Andy King has more than just that festive feeling after the UK produces week after week of epic conditions…
“Tis the season to be jolly” and as a fanatical windsurfer that phrase could not be more apt right now. The last two weeks have seen the UK and Cornwall in particular battered by storm after storm delivering some magnificent waves and ferocious winds which are joyously set to continue for at least another week. So much for the ” SUPER FREEZE ” the press were banging on about not more than a month ago. Here in Cornwall I’m still toasty in just my 4 – 3 mm Mormaii wetsuit with the occasional addition of a neoprene skull cap if I anticipate a swim or two, to try to slow the onset of surfer’s ear.
Most sessions have been on the North Coast of late with a run of strong southerly winds. Sandy Acres aka Mexico’s has been the choice of late with bowling head to logo high waves feathered with side offshore winds almost non stop for the last four days.
Usually it’s quite a mellow spot but of late it has been taking no prisoners. First man down was Dan Linton who is no stranger to challenging conditions now he is a Cornish resident himself. Naish team rider Dan is usually fearlessly rocketing into big back loops and smacking any lip in sight but a mistimed head on with one of Mexico’s rowdy Atlantic arrivals ended up in a Wayne Rooney style broken metatarsal, ouch, followed by a long and painful hobble back up the sand dune. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery Dan.
Yesterday that frustrating burden that is work put pay to my Mexico session however Alan, aka Spud man, reported back that he’d seen broken masts and boards littering the sand as mast high waves continued to pound the St Ives beaches at the expense of Newquay rippers Chris and Tim. The massive swells of late have clearly been rearranging the sand bars as Mexico’s has been super bowly and difficult to ride. Every aerial section I set up was a curling time bomb, with 20lbs of ankle breaking pain stamped on it, but I had a few good ones to go with some arse twitching sketchy moments as I paid my dews with some heavy take downs. Hopefully I got some decent go pro footage to edit when the wind finally stops blowing and I have to pay testament to the new Flymount which kept the camera firmly in place despite numerous heavy wipe outs.
Sunday offered the prospect of a long awaited starboard tack session with the wind forecast to swing to the west and plenty of waves due to wrap into the South coast. Having endured enough of the wind tormenting me at work I used my last day of holiday to escape to deluge of road traffic collisions and fallen trees and headed off to Marazion.
Westerly winds are usually pretty gusty and patchy and today was no different. Yet with a bit a patience there were some nice jumps and waves to be had when the wind blew through. For me Marazion is a fun reminder of the central South Coast sailing conditions I left behind when I moved west and a nice change from the grinding waves of the North coast. There is always a a good crowd of sailors there and today was no different.
Tomorrows forecast is for 60 mph southerlies and torrential rain so the adventure continues….. Ho ho ho!
Andy King is sponsored by:
MORMAII WETSUITS
BIGSALTY.COM
FLY MOUNT
MFC
PAT LOVE
AMEX
