White Plains Beach SUP Surfing

I met up with the Bisgards at White Plains Beach on the old NAS Barbers Point area. Small waves but super clean - which for Barbers is a big deal (normally it's pounded by side shore trades). The beach park has improved with better showers, nicer facilities and more trees. The surf didn't change one bit - still as mellow and fun as it ever was. I wish I could say the same of my hairline, but that's a different topic altogether. Amy tried prone surfing and caught a bunch of waves. Charlie and I switched boards for a bit - Paddle Surf Hawaii - always nice boards. Party waves! A few wipeouts Another party wave Super fun small surf!!!

Amphibious Assault

This should have been the first post of the weekend - the Surf Taco all dressed up for a full on assault on the beaches of lower Virginia! We had everything from the Beater board, the Fourth Gear Flyer (which the kids used), fishing gear (which I unfortunately didn't break out), and even La's sewing machine all packed up. I love this truck more every weekend!

A Little Bit of Everything

So for the something-something details. We caught a few fish. Managed to land a turtle (they were everywhere). I lost my new titanium fly line. And Noe went zoom-zooming around the Lake on the Uli inflatable. Squeezing the maximum out of the weekends - that's our motto!

Sunday Funnies, Part 2

La has 'adopted' my surf paddle to be her flatwater tool of choice. Wonder if that means I can get another Methane... Noe was paddling (and not listening to La coach her on proper paddling technique - typical Noe). Beautiful spring day!!!

And of course - SUP Surfing!!!!

Surfed even though it was 40 degrees (colder with the wind blowing - nice and offshore) and the water was probably just as cold. Smashing ice cream headaches, getting caught inside with more ice cream headaches, a couple of neckline flushes BUT it was all worth it! I caught it on the right tide (upcoming high), with some swell from the previous couple of days from the onshore blow. I'll take what I can get, but this did stoke the stoke flame!

Tiny Surf in Frigid Water... I'll take it!

So after many months of NOT surfing, I finally got a session in!!! And although it was small and cold, it was clean, offshore and long enough to make me smile and forget about the worries of life for 50 minutes (after which my hands were too cold to bend around the paddle). The ULI FAQ was tons of fun on this beach break (South Gate in Virginia Beach). I had 10 waves during this short session - and it made me realize "it sucks to live inland!!!" For those of you who live close to water where you can surf - do not take that for granted. Thanks to La for taking the pictures!

SUP Fishing

This afternoon Steve-O and I brought the ULI FAQ out to the sunken wreck. There is a group of Trevally that hangout there until feeding time. I tried casting a Mark White 1.5 ounce Bar to see if I could hook into one and have it drag me around on the SUP.

I got a bunch of them interested, but no takers.

Next time I think I will use a fly setup - maybe a Polar Fly or the gummy minnow. Since this was flatwater and not pounding surf, the fish had a lot more time to scrutinize the lure. Hopefully the fly will throw them.

In any case - a paddle out was a great way to end the day!

SUP Surfing

The tide, swell and timing all lined up today!

Small, but clean - I'll take it!

This ULI FAQ is so fun to surf!

ULI FAQ

Blown up and just waiting for some swell -

It's in the Mail

I ordered one of these Fat Ass Quads directly from Uli.

I asked Jim (Weir) to put four D rings up front so I can use it for multiple purposes (fishing platform, trainer for the kids to get up on when catching a wave, snorkeling platform, etc). Also looking forward to using this on the Potomac through Great Falls this coming Summer.

I'll be on a trip to Oahu starting this coming week and the board already arrived at a friend's house (Mahalo Jimbo!!!). I'm still debating which 3 piece paddle to get to compliment the travel-a-bility of the FAQ - Quickblade or Werner...

6 days and I'll get to surf again after several months hiatus. The things I give up...

In a way it makes you appreciate the things you give up even more. In other ways it plain old SUCKS. Actually - besides not having the family with me, I have little to complain about - I'm not getting shot at and I'll never have it this good EVER AGAIN on the fishing front.

Oh well, no time to dwell on the negative - life is too short.

Awesome times ahead and I'm going to surf the crap out of this board. Stay tuned for the paddle mounted GoPro shots!!!!