Utah Windriders Association

Yes, that's what I said... DAY...

"Tomorrow's life is too late. Live today"
-Marcus Valerius Martialis

"Fill all thy bones with aches."
-William Shakespeare "the Tempest"

A couple of us were talking about heading down to Mojave for a few days... It's feasible to sail for only 2-3 days if you can get a couple or more people to carpool and divide up the damage. However, thursday I played Turkey Bowl football with my traditional group of buddy's and family. Thursday night as I was getting the truck ready to head to Mojave, I felt the pains of once a year football. *(I gotta do something about that). Anyway, so I called my coconspirators and announced my abandonment with lamentation. I felt like I'd had a nicely strained "hammy". Friday rolled around and I realized I was sore but OK turned out they were just muscle spasms... Plus, with John D. reporting big winds and good company down there, resistance was growing futile.

So Friday afternoon, I decided to call up a few comrades and first 3 to commit were on board for one of the most AWESOMELY desperate expeditions for wind in my memory. We loaded FOUR people's gear (6 boards, 16 sails, masts, booms, bags etc.) into the bed of my truck and got on the road, finally, at 9:30PM... Ivan, Jim, Josh, and I.

By 5 AM we were in our hotel room at the Best Western in Bullhead city for 3 hours of sleep. The wind was already howling! But I resisted the temptations of a full moon sail and we slept.

Got on the water at around 10AM. Unloaded the Rubik's stack of gear and the next 7 or 8 hours was dreamlike. Mars. I love that planet! In fact, I needed my NASA diapers in my wetsuit for this trip! We had a great day. I don't think that I've ever tried so many tricks in one day. Everybody seemed to be pushing their envelopes. It was really great.

Temp was a little chilly unless you were windsurfing, but standing against the sunheated concrete on the side of the outhouse! was nice and warm. Dave, Rachel, and Tyson showed up and joined us. Along with Richard, Art, and a few others from around the west.

I'm not sure if this post is a confession or a celebratory exclamation. But, it was definitely a top 10 type session.

"Just one session"

After the session, all the Utahns had some great company and mexican food in Bullhead city, then we went to our Hotel, soaked in the hot tub, which was perfect. We woke up at 3:50AM and we were home by 11:30AM. Actually, with out the half hour stop for food, driving time was 7 hours! Not bad!

But it was a Beautifully desperate drive to wind... NASA diapers next trip! Sorry we missed ya John and others who came home saturday. For less than a ski pass per person to Deer Valley we were back in SLC. It was well worth it, somewhat surprisingly.

PS John, yeah, lame about the parking thing.

Rick's proposal was enough for me to call of the hit I placed on him for ditching us Thursday night.

On the way home, I told the guys that if I had done this on my own I might not tell anyone about this. Referring to the shame of admitting such addictive act. Rick said no way! He has already come out of the closet as a shamelessly addicted windsurfer. I, on the other hand, was still debating if I should admit that my windsurfing addiction was so bad that I needed a 6 hour session sandwiched between 16 hours of middle of the night driving. Rick pointed out that admitting this compulsion would be good for me. Hiding this almost shameful act would be that admitting guilt. I don't feel guilty of such an act of obsession. I am glad I have been outted. This weekend was my coming out of the closet. I am a windsurfer!!!! When I need a fix, get out of my way!

Back in the Day,(before I went over to the Darkside), I too had a windsurfing addiction. Two of us made a Friday night drive, after work 6:00 pm, to the Gorge, sailed Sat and Sun and arrived back home in time for 8:00 monday work. I never have had a better monday, the stoke burns on all day, just like a good work out.
Jon Mzee

That's great John... Ya know... I spent 2 1/2 weeks this summer in Maui. What on God's green, well brown in the case of Mojave, possessed me to make a 14 hour round trip drive w/in a period of 36 hours will take a few years to decipher... But, possibly unwittingly, I might be compelled in the future to do it again.

Actually in retrospect, it's quite efficient. Going, getting, kicking some heiny, and getting home! The last couple nights have seen me going to sleep with a smile on my face.

I'll call you on that Drysuit John.

PS... Josh, careful with all that closet talk! I hate to break it to ya, but, your addiction apparently was only a secret to you! ... You need help!

Well dude, you get the Jim Hornbeck award for "I'll go home tomorrow"
since you came to HR on a 2 dayer, and stayed for 5. You might
have a slight problemo yourownself. ;*)

-Craig

RickHeninger wrote:That's great John... Ya know... I spent 2 1/2 weeks this summer in Maui. What on God's green, well brown in the case of Mojave, possessed me to make a 14 hour round trip drive w/in a period of 36 hours will take a few years to decipher... But, possibly unwittingly, I might be compelled in the future to do it again.

Actually in retrospect, it's quite efficient. Going, getting, kicking some heiny, and getting home! The last couple nights have seen me going to sleep with a smile on my face.

I'll call you on that Drysuit John.

PS... Josh, careful with all that closet talk! I hate to break it to ya, but, your addiction apparently was only a secret to you! ... You need help!

That was never a secret Craig! It's a wonderful "sickness"... You're one of the main dealers!

However, I have been thinking, if we're all so sick, why do we still live here, family, school, church? There are those sicker than us who have proven the level of their sicknesses by moving to the Gorge, Maui, or other... There are some real sickoes out there. They need to be on some kind of watch list...

But seriously, it is a good question.

Well, I can speak for myself. I've had 2 job offers in and around
the HR area in the last 6 years. It sounds tempting, and it very
much was, but, I currently get between 45 and 60 days a year
in HR due to my tenure and vacation. If I took a new job
I'd have maybe 2 weeks vacation. Run that around holidays,
and you get maybe 15 weekdays a season, plus about 12 weekend
days. I'd probably get another 12 days off season, and there's certainly
plenty of afterwork potential in HR, but you can see, it still doesn't
even add up to where I am currently.

During the final steps of the last job offer, I asked if I could trade
salary for more days vacation. I've never see an offer turn around
so fast. We went from "when can you start" to "get the h**l out
in about 2 seconds.

The Rock Star said it best when he said we've created this fantasy
world (while we're in HR), where all we have to do is sail,
eat, drink, and sleep (with maybe a little hiking and biking thrown
in.)

Unless I hit the lottery, I'm living my dream, I've done the math.

-Craig

p.s. or maybe it's The Church ;*)

RickHeninger wrote:That was never a secret Craig! It's a wonderful "sickness"... You're one of the main dealers!

However, I have been thinking, if we're all so sick, why do we still live here, family, school, church? There are those sicker than us who have proven the level of their sicknesses by moving to the Gorge, Maui, or other... There are some real sickoes out there. They need to be on some kind of watch list...

But seriously, it is a good question.