Utah Windriders Association

John covered most of it but neglected to mention that the cooler, primo Sulfur conditions managed to persuade the King and Queen of Deer Creek to venture forth. Jim and Angela also made an apearence on 5.6, 6.8M formulas, milking the last ounce of planers out of each puff and adding a touch of class to our gathering. Speaking of gathering, where were the rest of the troops? You can't all be in the Gorge! (save us some wind. we'll be up this week)
In the interest of furthering the discussion thread on light wind gear, Dimo let me use his 276cm Roberts and to my astonishment, I was actually able to keep up with him for awhile. And when I pointed up, it just took off! What a treat to drag race with Dimitre again. (not that I won any heats) Given that experience, I think I've decided that what I want is speed and early planing with a little enhanced pointing. (stay tuned on that score) Thanks Dimo. You made my day! Now...who else wants to volunteer to help further my research?

And that was after Trip and Judy handed out beers and wind, no, make that beers and wine, after the sailing. My first time up at Sulphur this year (yeah, what a slacker), but, boy was it fun. Worth every bit of whatever the gas cost. Flat water and great screaming reaches almost as far as the big drain on the other side. Wind was very SW, but when it filled in, we go to go sometimes 2-3 tacks powered up.
1/3 of Team Dubock was there, too and was seen on the water instead of being pit crew all the time as he so graciously is.

And yes, Tripper was easily faster than me. Fun to see my own board from the water at speed, even if it was from the back.

Oh yeah, the margueritas. Trip and Judy and I found a great Mexican restaraunt, right on the main drag as you enter town from the South. Left side of the street, just a couple blocks before the road turns left to go up the hill through town. Senor Somebody's....? We were so hungry it was a blur. Evanston had nice flower planters everywhere downtown. It's really looking nice and we also had no trouble parking.

Dimitri... It sounds like you have a Roberts formula type board? If so, that's what Dale Cook and Bruce Peterson do the "Blowout" (downwind) on... I would love to take a spin on that board sometime...

I prefer Wave/Swell riding, and freestyle mostly attracts me, but the feeling of cutting straight downwind overtaking swell or nearly straight up wind on a reach will forever be just and enjoyable for me... Really, anybody who likes to point somewhere and sail there should try the "Blowout"... Also, while there it is fun to talk to all the Columbia River Gorge Windsurfing Association members who come... Some of the stories from the past are hilarious...

Nah...I wish.

My 279AVS(71 cm wide) is circa 1999, and the 275AVS (64 cm) is 1998. The 279 was one of the first AVS, fin-on-the-tail boards and was a custom, thus very light. The 275 is a molded one that was only made for a year, designed for upwind/downwind slalom (no longer a race on the pro circuit, having been superceded by Formula racing.

The 279 is a lot of fun, and pretty fast still between a beam reach and going upwind, and is my only up/downwind board, but Carl and Jimbo and Sarah will leave me in the spray on a real course race. Formula came on the scene after that board was developed. The 279 I got used and is a lot of fun in moderate winds, but not really a light wind board. That's what I was on Sunday. It had a curved fin on it, which added a lot of control and speed but I couldn't keep up with Trip on the 279. He'd sheet in and walk away upwind. It flew on a reach, though, and I love it. Jibes like an old-school dream. Even with the curvy fin, though, I got picked up and spanked down hard Sunday during one of the big gusts. I could hear Trip laughing all the way across the lake.

I'd LOVE to have Roberts F board, but then to honor it, I'd have to buy all new sails, and all new masts and a wide bag and new fins, fin bags, fin screws and probably new screwdrivers! Then, when my daughter graduates from high school, she could get a job to support me. (sigh)

Now, if I could just find something used...

HEY RICK, WAY TA GO DOING THE BLOWOUT!!! You're my hero!

King and Queen of DC? Not! King has to be between Paul Bradshaw, George Ward, and Carl, and Queen is definitely the rarely seen but wickedly fast Judy Collins (who routinely smokes me on vintage sails and the Fanatic Shark that I sold to her years ago.)