Lawrence jibing at Gordons

June End Update – Good Windsurfing in Victoria

I’ve been planning to write this update for awhile, but would either get busy looking for jobs, working on projects or the wind would come up and I’d be out windsurfing!  I’ve scored about a dozen sessions on Vancouver Island this June, and Mostly on my 4.7 and 5.3.  The First Session I grabbed was at Cook Street in Downtown Victoria, a bit underpowered on a 5.8.  This was my first session on the water since the fall and my car accident, it wasn’t very long as the wind dropped and my arms were sore.

Lawrence jibing at Gordons
Jibing at Gordons.

The best days I had were no doubt at Gordon’s Beach, which has some of the most reliable winds on Vancouver Island other than Nitnat Lake.  I’ve scored 9 sessions here, from choppy to some nice wind blown swell, where you can score a few backside hits, and good for launching forward loops.  One day  I showed up, see a huge stickered up trailer from Ontario… Phil Soltysaik, his Brother Tom and Austrian Max Matissek were up here work on some video and travel projects for magazines.  Pretty sweet to windsurf around with them, watch them and share a few drinks around a camp fire at Jordan River in the evening.

I also scored one weekend at Nitnat, conditions were good, typical Nitnat, picking up in the afternoon.  I was working on Vulcans and watching Phil, Tom, Alex and Adam busting out Funnels and more latest freestyle moves.  My ulcans were far off, I’ve got to work on a bit of the fear factor, I’ve had a few sprained ankles, and split my shin at Nitnat.  Oh well it’ll come.

Check out the pics below.  Big thanks to my girlfriend, Leah who took a bunch of pics, and Mike Nash from West Coast Captures for a few more.

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Wind Dude Rough Cuts – Gordon’s Loop Attempt

A forward loop attempt at Gordon’s Beach, BC on June 6th, 2013. It had been awhile since being on the water, and even longer since looping due to an ankle injury at the start of a three month trip in Brazil. It was fun and gave me a bit of a confidence boost again, to throw a loop in the cold and slightly overpowered conditions.

Winds were blowing from 25 – 30 knots, with some small to med wind blown swell coming in, this was only my second session at the spot since moving to BC.

The mount I used for my GoPro is a $5 mast mount made out of some PVC piping, cheap and has worked great so far.  I’ll share more on that soon.

Waiting for Wind in Victoria

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I’ve been in Victoria, BC for just over two weeks now, and still haven’t scored a session. My only consolation is my previous Home Lake of Lake Winnipeg, is still half frozen, crazy and unheard of for the end of May. I’ve tried to go for two sessions. I took a drive out to Jordan river as Magicseaweed was calling for waves from 5 – 6 feet, but I got there to only find ripples on the water. After talking to a local today, Jason from Epic Surf Co, he told me the only reliable forecast for Jordan river is Randy’s which can be found at http://www.islandnet.com/~rkashino/jr.htm. The next day I attempted to go for a freeride session at Gordon’s Beach in Sooke. Environment Canada was reporting 18 knots near by, but as I drove out, clouds rolled in and it became forecast, wind quickly dropped. I took a walk down the beach and checked out the spot, can’t wait for my first session in Victoria.

So what have I done? Well I built a sweet rack in the garage with the help of my landlord. (Pictured in the above photo). Also been working on some web projects, which should be available soon. If you’re looking for some web work, get in touch with me, or check out my other site LawrenceStewart.ca, I love working in the windsurfing and SUP industry!

Also I should have  a short video coming soon from my time in Brazil, the rough cuts have been sitting on my hard drive since September!

Fingers crossed for wind and waves soon.

Slide Show from Brazil Aug 1st 2012

A selection of photos from Club Ventos Icaraizinho Brazil, shot in the last half of July by Lawrence Stewart and Jakub Kalinowski.

First Ride Back at Club Ventos Icaraizhino

A little bit of riding on my first day after arriving at Club Ventos Icaraizinho, and before I sprained my ankle. Enjoy a few crash while looping! I’ve just gotten back to riding so watch for some more videos soon.

Watch for the next video soon, as I’m back riding after my ankle.

Club Ventos Ride July 24th ft. Wolfgang

The Club Ventos Icaraizhino Ride of the Day for July 24th 2012, featuring Wolfgang, from South Africa, born in Germany.  He is currently on vacation here for about 1 month, and runs Cape Oasis in Cape Town, South Africa.  The video was shot on July 24th, by Lawrence Stewart.

Forward Loops and Sprained Ankles in Brazil

I’ve been in Brazil for just over a week now, but some how only scored 4 days of windsurfing. It wasn’t because of the conditions, they’ve been awesome, but on the fourth day I sprained my ankle on a willy skipper. But enjoy some of the pictures I’ve snapped more to come and a short video of the few sessions I scored and recorded coming soon.

Video: Just Cruisin’ – Session June 28th

On June 28th, we finally scored a long awaited session in Manitoba. It had been weeks without wind and a big southern push brought hot temperatures and winds gusting from 17 to 34 knots. Towards the end of the day I shot this video with my GoPro before the card was full, and I didn’t capture all the action I wanted. I decided to put it together in a quick edit anyways and share it with you, because it was my last session in Manitoba before heading to Brazil for 6 months of windsurfing and instruction in Icaraizinho

Hopefully I’ll be posting a video from Brazil every 2 or 3 weeks. I head down on July 12th so the first video should be shortly after that. I plan to post some sessions as I work on progressing my skills, some instructional videos, and some highlights from guests and pros as they come through. It should be sweet, so check back often.

Willow Island July 28th Photo Gallery

It had been quite awhile since there was wind in Manitoba. But finally a big south push came through bringing winds from 20 gusting to 30+ knots. While I was overpowered most of the time, I was at points way over powered. I took the break to snap a few pics. Continuing reading for the whole gallery. Sorry I never got around to editing any of them, they are just as I shot them.

Skunked on Good Friday

Waiting for wind at Grand beach Lagoon, April 6th 2012

On April 6th, 2012, I headed out to Grand Beach Lagoon, one of the only open bodies of water around me.  The forecast was calling for around 20 knots.    Now normally I’m on the water in Manitoba around the start of May, so this was more than 1 month early, but we have been having unusually warm  for the season.

So I headed out with decent expectations, maybe blast around, throw a few duck jibes and speed loops.  I got there around 11:00 Am, no one was there yet, not expecting a huge turn out.  Waited a little bit and rigged my gear slowly, as the wind started to build and drop.  I called a buddy to see if he was on his way, he was figuring out a foot strap on his board still in the city.

Eventually I headed on the water, the wind was still very up and down, and the water cold!  It wasn’t enough to plane on my 5.8 and Freestyle board, so I headed back to shore.   I waited on shore as the wind would pick up and than drop off.  Finally I decided to go in a gust, it was not quite enough, and pumped to get planning a few times back and forth, a few people had shown up now for sure thinking what is this guy doing he must be freezing!! (PS any wet suit manufactures reading this, hit me up!!  I need a new suit or 2!).  After 30 minutes headed back into shore to call it a day, there simply wasn’t enough wind.

I`m looking forward to the next session!!  But looks like it`s going to have to wait as temps have gone back to cold, minus -15 C last night.