S3 – SUP – Long Beach (2021 Sept 14)
Slate. After looking at the pictures again from the Long Beach look-see yesterday I began to second guess myself and thought it best to give Long Beach a shot on the evening high tide (tide was wrapping Incinerator Rock when I arrived with an hour to go to high slack). It looked clean, but modest and a little bit closey-outie, but wanted when to test it out. It turned out to be a bit of this and that. That trench and the high outside sandbar off Incinerator continues to make that peak close-out – although I saw one skilled surfer on a mal make it look easy as he floated the lip. Started there, but no love for me. The second peak yielded more fun (both rights and lefts). The peak at Lot 4 was even better again (more power and more shoulders). This was when I saw the first of the crew of four celebrating `let the fun out Mondays` (5:30 pm every Monday at Long Beach to raise awareness for mental health) – he was dressed like a super hero (silver reflective top and shiny purple pants) – at first I thought `Nanmoo must be here!`, but when he got closer as he ripped along the wave I saw it wasn`t. Later saw two of the others as well – fuzzy pink shark, girl-Incredible – fun stuff for a great cause! While I was down there I also checked out what all the fuss was about at Lufkin (big pack of surfers milking the steady left - too bad the right was so short). So headed back north as the swell and daylight both faded on the switching tide. Beautiful evening, warm water and slate grey flat light. Dinner at the campo with campfire to warm my bones.
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S4 - SUP – South Chesterman
Fun. Tsawwassen wanted a SUP warm up session so after a tour of surf checks we decided on South Chesterman. There were only three of out so we had the run of the beach. We started off on the smaller stuff near Frank Island and worked our way down the beach just in time for the south swell to arrive and there were a few bombs! After riding the first one of a set in I turned around just in time to see Tsawwassen drop into a double overhead monster! WooHoo!!! Worked our way back toward Frank Island for the cool-down and ended the session on a double-up party wave. Fun session and great way for Tsawwassen to start his trip! Site inspection in Ukee was followed by campfire side dinner at the campo.
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S5 - wavesailing - South Chesterman (2012 Sept 15)
Wind power. Tsawwassen and I chatted about plans for the day – he was interested in heading south to Ukee to run errands and my intuition said head up to South Chesterman for an early look-see. I arrived about noon and it was on already – like solid 22 mph on with rolling fun-sized south swell on! Shot a text to Tsawwassen and Redbaron and they came up as well (Redbaron thought Long Beach might be a better option later it he day). There were kites, five windsurfers (Redbaron, Twassassen, Tommy, François, and myself) and one guy from Maui killing it on a wing! Got a little `busy` later in the day, but most played nice. Wind was solid (it was the power four hours) and kept building and waves were fun-sized with some larger sets (one macker took me out way out near the Frank monster). Most waves stayed open inviting multiple-hit rides and they got better on the rising tide. Only a few surfers taking lessons on the inside (not sure what that surf school was thinking). Lots of stoke on the water and big glowing heart-warming smiles on the beach!
We arrived at Long Beach to the sight of big sand-sucking barrels and pretty light wind. Hmmmm. Redbaron was the only one who took to the water at Long Beach (although Tsawwassen wanted to take out his wing, but Redbaron thought that was a bad plan). Waves were caught!
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S6 - SUP - Wick (2021 Sept 16)
Tinies south. Demoed the Quattro Pro 8`x 28.5`x 109 litres courtesy of the
http://www.dirtymermaidwatersports.ca – thanks Jesse! After shopping around for waves – Flo (clean, but modest), Wick (off-shore wind and clean with size), Long Beach (onshore wind and unsettled) – we decided on Wick for variety in size (small, medium, and large all at one location). This proved to be a great decision! First we compared the two boards (HyperNut 7’4” and Quattro Pro 8’) on land – some similarities (swallow tail, tail rails) and some differences (longer, narrower, lighter, tri fin versus quad).
After comparing the two boards on land we took to the water starting with the small waves first – The Quattro Pro felt like it had some more glide, but the Hypernut was a bit looser on the small waves.
In the medium waves the differences narrowed. Lots of round waves missed in the rip, but an equal amount caught on each board with similar ride feel.
The larger waves had shoulders and the peak off Lot C was offering up long, clean, open waves that could be ridden all the way to sand at the Visitor Centre parking lot, if you choose to (with a second reform push on the inside) - this made for some of my longest rides ever! Tsawwassen dropped into a bomb for his first ride and there were many more! In the large waves the Quattro Pro came alive – fast, smooth, and loose on the inside reform too – a real performer! The conditions made it fairly easy to get out and cycle on the outside for the most part (although it got a little meaner later on the dropping tide). I felt like I caught some of my personal best larger wave rides on the Quattro Pro – part of it was the conditions (comparable to south swell day at the Cape or Tinnies), but part of it was the board for sure (ability to connect sections with speed and control). Super fun!!!
After some frustration mid-session in the medium waves in the rip, the big stuff proved to be epic – one of the best SUP sessions for both Tsawwassen and I. Turns out South Island Derek was out there too and all smiles when we chatted in the parking lot, ‘Enjoying the last of the south swell for this year!’ Awesome way to spend the day and great way to cap the Tofino leg of the September Sessions trip!
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S7 – windsurfing – Columbia Beach (2021 Sept 17)
Liquid sunshine. Overnighted at Rathtrevor Park to make for an early arrival, but the wind had other ideas so I used the time to catch up on session logs. Took to the water about 1 pm when the wind kicked in. The swell built fast and almost from the start the early birds were catching smooth down-the-line rides. Udderland was pumping and wind breathed throughout the day but nothing to crazy (lull or gust). Always great to see the mutts! Tons of stoke at the beginning of the `fall` sailing season, despite the driving rain. Big shout out to DavidM who answered the call for a small board when I saw the forecast upgrade to a lot of 30 mph (when all I had was my Tofino quiver of 116 and 92 with me) – many thanks! In the end I was able to make my 4.5/92 work all day, but it was comforting knowing I had a smaller back-up. Nice to see the latest two mutts – AJ and David MH. Also great to see Kus out on the water ripping around. Last session in an action packed week from coast to coast on the island! Fun sharing most of the trip with Tsawwassen, the stowaway mouse in my van not so much.
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