I have a ride report to share, but first a little prelude...
So... yesterday I took my family to see the La Jolla Christmas parade. As we were driving back home, I took a little detour, so that I could check out the waves. We drove by Windansea, and to my surprise there was a nice little off season South swell running. The waves have been really bad for a long time, so this was a welcome surprise. The main peak was super crowded, but I noticed a nice left pealing over a sand bar in front of the pump house with nobody on it. The thought came to me that this would be a perfect wave to give my XPS alaia a try.
I drove a couple of blocks back to my house, dropped off the family, and headed out to the garage to grab my board. My board wasn't completely finished. I wanted to give it another hot coat, and do some finish sanding, but I was really excited to surf it. I decided to just rided it, since 1) it is just and experimental board, and 2) XPS doesn't suck water anyway. I grabbed my wetsuit and board, threw everything into the car, and headed for the beach.
I parked in a spot in the main lot overlooking the beach, and pulled in next to a couple of guys that were standing around talking -- one of them wearing a Windansea Surf Club shirt. I pulled my board out of the back and started waxing it up. I have three wooden boards that I usually ride: a 6'0 chambered balsa, a 6'8" redwood HWS, and my latest 10' solid balsa. Needless to say, I'm used to people looking at me, and coming up and asking questions about my boards.
I looked up and saw these guys checking out my board, and thought they were just interested. All of a suddent one guy came over and started hassling me. His reasoning didn't make sense to me, so I can't recount exactly what he said. Here are a few of the key quotes that I remember:
-- If you surf that thing our here you'll probably get all four of your tires slashed.
-- Are you with RK?
-- Do you think you can just come out here and test your boards whenever you want?
Needles to say, I was totally confused. I told him that I just shaped this board and was excited to try it out. I guess I could understand his concern about people kooking out in crowded surf, but I wasn't even going to the main peak. There still wasn't anyone out in front of the pump house, and some nice sets were coming through.
After more nonsensical abuse I just told him to cut it out. I asked him if he had every shaped a board, and he said no. I then told him that I've been surfing there since high school, and now live just a few blocks away. I said "quit trying to pull your local BS on me." I guess that was the bait he was looking for, and he just started going off. He came up and started bumping his chest into mine. He yelled
"how long have you lived here?"
"you're probably just a renter, aren't you?"
"I pay $15,000" a year in property taxes!"
"blah, blah, blah..."
I tried to contain my laughter. This was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard. I didn't feel very intimidated for some reason. He didn't seem like the type of guy that would follow through on his threats of intimidation. He was just a 45 year old spoiled rich kid.
Then the funniest thing happened. His buddy yelled over and told his friend to cool it, since today is a Sunday. I thought to myself, "so it's ok to threaten people on other days of the week?"
Anyhow, the abuse finally stopped. I never lost my cool. I just let him vent, and he finally went and sat back down next to his friend. I finished suiting up, grabbed my board, and walked past them on my way to the water. I turned around and said....
"Congratulations guys on your your Windansea Surf Club float in the parade today. I saw it got the award for the Most Holiday Spirt." They just looked at me blankly, and I went out and got in the water.
Now for the ride report...
This board is extremely difficult to ride! It paddles great, and has plenty of float; however, it turns sideways as soon as I start to catch a wave. I read other peoples accounts of this happening while trying to learn to ride alais, so I wasn't surprised. I gave up on trying to stand up, and just started belly riding. Even this was a challenge. I think I was riding too far forward, because the board just wanted to turn itself parrallel with the breaking wave face. There were a few moments when I felt the inside rail engage with the wave face. I think I could get some control If I could just get up to my feet, and put my weight on that back rail. It was a lot of fun, though, riding on my belly. I caught myself laughing and smiling once as I bounced down the face of one particularly crushing wave. I can't wait to get out and try it again.
When I got back home I noticed that my garage was left wide open. I guess I forgot to close it In my excitement to get out and play on my new board.