And It Just Keeps Blowing – August 8, 2010

This past Friday and Saturday I was at Doug’s for demos.  The forecast was for 25 to 30 in the afternoon as a cold front brushed the area.  With drizzle and light rain in the Seattle/Portland area in August, it’s almost a sure bet that the wind will blow on the east side of the Cascade Mountains.  This time of the summer rarely is a storm strong enough to make it past the mountains.  Local knowledge is to stay east of the clouds for the best wind; and be prepared for more gusts than normal when the wind is associated with a front.

Sarah, Eric, and Paul make windsurfing a family affair.

Friday turned out to be lighter than forecast, but sailors were still on 4.2 to 4.7 sails.  I know that sailors from other regions are asking why we would complain if it was only 4.7…sorry, it’s a Gorge thing, personally 4.7 is great!  For me the highlight of Friday was meeting Eric and his parents, Paul and Sarah, from Victoria, BC, Canada.  Three years ago they caught the windsurfing bug and have been coming to the Gorge for a three week vacation each summer.  With the help of some lessons and hours of practice, they are progressing up the learning curve, experiencing the frustrations and victories that we all share along the way.  They met fellow Ezzy blogger Russ Faurot at Isthmus Sailboards their first summer in the Gorge, and with his help and advice became part of the Ezzy family.

Eric trying the new Panther.

Eric and Paul stopped by to check out the new Panther, so I set them up for a test session.  They’re both solid in the straps and harness and are working on completing their first planning jibe.  I remember spending a summer in the Gorge sailing across the river crashing while attempting a jibe, waterstarting and heading back across the river.  But all the practice suddenly paid off at Home Valley Park where I made my first jibe.  I don’t remember the date, but I do remember the joy I felt that day 20+ years ago.  After thinking that I would never be able to jibe, it suddenly came together.  As I watched Eric and Paul sailing, I sensed that they were both on the verge of making their first jibe.

Not sure who was more excited about Eric’s first jibe.

Doug’s Beach is actually a good place to practice jibes since there is waist deep shallows on both sides of the river.  While Eric and Paul took a break they shared their impressions of the Panther “The lighter weight makes waterstarting easier” was Eric’s comment, and Paul thought that “the Panther seemed more predictable and easier to control”.  I answered their questions and explained how the Ezzy wave sails have evolved to the current Panther 2.   Eric was up for one more session; I think he was feeling this could be the day for making his first jibe.  I gave him a couple of pointers on flipping the sail and told him let the Panther do the rest.  And wouldn’t you know it…all the hard work, practice, and encouragement came together, as he nailed his first ever jibe.  We were cheering for him from the beach as he gave us the thumbs up and headed back across the river. 

Not quite ready for the big swells, why not work on the college fund?

It was a memorable day at Doug’s, and as I rolled up the sails and headed to the van, I could hear the family planning a celebration of Eric’s accomplishment.  I think our sport has added a much needed young person to our ranks.  It was great to share the joy of windsurfing.  Hope to see you on the beach, Gary

One of the best parts of demos…the people I get to meet.  Way to go Eric!!

Note:  I’m now Tweeting from the beach with real time updates.  @ezzytechguy or linked to @ezzysails twitter page

July Ends On A Windy Note – August 3, 2010

The wind in July has been outstanding with day after day of classic Gorge conditions.  It’s the reason windsurfers visit and live here; and for the summer months the mighty Columbia River is the epicenter of high wind sailing.  The North Pacific high has been sitting off the coast pumping cooler marine air into the western valleys as the eastern deserts daily temps are reaching into the 90’s.  The Hood River sites have been sailable nearly every day, with good wind moving east to Doug’s and Maryhill on the afternoons.  Hardcore sailors are making it to The Hatchery for dawn patrol, and then out to Doug’s for the late afternoon/evening session.  In recent days sailors have been on the water at Doug’s until sunset…a summer treat for sure.

Sunset over Doug’s Beach State Park.

Friday, Doug’s started out 4.7 at noon, but quickly built to 30+.  I met Dave from Colorado who was finishing up an outstanding windsurfing vacation with a final session before heading home the following morning.  Dave had sailed Doug’s on Thursday for a session on his new Freeride 5.5; he shared his impressions of both the Freeride and Panther.  The Panther is the sail of choice for high wind Gorge conditions, but Dave sails South Padre Island, Texas in the spring and the Freeride is an ideal choice for the flat water go fast conditions found on southern Gulf.

 Colorado mountain bike racer and windsurfer, Dave.

 Here are his impressions of the Freeride 5.5.  “The first thing I noticed was the huge range of the sail.  I was amazed that I didn’t feel over powered even though I could have been on a meter smaller sail (other sailors were on 4.5s and 4.7s).  The sail handled the gusts perfectly…was very smooth and controlled.  I was impressed with how easy the sail rigged; just follow the downhaul marks and outhaul strings…no problem”. 

 Dave on the Panther 3.3…great way to end the perfect trip.

When Dave and his crew got to Doug’s on Friday the winds were 28, gusting 34.  He took out the 4.2 Panther and ripped some of the best swells of the summer.  Doug’s Beach is known for winds that ramp up in the afternoon, and after a short breather, he took out a 3.3 Panther for a final blast.  “Hey, the Panthers have the same smooth and balanced feel as the Freeride…I’m thrilled with both sails.”  Nothing more to add, just another fun day at the beach meeting sailors and enjoying the good times in the Gorge.  Hope to see you on the beach soon, Gary

Prime Time In The Gorge – July 23, 2010

It’s no secret that July is prime time for the Gorge. Just try to get a parking spot at The Hatchery after 10 am when the only wind that day is in Hood River. It’s not uncommon in July for the wind to be concentrated in what is known as the Central Gorge. This week Portland had overcast skies in the mornings which gave the east end of the Gorge a head start on the daily heating cycle. Viento to Mosier had sailable winds all week, while Doug’s and eastern sites had to wait until a weak cold front brushed the region on Thursday.

Future Windance Team Rider.

Last Sunday I did demos at Doug’s Beach in 4.5 to 5.0 conditions. Dave Nunn, from Windance, brought the family for a day on the water. Doug’s isn’t known as a place to teach your friends to sail, but by watching the conditions and focusing on safety (including a long rope tied to the nose of the board), it can be done. The river level has dropped to summer levels, which means that it’s waist deep for 200 yards upwind of the launch area. It’s a reasonable area for working on waterstarting skills and even some fun with the kids.

Team Rider #2

You might think that a windsurfing shop owner would spend his day off fishing or just relaxing. Not the Nunn family…they spent the day at Doug’s enjoying the sun, wind and waves. Every summer more and more families discover the joy and fun that an Ezzy Kids Rig can bring the whole family. Needless to say, we need to share the joy of windsurfing with the younger generation.

I spent Wednesday at the Hatchery, where it seemed that the majority of sailors were from Canada; BC to Quebec. Yes, I did get there before 10 am, because the wind was forecast for the Central Gorge only. Swell City and the Hatchery were the place to be this week with strong and unusually steady winds.  It’s not often that we (locals) use the word steady to describe classic Gorge conditions. I had a great time meeting visiting sailors that were stoked to try the new Panther. Dave Nunn even came by for a quick session on his lunch break…a fringe benefit of working in the Gorge during the summer.

Thursday morning the iwindsurf forecast graphs were covered in dark red from Swell to Arlington (which means average winds 35 to 45). Swell/Hatchery was the early call with winds over 30 mph by 9 am, so I got to Doug’s by noon when the average wind jumped to 35. For the next four hours the wind and swells were the classic Doug’s Beach that draws sailors here every summer. Guys and girls were putting the 2.9 and 3.3 Panthers to the extreme test. Sailors were amazed at how the Panther handled conditions that most sailors seldom have the opportunity to experience.   Ian from Montreal loves freestyle, but couldn’t pass up an opportunity to try the 2.9 on this special day. “I’m impressed with the performance of this small sail. I’ve sailed Ezzy sails for 5 years, but never this small. The Panther works very well for freestyle since there is less shape in the upper panels from past years. They are so smooth and controlled.”  Many sailors said that they couldn’t believe how controlled they felt in winds this strong.

Sven put on a high wind clinic.

My dad loves his Panther 2:  Sven’s fan club.

Ezzy Team rider Sven Essinger put on a show for us with huge air and smooth swell riding on his 3.7. Sven is a great guy and is always sharing the Ezzy stoke with other sailors. It’s always great to see another windsurfing family at the beach. Looks like the wind is taking a two day rest, but should return by Sunday afternoon. Hope to see you on the beach soon.  Gary

Go Big, or Watch. The Gorge Goes Off. July 12, 2010

Every summer in the Gorge there are a few memorable days that sailors talk about and remember.  Monday July 12 was one of those days.  Iwindsurf predictions of strong winds were confirmed by the morning readings from Swell to Arlington averaging 35 with gusts to 50.  Doug’s Beach was the call with less extreme averages in the upper 20’s and gusts to 35. 

Kieran from the Florida Keys impressed us all. 

When I got to the beach it was apparent the smallest Panthers would be the only sizes needed for demos.  Sailors with big smiles were coming off the water with 3.0 – 3.7’s; the smiles in response to the building swells that Doug’s is known for.  A young sailor from Florida asked if he could try the new Panther.  Kieran told me he’d last sailed an Ezzy in 1995 and was stoked to see for himself what all the talk on the beach was about.  We attached his boom to the 3.7 and tuned the sail for the high winds.  I told him to get out there and “let it rip, put it to the test“.  He quietly asked, “Do you really mean it?”  I told him Ezzy’s are strong, so “no worries…don’t hold back“.  I have to admit he put a smile on my face as he threw a back loop off the first wave he hit on the way out,” very cool Kieran“. 

 Kieran stayed out for nearly an hour since the 3.7 was too big for everyone else.  On his return he gave one of the more perceptive evaluations of the sail.  Starting with, “this is by far the best 3.7 I’ve ever sailed.  The power-forward design is so stable, and the rotation is so controlled in slow or faster moves.  I’m impressed with how light the sail is; especially since I thought that Ezzys had a reputation for being heavy…that is totally not true.  Finally I want to add that the drive through the turns was exceptional”.    He had a keen understanding of sail design and shared his thoughts about the progression of David’s designs.  I always enjoy meeting sailors and sharing the stoke that makes our sport great.  Thanks to Kieran for sharing his passion for sailing and living life to the fullest.  

Summer in the Gorge continues; see you on the beach, Gary

July Starts With Wind and Heat – July 11, 2010

The long 4th of July weekend was windy from west to east site, so the crowds were spread out from Stevenson to Roosevelt.  I was at Doug’s Beach for two days getting sailors out on the new Panther 2.  You know it’s July when trying to find a parking spot at the Hatchery or Doug’s on a windy day.  A quick check of license plates shows that our friends to the North are here in force.  It’s been like old home week meeting sailors that come to the Gorge every July.

When the crowd’s at The Hatchery, head to Doug’s.

After the great winds over the long weekend, the first heat wave of the summer settled over the Gorge as a heat low moved north from central California.  The temps were in the 90’s in Portland and Hood River, so the smart sailors headed to the Oregon Coast as the winds turned NW with swells to 7 feet.  After fours days of heat, Mother Nature turned on the air conditioning as marine air moved from the Pacific to the eastern desert Friday afternoon.  Saturday morning Swell City was blowing 25 and the Hatchery Parking lot was full by 10 am.  The winds quickly moved out to Doug’s, and by noon sailors were on 4.5 to 5.0 enjoying building swells with plenty of elbow room on the water.  Here’s a little local knowledge for July sailing:  when looking for a little relief from the crowd, when the Hatchery is jammed, head to Mosier, Rowena, or Doug’s.

 Chris from Portland put the Panther to the test.

I met Chris from Portland who had heard about the new Panther 2, and was anxious to try one.  He’s a serious Gorge sailor and this was his first time on an Ezzy.  He’d been sailing his 4.7 when I got to the beach, so I rigged a 4.7 and sent out with instructions to, “don’t hold back, let her rip”.  For nearly and hour Chris put the Panther to the test…duck jibes, tacks, air, heli-tacks, he didn’t hold back.  When he returned to the beach I answered his questions about materials, construction, and rigging.  But what were his thoughts on the Panther?  “The biggest difference is the power delivery.  The Panther has much more power and it’s there when you want it; there’s no hesitation.  It took me some time to get used to the difference from my sail, but the Panther has a light and balanced feel, and I really liked it.”  I told him with the power and range of the Panther, he should consider a .7 size difference in the upper end of his quiver. 

 Look for the Ezzy flag.

Looks like Monday will be big, so I’ll be at Doug’s Beach with the small Panthers.  Stop by and get ready to go BIG!  See ya on the beach, Gary