confessions of guilt...

upon confessions of guilt to various bloggers for my lack of entries, I found solace in the fact that I'm not the only one who's been a bit slack. it's selfish to deny readers and trust me the guilt whispers in my ear plenty. guilt, guilt guilt. maybe more chocolate will help.

windorwithout was conceived 6 years ago, before that I enjoyed a few years of vela baja wind reports, before that a few years of my 'vail valley venus' column. guess, I love to write but right now I'm wanting change. 

problem is, it's just like a sport, if I don't write I get flabby. heck, I don't even bother to CAPITALIZE. what's a girl to do? to tell the truth, I'm just not sure. so until I figure it out...

this is what it did a few days ago

 this is what it did last year on april 28th

this is what it's been doing

this is what I was doing

this is what was crawling across the floor

this is what's happening at the simmer shop

this is what they do at lowers

this is what all dogs dream of

this is what the pros do (and I hope to do one day)

us33 - sophie took this shot (go here, see what she does in real life)

us33 - jimmie hepp pic

us3 - jimmie hepp pic

this is what the sun does

this is what I do when the sun does that

this is what I am going to do for easter

there it is, a review of my thoughts, my life, my guilt, and my passions. I confess that I feel guilty not offering you more so to feel better, I'll eat plenty of chocolate and "be sure to smell the flowers along the way." - walter hagen

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to give and to get...

my morning went something like this...

"yes, I want something to eat but what?" I responded sleepily while pouring cream into a fully charged cup of coffee.

smiling he replied "sugar bread. it's my grandmama's recipe. it'll do you right."

"sugar bread? is it sugary?" (stupid, I know) but in my defense I had had very little caffeine.

shaking his head, "uh, yes. too much sugar for you?"

"aren't I sweet enough? how about the blueberry thing?" being a smart business man he handed over the blueberry thing and took the money.

why ask for advice if I'm not going to take it? a friend reflected that I ask for it but rarely follow the advice. I know it irritates people but I really DO want to hear a response if I ask for it but please don't expect me to do anything with it. 

a month (or two) of board testing has given me plenty of practice at the art of receiving advice. I've even asked for it from time to time. many think they know what I need so I listen closely and consider the information because let's face it there have been times in my life when I could not look outside myself to see myself.

I've asked those who have seen me improve, those who rarely see me sail, those who shape and build boards, those who sail with me regularly. each has a different view and after considering everyone's feedback I still have not decided which board is my perfect match. by the time I decide wave season might be over...

as I pick up this board, take out that board, ride this wave and that wave, move the straps here, move the uni there, my friend has been exercising her right to choose. if she asked what I think of the man she chose, my reply would be "from personal experience, the road signs = heartbreak." I'm thinking she's a whole lot smarter than I am because she hasn't asked if she should test different models or not.

watching a friend head towards romantic destruction is as painful as seeing a rig without proper downhaul or watching the lip eat someone who didn't see 'the big one' coming (ouch).

at the end of the day, I try not to give it and do my best when I get it... 



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I'm no angel...

I'm no angel. but then again you already knew that. it's been said that I look 'angelic' when I'm sleeping. that tells you all you need to know...

us33's words of wisdom before he left maui was, "give the halo a chance". that's exactly what I did. I rigged it, rigged it and rigged it again. hell, I even had someone else rig it. unheard of, I know but I was desperate. 

the 'aha' moment was when I pulled an extra couple centimeters of outhaul then we had a happy session together. 4 battens, xply, pvc window, huge range, sexy color options are all part of the halo's appeal. it is powerful, manageable, neutral without effort, pumpable but this girl likes her sails a bit stiffer. doesn't every girl?

then I gave it back to my boss. 

I really, really want to be sweet and angelic but I guess my true nature is to be a bit more on the blacktip side = busy doing my own thing, cruising along harmlessly unless provoked "and seldom poses a danger to humans unless roused by food".  yes, I too enjoy a good bite.

the only blacktip I've rigged is 4.0 and from what I can feel the 2013 is less nervous than previous years and the power doesn't move around even in the gustiest of sessions. and let me tell you it's been blasting and gusty lately.

my 2013 quiver looks like this: 3.7 halo (just in case I need to get into heaven some day), 4.0 blacktip, 4.5 blacktip and ??? at the top. guess my quiver is still undecided...

now, what about the perfect board? I'm attempting the 1 board lifestyle (yes, I laugh every time I think of it). this is the 1st season I've even considered it. it's kind of like asking me to have only 1 pair of stilettos (what?!). a girl need options because each outfit needs the right accessory. what if my 68 twinser clashes with the color of my sail? then I just pull out my 2nd board and instantly I'm looking good on the beach.

maybe I can find 1 pair of stilettos (and a windsurf board) that can do it all. a girl can dream...

4.5 halo & 2013 quatro 72l LS

will it be the quatro 2013 72l LS quad? wow, what a board. can I tell you I've never climbed head high whitewater so easily. not to mention instead of chix jibing I stuck the nose right into the top of a cracking wave and miraculously we made it thru. can I have a witness? it rips a sweet bottom turn though more over the front leg than the 68 twinser. easy to redirect but needs a bit more aggressive rider to get the most out of it instead of my whimpy top turn. the new mfc footstraps did NOT hurt my sensitive feet and the new deck pads are comfy.

will it be the starboard 2011 69l wood/carbon quad that h98 loaned me? my granny slow speed days were gone with this board. fast, fast and yes, I could get to the wave and in the line up quickly because I was passing everyone.  it turned easily, handled the wee waves I tried it in, well balanced on the whitewater on the lip and I even managed a tack or two.

will it be the simmer 69l flywave? there isn't one to try so the answer is nope.

will it be the starboard 2010 71l quad? nope. my advice is to change the fins or move on to the 2011 and newer.

will it be the quatro 69l KT quad? my favorite color IS green. I rode it once then let it go for a month then back to it yesterday. it lacks the extra volume the 72LS has that my added holiday kilos need but it is the closest to my beloved 68 twinser than anything I've tried. but is it the board for me?

pascal and keith patiently listened to my needs, wants, and desires. custom? that makes me so nervous. what color? will I like it? okay, maybe. but they're 2 months out on customs which is well, 2 months. aren't we all about instant satisfaction? 

maybe being friends with the pope will help?

new, new, new. it's the new year and though I'm no angel I do have a sweet side (don't tell anyone).





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and then there was wind...

can they say that?

the wind returned for a few days and the waves stuck around after the weekend. most found themselves all consumed with the awt makani classic as well as the superstorm and the upcoming election.

there's voting for your favorite athlete, there's voting for your favorite presidential candidate, there's voting for your favorite burger, there's voting for your favorite nail salon, there's voting, voting and voting. having to make decisions isn't my strong suit and I'm exhausted by the options. 

as big tuesday (no jaws is not going to break) looms I find myself searching the postal box for my absentee ballot. commitment phobia are adjectives that have been used in the same sentence as my name and changing my registered voter location is just too darn scary. so I sit and wait for mail delivery. here's the email I sent to the person who sends my mail:

hello ____ (blank to protect the innocent):
did you get my ballot? did you send it? if "you know who" wins by 1 vote it will be all my fault and I don't think I can handle the guilt...  hugs - rebecca

enough about politics let's discuss windsurfing. wait there are politics in that as well. the awt reports found their way into the simmer shop and I was surprised to hear a few less than enthusiastic comments. windsurfing is great, is it not? what's the problem then? ooooohhhh, the politics, that's right.  

it was reported that there was some unfair treatment as well as a bit of confusion in the judges tent due to unsureness of which sailor was which. an industry person passionately shared, "tourists pay big money to be on maui and cannot enjoy a good day at hookipa because there's too many days of the pro show, I'm sure ____ controls it and their best sailor tanks (even with all of those fins). it's ridiculous."

makani classic

I responded with sincerity, "uh huh, yep, oh wow, you don't say. ohhh that's tough, yeah, geeze, uh huh. the waves seem to be good." 

before checking out the awt action we enjoyed a great session at lowers. the waves were soooo fun, smooth, every size to choose from, and drama free. sharing them with farmer jon, happy surfer tormod, nori, and a piece of swiss eye candy, made me forget about the hungry kanaha shark. ho'okipa was crowded as we watched the women's final, pro heats (in light wind), and juniors. it was great to see my peeps, cheer for big moves, and see the youth bring it to the less than youthful. I also heard the falafel was tasty (burp).

fiona going down the line

i69

ka1111 throws logo high spray

king of maui blogs on the rocks, nick was ready to rescue the gear

while jetski rescues him. he grabbed more gear, went out to win the title. congrats, gp!

us1112

multi-fin action from levi

next year's awt tshirt?

and then there was halloween...

the rebeccas and spiderman

politics or not, windsurfing is fun. so when you feel like whining just consider mine and other families on the east coast then you might not find your problems all the big. what will they do for voting booths on big tuesday? hey, did the mail arrive?!

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