Spring has sprung like Tigger off his meds. This is the time of year when two opposing seasonal forces, like a tide running against the current, meet. We cheer the longer days and warmer temperatures that give us more sailing time and less ice cream headaches. But, we lament the waning effects of the jet stream as it slowly moves north for the summer like a migratory goose. The fronts that come through carry less and less energy and, in the back of our minds, we know that by June, it won't be worth packing the smaller stuff.
The relationship between Lake Lanier water temperature and wind. Sorry for the graph but our art department is on vacation.
This winter was warmer than even our climate-changed winters of late. The only winners here are the bugs that didn't get killed off and pruned back by temperatures in the teens. We windsurfers didn't benefit much because good sessions were few and far in between..
We'd like to thank all those who participated in last month's contest - in terms of our modest little web site, it was an overwhelming success.
With Opening Day of the baseball season just around the corner, we thought this would be a good choice for this month's Caption of the Week contest. It appears to be Gene Mathis sliding safely into home but we're not sure. That's just our take on it. Surely, you can do better.
The usual rules apply
- The captions need not be directly related to what actually was happening in the picture. No, the purpose is to think of re-interpretations, much like a child inventing an excuse.
- Of course, no disrespect is meant to those in the picture. Think of yourselves as actors in a performance; you are only playing the part. However, there are no royalties, residuals or awards for your participation.
Here's this month's picture. Put your entry for the Monthly Caption of the Week in the comments below.
A smattering of good stuff we've collected that deserves attention
Red Bull Storm Chase 2013 Recap
Our good friend and correspondent, Dmitris Savidis, has put a wonderful recap of the recent Red Bull Storm Chase event in Ireland as well as an overview of the Chase. He includes some wonderful pics that illustrate the hurricane-like conditions.
Victor Hernandez going big. The sequence goes left to right. He was blown that far downwind during the jump.
I don’t think it could really be any windier and still possible to sail – but I have a 2.5 that I’ll take on the next one for sure!”
-Thomas Traversa (F-3) Red Bull Storm Chase blog
Janitor's Note: We admit that this is a thinly-veiled attempt to get you, our club members, readers and visitors to share your story in the comments below. But to get things rolling, we'll go first.
When we started windsurfing, our lives changed. Some of those changes were subtle. Who among us can ever drive across a bridge over a lake and not look to see if there are white caps? Others, more substantial, the way we spend our spare time and money, where we go on vacation, and even how and when we work.
But sometimes, windsurfing changes us. Not what we do, but, who we are.
My change was about five years ago. I'd windsurfed for years by then, of course. But, I'd entered that part of middle age where family demands overshadow personal hobbies and activities. My kids were busy and I spent a lot of time with them, driving them, watching their sports. None of this I regret in the least. But, slowly, I was morphing from a butterfly into a caterpillar.
My future without windsurfing. No disrespect to the dude in the photo, I feel ya, buddy.
I'd always been reasonably fit between windsurfing and my other hobby, cycling. In my younger days, it was not uncommon to ride between 150-200 miles per week. Over the years, though, my fitness declined and my wet suit became a bit more snug. Visibly, it didn't show too much so it was easy to ignore the changes.
That year at spring break, my father-in-law was kind enough to take my kids and several cousins to see the Mouse in Orlando. As any good Georgia windsurfer knows, Cocoa Beach is a 45 minute drive from the Mouse. The plan was to crash with them and while the kids were running around waiting in line at the Mouse, I'd motor over to Cocoa and get my jollies in at Kelly Park (technically, on Merritt Island).
Not only was it a good plan but the weather looked promising: 70 degrees and several days of East at 15-20. The first day down, that's exactly what I found. I was able to rig a 5.7 on a 100 liter board and go out in a shorty.
And, like any time you go out when it's been a while, as soon as the board is on top of the water you remember why you love this sport so much.
But the plan had one big flaw: I was out of shape. Really badly out of shape. So much so, that in an hour I was toast, done, cooked, finished, kaput, gassed, had my ticket punched and pretty much exhausted. I was no longer the guy who could sail six hours a day in Rodanthe or all afternoon at Van Pugh. I was winded, my arms could barely hold the sail and it was a struggle just to get everything back on the beach and packed. It was very depressing. I had become that guy I promised I never would be, going a place I'd promised I'd never go- sliding to middle-aged oblivion
I realized that something had to change. I started riding again (those first rides were sobering as well) as well as committing to windsurfing more and just generally being more active. Things have been better since. I struggle in my own way with food at the holidays but I can windsurf and cycle for several hours without need of an oxygen tank.
But that's my story. I'm more interested in hearing yours. Add it to the comments below.
Obligatory Music: David Bowie
Too obvious ...
For those inclined for something from this decade ... ahem, century.
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