Killer time at Surf Expo this year. Jeff, Kevin and Bob all joined me for four days in Orlando to maximize the time with our vendors and surf some waves kicked up by a small tropical depression in the area. 

The show was a huge success. We visited with Starboard, Naish, Laird SUP, Cabrihna Kites, Chinook, and a host of others. Great to see you all. We also got to meet Brian, Donna and Lesi of surfingfiji.com and spent some time learning about their amazing surf resort while sharing some waves, food and drink. More to come on potential trip planning to their place.

Heros in the show were free surfer Dave Rastovich - an amazing surfer and humanitarian, Dave Kalama - a walking legend, and Starboard team riders Sean Poytner and Dan Gavere.

The Orlando water park was a huge eye opener. Seems like there's an opportunity to create something like that up here in Burlington with water and snow applications. The on water demo day was well attended by both participants and vendors. Was great to paddle the 2014 line up of the Starboard, Naish and Laird lines.

Another highlight was visiting Disney's Typhoon Lagoon which the Surf Expo people had rented out for the evening so that all of us could witness the pros in a mock contest surfing the biggest waves the lagoon could produce. Seems like another nice idea to bring back to Burlington?

Tropical Depression 97L produced some very fun shoulder high waves that we were able to jump on early Saturday morning. The ocean was alive that morning with all kinds of life as the sun rose. Sharks, birds, bait fish, manatees, and game fish were all over the place. There's something comforting about knowing there's plenty of food in the water to distract any big fish from taking an interest in us.

All in all the trip was a great opportunity for the W&W crew to spend some off campus time together and even get wet in the process. And upon re-entry to the northeast, we're blessed with a small developing hurricane Gabrielle moving its way up the gulf stream forecasted to send some beefy waves this weekend. I love the fall.

Mahalo for reading.

Russ