Hatteras Wave Jam Weekend!

What a windsurfing weekend in Hatteras AGAIN! This past weekend we celebrated the May window of the HWFS Hatteras Wave Jam! We began the weekend with LoopClinic 102 on Friday night hosted by Sailworld featuring Andy McKinney. The clinic highlighted both motivational as well as technical instruction for taking that rig for a spin. The group who attended were eager to take some of the tips to the water, and with a promising weekend forecast, odds were in their favor to "wrap that front wrist under the boom and push up!"

Saturday, began the day with heavy rain and questionable wind. However, as the day progressed and the sun began to shine, SW winds ramped up along the islands. We did not experience the nukin looplicious wind found the previous Saturday, but powered 5.3m conditions prevailed during the late afternoon. The Jammer LoopOff was scheduled for 2:00pm at Lifeguard Beach, but due to a concentration of fishermen at the location per the closure of Cape Point, the event was relocated to Ramp 27 between Avon and Salvo. Ramp 27 featured a barreling inside wave ranging from waist to overhead in size. Perfect for late lip hits and meaty wavesailing action! Given the lighter wind, and relocation of the venue from Lifeguard, we decided to switch gears and focus on wavesailng with bonus points for aerial action. If you caught a gust and could rotate the rig, bonus!!

Keith, Andy, Olaf, George M, Andres, and myself mixed it up in the surf! George's wife Janis, and Lane D were on hand to capture the action in photos. Everyone had an excellent time on the water while the sun shined bright, and warm SW winds blew. The water was warm enough for trunks too!

To wrap the sesh, we grilled out on the beach with some dogs and burgers along with a cooler full of cold brews while the sun set another awesome Hatteras day. Following the grilling, George hosted a slideshow of the photo action out on the beach! Nothing like watching the action on screen while hearing the surf break a few feet away. Definitely an awesome experience for everyone who made it out for both water time and festivities on the beach. Exactly what the Hatteras Wave Jam 2009 is all about.

Here are some photos I shot. Note, the "good stuff" remains under wraps until print mag editorial review!