any so-cal epics around?

[toyotafreak]

Shasta my assta.

HAVASU is the place to be. Sure that Krejci, GP, Shawn, Bitz and Bro and I could support that effort. Did I forget anyone? Babaloui's in CentCal - he'd probly be down.

2005, like June. Sahweeeet.

[Chris A]

Shasta is gonna be a bit cold by now.  Havasu and south on the river would be nice this time of year though, just have to find the deep waters this time O year....

[phenom_1819]

I was more thinking about proximity to Washington, for the recent influx of Seattle-area and east-WA Epic owners that have joined the forum lately, I've counted at least 4 or 5 of us now.  I'd love to do an annual Epic wake-fest, but my poor lil' 4 can't tow all the way to Havasu...Shasta would be a stretch, but It'd be do-able.  Havasu is about 22 hours with a boat, Shasta is about 12.  Regardless of where it is, if it is, I'll find a way.

But...(I have to give you Cali kids a little crap...)

 What is cold to a Cali wakeboarder...60 - 65 degrees?  Isn't that what wetsuits and drysuits are for?  

[toyotafreak]

Yeah, I wouldn't really be stoked about an Epic-fest anywhere this time of year. The riding's great right now, but summer's so much cooler for a vacation.

I was thinking that the geographically-removed could fly. So long as we've got a sufficient number of Epics to cruise on/behind, we're cool. Havasu's not the perfect location for the West or SW gathering since there's not a big airport RIGHT THERE, but that lake is as important a part of American boating as any other. It's gorgeous, unique (a little crowded), and within reach of the boats I mentioned. For the West or NW chapter, I say we bust something really North, like Seattle or Portland - somewhere where you locals know is gorgeous, unique and within reach of a certain number of Epics. The rest of us fly there and go on your boats.

So we've got at least three epic-centers: NW, SW and Atlanta (?). Maybe we do one per year in the summer?

[Bitzco]

We (myself and bro in law) try to take at least two trips to Lake Mead each year. We go in early April when the Water hits 60 to 65 and in mid to late October when the water is still 70 ish. They are our opening and closing runs for the year. Nobody else is there. There is a nice cheap little Hotel in Overton (45 minutes from Vegas) where we usually stay and there are a million others and an airport in Vegas for the out of towners. Party on the lake all day and in Vegas at night. It doesn't get much better.

Of course I'm open for a Mead trip any time of year. June, July, Aug, lets go. I've even got a friend with an X-22 who inagurates the New Year with a Drysuit in the 50-60 degree Mead water January first each year. She keeps asking me to come along. I'm game for Havasu, but Mead would be better to me. Its huge and nobody's there.

Lets really do a trip. I could gather a bunch of Utah people to bring their epics down. We could have some boat mag come down and do a story about what everyone else is missing out on since TMS threw in the towel.

[shawn]

BITZCo, i like your thinking, that would be a blast.  Let's do it!

[phenom_1819]

Mead...
Vegas...
I'm in! (seriously)

I've always wanted to go to Mead.  Let's make it happen.  I'll bring young attractive girls.  I promise.  It'll be easy if Vegas is involved...

[toyotafreak]

Down. I got dibs on Cal.

Pete will probably be too much of a psocial butterfly to stick around in any one boat for too long, but....

Also, I'd like to be the first to invite our honorary Epicmariner, Chris A.

[festivus]

Anyone have any dates yet?  We should make it an annual thing.  It's a long drive for us, but we wouldn't miss it.  

[phenom_1819]

I'm casting my vote for early May.  Unfortunately there aren't any 3-day weekends in that period, but that's what vacation days are for...

To be completely selfish, I start a new job in March and won't be able to take any days off for at least a couple months.  And Memorial Weekend I already have plans (any Washington kids, keep Memorial weekend open, a big crew of people heads over to Lake Pateros each year and stays in a hotel alongside the river with a dock and free moorage, email me for details).

Making this an annual event would be a great way to kick off the spring riding and put faces with names for the year ahead.  

That's my vote!  

[phenom_1819]

I have another idea.  We should all chip in a few grand each, talk to Paul and Paulie at Orange County Choppers about  building a epicmarine.com bike.  Tell them we only will do it if they can find a way to squeeze a 4.7L Lexus engine into it, or in a side-car alongside.  Oh, and integrate a sissy bar in the shape of an Epic tower with the tow-bar up top.

Have them deliver it to Pete's house in Atlanta, let Pete ride the thing to Lake Mead...and then we surprise him by letting him ride it home too as a gift for all that he's done for us.

A kid can dream.

BTW, Pete -- the board racks look AWESOME.   They arrived yesterday. Thanks for hunting down the new hardware!

[toyotafreak]

My vote would be June, but I'd come in May if I got outvoted.

[festivus]

I don't care too much about the "when" as long as we know far enough in advance to plan.  
Bitzy and I are doing Meade in May (ish) fer sure.
Vegas is a pretty good spot for lodging, I hear, what with the bright lights and stuff.

[Chris A]

DID YOU SAY VEGAS    I'm in!!!

Anytime is a good time for Vegas, but for a flottila like this I would avoid any busy weekends so we can get some smooth water and room to stretch at the tables...

As an aside, Vegas and Reno are great to fly into because flights are cheap into the gambling towns.  I have a uncle with a Hotel on the strip in Reno if that is a feasable location, cheap rooms and lots O lakes in the area.

And does that make me an OFFICIAL honorary EpicMariner

[toyotafreak]

Actually, I think there is one technicality left prior to entering the Brotherhood - thou shalt ride behind or drive a Yota.

But you've got until May for that one ;-)