Well, Pancake arrived Thursday afternoon to our regularly scheduled 2:00 blown-out session...I think between the excitement of being on the west coast for the first time and seeing the conditions, he was wetting himself.
Thursday morning it was clear as a bell, about 78 and no hint of a breeze - and some of the largest clean surf I've ever seen in Pismo. By 2:30, the wind had gotten with it and was blowing hard. Pete looked very nervous.
Friday brought big winds and a major washing machine that all of the riders who had not previously competed in an IFWA event had to qualify in. I was so busy running around working I am not sure if Pete advanced to the quarter-finals, but I know for sure he was out after today's round. He was VERY impressive though - tossing some big clean stuff and doing it with style in the mess we were dealt Friday.
I awoke this morning around 6:30 to a howling onshore wind and thought "I'm taking the day off and going to watch a movie or something...this sux." I crawled from the toy hauler and went deep for coffee and by the time I returned to the beach the wind had died down considerably and was coming from the north. Surf was up, clean and it was On Like Donkey Kong!
We had last chance qualifiers and, I must apologize, but again, what with all the running around and such, I don't have the official outcome. Suffice to say, there was some amazing riding and I'm exceptionally happy to report that the beach was PACKED with spectators. I have ridden this break for the last 13 years and played on it my entire life (a LONG time)....and have never seen more than 5-10 vehicles parked between the temporary road and the water line. Today during the quarter-finals, I looked up and down that gorgeous stretch of beach, and for as far as I could see both ways, for MILES, cars were packed in and folks were streaming out of the WORCS race area to watch the freeride competition. To say we have reached a new level of exposure for our sport is a major understatement. I am so proud of our riders and what they have to gorwn our sport by putting on such an amazing show today...and tomorrow it just gets better.
Surf conditions are forecast for 6-10 ft. - head high + to double overhead occasionally 14 ft. and good conditions. NWN swell continues with little to no wind - perfect conditions for the finals!
Sorry - I've got to get back to the beach for the BBQ, but will offer up some great pics and better reporting on Monday/Tuesday.
LP
