awoke to another groundhog day of flat ocean, that blip of swell last week seems but a dream.
so went for a paddle. nothing out of the ordinary, just the daily flat no waves no wind usual; a couple lengths of the beach; around the island, up the channel; under the bridge, around the caravan park channel marker then home.
heaps of people out celebrating bogan pride day.
tide was rushing out the channel, so i just plodded away; stuck to the edge, took my time, conscious of maintianing an efficient paddle cadence and technique.
flew back out along the channel with the tide.
just rounded the island on my home stretch; got past the north end flags, when this kid yells "that looks awesome, can you catch waves"
'yes' i said, 'indeed i can, when there is waves to catch'
no sooner had i said that, when this lump of two foot swell began to take shape not more than a few digs of my blade away from me....
.... i'll show this young snapper how i can catch waves, was the first thought that came to my mind.
.... i wonder if he has a nubile buxom young chaperone of whom i can impress upon, was the immediate second thought that passed as i stroked he-man like into the gently forming swell.
.... this wave ain't gonna know what hit it, was my last thought before i heard an almighty SNAP, and went head first over the front of my board and into the drink.
it sounded like a sizable tree branch snapping, and the shaft gave way right where my hand was. it actually cut me pretty bad.
whats the warranty like on these things...?
its less than twelve months old, has been treated with kid gloves its entire life, has only ever been used by me, never had any knocks, have never fallen on it.
i mean, i was going for a dig when it snapped, but nothing more than i have done in the past.
