LDW6 – SUP – Cox Bay Beach (2019 Sept 1)
Open. Wanted something with a little more distance than three turn peaks and mini sets in the cove at Wick so opted for an evening cool down at Cox Bay on a falling mid-tide. It seemed to work – had Maltby peak pretty much all to myself and was treated to some nice long open rights. Two pieces of Cod (one grilled and one fried) and green salad at Oceanside Grill as the sun went down. Campfire to warm up. Another full day.
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LDW7 – SUP – Long Beach (2019 Sept 2)
High Noon. Blue bird morning with delicious sunshine (but off-shore fog bank and fog cap in effect at Green Point all day)! Breakfast atop Incinerator Rock in some light fog pondering if the glassy round waves were worth the dumpy shore break. After chatting with a few others decided to be patient and wait for the softer waves to arrive on the early afternoon flooding tide. This proved to be a good decision – lots of soft open rights (but a few full spins on waves that were jacking and dumping faster than the `gentle giants` at Wick). Paddled down to Lot 4 to see if the right was still there and it was (super fun, but irregular and lots of wind chop today). Paddled back up the beach to catch a few more waves off Incinerator Rock. Fun session. Beach was busy today with lots in swimming in the warm summer water.
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LDW8 – SUP – Long Beach (2019 Sept 2)
Glow. Afternoon NW sea breeze was steady and just about drew me out for a SUP-sail and then it backed. Besides I was looking forward to at least one warm sunny summer evening glass off and this was going to be the only chance. Waves dropped a little on the ebbing tide and less water over the outer bar the rides were a little shorter, but there were still some pushy drops followed by long rights just off of Incinerator Rock. Lots of rides to be had followed by my first Shed take-out burger for dinner over an evening campfire.
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LDW9 – SUP – Wickaninnish Beach (2019 Sept 3)One and Done.
Morning breakfast at Long Beach to see if the SW 5’ @ 15 seconds had started to show itself. There were some larger sets waking up the otherwise mellow morning, but nothing serious yet and what was there looked to be a bit dumpy and right on the beach on the low tide.
Off to Flo (too small and fat), but Wick was a surprise – WOW! Wick was pumping at Lot B and there was a lot of water flowing out the rip and waves thumping and boiling in the cove. To make it even stranger the waves were biggest right at Lot B (not at the dunes and beyond like a SW swell would). These were big and looked like they were acting with authority on the inside, but there were lulls, so I decided to give it a try (although a beat down with a ton of swimming was not really the way I wanted to end the trip). I just about made it out the first time and then got rejected (likely aborted and rode the reform back in a little too soon) so decided to check out the cove – waves were confused and those coming in had more heft than usual and were thumping on the beach in the mid-tide. Another lull signalled a window to give the peak off Lot B a try. Paddled across the river of a rip and then waited. Waited. And waited some more. The wave angle now seemed to have shifted SW and was now delivering larger waves along the beach starting at the dunes. The pack of surfers grew restless and started paddling north. I saw another set rolling into Lot B on the horizon so I stayed put and along with one shortboard surfer. He dropped into the first wave (being a little further north and closer to the peak) and I took the second slightly bigger and steeper to the south where I was. It was travelling with power and speed so just made the drop into what felt DOH (double over head) and then speed right as fast as I could away from the throwing wall chasing me. It let me ride as far as the inside sandbar then collapsed. This whole set-up made me really uneasy so that was it for me – one and done on the main peak. Nice that the biggest wave of the trip was the last one. Funny part was guy parked next to me said he saw that wave and he seemed pretty impressed by my ride.
Took a quick look at Flo on the way out to see if my theory of the SW kicking in was showing up at Flo – not - it was still too round and being hampered by a lot of double-ups so I started the trip home thankful for all I was able to get out of the ‘rainy’ weekend.
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