Slowly, steadily, and surely the wind did it's Shesablowin' thang. One by one kiters from the region showed up with a zest and a smile indicative of camaraderie....it was very evident that it was going to be something awfully special up in Sheboygan County (which is 59% water) on this day!!!
A little bit of MAGIC for the faithful........By the time I had unpacked the plethora of boards that I had stowed away....it was on like Donkey Kong!!!! Jens came in with his 14m, and was looking for a smaller kite....the Sheriff was saddling up on his 13m, and out the chute he flew. Greg casually rigged his 11m, and grabbed one of the Bro stix and headed towards the growing gathering of kites that eventually filled the beach....by the time I had the 134 Wake set-up for Jens and the Sheriff, it was cranking 20 to 25 and I grabbed my 9m and walked up the beach to rig myself....had to walk the beach abit, but it was filled in nicely down low for about a couple of hours, so I didn't mind at all.
Ryan was ripping up and down the beach, once venturing in between the jetties for a spin, and then back up to grab another vessel to sail; he had alot of the Milwaukee crew with him hanging on the tailgate of his truck between sessions....I believe he personally had about 5-6 sesh's throughout the day, always sporting a different ride. I, like Jens, was able to try the 11m Fuel, and enjoyed it's consistent pull, and easy handling!!
The Boygan boyz laid out the "red carpet": bringing their lovely ladies, their friendly dogs, their welcoming spirit, coolers of beers pops and water, grills with the fixins.....what a welcoming crew, it was most appreciated by ALL!!!! Great to see Pena, Steve, and Dave (really missed Colin, but I brought him a vintage throw-back chair for the Rumpus room)...met Monty and Dirk, what a pleasure!!!
Great to see the Madison crew throwing their wake shiz....Vic, Anderson, crazy C, and the madwaker himself. Ivo and the boyz up from Chi-town, fresh off of 3 hours of sleep....you had to see Marek to believe he was even walking....
Way to "pony-up" boyz. And yes they brought some Pilsner Urquell to tantalize the Sheriff's palate, and Pena made them feel as though they were on a Mediterranean beach in his tight fitting skibbies looking fit as a fiddle!!!!! Good to see Hartman and Mandy make it from Chicago as well. In fact there were several girls kiting yesterday, Erika and Rayna riding very well indeed....Saw a contingent from the Fond-du Lac area, and boy were they enjoying the Big Lake
. Great to see Kosh Kris make it over from Troy, flying a 9m on his "secret weapon"!!!! Noah and Artem made the trek, and Greg and I had the pleasure of towing in that loop-throwing maniac from the outside at the end of the day, as his kite had dissintegrated upon impact.....gottta love the smile on that fool, when most would be bitchin' and complainin' bout their misfortune; we always relish the opportunity to tow in his happy ass!!!!The Sheriff was vastly impressed with the drive John Lynch made from somewhere South of Chicago to make it to the festive day......I was able to let him know it was a day worth driving for, and he made it up and was judiciously rewarded....he kited till he could kite no more, made some new friends, and enjoyed the beach scene....KUDOS, buddy!! Hats off to Schiff, who damn near drove to 2 Rivers, came back to Sheboygan only to get caught on the North side of the jetty looking at all the kites, wondering when am I gonna hit the Beach? Well he made it, and still mustered up a big damn SMILE, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Seeing the Sheriff cut off the top of his BIG gatorade container and proceed to pass around Schiff's homemade Mimosa concoction to the last 9 kiters that were enjoying the mimosa colored rays of the sun filtering through the trees of that lazy, hot afternoon beach parking lot was PRICELESS......Jens, Chris, Schiff, Greg, myself, Andrew, Pena, Joe and Monty!!! What a day, one for the AGES.......
And yes, the riding was great; but this one was about the gathering....the MAGIC of a Sunday afternoon on a Midwestern Beach on a steamy Summer afternoon with a bunch of kiting buddies where the wind "faithfullly" joined.....and like the toast that was given when the Mimosa made it round the circle, "this is living"!!!!!
THANKS to all for a joyous day, thanks to all for respecting the rules, and thanks to all for believing in the day.......ratlle, rattle!!!
