It's now been and gone. Numbers were down and it was very cosy for the 18 of us having a BBQ at my place indoors because it was so cold but, as usual, everyone had a great weekend and improved some aspect of their skills. I worked out why I kept falling off when I turned right off a wave - simple really I was bracing on the Left and my blade would grab and in I'd go once I realised that, things got better in truth a bit more practice is needed but I'm still learning.

Sadly it was Cold and Windy on Saturday and Sunday such that the wind would grab the bow as you crested a wave and push you 20-30 degrees off course and you'd come to a crashing halt as the bow hit the water. Even the Dolphins were staying underwater and didn't want to play with us. With the wind, waves and tide all coming from different directions, we headed to Pambula where it was more sheltered for some fun on smaller waves.

Monday was a different story with no wind and a totally blue sky. The swell was up off Merimbula and my allocated hour stretched out to just short of 3 causing me to be not only blue but late home and totally exhausted. Just one more I said more than once and then my last wave of the weekend came. I saw it coming and accelerated hard but this was big, steep and fast. It physically hit me like a freight train thrusting the ski into the air and for the first time, my bow dug in. I had spray flying over my head so I couldn't see a thing I leant right back on the deck and when the bow finally lifted so I could see again I was doing something like Warp 4 - as fast as I've ever gone and I got close to 400 metres off it.

Whilst the majority of us were on skis, this trip we had a greater variety of boats with WW play boats, sea kayaks and a rec boat all having a go. There are some good skills lesson to be picked up in a challenging but relatively benign environment with support at hand on these sorts of weekends. I highly reccomend them to people who are comfortable and wish to stretch themselves.

There were some cameras there and hopefully someone will post some pics soon.

There was a bit of interest in doing it again but details at this stage haven't been worked out. I'd be thinking early October before the Hawkesbury might be a good time. Whatever is decided will be published on the forum so check it occasionally or talk to me at a timetrial.