sailing in chocolate milk...

chocolate milk

it's been raining since last night (currently raining) so when iwindsurf showed haleakala blowing south 51mph; kihei ssw 30mph; kanaha 17mph I decide it was finally time to changed out of my jammies and hit the road. as you know, sailing in the rain is never a problem for me. I'm already wet so what does it matter? 

ahhhh rain, it makes everything green and beautiful except for the kihei waters. I stood  looking out wondering if I really wanted to submerge my body into that funky, funky yuck but if kv11 can do it so can I.

real men sail 7.0 in 30+winds
yes that's a np rig

launching reminded me of when I was young, hated to drink milk and would do just about anything to get out of it. after years of tears my health conscious mom caved in and allowed me to use nestle quik chocolate mix (later strawberry became my favorite). 

I launched port tack, baja style pinching upwind to make sure I could get there. it was choppy but we found big, smooth rollers out past the brown water line but still murky waters. as much as I had to admit, I fell on the outside jibe but kept my mouth shut though I'm sure some of it got in and it did not taste like chocolate milk. ewwwww, yuck! 

how would kihei waters look strawberry pink?

after awhile the wind started feeling funky or maybe it was the chocolate milk I ingested no matter what we all got spooked at the same time and headed in. my back hurt from the simmer mayhem (love the name) harness I've been using the last couple weeks. there's nothing wrong with the harness it's just that I'm not built like a guy, plain and simple. one of the taller girls I loaned it to loved it but then again she doesn't have love handles. it's back to my very worn, extremely well loved np women's harness. what am I going to due when it wears out? I tried the 0'10 sample and it was almost as good maybe after a few sails it would be perfect? so hard merging comfort and fashion (stilettos are not worn for comfort).

today's kanaha konas
mauiwindcam

after I got home I heard kanaha was great fun. too bad I would have loved to try to hit the lip port tack which may not have been as hard as I think since I learned port tack. it's the same thing but different, right? 

the hoodriver gang said the pro-show at lanes was excellent sure pascal was happy. check out gp's shots.

monday after work I had a great 4.7 session in the rain at lowers. hard, pounding, squally, stormy, eye squinting rain and us10's blondie was right there with me. we laughed, caught shoulder to head high waves one after another that is until the wind stopped. I was chasing us10 out thru the white water when I felt the stillness as a big set suggested I chicken jibe (go ahead roll your eyes) and head up wind to make another attempt via the channel. then it stopped. I almost made it to the beach slogging but I pearled once, twice, three times and over the front forcing me to swim in landing upwind of the lifeguard shack. 

yup that's us in the rain
mauiwindcam

a handful of people were in the impact zone, from what I could tell all kiters made it in, us10 landed below the shack, erin and sandy had a long swim. the lifeguards closed the shack but waited and watched to make sure everyone was safely in. us10 taught us how to carry gear on one shoulder so we girls manned up all the way back to uppers. fyi the 4.7/74 is heavy and think I need a chiropractor but my night ended with a glass of pinot, footmassahhhhge and the season premier of the bachelor. I love mondays. 

tuesday's 4.2 session was fantastic. the swell got bigger and bigger with uppers averaging logo high. 4.2 was sloggable so I made it up though I wanted to get where val was killing it. she's amazing considering she just learned a couple years ago. I was glad to be on the sweet 74 instead of the twinser and was wondering if I'd still get on with her in the big stuff. no worries, she did everything I asked and more. not sure I want an 0'11. I still dream of the 78 custom pocket that now lives on oahu.

after 45min of slogging it picked up and was wave after wave after wave. yes that was me and val hollering joyously as we crossed paths on a mast high macker. I held my course since she had right of way (going out) to let her decide what she wanted to do. I sat at the peak while it got bigger, bigger and she committed to down wind as it loaded and threw. she caught h-u-g-e air. I looked down that mast high wave knowing if I didn't go that second I would be rolled in the lip so with all of my tough girlness I charged straight down driving as hard as I could. the 74 ripped a smooth turn then I figured 'hey, why not go for the lip' which the 74 gladly hit and snapped back for a couple more turns. she's not as 'loose' at the top but then again I'm not that loose either no matter what you've heard. she holds smoothly at the top though requires more forward pressure rather than surfy/back foot pressure. 

enough about me let's talk gossip. well, there's not much so let's make some up. what? not my style? admittedly, I'm a good girl (most of the time). us10 is in los barriles, baja for the lord of the wind competition (congrats chris) they've hired him to be the man, then he has a clinic at the vela center but before he left he was seen on all goya gear (board/sail) and said he liked what he tried. do they have enough $$ to steal him from gaastra/tabou?; us34 is back on island though his van was seen driving back/forth from ho'okipa while he was gone; remember there's no better person than us34 for rigging help so if you see him at npmaui ask if you can have a lesson with him on/off the water (yes, that'll cost extra); congrats to i69 centerfold shot (not that kind) in funboard mag;

pretty sure this is francky's pic
in funboard mag

f192's van has been seen shopping in wailea even though he's working in new caledonia (okay, maybe I have something to do with that); t1 called from france with a powder report yes, he'll be back - no, not sure a date; us16 was seen in paia pushing a baby stroller, did she and her kiwi have a kid?; ponytailless kv11 was being chased by a helicopter - no not a police 'copter it had a big camera in it; kv11 and this author made an agreement today - yes, I agreed to his conditions because let's face it he's HUGE and though I might be able to outrun him he can catch me any time on the water as he ripped by me on a 7.0 np race sail (yes, NP); ned0 was seen holding hands with his blondie enjoying date night; barry spanier agreed to help with a wind related sculpture so the nyc artist will move to maui to finish her project; us3 off the tour AND leaving gaastra for ezzy, wow! he's talented behind the lens so will this give him more time to chase his hottie around the snow world?; will he continue to use that old ms boom?; who bends the ear of kai hopf more - bra105 or sa7? ned0, us34 and the northsails boys were testing down the beach in kihei; when us33 isn't board testing, tow surfing, sailing he rocks!; j11 loves her 67l team dacurve and said the 74 will be perfect for me and not just because it's my favorite color.

dakine before their sign

dakine (billabong) opened in paia without a courteous visit to their vendors leaving them without a warm and fuzzy feeling. cannery shop closes any day now, the warehouse moves to oahu. no more digging in the sale bins, buying off-season goods but simmer is carrying windsurf accessories. will paia turn into a corporate town like so many surf spots I saw in europe? will quicksilver open in jim sander's space? will the hippies shop at prada?

eh brah! please return my gucci style silver np extension/base that I loaned you before I have to send kv11's watch dog your way. you know who you are so man up and get it back to me...

omg sunshine! due to technical storm difficulties I was forced to finish this morning - kihei is flooded, roads closed, schools closed, rock slides, lawn grew over night. lightening, thunder and pounding rain all night so my lack of sleep means more anthony's organic coffee this morning.

david, just for you