When I started getting into windsurfing waaay back when I didn’t see myself racing or putzing along(we call it schlogging now) as all the other windsurfers were doing, I saw myself terrorizing the water ways, riding waves & jumping everything in sight, there were not a lot of guys close to doing what I considered “windsurfing” BUT 2 guys in the area seemed to have the same vision, they were the Chamberlin brothers. They seemed to be riding at a level light years ahead of all the others. They rode shorter boards than most, they did dumb stuff, they drank & carried on, they rode big wind, they chased the wind & they rode Lake Erie. Man I wanted to ride like that! Mike & Tom were really fun to ride with, I learned all I could from them watching there every move on the water, trying to emulate how they rode. If I could just jibe like Tom I would be dangerous! Tom was more of the technician, Mike was…..well Mike. I remember riding at Crane Creek & Mike rams my board- board tag he called it- jumps on it & walks down to me as I holding the sail & pushes me off my board & sails away with it. I was pirated, how cool was that I thought to myself. They allowed my sorry sailing butt to ride with them, took the time to give me pointers & kicked my rear end out on the water.
Skip back in time for a little history~ Mike founded 1 of the 1st windsurfing groups in the US-the Blackswamp boardsailers. He did lessons & demos to get people into the sport & he did a lot of the selling & buying of windsurf gear when it was in its hey day at the Mountain Man shop. Mike was instrumental in the growth of windsurfing & water sports in this region. He was fun to ride with & a good guy. Mike died last January after a long battle with cancer. If you windsurf or kiteboard around Maumee Bay Mike probably had a influence on you that you probably aren’t even aware of be it water access or just the simple fact there is riding scene around here. Mike was very influential on my riding & as the years passed I took great pride in hearing Mike & Tom, my mentors, compliment my riding, pics & vids-basically all rooted in their riding-it’s what I learned from them & ran with. Mike Chamberlin- R.I.P.
I’m thinking it but I’m not going to say it….yet.
Luna Pier was kinda all right today, Little waves & not wind but still a pretty fun day. It was also almost crowded, 4 kiters & 3 windsurfers(counting G & his deep pulls)
hmmm, could it be an E wave-ish day today????? Forecast on Sailflow shows around 2pm to be the time…..
Looking to cut out of work early today, gonna hit MB most likely unless the party is happening somewhere else. 1-2 o’clock @ MB is the plan right now.
It’s looking pretty marginal right now, I’m waiting to see if it improves.
Ryan and I will be late shift… 5pm ETA (ish)
I’m feeling more like Sat. then tonite but we’ll soon see
Its capping at MB, good direction too, gonna pump up the 14m.
Could it be the ever rare Luna Pier east wind/wave day tomorrow????? Maybe, we’ll soon see.
Pete, Jay and I at MBSP. Big kites and big boards. We will probably settle for MB again after work tomorrow. Saturday on the other hand….
Toxic algae update: http://www2.nccos.noaa.gov/coast/lakeerie/bulletin/bulletin_2015-022.pdf
MB poo level: site shut down for season
LP poo level: site shut down for season
Catawba Island State Park raiding party tomorrow early. I’m leaving Toledo at 8:30 AM
Maumee Bay state park seek & destroy today, hopefully around noon(if it’s blowing). CI report from Ryan was that it was just starting to show small white caps, I’m waiting fior the wind to shift to NW before rolling to MB. Pick your poison, remember that CI is an advanced ability only launch & ride spot.
What happened to the raiding party on Saturday?
this is from Saturdays MB ride https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NaJQazfK1c 3 windsurfers & 5 kiters. Pretty lit up 5.5 until the end, rode from about 1 to 4:30.
and one more from saturday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzyYqboXF-8
It was only Don and I at Catawba. Blown off the pier with 13’s at about 10AM. Switched to nines and rode till about 3-330. That was a great direction for CISP. One reach we went all the way South to the Rock Ledge Inn. Nice clear water and big swell
I hear I missed it last night. You’re welcome. Rolling. 1st feeler of the day
well
Sorry Sprint sucks out there so I normally don’t check here after getting there. Better than yesterday before it came up. Pete and I on 13’s. He was on his TT. I went back and forth between the TT and surfboard.
Just left MB for sloppy seconds. Wasn’t happening. See what tomorrow brings.
Seemed like the wind rolled more west by then. Let’s hope for this coming Saturday!
Pssst…..Don’t look now……Saturday wind(maybe)……..out of the NORTH….maybe a baby wave day….
I’m hoping to be out at MB around 1. Also I’m hoping that it’s windy.
The latest algae update: http://www2.nccos.noaa.gov/coast/lakeerie/bulletin/bulletin_2015-016.pdf
Did anyone remember to request wind when they filled out the request form for September’s weather?
This weeks algae & poo updates:
Toxic algae~ http://www2.nccos.noaa.gov/coast/lakeerie/bulletin/archive/2015/bulletin_2015-015.pdf
MB poo~ http://www.ohionowcast.info/nowcast_maumee_bay.asp
Luna Pier poo~ http://www.co.monroe.mi.us/government/departments_offices/public_health/bathing_beaches.html
Obviously there is no ride night tonight.
It looks like it will be a while before we get a chance to put in & ride.
Once again Ride Night is not happening due to the lack of cooperation from mother nature.
could it be???? It looks like it might happen today (8/24) NOAA has a SCA up “I” is forecasting 18. Winds look to be out of the W so that means Maumee Bay.
Hoping there’s some left after work for me!
Harbor lt 2 is showing 20 knots gusting to 23 out of the NW! Grabbing lunch & rolling, hope to hit the water around 2:30ish….
well, that sucked, hopefully the after work crew scores better. Judd & the Traveler were coming in as I got there. I watched a very green deep outside wind line(about 1/2mile out) from 3 to 4:45 & called it.
No such luck. I got there in time to see Pete swim in from about a mile out.
don’t look now but I think today is looking pretty good all you are left now with is the age old question of where to go????? Boobies of Maumee Bay……hmmm….
toxic algae update for today http://www2.nccos.noaa.gov/coast/lakeerie/bulletin/bulletin_current.pdf
Judd report: Maumee Bay sucks! SW winds at MB, wind line is about a mile out where it is blowing about 30.
Boobies is a ghost town. Wind is steady and much more south then west… at least on the shore line. My scrawny butt is going to rig an 8… that is if the attack ducks let me.
Maumee Bay state park was nice. 9 kite out in front of UT LEC to the channel. Fun little swell. Almost made it back in too! I leashed the kite and had to paddle a little
oh yeah there were two windsurfers braving the big waves in the pond
no drama for Gary, Pete & myself. 5.5 sail & 9 kite, green water but we could walk in 😉
http://www.redskytoledo.michaeljpaulus.net/gallery/photo-gallery/?album=1&gallery=45&nggpage=2 pics from yesterday, photo credit Pete Hustwayte
If you look at the black and white shot of me in the latest pics you can see part of the huge tree that has planted itself in the middle of the bay. Watch out!
Need I say it, really? OK, here it is, Ride Night is not happening BUT Thurs(& maybe Wed) looks possible.
Looks like enough in the forecast for me to try and ride for Ride Night tomorrow after work.
tonite? tuesday? that seems to be crazy talk. Maybe Wed or Thurs…..
Depends on which model you look at. 50% of them say wind. The others say not.
Still hopefull for some SE action even though the forecast took a shit
like I said , crazy talk, Thursday is the day(maybe)
Didn’t even look.
I just scheduled 1/2 day of PTO for tomorrow thereby guaranteeing that we won’t get any wind. Thanks me later.
Finally made it over to Pacesetter to take some pics. I told Brandon and Corbin I’d post a link here.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154162619839863.1073741866.853494862&type=3
those may be some of your finest work in the action sports category. They look great. Nice job.
Thanks. I concur. I did learn plenty along the way so I hope to be able to translate those learnings to be beach to make our “water sports” shots better.
I can only hope, I want some “pro” grad shots now!
Toxic algae update http://www2.nccos.noaa.gov/coast/lakeerie/bulletin/bulletin_2015-010.pdf
Maumee Bay poo update http://www.ohionowcast.info/nowcast_maumee_bay.asp
Today holds just the slightest glimmer of hope, but it looks like if you’re going to bite the earlier the better!
Ride not has been postponed until next Tuesday due to light winds & a diminishing forecast! Hang tight my friends it won’t be long………
WTF you talking about Willis!? Rolling
well………………
Just picked up a beautiful 17m Turbine from the best shop around. Maybe the dickfish joke will subside. (Not likely) Slowly but surely making my way from the dark side! Thanks Mark for the swag and sweet kite. Can’t wait to throw this thing up to pull my fat ass.
My pleasure, I just hope the wind blows soon so you can use it.
Did you get it out today? Seems like you would have been lit with the Turbine and your wake surfer
Oh NO!!!! You knew it was coming, this looks pretty bad. Check out the latest positioning of the algae bloom.
http://www2.nccos.noaa.gov/coast/lakeerie/bulletin/bulletin_2015-008.pdf
This report just came in from Gary:
gary smith
12:40 PM (8 minutes ago)
to mark
northeaster with green waves.
John report from Luna Pier-not enough for 13 kite & surfboard
8/4 Ride Night is a fend for yourselves. The forecast is not favorable & the sensors are not showing a whole lot right now BUT stranger things have happened.
The last few days have been great considering the end of July/early August time frame. Could we get another sneaker session in later today?????
I’m hoping so!
Pics from yesterdays session compliments of Pete Hustwayte(& a few from Ryan O) http://www.redskytoledo.michaeljpaulus.net/gallery/photo-gallery/?album=1&gallery=44
Road trip to Lake Michigan Sunday. Who’s in?
25+ MPH winds out of the SW! Let’s go!
Stuck around here with the usual choices, happy hunting!
MB report, Pete & Ypsi Steve are out, I believe on big gear(13 kite & 7 sail?)
I think I left when it got really good! At least Pete & Ryan benefitted by my sacrifice!
yes you did. Brad and Andy closed out the night on 10’s
Yesterdays corrected line up: Judd, Pete, Denny????, me, Vin, Ryan, FloRida, Andy & Brad.
I’m going to try and take off a couple hours early on Thursday. We’ll see
me too! I haven’t ingested my toxic algae quota yet!
It’s on! Thursday that is……Maumee Bay SP is looking to be the call, don’t miss it(if IT happens that is)
Tonight’s Tuesday ride night is cancelled because the wind & forecast sucks on the flip side I’m cutting heavy deals on Slingshots lightwind kite, the Turbine. Hit me up for some unbeatable prices.
Solo morning session at Maumee Bay. 13 Fuel and surfboard.
I thought today might be good, now I’m not too sure.
I’ll count today as a sorta score
The latest on the toxic killer algae- https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?hl=en-GB&shva=1#inbox/14eb192c0223d8c8 & the Maumee Bay E coli update http://www.ohionowcast.info/nowcast_maumee_bay.asp Killer algae & poo……..Ohio riding at it’s best!
and if you haven’t figured it out yet, ride night is not looking too good, you can hold out hope for a MB thermal, it is every man for himself. Good luck.
It looks like we have a little while until it blows again, maybe Saturday?
I’l almost feeling like I might sneak one in
boo, that sucked
I’m hoping for another thermal after work tonight!
I’m hoping tomorrow comes thru & is not too wet
Is BB the play for tomorrow while dodging the rain?
yep, should be
This is an awesome article about my dad! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this up and find these great photos! I had no idea my dad had such a big influence in the windsurfing world. Thank you!!!
Thanks, I’m not much of a writer. Tom & Kevin supplied my with the photos so thanks to them for helping me out. Mike(& Tom) got it all started around here & I’m grateful that he did. This is my way of saying thanks to him.