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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
Gorge Windfest: Let The Season Begin – July 1, 2010
Warm wind and sunshine welcomed sailors to the Hood River Event Site this past weekend. A cool and wet spring ended just a few days before the annual event. The stoke was flowing as sailors took advantage of the great conditions to try all the new 2010 gear. Tim and I shared space with Windance and RRD giving anxious sailors an opportunity to get out on the new Panther 2 and Freeride 4. The winds ranged from 5.0 on Saturday morning to lighter on Sunday when sailors put the larger sails to the test. The new 7.5 Freeride 4 surprised many sailors with its easy handling while waterstarting and extremely light feel while sailing. Here are some highlights from the weekend.
Canines rate Ezzy #1
I couldn’t resist this picture of Dude and Elvis who love sailing their Ezzy on lighter Gorge days. They were rescued by Barb and came to the Gorge from southern California to live the good life on the banks of the Columbia River. They told me they love the smooth ride and easy handling of their Ezzy sail. They also participated in a dog walk fundraiser on Sunday moring from the Event Site to the new Hood River Waterfront Park.
Barb with the “Boys”
The Man behind the Ezzy mast
Jason, Rachael, and their son Jayden stopped by to make sure we had all the Ezzy masts we needed. Jason makes (he directs the recreation/sports division of the company) the best RDM mast on the market. Like many young couples they enjoy all the great things the Gorge offers year around: windsurfing, skiing, whitewater kayaking, and cycling. Knowing Jason and Rachael, I probably left something out.
I’ll be at the beach doing demos again this summer, so try the new Panther 2 and see for yourself what the buzz is about. See ya on the beach soon, Gary
Windance Swap Meets Canadians – May 25, 2010
The third weekend of May is a holiday for our neighbors to the north. And with cool and unsettled weather, only the hardy sailors made the trip. But hey, Canadians are known for their hardiness and a little cool and unsettled weather is fine with them. Sailors were treated to great wind on Saturday, mostly at sites east of Hood River, like Doug’s and Roweana.
Special BC friends from our Windance Rental days stopped to say hi.
Sunday morning Windance hosted their traditional swap meet where sailors and kiters searched for that special something that they just couldn’t live without. It’s also fun to reconnect with friends back from Baja, Maui, and other winter sailing adventures around the world. Summer sailing in the Gorge is just a few weeks away.
Windance’s Dave Nunn helps newest Ezzy quiver owner Ali from Portland. Ali and his wife Holly can’t wait to get out on the water on their new Panthers.
I’ll be on the beach again this summer with all the 2010 Ezzy sails for you to take out for a session. And if you buy a new Ezzy (or any previous model) and need some rigging tips, I’m here to help. So if you’re coming to the Gorge check the Ezzy website or Windance for times and locations of my demos. And please feel to email me (gary@ezzy.com) anytime with your questions. Hope to see you on the beach this summer. And don’t forget Windfest the third weekend of June at the Event Site. Gary
Final Report From Baja – April 4, 2010
As we pack for the trip back to the Gorge from La Ventana its fun to reflect on the season. We arrived here the end of September to the threat of hurricanes, which thankfully turned to the west before making landfall in southern Baja. We kept the steel storm shutters handy until mid October just in case…Mother Nature is in Hurricane mode officially until the first of November. Historically the last week of September and the first week of October is the peak period for southern Baja Hurricanes.
La Ventana Bay: (thanks to Google Earth)
We’ve been coming to La Ventana for 10 seasons and this is the first season for us that a major El Nino was brewing in the eastern equatorial region. The early season winds in October and November were pretty light for sailing, unless you had big sails and boards. We did have some sailable winds from Thanksgiving until the New Year, be we didn’t see the typical El Norte pattern of 4 or 5 days of strong winds every week. Then as predicted the El Nino hit the first part of January and continued until the first part of March. With record rains lashing California and mild, dry weather in the Northwest the prediction had become a reality.
The La Ventana Campground on Easter Weekend: a three day Party!
During January and February we averaged 2 or 3 days of sailable winds per week. Having sailed here for many years we had gotten pretty good at predicting wind, but with the El Nino I humbly surrendered my junior Weatherman badge. The wind would come up like normal in the morning and then suddenly die at 1 in the afternoon…or suddenly come up and be great for an hour or two then die. We use the ocean buoy reports for predicting our wind which are usually consistently accurate. But the El Nino seemed to affect their reliability too. But fortunately the first week of March Mother Nature flipped the switch and the great wind that Baja is known for finally arrived. For the past 3 1/2 weeks the wind has been terrific…and strong. Most days I’ve been on a 4.5 with several 4.0 days just to remind me that the Gorge awaits our return.
My heart goes out to those sailors who came to Baja for a vacation this season and hit one of the several windless spells. It reminds me of all the windsurfing vacations from my past 25 years of sailing; some were great, but some were spent windless on the beach. I would have to include Hawaii, South Padre, the Gorge, and yes, Baja on that list. The one benefit that we always find from windless days in Baja is that it gives us the opportunity to experience the wonders that this beautiful place offers. What’s the saying about lemons and lemonade?
Gary’s last sail: Even I got to try the new Panther…veeerrry nice!
I’ll be doing demos again this summer in the Gorge. I’m excited and looking forward to meeting you at the beach and getting you out on the new sails from Ezzy. Thanks to everyone we met (and old friends too) this season in Baja for helping make it the best yet. See ya on the beach, Gary & Nancy
New Panther 2 Test: What Baja Sailors Think, March 30, 2010
The buzz on the beach about the new Panther 2 continues in La Ventana. Several sailors have taken the new sail out for a test session in the best winds of the season as the El Nino subsides. These sailors are part of the annual contingent of folks who are here from the fall to spring, sailing more than 100 days each season. Windsurfing is a primary focus in their lives and most have been coming to Baja for 10 or more years. They’re all accomplished sailors and have a passion for sailing that in most sports would make them professionals…but without the pay check. No need for a magazine’s “professional test crew”, here’s what some real La Ventana sailors thought of the new Panther 2. Thanks to hardcore Ezzy sailors Dan and Val for gratiously hosting the test sessions from their spot on the beach. They both love the new Panther 2.
Baja Test Crew: Dan, Karen, Stewart, Lori, Rosemary, Val, Alan (front)
Canadian sailors Greg and Lori.
Greg and Lori are from British Columbia, Canada and sail BC and the Gorge in the summer; and call the La Ventana beachfront home in the winter. It’s been 10 years since they had sailed an Ezzy and were excited to give the new sail a go. They both thought the new Panther was vastly improved. Lori’s commented that “The low end power really gets you up on a plane quickly…and it really seemed fast.” Greg got out on one of the stronger days we’ve seen this month, and said, “it handles the gusts very smoothly and spills the wind so well, you don’t feel the gust. I really like the power that the sail has on the bottom end. There’s no hesitation after a jibe…it just powers up and you’re gone. It took a few jibes to get used to it because my sails don’t have this much low end. But after a short time, it felt great”.
Lori heads out for a test of the new Panther.
Stewart is a jibing machine in the waves.
Stewart is from Ontario, Canada and has made the journey to La Ventana with his wife Jo for several years. He’s usually the first one on the water searching for the swells on windy days. A local secret is that the wind and swells can be excellent in the morning on big wind days. I enjoy sharing the Ezzy stoke with sailors who own other brands, and Stewart was excited to put the Panther to the test. After a long session of riding swells he shared his thoughts on the new Ezzy. “It’s a very nice sail, with a balanced and light feel. I really like the low end power…just sheet in and go, no lag at all.” But one of the best things he liked about the sail was something he saw while I was rigging it on the beach. “The downhaul and outhaul settings are so clear, that the settings you see in the sail on the beach translate directly to how the sail will perform on the water”. Stewart’s observation perfectly describes why David has worked so hard to take the guess work out of rigging Ezzy sails (returning to the beach to change the rigging settings uses up valuable time and energy).
Alan and Rosemary in their front yard.
Alan and Rosemary make the journey from Ontario, Canada to La Ventana each fall to spend their winter enjoying the wind and swells. I don’t think anyone is keeping track, but I would guess that they rival Dan and Val for the most time on the water for windsurfing couples. I can always find them at their favorite secret spot when the wind is good (And where is their secret spot? Come to La Ventana and they’ll show you.) Rosemary always sails a smaller sail than Alan, and the 4.7 is the largest sail you’ll find her on. It’s a bonus when you can share a quiver with your sailing partner. Rosemary’s review of the Panther 2: “The sail is very smooth and easy handling. It has constant power through the jibes and spills the wind so you never feel overpowered. And the new color and layout really make the sail a standout on the water.” Alan added: “Compared to the ‘08, the sail feels much lighter. When jibing, the rotation is very smooth, and has great low end power coming out of jibes.” And since Alan lives for the waves, “it’s very maneuverable when playing in the waves, and after sailing many years on Ezzy sails…THIS IS THE BEST YET!”
The last sail tester is Karen. She and her husband Joe are Ezzy sailors from San Diego. Karen had been waiting for a chance to get out on the new Panther, and finally on her last day here before heading North the wind finally cooperated. Joe was busy packing the van when Karen escaped for a quick sail. They love their ‘06 Special Edition Waves, but her immediate impression was that “the sail had a much lighter feel, along with the power I love in the ‘06 SE. It definitely has the Ezzy feel I love…just improved.”
There you have it. These impressions come from grassroots hardcore sailors who live to sail. Windsurfing is a more than just a sport or hobby they love…its part of their way of life. Thanks to each of them for sharing their impressions of the new Panther 2, but more importantly thanks for sharing this special place with us. Life is good on the beach. Gary & Nancy
March Roars in Like a Panther (2) in Baja, First Impression – March 1, 2010
Thanks to Tim’s creative shipping and Nancy’s international travel, a new Panther 2 made its way to La Ventana on Sunday. Of course, we wasted no time getting the sail rigged and in the hands of sailors. Rigging the sail drew a “Christmas Morning” crowd on the beach as everyone gathered to check out the new Panther 2.
The Inspectors Gathered
Fortunately for Val, a hardcore sailor from the Central California coast, the 4.7 was her perfect size for the conditions. She didn’t hesitate when I asked if she would like to be first on the water. The new orange color really stands out, and the new Tri-Lite scrim distinctly identifies it as the new Panther 2. Her first impression of the sail was direct and simple as she returned to the beach, “the power, rotation, and balance are perfect, and I love it”. More impressions will follow as sailors have a chance to take it for a test ride.
See ya when you’re tired.
Val is still out on the bay as I’m posting this, no worries, she’ll come in when she gets hungry or the sun goes down. Having fun in Baja, come and join us, Gary & Nancy
