BIG

Sunday, 9/4/2011, Empire Beach.

Forecast called for good winds all day long - it finally showed up at 4:00 after an ugly storm cloud changed everything. It was a pretty good beach day big swells breaking, people enjoying the sun and beach conditions. Then suddenly an ugly scary storm cloud came in from the north west and scared everyone away with sandblasting winds and a heavy downpour.

The few that stuck around were there for a reason. A dozen surfers, 3 kiters and 4 windsurfers enjoyed the newly formed playground.

I rigged my 5.0 and went out for a few runs way over powered came in and rigged the 4.0 and went out again. The wind picked up to an estimated 35 mph and the 4.0 was better and manageable although I wasn't comfortable.

Some of the biggest swells I've every seen on Lake Michigan, probably the biggest I've ever seen anywhere! The outside was gnarly the inside had the smoothest well spaced big swells some probably 10-12 feet from trough to crest, big for this flat water boy. But they were fun they also put you in the impact zone so if you crashed and couldn't get back up quickly you were at the mercy of the crashing waves......ouch!

Session: 4:30-6:30 - dead tired

Gear: 4.0 Ezzy SE, 84 JP

Conditions: Outside BIG, GNARLY, inside BIG, SMOOTH going downhill at mock 1, do not crash conditions.

Weather: 60, cloudy, water 70 degrees.

Wind: To 35-40 from NNW