Post by Windydoug on Sept 20, 2010 10:24:20 GMT -5
Can't windsurf without wind but I can write.
Excerpt from Pier Fear, Tales of Windsurfing the Mighty Webster Park. (Willard, 2010 Random House, ISBN 123456789)
Over the past two weeks I was able to safely,
successfully and confidently windsurf at Webster Park. Whoa. My skills have come a long way, but still....whoa. Pier Fear ya know?
The first time out was truly a respectable day at Webster Park. 5.8 increasing to 5.2 (and eventually maybe even a little stronger)conditions. If I failed to sail well enough that day, you would have seen all my gear for sale on EBay (my sessions have of course been few and far between). It was a huge boost of confidence when I arrived to see Ken out (way out, as the joke goes!) with Bill and Art, Joe, Dan and Rick for his first Webster success, blasting in the big swell past the pier.
Upon launch I actually made it out and planed past the grasp of the long stone arm of doom. Of course I was spent pretty quickly from the challenging conditions and the fact that lurking in the back of my mind was dun, dun, dun...the pier. My arms were shot from sailing so tense.
The next session was less exciting yet somewhat more rewarding when I managed 7.5 for about 45 minutes. All the big dogs (yeah Ken, you too, as soon as you make it out successfully at Webster, you are a big dog...of sorts) had been on the water when it was blowing harder, but the wind was dying. I announced to Joe that I was gonna head to Durand to give my 7.5 a shot, and he replied.........why don't you sail it here? Why not? Who sails 7.5 at Webster anyway? Well good ole Joe and Art got me on the water and it actually worked! I was pretty juiced when I first went out, but things kept waining. Before they did however I was able to get a feel for what sets up where at Webster, actual wave sailing/riding on the way in, how deep the water is etc......
So how does Everest figure into this whole reflection? Remember Into Thin Air? The true tale of survival and tragedy on the worlds most challenging mountain??!! When the mountain reared its ferocious and serious side. Isn't Webster Park the Rochester windsurfing version of Everest?
During those tense days (and apparently that climbing season) there were people who summited that mighty mountain with ease that maybe had no business doing it. People with tremendous climbing skill and knowledge perished at the same time......It was truly tragic...but what a tale of human struggle and survival.
As we dive into Autumn, Webster Park will turn ominous, people will arrive to attempt it. Some will succeed, others.....well..............
I'm glad I got out at Webster, I'll do it again. I'm figuring it out, I'm getting better. I'm a big dog....of sorts. Lets keep it real out there.
Do you fear the pier? Dun, Dun, Dun.
Excerpt from Pier Fear, Tales of Windsurfing the Mighty Webster Park. (Willard, 2010 Random House, ISBN 123456789)
Over the past two weeks I was able to safely,
successfully and confidently windsurf at Webster Park. Whoa. My skills have come a long way, but still....whoa. Pier Fear ya know?
The first time out was truly a respectable day at Webster Park. 5.8 increasing to 5.2 (and eventually maybe even a little stronger)conditions. If I failed to sail well enough that day, you would have seen all my gear for sale on EBay (my sessions have of course been few and far between). It was a huge boost of confidence when I arrived to see Ken out (way out, as the joke goes!) with Bill and Art, Joe, Dan and Rick for his first Webster success, blasting in the big swell past the pier.
Upon launch I actually made it out and planed past the grasp of the long stone arm of doom. Of course I was spent pretty quickly from the challenging conditions and the fact that lurking in the back of my mind was dun, dun, dun...the pier. My arms were shot from sailing so tense.
The next session was less exciting yet somewhat more rewarding when I managed 7.5 for about 45 minutes. All the big dogs (yeah Ken, you too, as soon as you make it out successfully at Webster, you are a big dog...of sorts) had been on the water when it was blowing harder, but the wind was dying. I announced to Joe that I was gonna head to Durand to give my 7.5 a shot, and he replied.........why don't you sail it here? Why not? Who sails 7.5 at Webster anyway? Well good ole Joe and Art got me on the water and it actually worked! I was pretty juiced when I first went out, but things kept waining. Before they did however I was able to get a feel for what sets up where at Webster, actual wave sailing/riding on the way in, how deep the water is etc......
So how does Everest figure into this whole reflection? Remember Into Thin Air? The true tale of survival and tragedy on the worlds most challenging mountain??!! When the mountain reared its ferocious and serious side. Isn't Webster Park the Rochester windsurfing version of Everest?
During those tense days (and apparently that climbing season) there were people who summited that mighty mountain with ease that maybe had no business doing it. People with tremendous climbing skill and knowledge perished at the same time......It was truly tragic...but what a tale of human struggle and survival.
As we dive into Autumn, Webster Park will turn ominous, people will arrive to attempt it. Some will succeed, others.....well..............
I'm glad I got out at Webster, I'll do it again. I'm figuring it out, I'm getting better. I'm a big dog....of sorts. Lets keep it real out there.
Do you fear the pier? Dun, Dun, Dun.