Longboard FUN on Lake Oroville

[ragboy]

Believe it or not, I can still get on oroville. There is one ramp on the entire lake, one lane. Steel grate on the mud. It aint pretty, but it works. It makes during the week runs not really worth it. I have to drive 35 minutes to ramp, and launching takes a good 30 minutes plus with only 2 or 3 people in front of you, and the TRUCK gets FILTHY.

We got up at 7am and were on the lake at 9am. The lake is about 1/4 the usable size, due to forks having 5mph and noskis in them, but its still a huge lake. And only die hards are on it, so it still is like a maybe a friday afternoon. No where near weekend traffic, but busier than midweek. We planned to stay out all day, so as to be equivalent of 2 midweek visits for us, and plan to do this until we can't launch anymore.

So you remember I bought an epoxy MINI long board (8' long) from ISLE surfboards? Here it is if you don't:

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100222/IMG_0284/web.jpg

I bought this for fat boy (me) to be able to get up, and so my wife could get up easy and cruise, she just wants to ride, and all of our other boards are a bit squirly. But I want to take this thing out all the time, so had to work out how. So I found the DBOT 5 extensions to my surfrack, which I posted, and it works great. We put the board up on the ramp, it works GREAT, and it is out of the way. It was windy in the morning, with a lot of chop in certain places, and it did just fine. I did have to adjust a couple of times when we were running to other parts of the lake, doing 35 mph in chop. But if you put it upside down, it holds it in the rack, and it didn't rattle in there much at all, with the good dbot straps. I am not sure how a normal longboard would do. This epoxy board I but just for this purpose. I think a big fiberglass board would be much heavier, and not as strong. The epoxy board is very light considering, and strong.

Only problem was that I wasn't thinking in my warehouse and put this rack on drivers side, and it hindered getting in and out of the boat at the dock. Not a problem, I will move to other side before we go out next, but here is a couple of pics so you can see how it works/looks. Just imagine it on the other side.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_0289/web.jpg

You can see that it doesn't obstruct any view out of the boat, and if I have on other side, it won't obstruct entry/exit of the boat because we ALWAYS dock on right.

Here is another image from the front.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_0292/web.jpg

Cool Huh? Oh, and that samson tower doesn't even care about all that crap on it, that thing is a rock, best thing I have every put on my boat.

Yeah, it floats me.

Amazingly enough, this thing floats me, but I went first and had RJ going the wrong speed. Once I let everyone else try, I got the speed and all just right. So I am not going to post pics of me yet for 2 reasons.

1. I want to free ride first.

2. When I was done, I asked whit if she got any pics, she said "You wanted me to take pictures?" Stupid kid. ;-)

But don't worry, I will. Still sore from pulling my large mass.

Ok, so I bought this thing just for me, and also thought my wife would like it. But the WHOLE family loves it, and it was a ton of fun, and great addition to the boat. When we floated, everyone was taking turns paddling on it, and even paddling with a small one like Jesse on the front of it. And then T-Bone and maddie both on it, on there knees paddling around. Much fun.

So here are some pics of whit and rj riding it, You can tell by whits face how much fun she was having.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9430/web.jpg

This has got to be one of my fav pictures of whitney period. She is such a sweet bubbly kid, and is always smiling, and this just captures it for me.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9434/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9439/web.jpg

And then there is RJ being a dork, like only he can. He just turned 13 on monday:

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9458/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9460/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9463/web.jpg

[ragboy]

RJ is a gifted kid, and makes most things look easy. But he still can surprise me. He was messing around, and said there isn't much you can do on it, its too big. So I tell him of when I learned how to surf back in 84 or so. We used longboards before I went to my 6' thruster. My first board was an old plank, it was a converted bottom of a sailboard.

I told him the long board was fun, and during the 70s the terms hang 5 and hang 10 came from the longboard. I explained that hang 5 he sees in wakesurfing is NOT the same, you just keep a foot in the back and stretch. On a long board, you have to ride into the mush, and WALK, not shimmy to the front of the board, and THEN hang 5 toes over. And you must have both feet facing FORWARD, like you were walking to the front.

Ok, so he didn't get to hang five yet, but he goes into the mush, and immediately starts walking the board, he got up very far. I think by next weekend he may be hanging 5. This made the longboard SO MUCH more fun, because he could see how fun and challenging this would be.

Here are some pics.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9455/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9465/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9468/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9470/web.jpg

Whit missed the pic, but at one point, he had both heels PAST the logo. This is pretty hard to do behind the boat, because you have to go in the mush, and then when you go forward, it brings you in, and you don't have much time before you get to the boat.

Here is my favorite pic. He isn't messing around, he just naturally did this to keep his balance. Looks like he is playing "Surfer Jesus" or something.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9473/web.jpg

And last, here he is getting up from laying down. He got in the wake on his belly, threw the rope in, and then got up like he was surfing in the ocean.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9492/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9495/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9496/web.jpg

Look mom, I did it!

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9497/web.jpg

BONUS

An added benefit to this board, is it has a leash hook on the back, and I bought a day case and leash for it for $60. We plan on taking a 3 hour trip to the beach this fall and giving it a shot.

[Fast1911]

Sweet pics :ro: :ro: :ro: Nice looking boat and board

[ragboy]

Lastly, we stayed out til dark, as usual. And whitney got some beautiful pictures of the sunset.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9525/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9531/web.jpg

I love this one, and you can see the wax on the longboard. Whitney really has a great eye for framing interesting shots.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9534/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9535/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9554/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9568/web.jpg

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9573/web.jpg

Is this what wakesurfing is all about? Or what?

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9591/web.jpg

This is one of the reasons we almost never go to any other lakes. Even more than half empty, this lake is still so beautiful, and there is still plenty of lake.

I will let RJ sign off for me.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_9556/web.jpg

[larryueckert]

RAGBOY THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR MEMORIES.....IT MAKES ME SICK TO SEE OROVILLE THAT LOW THE GREEN BRIDGE IS UP THERE LIKE I HAVE NEVER SEEN :eek:

[rogersbm82]

Great pics! Looking at the pics of the boat, with all those boards looks like you don't need a bimini.. lol

[dogbert]

Still waiting for the pics of you surfing :rolleyes:

[jwanck11]

X2. :D

Thanks for sharing though - love to get your stories!!

[samw]

Rag that think looks awsome, so how do you get up on a long board like that? Does look fun, can't wait to see some more pics...

[Jason B]

Looks like you hit a surfboard garage sale or something with all those boards up there:p

[da.bell]

Thanks for sharing. I know where all the water went to. We were on the Sacamento River on Saturday. The levels were higher than normal. So, they are draining a ton of water from the northern lakes. Makes me sad. We need a huge amount of rain this winter. So... BRING ON THE RAIN!!!!

[Moki]

Great shots, looks like a lot of fun!

[ragboy]

Great pics! Looking at the pics of the boat, with all those boards looks like you don't need a bimini.. lol

Thats funny.

Still waiting for the pics of you surfing :rolleyes:

Patience my brother, patience. ;-)

[ragboy]

Rag that think looks awsome, so how do you get up on a long board like that? Does look fun, can't wait to see some more pics...

You just put your legs up on it, and go, and have to flip the board, it takes a lot more strength than normal, cuz it is super buoyant, but its not that hard. My kids make it look easy. Its harder for me, because when you hit the throttle, the first time, the boat actually turned around and said, "Say what?"

[da.bell]

You just put your legs up on it, and go, and have to flip the board, it takes a lot more strength than normal, cuz it is super buoyant, but its not that hard. My kids make it look easy. Its harder for me, because when you hit the throttle, the first time, the boat actually turned around and said, "Say what?"

ROLMFAO!!!!! :D ;) :p

[ragboy]

RAGBOY THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR MEMORIES.....IT MAKES ME SICK TO SEE OROVILLE THAT LOW THE GREEN BRIDGE IS UP THERE LIKE I HAVE NEVER SEEN :eek:

The craziest thing about it, is that the big concrete supports/pylons for the bridge, are actually not even underwater anymore, its a crazy thing to see, I never thought I would ever see the base of those exposed.

Here is the thing though. We are making lemonade out of lemons. Bidwell says they are going to try to keep the mud ramp open ALL season, I hope into through september if possible. We are going to be out on at least a saturday or sunday until we can't. We never go out on the weekends, for all day trips, but now, there isn't many people out there, so we can. So like this weekend, my parents can't take their big 26 foot cuddy cabin, so they are taking my pontoon. So we are going to be out there all day, with the pontoon, the waverunners and the tige this sunday. I can't wait, its going to be a blast. And like I said, we wouldn't do this on a normal weekend, too many people.

[Dents]

One question... Where are all the pics of RAGBOY tearing it up opn his long board???????:ro:

[Matt Garcia]

Cool post. Looked like a lot of fun. I am curious to see what this ramp looks like.