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Wind Tales
"Wind Dummies just have more fun"
I was the 'wind dummy' Saturday at Celilo. Maiden
voyage for 1999, May Day, so it took me a little time to adjust,
especially with the new equipment. After about 30 minutes, I was 'in
the zone'. It was fantastic! A little cold, but the adrenaline was
pumping, and I was a happening bird...soaring like an eagle. For
about 2 hours it was quite euphoric. But then, all hell broke loose
as the wind came up and started turning nuclear, along with some
nuclear holes. The great Celilo beast had emerged from the depths
and I was being thrown and tossed about.
Suddenly, a giant wave lay right ahead of me. (thare
she blows!) This was it... this was the one!! I knew it was time to
fly. The shape of the wave was just right for a small launch at
first, but as I got closer I realized that this one was going to
take me for a big ride. Then, the face of the wave just seemed to
get steeper and steeper.. it was one of those radical ramps... one
of those nuclear wind gusts had created this one. It had wind shear
written all over it. I couldn't back out... it was too late!
All I remember is being launched off that wave
like a rocket, I raked the sail way back, and there was an enormous
gust of wind that was pushing me straight up in the air, higher and
higher... higher than I've ever been before. And then suddenly, I
had to lift my back leg for balance. The nose of the board went down
and, in a flash, I was floating...upside down. My board had to have
been at least 20 feet off the water with me, rig in hand, underneath
it. I just seemed to be floating upside down for the longest time.
The whole world was upside down! And, to make things really weird, I
was going backwards! Suddenly, I was reminded that I was on my big
board, that I was turning 40 in a month, and that I might not live
to see another day when junk mail comes to my mailbox (I just LOVE
that junk mail!!). I decided to bail out. Yup. I allowed old-man
gravity and the Celilo beast to have their way. I crashed and
burned... but I'm still here to tell ya'll about it. Yup. Me, the
wind dummy, that's me!
So, anyhow, today I'm really sore (ouch!), but
I'm doing alright. I feel like I've taken a bullet to the chest, and
my bones feel like they've been run over by a train going 183MPH.
But ya know what?? I feel really stoked. It's been a long time since
I've been this excited about 'doin daGorge'.
See ya'll out there...
Peter Berkey |
