Surfboard for Sale...

I went out to Cox with Bluepath yesterday. It was big and onshore. It was so difficult to get out that in those conditions, I have never managed to get out before. Being super tenacious and a better surfer than I have ever been, I was able to paddle out in a reasonable amount of time, and without fatigue. Sitting on the outside with an 11' board and waves the size of houses coming at me was quite an experience. It was so big that I thought I was going to die. Yesterday was bigger and worse than the day on which I got beaten up by Bluepath and had a chunk of hair torn out. In short, I was afraid.

I didn't get killed, and I didn't get any good rides... I decided to go check out Long Beach instead. On the path up to the parking lot though, I dropped my board. It dropped from waist height... and was severely dinged all along one rail, and had little dings all over the bottom. The fin was all scratched up.

Because my board had been dinged once already (a very minor one that did not require repair), I didn't freak out. I went home, washed the board, assessed the damage, and put it back in its bag to take to the Board Medic the next day.

I dropped Bluepath off at the Board Medic today, and he'll be well and good by Friday afternoon. I am very grateful that we have this guy in Tofino. Stefan the Board Medic and Dave the mechanic are people to whom I shall eternally be loyal.

There has been much discussion recently about what board to surf during the winter. I have been convinced by many that the Bluepath is a great summer board, but that we could never be happy together in winter. I have even taken up an offer to try out a fish (shortboard that supposedly catches waves really easily). Since Bluepath was at the doctor's, I took out my 9'1" South Point to Cox tonight. I got out, caught one wave, and brought it back to my car and switched back to the 11' NSP. Ralph was out there on his 12' Munoz. He has been telling me that I can ride an 11' all year round-- he rides his 12' all year round. Apparently, all I have to do is figure out how to do it... and then I'll never go back.

Well, after tonight's session on the 9'1" shortboard... I'm convinced that I already won't ever go back. My task from now on is to get better on the Bluepath... surf every day on an 11'... and hope that by the time winter comes around, I will be good enough to neither kill nor be killed.

The 11' NSP is still a great board... I caught a super awesome right that went on forever. There'll be one more session tomorrow night on this super floaty epoxy board before Bluepath and I are together again. I wont' be riding the 9'1" shortboard again... so I guess it may be time to sell. Time to sell my first surfboard. Hmm. That's something.