Gotta love a storm session.
I just got back from a chase around the county looking for the right spot to enjoy storm Bram. There was talk of winging the break at the Cribbar, we ended up opting for fast swell near Falmouth, I was going to record some media about how to sensibly ride in a storm, but sadly it didn't come through with reward. The wind was gusty and forecast to swing and the sea looked very confused.
My consensus was that the risk vs time vs reward ratio was balanced towards a potential survival session with limited fun and a high likelihood of drama.
Shame to not score, but sometimes even just the chase is fun.
That prompted me to put some storm chasing advice into words, rather than video.
Anyone that knows me, knows I very much enjoy being on the edge, I find peace in the mental reset of entering a primitive survival state where you are forced to be in the moment.
`Personally I enjoy the post chaos distilling.
But my advice to anyone who might feel the same is 2 things:
1: Be prepared, plan for the worst. Andy Houlder and I were heading out as buddies and I'd planned to dress warm, carry a phone, a knife, pressure bandage and a foil blanket, to help manage a potential injury or unwanted journey downwind or out to sea.
2: Follow your instinct and know your limits. Even if you are super excited to push your limits and and brave the elements, make a judgement based on the whole picture.
The live conditions could be different, your equipment might not be suitable or you might simply not be in the right mental or physical state to put yourself in that environment.
Pushing your limits is as much about knowing yourself as it is the sport.
Those red bull hype videos don't often show the truth as generally those most hectic days have a more subdued social atmosphere on the beach as riders calculate the risks, get in the right head space whilst checking kit and conditions.
Then when everything is right the real fun can start.
I hope you've been scoring plenty of action, it seems the whole country has been getting great conditions ands it's always awesome to see and hear the frothing from all corners.
Don't be shy to share it this way or tag Poseidon in any social posts, I love to see it.
This end, every sport has been firing.
Whats been keeping me ticking?
Finding a calm nook for prone foiling amongst the stormy madness is always surreal. especially on the latest generation of surf foils.
Parawings keeps making what would have been an average wing session - great. The Freedom is addictive.
New kit - tis the season for brands to start telling us about their new incoming offerings and even thinking about new toys is always exciting.
There's lots on the way, reach out for more info on anything Armstrong, Code, F-One, Appletree, Ozone or Axis (kaohi, Manera and others too).
