Sunday, September 25, 2011

StandUp Journal article



Pick up the latest Fall 2011 edition of the StandUp Journal and check out page 152 for the 6 page article and pictures I submitted to them. It's about how stand up paddling has brought our family closer together and how my daughter was really the catalyst for it all. Hopefully it will inspire kids and their families to get outside and paddle together. Many of the pictures are from our family Hatteras trip last April. The pictures include my wife and our good friend Dawn's son, Gabe. Big thanks to Clay Feeter for publishing it. And big thanks also to pro women's SUP racer Karen Wrenn for her quote and kind words. If you don't subscribe, pick it up at your local SUP shop or Barnes & Nobles.



Here is a favorite photo of mine that I submitted but didn't make the cut. Notice my daughter is splashing the water...if you click on the photo you can see the droplets in the air. I think it speaks to the beauty of our surroundings if we just look around...and of the carefree, fun and easy feeling that kids can bring out in all of us...

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Katia Leftovers & Cheap Thrills

Unfortunately the American Windsurfing Tour's Hatteras Wave Jam was cancelled due to damage sustained from Hurricane Irene. Looking at the epic forecast for this weekend, all I can think about is what could have been. Bill has been thinking the same. So when it got cancelled, new commitments started filling the void this weekend instead and that means no windsurfing for me. Knowing that last week, I grabbed a brief window of opportunity to make a 24 hr run to catch some Hurricane Katia leftover swell. I missed the best waves on Thursday Sept 8th and it dropped a lot overnight but I got the very end of the downward slope on Friday Sept 9th.

I made it to the north end of Carolina Beach, met Sam and Ralph, and hit the water with the local crew at sunrise. I think there were over 10 of us on the water. After the local crew got their fill and headed off to work, Sam, Ralph, and I had it all to ourselves as the waves got fewer and farther between. We all caught many waves that morning...hard not to when SUP surfing for 3.5 hours straight. We ran off to catch some delicious lunch at the Surf House, then returned for more when the wind picked up and caught a few waves by light wind wavesailing on our SUP boards as the surf finally started to disappear.

Ralph chronicles it here and Sam chronicles it here.

Here are the only four pics I took the entire day...


Sam on a nice one


Where did Ralph go?


Ralph


Sam


By midafternoon, I was back on the road and home by early evening to spend the rest of the weekend with the family. Then Rob got the itch since he missed out on the 24hr road trip adventure. So we went for the cheap thrill and did some SUP wake surfing behind the boat...he chronicled it here.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

How You Can Help Hatteras Island

Hatteras Island has a special place in our hearts, certainly mine. Hurricane Irene's aftermath is having a serious negative impact on their economy and livelihoods. Avon and the tri villages (Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo) were hugely impacted by the soundside flooding. People have lost their homes and everything in them such as clothes, etc. Hatteras Island has given us so much and we've enjoyed her bounty of wind and waves for many many years. It's time to give back. I've spoken with several folks, locals and others, and have collected some ideas about how we can all help the Hatteras Island residents:

1) Buy from the local windsurfing shops. They're losing at least an entire month of sales, not to mention the cancellation of the Hatteras Wave Jam, which would have brought many competitors and spectators to the shops. We need these shops to survive. Call them to order something or order online from them. Even if you don't need a new board or sail, buy accessories...even if its just spectra line, a mast base, or harness lines. If you were thinking about some new equipment for next year, get it now. Buy that birthday and Christmas gift from them...think about the apparel they carry too. Think of the other local businesses too...such as the local gift, art, book, and fish/tackle shops.

The windsurfing shops in alphabetical order:

Avon Sail House

Fox Watersports

Hatteras Island Surf Shop

Ocean Air Watersports

Ride Hatteras

Wind-NC

2) Here is a great article about the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Center and the great work they're doing. It provides a great idea on how you can help: "People off-island have been making food donations by calling one of the open local restaurants, which are basically in Buxton, and requesting a certain dollar amount of food be delivered to a community center. Most donations have been between $200 and $500. The restaurant then makes the food appropriate to the canteen styles of eating and takes it there."

3) Donate to the local Salvation Army and Volunteer Fire Depts in Avon and Rodanthe/Salvo/Waves area. They have been working their tails off around the clock helping folks with everything from rescues, making and serving meals, providing shelter, etc.

Avon Volunteer Fire Department
40159 Harbor Road
Avon, NC 27915
Mailing Address
PO Box 388
Avon, NC 27915
Phone: 252-995-5021

Salvo Volunteer Fire Department

Chicamacomico Banks Fire Department

Here is more info on how to donate to the local Salvation Army. Read the section at the bottom about giving.

4) Donate clothes - I'm still trying to get more information on this one. Salvation Army says on their web site that donating used clothes are seldom required in specific incidents and that donations give them more flexibility to respond to emergencies. Many people lost everything they had, including their clothes. There are kids and adults in need. I'm awaiting more information on what the specific needs are for clothing and where we can send donated clothing. I'm told the Rodanthe Hotline Thrift Shop has been giving out free clothing to those in need so perhaps they could use more donations. I tried to call them but no one answered the phone. We're already collecting clothes from our closets and our neighbors are pitching in too. Stay tuned on this one.

Please pass this on to your friends and families who have enjoyed Hatteras Island. If I missed a local organization or idea on how to help, please let us know in the comments section below.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Action Kids

Nintendo? We don't need no stinkin' Nintendo!

In the span of 24 hours, the kids and their cousins lived it up outdoors. Stand up paddling on Saturday evening, then on Sunday it was off to the National Whitewater Center for mountain biking, tree canopies/zip lines, whitewater rafting, and rock climbing. They are sleeping good tonight.

The 5th, 6th, & 7th photos from the bottom are other people in action (kayakers & rafters)....all the other photos are our kids, their cousins, and my in-laws...