Long Weekend Goodness

Well, I survived the drive. I just got back from the west coast. I drove out there last week for a little holiday before school starts. I met up with Nick in Comox on thursday night.

Friday was adventure day. Not being able to get into a caving group, we hit the bungee place in Nanaimo (we had no intention of jumping, seeing as between us we already had 10 jumps). They just opened a ropes course. Basically, it's a bunch of cool stuff that's fixed into the trees 50 feet off the ground. Tarzan swings, crazy little bridges, zip lines, cargo nets, tight and slack wires etc. etc. You're harnessed in to a safety line, but I tell ya, walking across a bridge that's 4" wide and 200' long 50 feet up is scary... especially in the middle when it's bouncing, swinging and twisting (of course no hand rails). Thank God for the safety line. It was a riot though. Took about 2.5 hours to cover all four adult courses. Since we got a big discount for doing both, we did end up bungee jumping too. Good times.

Friday night Matt met us in Nanaimo and we hit Tofino for Saturday and Sunday. The water shortage scared a lot of people off, so it wasn't busy at all. The waves were an awesome size. The biggest were probably around 7' on the face. By Sunday afternoon I was standing up on every ride, and riding most of the waves all the way in. I got a couple where I managed to bottom turn and ride the green instead of the foam. My best ride was on the outside break. I was about 10' farther out than anyone just chilling waiting for a bigger set. I was planning on paddling in when I saw the first swell so I could catch the second or third wave of the set. But out of nowhere this huge (well, relatively, remember I'm a beginner) swell jacks up. I paddle like hell and catch it right on the shoulder, ride the drop standing, and stay on the wave all the way in. It was freakin' awesome! Surfing is definitely one of the greatest sports in the universe.

Speaking of which, I'm signed up to compete in the Alberta River Surfing Association's Surf Slam. It'll be the second inland surf competition in the world outside of munich. It's just for fun. There's like 3 really good surfers, and most of the rest of us are beginners, so the competition will just be to get everyone up and surfing and goofing around and having fun. There is a backyard board builders competition though. My board is almost done... the tiki on the front is getting finished tomorrow. If I can sort through my current epoxy fiasco in time I'll have it done for the festival!

Well, that's really it.. the next few days are getting ready for school. I can't wait to finally get on to this chapter of my life!