by Clay Schmitz | Mar 12, 2017 | adventures, foil, surf videos, videos
This foil surfing project has been 10 months in the making for me, and it really got going yesterday. First time ever riding a foil or having any experience with a tuttle box. Big learning curve for me.
I felt anxious as soon as I decided this day was the day to try it. I had no baseline to even guess what I was in for. Paddling out and going for a wave was a rush, and I never thought I would be terrified in knee high gutless mushy waves.
Looking forward to trying DW foiling here in the San Francisco Bay. I suspect this will open up a whole new area of wave riding. Thousands of wind waves go unridden and the bay is often empty of any wave riders. Foiling could change this,literally creating surf spots overnight where they have never been before…
Read more
by Clay Schmitz | Mar 9, 2017 | adventures, surf videos, videos
In the second of these three sessions I was expecting small leftover surf:
Sign #1 it’s a great day – a local non-surfer asks if there is some special event today.
Sign #2 as I am getting close to the water I see a dozen people on every peak.
Sign #3 as I am warming up I see 3 guys pull in and get barreled – clean head high heavy with great shape.
Sign #4 after a long paddle through the impact zone I find the cleanest smoothest water I have seen all season.
Sign #5 I catch my first wave within minutes and after the drop a crisp glassy wall throws over.
Sign #6 I get detonated and can’t wait to get back out for more.
Sign #7 it’s a great day – I have a dozen or more fun long rides, connect with great people, and my voice feels sore from hooting so much…
Read more
by Clay Schmitz | Mar 3, 2017 | podcast
I remember going on a easy hike with my former in-laws and being embarrassed that I had trouble finishing. My knees, hips, and back were aching, I was wearing thick rigid hiking boots with a lot of arch support and raised heels. That was about a decade ago and in a way the final straw of buying footwear with ever increasing cushioning, support, rigidity, and even orthotic inserts. Going barefoot eliminated my pain, restored health and strength to my feet, and opened me up to a new way of seeing the world.
In this episode…
Read more
by Clay Schmitz | Feb 24, 2017 | podcast
Divorce kicked my ass, a brutal wipeout. Then with the help of a very wise adviser I learned how to get back up, take care of myself, and see my divorce as one of the best things to ever happen for me.
In this episode I share these tools and how I use them…
Read more
by Clay Schmitz | Feb 6, 2017 | Uncategorized
Stoked to present the recut version of A Surf Tale! I trimmed and cut the scenes that didn’t work, and remastered the video for HD. The three versions have been moved to the members section and can be found here:
http://clayisland.com/surf-tale-recut-3-versions/
I hope you enjoy watching as much as I enjoyed reliving this adventure…
Read more
