Is hard the Vulcan?

Someone is ahead of me on this thing.

Vulcan't

(skip ahead to about 40 seconds in)


For better or for worse, I've decided to pursue the path of freestyle windsurfing. I'm using a dedicated freestyle board now, using words like "pop", and my ankles always have some level of pain or discomfort. The true entry level trick of New School freestyle is the Vulcan. The maneuver is an aerial 180 degree turn that, if performed properly, involves sliding backwards to a stop and continuing on in the opposite direction from whence you started.

It doesn't look all that hard or even particularly radical, but it's probably one of the most difficult things to learn in windsurfing. It's as humbling as anything I've ever tried. When you're practicing vulcans, you look like you're the worst rider on the water. You crash awkwardly over and over. The casual observer will firmly believe you are obviously the worst windsurfer they've ever seen (frequently true, in my case).

Still, it's an important step to get pretty much anywhere with "new school" freestyle as we know it today. The basis for a few more tricks involve initiating a vulcan, and the other "spinny" tricks involve some sort of twisting jump that ultimately ends in a slide. There's really no way to avoid it. Learning freestyle must begin with a trial-by-fire. A grueling period of many attempts and many failures. The mindset has to stay positive. "I will get there." "All this is temporary, the reward will be great."

On to the data. It is said that it takes 800-1000 attempts to land a windsurfing vulcan. Scary? Yes. If I do 25 per day, 4 times a week (a real possibility living in SF during windy season), then it will take me 8-10 weeks to potentially land a one of the suckers. That sounds less scary. I've put up with 7 years of being humiliated windsurfing, I'm sure I can stand 8-10 more weeks. The other huge thing working to my advantage is that I have many friends who can do a vulcan, are getting close to making a vulcan, or are in the same exact boat as me in pursuing this accomplishment. The freestyle scene here in the bay is thriving.

Here's my chart. I'll try to update it every couple of weeks, so you can track my progress. Wish me luck!

The Wind Hath Starteth

And Natureth hath returneth to orderth.

REJOICETH WITH MEETH!

Spring is Here?!

If yesterday didn't feel like a spring day, then I'm a pro windsurfer.

It was awesome. Well sorta. It was flooding pretty much everywhere so I ended up at Candlestick on a 4.7/97L combo. Lots of friends showed up to play in the warm air and cool water. I have been working on some new tricks, the kind that take a very, very long time to learn. I'll get into more detail on that one of these days. I've sailed 3 days in the last two weeks, which is pretty darn good, all things considered. This winter I think I've gotten about 5 planing windsurfing sessions, 15 LOS surfing sessions (Lay On Stomach), and 6 snowboarding sessions in Tahoe (snowy this year).

There is a lot of chatter about what "el niño" will mean to the West coast wind scene. Lots and lots of nay-sayers claiming it's going to be an awful wind season, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Who knows, maybe it will be even better and longer?

FAIL!!!

I hate to be gone from the blogosphere for a few months, only to come back to complain, but well...that's what's happening.

Winter windsurfing in the bay area is all about timing. I've been fortunate enough to snatch a few sessions this month mixed in with weekend trips to the mountains, but it's all about luck. Luck and information, that is. You have to be able to know where it's blowing and when it's picking up in order to score any sessions at all. I'm not one to throw any company under the bus, it's not really my style. That said, the amount of outage iwindsurf.com has had this year has been nothing short of ridiculous.

I have no problem spending $100 a year to access these wind meters, nevermind the questionable in-season human forecasts (oh really? It's gonna probably blow 18-25 in July here???). But if I'm paying for them, I want to be able to see the readings. Like, all the time.

I understand if a wind meter somewhere breaks and it takes a few days, or even a week to fix (although 3rd avenue was down for like a month last summer, and it probably serves 1000 windsurfers), but errors that appear to be involved with the ISP or hosting are simply unacceptable.

Apologies for the diatribe, just needed to get some whinesurfing off my chest here.

It's freakin' Maui, alright?

I've been back from Maui for a week now, and still haven't been able to muster up a post about it. I can't figure out exactly what I can say about Maui, or how I can offer some insight or perspective about it. It's freakin' Maui. It's this tropical paradise that's a 5 hour flight from anything. The water is transparent and teal blue. Giant sea turtles are all over the place. You cruise over big white UFO shaped pieces of coral. You can sail to a variety of reefs where waves pitch and break, or gently crumble, depending on your cup of tea. These waves often jack up on your starboard broad reach so you can fly through as much airspace as your courage can handle. Point towards a flat part of the wave for distance. Point toward the pitchy part if you want to go straight toward the heavens. No need to think about technique for jumping. Just go fast and target something steep.

It feels like windsurfing on a movie set. Maybe that's because of the ingrained images of chase helicopter shots bearing down on Robby and Laird cruising at Mach 1. Maybe it's because you really feel like you've crossed into another dimension of existence. A dimension with warmer, clearer, water. Organized waves bombard all shores a few at a time, but take breaks so you can paddle out to surf them. Unrelenting wind that just finished a 2,000 mile journey fills your sail, accelerating at the finish line stretched across Haleakala and Mauna Kahalawai, Maui's towering twin volcanic mountains.

It's freakin' Maui. Windsurfers talk about it all the time, mostly complimentary, with some squeaky wheels who love to point out so-called shortcomings. The conditions are just like what they look like in the pictures. The weather changes more than you've heard. There's more to do there than you've heard. The locals are nicer than you've heard.

It's mecca for us. If you haven't been there, go. Don't let anyone tell you it's not worth it. If you feel so compelled, face west and pray toward it. If not, hitch a ride on your own one hundred fifty ton interdimensional flying steel tube, sit for several hours and see for yourself.

It's freakin' Maui.





Here are some pictures, since I know that's all most blog browsers look at. I have an addiction to hemorrhoid medicine. See? I'm not afraid to admit that because I know that no one actually reads windsurfing blogs. You're just here for the pictures.

This was a SUP race put on by Naish called the "doggy paddle" for obvious reasons. I drove down to check it out on a windless morning, and it 'twas rather fun.


A sample of what the conditions look like, with blur, at the spot we sailed at Kanaha beach state park. This was a windy day, 4.2 for me. We got a few of these and that really help us learn a lot about which boards ride big vs. small and are controllable overpowered. That's huge for most people because we can't all afford to also have a 70 liter board for nuking conditions.

Windsurfing babe Sierra returned for the 2nd year. She and a few other Mauians helped out with the test, which is very fortunate, since it takes a lot of work riding a ton of boards when one could be going out there just to ride and have fun for yourself.

Ultra-friendly financial guy Canadian Carl Speiss also returned. He's wearing his "I looped today!" smile because I believe this was his first day hucking them. He says I had something to do with inspiring him to go for it, but I think people mainly are telling me that because they say "damnit Aaron sucks, I can do it if he can!" Which is just dandy by me.


I sometimes see some exotic things going on with windsurfing gear in the bay, but if you really wanna see some crazy stuff, check out the beach at Kanaha. Windsurfing tinkerers are everywhere, but Maui has got to be the most concentrated place for these types.

My really great friend Dave Harrell, who flies for American Airlines.

I'm always skeptical when meeting windsurfing legends about what they're really going to be like as people. Francisco Goya is one of the coolest and most friendly people you will ever share a slice of pizza with. Write that down.

The last windy day, and I went back to my old devices. I had a pretty nice Starboard loop attempt on a gusty 23-35 day... went to waterstart, and just was too lazy to get planing before hooking in. Results above, and actually more painful than it looks.



Even better than going to Maui is enjoying it with good friends. Jake helped with the video work and Russel Faurot guest tested from the pro's perspective despite a dinged up ankle. Silly good times are what it's all about, to me.

Lefty Gomez must have been Thinking of Me

...when he said "I'd rather be lucky than good".

Tomorrow I'm leaving for Maui for the 2nd consecutive year to help with the Windsurfing Magazine High-Wind* Board Test. It's a lot of fun, as you would imagine, but it's also a LOT of work.

I'll do my best to make updates -- the short term forecast is for very light wind. Maybe I'll get some surfing practice in and work on my sloggability ratings for the test boards...