Friday was the day before the Groundswell society’s annual “Rincon Clean Water Classic”. I went out for a few waves in my favored 8 to 11 slot after the dawn patrol and work junkies do their thing. As it is on Fridays, there were more out of towner’s in the water, but not too many people, really. After a few rides myself in the head high surf, I was walking back up the point, to witness this guy sliding across the face of a nice wave, able to draw some long lines, then long runs through the walled up faces. The surfer was riding one of Dale’s mats, with obvious skilled practice. I was hoping he might be there for the benefit contest, or a sways member t0 meet in person.
Those air cushions really go and are fun to watch.
Could this have been a George sighting??
epac,
The mat surfer you saw was Kenny Hughes:
"… had one of the most fun sessions at Rincon in recent memory. Kind of a tweener day – 3’-4’ with some occasional 5’ sets – it was a little too high tide, kind of crumbly, with a mellow crowd – perfect road test conditions. I knew it was gonna get a lot better later but I had a 2 PM appointment I couldn’t blow off, so I was stuck.
As it turned out, my timing was great – I think the friendly crowd was the biggest bonus. A lot of people have been sitting it out due to the water quality, and a whole different pack was there. The water really wasn’t too bad – not muddy, just a little murky, but green at least. I was feeling like I was going slow at first – then I realized everybody was.
It would be a pretty beefy takeoff then it would blob for a while then stand up and zipper to the freeway. Once I got to the zipper part the mat felt like home and zipped! I was riding it about 1/2 to 65% full and it felt right. Didn’t want to go for the full magic towel the first day. Couldn’t tell about the turns, seemed a little, well, flat, as opposed to the rocker models – but then the waves were kind of sloping, not hollow. I got a few sectiony more classic ones as the tide dropped…"
Kenny
It figures Dale. Kenny rides well and found his way at a hard place to get your waves. He was wearing Churchill’s. I think.
We had really good, cleaner waves for the contest. Groundswell donates thousands of dollars to helping “Heal the Ocean” turn over Rincon from a septic community into a municipal sewer system over in Carpinteria. Now it is in the Lawyers hands, as two home owners are fighting the change over.
Thanks, Hillary Hauser and Glenn Henning!
epac,
Actually Kenny’s is a longtime proponent of Voit Duck Feet.
Recent Voit UDT modifications… tuning the flex.
epac,
Here’s a Swaylocks member…
Somewhere on Kauai, another surfer rides with obvious skill, testing out a new surf mat… Ambrose Curry III.
