Hi,

I was watching the wind forecasts like a hawk the last few days, just bought a secondhand JP Freeride and Neil Pryde sails, very keen to give it a go. So when the forecast said 15/20 knots today I was out there like a rocket, got to Cabarita lake at 6:30 am (that says how gosh darned keen I was) only to find the wind extremely spotty and I had to rig the new sail on my old oil tanker of a board.

Out there I practiced my waterstarts (finally got them to work, the secret seems to be to almost sit on the board before standing up) but the wind was woeful, the trees on the far end of the lake were bending over backwards but where I was it would gust and then stop dead leaving me flailing wildly before falling off.

What's the best spot around Cabarita/Tweed in a southerly? I would like flatter water for preference, still need to wrap my head around the concept of a board with the same volume as my weight, but would be prepared to drive for a bit if the spot is worth it.

Also what's the go with the wind graphs not showing up before 6am? I got up at 5, jumped online only to find no wind arrows for the whole of the coast. wtf?