Sunday, February 10, 2008

At it again: Chasing Ghosts on the Phantom Wave Field

It was just too fun looking to pass up today. Nice 4-6' waves peeling across the outside cobblestone wave field. The home of a what I call the Phantom Peak, it's here, it's there, it everywhere- so beware, or you'll get caught inside. The usual crew was on it today: Kelly, Kiwi, Big Chad, Gabe and Dave Lopez riding it manual. I punched through the shorebreak meat grinder just in time to see Kelly riding a left that was a couple of feet overhead and lined up- that sure got me paddling faster.

I'm giving this session to Kelly and Kiwi. Both of these guys were riding Stu Kenson stand up boards and just flying on those quad fin set ups. Kiwi (on the blue board) continued his wave voodoo streak by snagging a killer set wave right when got outside- you'll see it in the video, well overhead and LONG! It's fun riding surf in this size range, nothing life threatening, just good fun.

Here's Camera Grom's edit of the last two days of surf. We all chipped in and the total came to thirty bucks so the Grom calls it his $30 Video. The first few minutes are from yesterday and the last couple are from today, check it out:

8 comments:

srfnff said...

John,

You sure are carving some nice lines on Mahi 2. Best surfing vid you've posted yet imho. You guys definitely scored!

Anonymous said...

man that peak is a total phantom! really difficult for me, I didn't get one wave...but I did get the best work out in a while, getting in and out of that spot is hard I'd rather just paddle down there and avoid the rocks and high tide

John Ashley said...

Hey Gary- Thanks for the compliment- the guy who was really doing it out there was Kelly Kraus of Emerald City Surf Shop- on a 9'3" Stu K. quad- ripping! These big, wide boards take a lot of leg power when it gets bigger and faster- coming off the bottom you gotta really PUSH IT!

John Ashley said...

Way to charge it out there Gabe- next time you'll get one!

Anonymous said...

john new gem almost through the design center 10.30" 4.5 4 fin battail carbon fiber bottom double 8 on top cant decide on a 1.5 or 2.2 blank been told 1.5 is more alive than a 2.2 any suggestions would help from all the sups.blank by next week and to see this thing be cut by march .new board by spring.since mahi-1 is gone going to have to take 2nd on my house for the gem.its good to be back in water!captneg9.after being for out 6weeks ifelt like a pinball on my board.legs are sore arms are like rubber.

John Ashley said...

Hey Capt. Neg-9:
I think my board is made with 1.5lb foam- carbon bottom? That thing's gonna be cool! Give 'em a 12 pack and maybe he'll push it further up the line! Glad you're feeling better.

Anonymous said...

in todays economic climate a 12 pack would get one nasty reaction.like end of the line sir.or would you mind leaving sir.as soon as i leave the whole shop would say boy that guy cant type or spell he sure is a kook. kookkook hey kooook.surfed cliffs on sat. lots of people.leash plug got ripped out.lucky i got a extra.surfed germolean today with k surplus.john ur right weres all the clean surf.neg9

John Ashley said...

Neg9- you remain the king. And show up with a twelve pack at my house and you are always welcome. I enjoy your typing- you write the way you think... sometimes it's in code. I dig it!