Nice try!

Yesterday's forcast called for some epic surf. Unfortunately I was unable to make it there, so I figured that I would check it out this morning. Well I made my way down first thing this morining hoping that I could catch some clean up swell, but it was not there. Too much northwest too soon pushed it all out. Nice car ride down and telltale signs of epic waves everywhere. Check out the awsomeness over at The Fresh Aspect http://thefreshaspect.blogspot.com/. There are some sweet shots of lake perfection.

The Northshore

My trip up the northshore on Monday showed some promise with heavy winds and the lake frothy from white caps.

The sun was shining and the water was blue, beautiful.

Tuesday morning after all was done, I ventured down to the beach to find clean lines. It did not look too big to me so I went down to the waters edge. Well it looks quite deceiving from atop the cliff because the clean lines that were coming in were waist to chest high. So I suited up and paddled out. The waves were near perfect for a lake, peeling lefts and rights I could choose any line I wanted. I caught a few astonishing rides.

Nothing like dark blue courduroy to make a fashion statement.

I even tried to tuck into the odd barrel.

The Right Stuff

With the winds coming out of the north these last couple of days, it sure makes for some good surf. Wednesday was a fantastic day, clean lines coming in, peeling left and right, made for some really good rides. I continued to surf beyond the point of exhaustion left the break stoked and noodle armed. Went back out again Friday afternoon to much of the same conditions, clean peeling and the odd head high set that came through. Had some fantastic rides, left the break stoked more than Wednesday. Snow or not, ya gotta love a good northeast wind.

A Step Back in Time

A little piece of history as I travelled toward Hayward this week. The old steam engine travels between Two Harbours and Duluth for an old look into history. The sight and sound of an old coal fired steam engine is amazing. The toot of the whistle and feel of the power is something rarely seen nowadays. I love the smell of a coal fired steam engine.

Large!

What a crazy good day! Super stoked from the rides today. The waves were reading 12' on the bouy. People just kept showing up all day long. Some the bomb sets comin in were extreme. Later on in the day when winds changed NE things cleaned up with some peeling lefts and rights. The waves stayed large.

Classic!

Jer!

Jer the sequel!

Alaia 2

It has been a major dry spell in what are usually the best days for surf. Lots of daylight, warm sun and fresh cool water. But in the waning hours of daylight it has been three weeks and no surf. Soooooo, when the wind won't make waves, we make boards. This is Alaia number 2. Liam liked what he saw and we glued up some planks. Last night the glue was dry and about two and a half hours later... voila.
Note the foam board in the background bottom left, just waitin for some glassin. It's been a busy season for the ole surfshack, I still have another 6'5" to shape for myself and I am newly inspired to make another Alaia. This next one will take some time, but when its done... ouuwiee... it will be more of a work of art that you can surf on. hopefully.

Shapin the Alaia, Liam style.

Alaia

In the long dry windless weeks gone by I decided to make my first Alaia board. After about two and a half hours in the garage it was done. I glued up four boards in about 8 minutes using pipe clamps and polyurthane waterproof glue. Traced out the pattern the next day and cut it out using a simple scroll saw. I then planed the shape into the board with a power planer. After planing the board I then sanded with 80 grit, 150, and then 220 grit. After the sanding was done I put a coat of water based UV indoor/outdoor diamond coat varathane. After all was said and done it took about two and a half hours.

The board itself is 6'8" long 7/8" thick and 17" wide. It is made out of western red cedar. It is heavier than I thought it would end up, but it is manageable. Now all we need are some waves to try this little baby out.