A few cold, clear mornings this week and fun surfing sessions on the French Broad.
![The waning moon hangs over downtown Asheville. IMG_8606_asheville_skyline](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8606_asheville_skyline-550x170.jpg)
DAY 1
![Mr Smooth, Chris Manderson schools us on clean cartwheel technique. IMG_8527_manderson](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8527_manderson-550x366.jpg)
![Adam Masters - Bellyak surfing in the kneeling position, similar to a c-1, canoe or kneeboard style. IMG_8511_archrival_bellyak](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8511_archrival_bellyak-550x366.jpg)
![Myself - Bellyak surfing in the kneeling position. IMG_8601_bellyak](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8601_bellyak-550x366.jpg)
![Adam Masters - Bellyak surfing in the prone position, just like paddling a surfboard. IMG_8528_bellyak](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8528_bellyak-550x366.jpg)
![Adam Masters - Bellyak surfing in the seated position, similar to blasting in a kayak. IMG_8518_bellyak](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8518_bellyak-550x366.jpg)
DAY 2
![Another day on the ledges with lots more water. Rob Peerson joined us for a brisk play session. IMG_8623_adam_rob](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8623_adam_rob-550x366.jpg)
![IR's new Royale Skirt for 2013 IMG_8504_royale_rand](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8504_royale_rand-550x366.jpg)
– It’s totally dry due to IR’s proprietary “fin” rand, along with the apron/flange construction.
– The fin-rand combined with grip-strips makes for a virtually implosion-free skirt. Put it this way; you can put the skirt on a boat, air-seal the tunnel and jump up and down on the deck, sans implosion.
– Like IR’s old Special-K skirt, the Royale has a Kevlar reinforced rim for amazing abrasion resistance.
– The Royale would be applicable for 98% of boats out there, which would have a polyethylene (plastic) construction.
![With the luxury of a high-water day, 10,000 CFS, Chris Manderson showed us some very fun playspots above the ledges park. IMG_8683_spe_royale](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8683_spe_royale-550x366.jpg)
![Manderson showing the appropriate emotion for the day's events. IMG_8635_manderson](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8635_manderson-550x366.jpg)
![Rob Peerson blunting the right corner of the play hole. IMG_8686_rob](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8686_rob-550x366.jpg)
![Adam knee surfing the Bellyak. IMG_8699_adam](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8699_adam-550x366.jpg)
![Rob surfing hole number 2. IMG_8702_rob](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8702_rob-550x366.jpg)
![Adam drops into the ship rock wave at the top of the ledges park. IMG_8763_adam](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8763_adam-550x366.jpg)
![Rob and I scouting the ledges rapid from the center eddy. IMG_8746_rob_spe](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8746_rob_spe-550x366.jpg)
![Half-moon over pack square in Asheville IMG_8620_asheville_moon](http://rapidtransitvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_8620_asheville_moon-500x750.jpg)
– Spencer Cooke, Effort Inc.