Pismo Beach (Oceano) May7-10

[ChrisPSherwin]

Went to Pismo Beach on Friday in Search of a solid place for my buddy to fly a kite, drag and actually get up on a board. Pismo is almost the opposite of Jalama. 4 foot waves MAX, steady wind, people launching from the back of their car. Did I mention that you drive ON the beach, back your car up to the sand dunes and then launch? At low tide the beach is a few hundred feet wide, at high tide it shrinks considerably. The drawback is that cars drive up and down the beach. You always have an audience, but for anyone who might drop their kite - beware.

Friday was just plain fun. I was so worked from 4 days at Jalama, and I really didn't think that I had enough energy to manage the conditions there. I rigged my 11 and the short board, jumped, surfed and cruised up the beach. The beach has shallow sections that are pancake flat. People will cruise 10 feet from the beach in 3 inches of water for a half mile at a time getting upwind. The wind backed off. I flew my 15 and cruiser pro for a bit, and then bailed.

Saturday was 11m and small board all day. Big ass jumps, surf and a narrow strip of flatwater. Got to watch my buddy go downwind a bunch and smash the hell out of my kite. - Sunday the same, less kite smashing. I got super lucky because the wind sucked almost everywhere else within 200 miles. Today the odds got even. Lame wind, and stupid gear issues. Can't complain. 7 days of soild wind and it looks like Oxnard will go off all day manana. Coming home when it gets warm!