Jason Polakow windsurfing at Jaws – Podcast 1

The pros are good

First off, I have added Gran Canaria to my wish list of places to go before I kick the bucket.  The pros sailing on the PWA tour make it look so easy.  Watching them sail in 3.2 conditions in Pozo you realize windsurfing has very little to do with brute strength and everything to do with technique.  Amateur sailors forget about this whenever we are in crazy condition.  Next time I go out in 20+ knots I will think of this video of Phillip Koster and how he never fought the rig and board despite throwing huge airs and turns.

Live streaming of the next event in Tenerife.

Think back to windier times

Here are some shots from Cape Hatteras.  Since we are all going insane in the northeast I thought I might as well think back to windier times.  This particular day the wind picked up to 25+ as the sunset.  I was on a 4.5 and trying out a 95L Fanatic free-wave.

Graphics on the Fanatic boards are sweet

Best Sunset Session Ever

The trip to Hatteras has come and gone.  It was nothing short of epic.  The trip started off mellow with no breeze and some small waves left over to get some SUP rides on.  It was a refreshing chance to get away from it all and appreciate everything Hatteras had to offer. 

Taking words of advice from the local sailors we headed to Ocracoke Island for a day that was forecasted to be light.  To our amazement the ferry was free for both cars and passengers.  After a trip through a precarious channel we were dropped off on the corner of the island that is uninhabited.  We chose a random turn off to setup shop and catch some waves.  The conditions were perfect for some first time paddlers to try the waves.  After 3 hours on the beach we headed to the end of the island where there was a small town.  Taking advice from local sailors once again we tried of all things the local Thai restaurant for lunch.  Delicious and spicy.

The next 3 days were full of wind and heroics.  Many of us were taking kiteboarding lessons which meant getting up at sunrise to do as much windsurfing as possible before the lessons.  The only time we were able to all sail together was at sunset and we sailed hard.

During one epic sunset session I realized how many different ways there are to have fun on the water.  When you are around the water enough you look at everything differently Ken (from Ocean Air Sports) took out a Hobie Wave catamaran with a SUP board with the intention of getting someone skurfing behind the boat.

Not the windiest day we had but probably some of the best fun we had all trip.  Most of the time we were weaving in and out of each other: Garth-kiteboarding, Nat-windsurfing, David -windsurfing, Sarah Flow-windsurfing, Ken-Sailboat, Spike-SUP and all of the other sailors out there who had no idea what we were all doing.

3 ways to use the wind

Garth ripping

Easy airs all day on the inside

Lining up to buzz the boat

Special thanks to Ken and Sarah for sharing their stoke and local advice as well as the shops they work at Ocean Air Sports and WindNC.  I wish I could be there right now.  I think everyone in the Northeast has been watching the wind reports in Hatteras with envy.

Could the drought be over?

I think everyone on the East Coast has started to loose it. If you don't own a SUP board there wasn't much reason to make it out on the water this weekend. Even the lucky sailors who were able to find breeze were out on 6.5+ sails. Well step back from the ledge there is hope and the first sign of wind on the horizon.


I am heading to Hatteras Friday night and it looks like I might have to pack some wet gear.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  Hopefully all of the hot air we create from talking about the wind doesn't kill it.  So keep your fingers crossed, do a wind dance or whatever it is you do to get psyched and turn 15 knots into 20.  I know the Peconic crew will do their part (picture from Peconic Puffin).

Time to reflect during a break in the wind

It has been a great year so far. When the wind doesn't blow you realize how precious great days are when they come. While there have been some epic days so far this year the wind seemed to drop off once I started using the camera. As a result I was reluctant to use it a couple times when I was dialed in. Here are some shots I got before the wind died:
Day 1 I was on a 5.0-100L and Day 2 4.5-85L

Here is to no longer wearing gloves or a hood.  I can't wait to be in Cape Hatteras in a week to Windsurf, SUP and even try some kiteboarding.

For now the wind looks dead all over the east coast for the most part and the forecast doesn't look much better.  That said, the last awesome day I had the forecast wasn't good.  Hopefully this weekend shapes up there are tons of fronts heading for the northeast as we speak.

Decent March Windsurfing Session at Todd's Point

Sometimes you head to the beach knowing that you are going to rig your smallest sail and rip in incredible conditions.  You turn on your pump up mix as you get closer to the launch and your hair stands on end from the excitement.  However, there are the times you head to a nearby spot expecting to see the conditions aren't good and run some errands.  This was one of those days...but it turned into a good warm up session for the season.


I have seen so many people drive up to a windsurfing spot and turn around even when the conditions are good.  I guess we think that if we know the conditions aren't good doing errands etc... won't feel so bad.  On this day I showed up to Todd's point planning to turn around but was surprised by the 20knt puff that was there on my arrival.  Sailed a 5.8 - 120L.  Probably could have been on a 100L but didn't bring it, given how cold it was and how large holes were between gust the 120L helped maximize time and fun.  First time using the GoPro camera windsurfing and I mounted it on the most important part of the boom for maneuvers.  All and all a nice surprise session with first attempts at filming.