Cane Garden Surf Session

We were to spend the last full day on the island cleaning and packing up the boat. However to our delight a good swell was to hit so we changed all the plans. We took the truck over to Cane Garden for a surf. It was small when we got there, about waist high. By the end of the day it was a couple feet over head.




The crew had some amazing waves at this great spot. We met a couple really cool local rippers. They were taking some insane drops right next to the rocks. The barrel section was pretty tiny but some guys were getting in the slot.




I shot from the beach for a while then grabbed some waves, I headed back in to get the waterhousing and went back out for a long swim with the camera. Then I paddled out again with the crew for an amazing sunset session with head high right point break! A day to remember!

REAL BVI 2010 Day 9

Woke up early for a dawn patrol but there were no waves so we headed to the baths again. We arrived at the baths and we all did a few jumps from the top of the boat and swam around for a while. Jason, Sammy, Matt and I headed into the baths and climbed around on the gaint boulders for a while which was insane!



Then I took some more Standup photos. We grabbed a quick bit to eat and then headed to a bay to drop anchor and party for the last night! Our boat again held a thumping party to finish off an amazing trip in the British Virgin Islands

REAL BVI 2010 Day 8

The generator quit out on us in the middle of the night turning the AC off and we all got our sweat on. Then things started to take a bigger dive. On the way back from surfing dawn patrol the dingy came loose as we were about a quarter of the way to the harbor. We soon realized the eyehook ripped off the dingy causing it to start to sink. We pulled it back up on the boat to try to keep it from doing so.



After things went crazy everything started to turn around when the wind kicked in and we all were at the beach for some 8 hours of straight kite sessions. I rode the 12m Slingshot RPM, 14m Naish Cult and Slingshot misfit, Slingshot Darko, Liquid Force Low Rider and LF Kaos.

It was a very long day in the sun but a great one at that. A group decided to get together and organize a downwinder while the rest stayed on the island and kited.

REAL BVI 2010 Day 7

We woke up early and motored back over to the West End for a dawn surf. We arrived to a very small wave. After we had a quick bit to eat the wave started to jack up a bit. As we surfed all morning and it was about shoulder high as we left to check the wind after lunch.



We hung out at the point for a while and the wind decided to fill in. We all headed back to go surf and standup paddle the best mellow wave ever!!! Everyone had some great waves. We cruised back to the harbor with cold cocktails and an amazing sunset.

REAL BVI 2010 Day 6

It was off to the Baths today. There was no forecasted wind or waves for the day so we took the opportunity to sail across to the Baths for some R&R&Exploring. We pulled up along side some 30 boats and set anchor. We then swam to shore and explored the coast. Giant boulders made caves and canals to have a great adventure in.



We took some SUP pictures then headed back to the boat.We made a pit stop in Spanish Town to pick up Enily and then made our way to the North Sound. We moored up at the Saba Rock. Some of the guys took out Laser’s and raced in between boats.



Enily, Jason and I did the hike over Virgin Gorda to watch the sunset. It was a fun hike with spectacular views along the way. After some great views it was back to the boats for dinner and a cool down party.

REAL BVI 2010 Day 5

We crusied back over to the west end to surf. It was a bit smaller than yesterday, but still very fun. I rode the 9’3 In The Pink. Every one had a really great time in the clear water and morning light. I played around with the video camera a bit, then passed it off to Jason to catch some shot of him surfing.



After everyone was done with their session, we headed back to the harbor and headed to Potters where we took a cab ride to Loblolly. We started off swigging with the only drink to have in the BVIs, the bushwhacker. Once we all had a small buzz going we went for a snorkel. After putting my mask and fins I swam for about 3 minutes to find two turtles. I swam along side them for a while and then made my way out to the reef.



There were tons of fish and crazy looking coral.
On our way back to the boat we made another quick stop at Cow Wreak for another round of drinks. To top off the night The Sea Leopard hosted a Cool Down Party.

REAL BVI 2010 Day 4

We headed to the beach in the morning to kite. Everyone got in another lighter wind session. I took a bunch of photos while everyone was cruising. After a quick lunch we packed up the gear and headed to the west end of the island for a surf session.



The waves weren’t supposed to be anything but they turned out to be about waist to chest high. We surfed until sunset. It was a blast!!! It was a pretty chill night as everyone was pretty exhausted from the surfing.

REAL BVI 2010 Day 3

We cruised over to Anegada. We were the first boat to make the crossing. It was windy so we set up shop on the beach all day. Everyone sessioned until they couldn’t stand anymore. I shot when the sun was out and rode when the clouds came through a great day if I don’t say so my self.



I had a great boost session on the 12m Envy in about 25knots of wind. We tried to do a shoot that evening, but things just didn’t line up quite right. We headed back to the boat in the dingy and met up with everyone else for dinner. Then we cruised over to the famous Potters for drinks and a briefing about where we can ride while stationed around this island.

REAL BVI 2010 Day 2

After a full day of rain the last thing we wanted was more, but it was here. We pulled anchor and headed back to sandy spit for another day of sessions. The wind was light all day and the rain came through a couple times, but everyone got out for another session. I took a snorkel in the harbor with clear shallow water. Then we packed up all the gear and set sail.




On the way over to the North Sound we took a pit stop to go snorkeling again. It was really fun though the sun was going down quick making some of the caves pretty difficult making some even impassable. We made it to the mooring ball just as a spectacular sunset lit up the sky. Our boat held the first cocktail party that night and it was a hit!



__________
REAL BVI 2010 Day 1, Day 2.

REAL BVI 2010 Day 1

We took off from the Moorings dock in Tortola around 1pm for the REAL BVI Trip. We scored the most insane boat from the Moorings! It is a 47’ power cat. There are 4 cabins and a great living area, but still a bit small for all of us those are on this boat. On the boat are Jason Slezak, Sam Bell, Matt Nuzzo, Trip Forman, Amy and Stan Radev and myself.



We motored over to Sandy Spit to grab a kite session. It rained all day, the motor over to Sandy was a bit bumpy. We rocked all the way there. After making the 2 hour sail over we unpacked the gear for the 20-25 knot winds.

Even though the sky wasn’t clear everyone got out and scored a terrific session. I rode the new 2010 Liquid Force Envy and the new 2010 6’2 Liquid Force Skate. I had a great session though I was a bit over powered.



The session was a bit sketchy, because the upwind side of the island where we rode had a ton of reef. Coral head would pop out as your bottom turning on the waves. But even though this spot was very sketchy I had one or two really great waves.

We then packed up before sunset and motored downwind to the bay near Foxy’s bar. We had a great Taco dinner and then headed out to the bar for a bit.



__________
REAL BVI 2010 Day 1, Day 2.

Kiteboarding Magazine March 2010

Kiteboarding Magazine came out this week. I was lucky enough to score a bit of coverage in this issue. First off we have Jason Slezak in a double page barrel sequence from Cape Hatteras, NC.



Sams Bell’s floater from REAL Peru made it as a page and a half spread. Brandon Scheid got a full page shot, while Ryan Evans held it down with some teaching tips. A shot from the November storm also snuck its way into the mix.



The two ads I made for REAL ran as well. The first was a mock up of a cover for the REAL Ad. The other was the first ad for the 2010 Triple-S Invitational announcing the invited riders.

REAL BVI 2010 Begins

REAL BVI 2010 is officially underway. We left Hatteras and drove to RIC, where we flew to NYC. After a killer airport dinner we boarded a flight to Aguadilla, PR. We arrived at 5am. It was just in time to raid the PR house’s garage and pick up surfboards to head out to Wildo. We surfed until lunch with bombing overhead waves (best layover EVER).



We meet up with Brian “BCS” Smith, Charlie, Brian and Brown for some afternoon chilling PR style. Our flight was then postponed to Tortola, so we headed out for another surf session at Surfers. We meet up with Brown for drinks and a burger and called it a night.



We arrived at the airport first thing to catch our flight to Tortolla. After we packed the plane we were on our way to the BVIs. I got to sit shotgun on the way. It was a pretty cloudy flight but the weather broke as we arrived over St. Martian. We are scheduled for a PM surf then a Breifing with all the clients on the trip (aka Party). Then we set sail first thing tomorrow.

REAL BVI 2010

We are off tomorrow for the REAL BVI 2010 Trip.  We will be sailing through the British Virgin Islands with 7 boats, kiting and surfing as much as possible.  Ill try and post updates, as WiFi is avalible.  See you all in a few weeks!

The Pamlico Sound Deep Freeze

The deep freeze continues on the Cape Hatteras, NC as the temperature again drops sub-32 degrees.  Not only was it cold but the winds have been very strong in the 30-40 knot range out of the NW.  This caused much of the sound to freeze near the Slick.

Warmer in the OBX, but not warm enough

It was a bit warmer today, which started to melt the ice. It was still too chilly to go for a session, but headed outside for a few minutes to snap a couple pics in the backyard.