Saturday Sept. 27, at Stony - MTB not sailing

Nice ride at Stony Creek this weekend and had a nice ride 20.1 miles in 2 hours with 2 loops of the "roller coaster". I'm pissed though, as I forgot they just opened a new skills park there across from Eastwood beach and I totally forgot it was open now and missed hitting it. Check out link with video the park looks awesome. I'm going back this weekend.

A little sailing history here - this is a the site at Stony Creek that I first learned to windsurf at about 30 years ago... good old Great Lakes Sailboards (696/Woodward in Royal Oak - believe it on not) gave lessons on weekends while selling Dufour, Pacific and HiFly back in the day.

Saturday Sept. 20, Pontiac and thankfully dry

After a wet washout weekend last week - JAB and I got sun, humidity and 75 degrees at Pontiac Lake State Park. Good pace: 10.77 miles in 1:07 were the numbers and it was pretty fast and mud free. Ironman JAB ran it twice!

Ok already - this is supposed to be a windsurfing blog right? its been over a month since we had a good blow around here...where's the wind? Hello fall and we got maybe 2 1/2 months before its over and we start to snowboard.

Sat. Sept. 6th Island Lake MTB riding

Beautiful day 75 and pure sun for a 15.88 mile ride in 1:28 with Brent. Top it all off with a RC Waterplane show at Kent Lake there.... Great park and easy ride.

Friday Sept. 5th, Metro fails to hold up

Not even worth a post today at Metro - 4.5M until about 10am but it never lasted - SW winds 25-35+ died to W15 after noon...sailed a 5.7M and the JP 85 FSW until it switched to full west. Damn I wanted a full day...

Thursday, Aug. 14, Back in the Saddle at Tree Farm

Back on the bike at Tree Farm in Novi for 14.02 miles in 1:15 time. Good ride, bone dry and fast except that I bent the derailleur on the bike pretty bad. The Specialized Enduro SL suspension is still running awesome soaking up everything you hit.

Sunday Aug. 10, Welcome to the Blue Lagoon

Dark skies but loaded with W-WNW wind...

Tom getting the most out of his 5M edge

Flatwater jibes on the inside all day long

Watch for boaters to the west of the launch

Brent on JB's gear making it work

Gear ready to go...

First time to the Blue Lagoon this past Sunday for 20+ winds and its a great site for W to NW winds on Anchor Bay. Site has $25 pass to buy but Dave (owner) says the gate will be open in to the late fall. Some grass areas to rig, alot of parking, and a nice ramp to the water for launching. Winds were 5.5m most of the day and at 3pm hit the 25+ 4.5M range for awhile. Plenty of room to sail and kite but watchout for power boaters racing into the nearby marina bouy channel.

Winds: W-WNW 20-30 all afternoon

Gear: JP 85 FSW, 104 Fanatic FreeMove, 86 Fanatic FreeMove, 103 RRD FSW (thanks Brent for the test hulls). Sails: NP 5.7M Expression and 5M NP Search

There: Everyone!

Friday Aug. 8, A great day of playing in the waves at KP!

Lets get out there!

Millard - the cameraman and ace forecaster

Bridge view heading back over Blue Water

KP - Afternoon rush hour

HD Video of the highlights...

Great day of sailing with about 30 kiters and boarders at Kettle Point this Friday. I made the 6AM drive commitment and had the waves and wind to myself for the first 40 minutes after hitting the water at 8:30AM sailing into the early afternoon. Solid 5M all day and sun with nice 3-8 ft. swell - even bigger way on the outside bowl. Couldn't have been better: about 70 degrees and NW 20k+ and enough sun to light up the aqua blue waves. Check out the video - this place usually only goes off in the spring and fall.

Gear: JP 85 FSW and 5M NP search.

Thanks: Millard (great call on the wind early on and HD video)

Eats: Tim Hortons

Sat, Aug. 2nd, All Hail Two Sport Day !

Escoda Bouy says it all: steady North

Great Saturday for those who got out to chase it. Sport 1: It started at 11AM with JB at Pontiac Lake for a 10.54 MTB mile ride we cruised in 1:02. Beautiful day and dry fast riding as the wind was noticeably picking up...

Sport 2: Flash forward to 1 PM - ride over and winds are blowing at Lexington N 15-20+ and lifting. Two hour drive later (well worth it) at 3PM we're smiling and sailing 5.5-6.1 powered on the small 85ltr hulls. Great North coast breeze blew with some good 3-5' swell until just about 7pm peak winds actually hitting 20K at times. Some jumps, lots of jibes and waves to ride and the water temps were perfect 70-71 degrees - shorts and a rash guard we're all the were needed. Apres': smiles beer, alleve and my thanks since I hadn't sailed since 7/1!

Those lucky few: Millard (great forecasting call!), Craig, Brent, John

Gear: 85 JP FSW, 105 XCite (for 1 run), and NP 6.1 Expression

Tunes: Mae - Singularity, The Send - Cosmos, Dizmas - Tension

Saturday July 26, Tree Farm Ride and no rain!

Finally, a whole ride without a downpour at Tree Farm in Novi. 14.36 Miles in 1:25 on a beautiful Saturday morning and all without a drop falling from the sky.

Sat. July 20 Island Lake'n it

Yes, back on the bike for a nice ride at Island Lake for 11.36 miles in 1:03. Of course it had to rain on the whole second half of the ride just like at Poto a month ago (see prior post). Yeah, more mud and water. Next ride had better be dry....I'm getting tired of all the cleaning.