Quote:
Originally Posted by Weresquatch
I see you know this state pretty well. I live in the Camas, WA area, spend a LOT of time in the Gifford Pinchot and have a cabin up near white pass where I plan on putting the X through its paces.
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I was a gorge rat for years when I lived in Portland. Chinese food from the Safeway in Hood River and Full Sail Amber six pack after a session. Windsurfing at the amazing launch spots on both sides of the river... Now THAT was an expensive sport if you wanted good boards and rigging. I went into debt, but it was worth it. Seatrend, Ezzy, Gorge Tech, ONeill, ...
I had a broad quiver because I used to head out to Heceta or Florence when the storms come in. I remember having a bowl of chowder at a little place in Florence on the way out of town after a 40 to 45 knot day. I think it is the Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast now.
I fell though my sail tumbling in big air on the lip on the way out (20 foot draft, more than 40 feet between trough and peak-seriously challenging changes in wind through these transitions). At the peak the wind would top out over 50mph. Smallest I had was a 3.0m wave sail. Too much. Amazingly, the ripped sail was enough to easily pull me back to shore (side onshore wind), but I ended up a half mile South of the launch at the jetty. Walk of shame
My arms were barely functional and I was still shivering after derigging, packing up, and changing. That chowder and the thick crusty bread revived me. Hot oysters, fish, creamy broth. I will never forget it. It was enough to make the trip back to Portland that evening. This was the kind of experience that gets seared into your brain. I have one photo somewhere (gave my camera to someone on the beach). I was like 15 feet above the wave on the way out. It was essentially impossible to keep the board in the water crossing the crests on the way out. The wind was from the NorthWest. The water just dropped out beneath you leaving the crest.