutchman, but a flying wind chimp emerges from the fog. Middle: Scott tells Christian he isn't crazy enough. Bottom: Scott on a sunny Sunday. Photos by Jeff Schultz.)

Backwinded Switchstance Forward Loop (they do that now.)

"It's an 'Air Funnel,' Mike Burns explained to me, "essentially a switch stance - backwinded forward loop."

Holy s***.  I mean really.  A dozen years ago I could at least fantasize about learning any trick in existence...it was conceivable that I might learn to throw a spock...but now?  Fugedabada.

But Mike Burns is out there.  He's working on these things.   He can do it (which is why I hate him so.)  I thought the rule was you can't plane backwinded!   But no.   First he gets planing.  Then switches his feet around so he's planing switchstance.  Then duck the sail to backwinded (the money portion of the planing duck tack) catch the sail and continue planing!   Oh but wait...now we're going to throw a forward loop.

I hate him I hate him I hate him.  Him and the rest of them...those Air Funnelers!

You can see some Air Funnels in the previous post, and you can quick check out Mike Burns throw an Air Funnel, and a pair of Burners (don't ask.  Okay ask.  Mike says a Burner is a switch stance, backwinded ponch.   Don't you hate him?)  Where was I?  Oh yeah watch Mike throw these in a quick video on his blog.

I'm still working on the duck tack.  I'm a mess!

 

This Freestyle Video Does Not Sound Like All the Rest

W A S from Michael Sumereder on Vimeo.

It looks pretty great too. A cross between the usual Bonaire mastery, James Bond, and a Mike Burns fantasy session! Learned about it from Dasher, by way of Mike Gebhardt. None of the trustafarian faux reggae and third rate metal crap that I dislike (but apparently most freestylers enjoy). Hey nobody ever said The Peconic Puffin had taste! Hope you like this anyway.

Coldest Sesh of Any Kind We've Every Heard Of

A Minnesota lake surfer and his buddies were recently out in 38 degree water (I've been in colder) and -12 air temps...

(SAY WHAT?)

Giving us a "Rule of 100" number of 26.  26.  Twenty Six.  That's a serious OMG number.

Read all about it on Surfline.

(Thanks to Brian for posting a link to this piece on the Peconic Puffin's Facebook page.  Hey if you haven't already go Like the Puffin!)  

Spring ABK Windsurfing Clinic at Tiana

The info is outfo:  Andy Brandt and Team ABK will make you a better windsurfer (if you do the clinic) May 16-18, at Tiana Bay in Hampton Bays.   The finest windsurfing instruction program on the planet (hey they've managed to get things through MY thick head!)

There's just three things you have to do:

1.  Sign up.

2.  Show up.

3.  Be willing to have three great days sailing!

ABK Boardsports:  Learn to windsurf (windsurf better, windsurf best), make friends, have fun!

(Photo by Jeff Schultz.)

Secret Spot Revealed on Long Island Windsurfing Map!

Scene, 2012

Windsurfer:  "Hey Mike Burns, where is your legendary secret launch for practicing freestyle?"

Mike Burns:  "The Training Grounds?  If I told you I'd have to kill you."

Scene, 2014

Windsurfer:  "Hey Mike Burns, where is your legendary secret launch for practicing freestyle?"

Mike Burns:  "The Training Grounds?  It's on the Long Island Windsurfing Map.  Only freestylers end up really liking that place anyway.  Short runs and no swell/chop in site :-) "

Damn right it is!   Thanks to Dima for suggesting the addition, and Mike for sharing the spot.  "Training Grounds" on the Long Island Windsurfing Map.  If you've got a windsurfing launch you'd like to add to it, post the details and we'll add it!

(Here is a photo of Mike Burns, showing off freestyle chops that requires places like Training Grounds to perfect.  He is a ridiculously good freestyler.  I hate Mike Burns.)

Wave

A wave to meditate on.  Or SUP.   Captured at Ponquogue on Christmas Eve by Jeff Schultz.  See it in larger glory on his Jeff Schultz Photography FB page.

Bunty's View from Malta

In the 1990's the Peconic Puffin was a newsletter for a dozen odd people who windsurfed Eastern Long Island.   When I launched the blog in 2006 it was intended for the same people.  I wasn't shocked when my father in law started reading it.  But when the U.S. plus worldwide thing happened, it was a surprise.  Perhaps my favorite overseas reader is Bunty (of Bunt's Blog) in Malta.   Bunty just published a movie of photos if you will...go check out Maltese windsurfing conditions...looks like a great place to hit the water.

Thanks for the link Bunty!

A Wave Before New Years

I only caught one.  A waist-high left.   But after 45 minutes of wave faces that never jacked up sufficiently (or did so 50 feet from wherever I was) that one wave was sufficient.   Had to be!  Air temp 24, water 43...conditions were chilly, and when the wind started to come up, I headed home to make a fire.  T'was Jeff, the Wolf and me @K Road.

("Arctic Wolf" photo by Jeff Schultz.)