wendell garvelink wrote:
From the Clinton Lake 2017 album here's a sequence of photos at the launch. Rich waking and wading back. And Chris sailing all the way back through the gauntlet. Don't try this. This man is a professional.

windsurfillinois.com/index.php/photos/63...mid=175&photoid=3547

Reid Fillman wrote:
Can’t wait!

Epic. Main Pool Mania! But what really made it epic was the pilgrimage. Wendell picked the right day after watching it on the net for years from Michigan. And I finally got to meet Greg after seeing all his spectacular content on here from Sheboygan & Winnebago. I got to Purgatory around 10:00 am. I rigged a 4.2 because I already had my boom and harness lines set there from last time out. Actually I rigged a 4.2 because it was already gusting to 40 mph at 10:00 am in Champaign. Chris pulled in and rigged 4.2 also. Then Wendell pulled in with his dog in the car. It had its head out the passenger window with a look on its face like, "It's ON, bitchez. Let's do this." Then Rich pulled in. Ady & Greg pulled in. Just enough parking for all. I gave them the quickie seminar on navigating Purgatory Cove. Chris and I were first on the water. The main pool was lit. Every piece was breaking and almost all had some liquid smoke coming off them. We were trying to shove 4.2s into 3.5 conditions. After awhile I took a break to see what's taking so long for everybody to rig down and come back out. I get to the parking lot and Ady and Greg are gone. I felt terrible. Did they go back home? I was relieved when Rich told me they went to the Swim Beach. And no better guide for Greg than Ady on that one. Ady saved their day. I had some coffee then headed back out alone. It was still liquid smoking. And big sets were rolling down from the dam pool. I started to get chilled and also being alone out there I called it a day sometime around 3:45. Thank you, Rich, for shooting some nice pics of me. It was still blasting. Rich and I drove over to the Swim Beach and I got to shoot some pics of Ady and Greg rippin' in really nice sun light. We all capped it off at the "Power Jibe" pub. So glad to meet and see you guys. Epic.


Bloomington: peak sustained 37 mph, peak gust 50 mph, high temp 58°F




Champaign: peak sustained 39 mph, peak gust 54 mph, high temp 61°F




Decatur: peak sustained 33 mph, peak gust 51 mph, high temp 63°F





27 of the day's 87 photos

See All Of The Day's Photos Here


Welcome to Purgatory (Photo by Rich)



Chris (4.2 sail) Rippin'...with afterburner ON.



Wendell (4.7 sail). Tail-walking upon leaving the cove.



Chris (4.2 sail), Wendell (4.7 sail). Synchronized Tail-walking. Event under review for 2020 Olympics.



Look at this rogue piece. Started as a ripple at the West Side boat ramp. Maybe Clinton needs a NOAA buoy.



Wendell (4.7 sail). Wendell and I had several blazing runs side by side. Look at the trough he's rippin' down.



Wendell (4.7 sail). I think I got'em. He's falling behind.



...then I hear Rocky music.



...look at that Quatro get its hump on. I'm trying to lean the sail over to get a shot.



Look at that piece headed into the cove. Get your paddle boards out. You can run the stump gauntlet. Purgatory loves inflatables.



Me (4.2 sail). Duck-jibe.



Rich (5.0 sail). Rippin' on the Goya Volar.



Rich (5.0 sail). Getting me back for last week's spray. This is the part of the jump where you'd like to be able to see.



Me (4.2 sail). Not all landings go well. But i'm still hooked in! "And his cigarette was still lit."



Me (4.2 sail). Boom!



Checking on Rich. He had a huge explosive catapult.



Me (4.2 sail). There's ankle high, there's knee high, there's hip high. This was waist high (Photo by Rich)



Me (4.2 sail). You have to get in sync with Purgatory (Photo by Rich)



Welcome to the Swim Beach. They cut the trees down. It used to be you only had a little path near the fence. This is the premier Freestyle spot on Clinton.



Greg (5.0 sail). Do you see the look on that man's face? That's Clinton Lake Shock & Awe.



Ady (5.2 sail). Rippin' fast-tacks



Ady (5.2 sail) and Greg (5.0 sail). It's like a Sailworks ad.



Ady (5.2 sail) and Greg (5.0 sail). Boom! Greg hitting a nice one.



Ady (5.2 sail).



Ady (5.2 sail) and Greg (5.0 sail). Greg rippin' a jibe



Ady (5.2 sail). Ady rippin' a jibe



Ady (5.2 sail). 'till next time.



You only saw 27 of the day's 87 photos

See All Of The Day's Photos Here

Aw man! Awesome pictures of everyone! Thanks! Looking forward to making my next surf safari down there.

Excellent pictures as always Reid! Thank you so much, I appreciate everything you do!!!

Those are awesome pics, Reid. Driving back to Sheboygan that night, I was really stoked to have sailed and met everyone there. Can’t wait for my next trip to Clinton Lake extrem conditions. I echo Ady’s comment and thank you for enabling our little community of Midwest Windsurfers to be connected.

Reid is the best!
He owned the day for sure, using the main pool as his playground!!

Thanks, fellas.



wendell garvelink wrote:







Ady wrote:
I will walk you through it next time. Step by step. Walk in the park.

Wow