Took the Speed3 21 out to the estuary park to check it out post-wash ... everything seems fine, no broken lines - it's looking increasingly like either I had the bar backwards or there was water in the wing and I was too sissy to pull the bar hard. Or there was a tangle in the bridle I couldn't see.
Anyway, running backwards across the field three times before I got enough air in the kite to get it in the very not much wind (2 knots?) and put it through a few turns and whatnot ... went flawlessly.
Now waiting for the replacement bridle parts to arrive ...
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Just enough!
Sam promised a cracking session ... didn't live up to it :( just enough wind to ride around for bit, holding ground on the big Xbow (hadn't test-flown the Speed3) so when Brendan couldn't relaunch 10m Switchblade, I went out to try to give him a hand.
Man, fast little kite! Offered my 13 or 16 but he declined so we had a chat ... then the wind came up! So I did some more riding - just me and Sam.
A few nice big jumps and some good rotations and transitions ... chatted with Sam as he packed up and enjoyed the sunset. Nice guy!
Moment of the Day was the guys laughing at my 16m then getting skunked fnar-fnar!
Weather was not very much indeed ... maybe 15 knots? Very flat water though!
What I learned today ...
• Flat water makes a huge difference!
• Weather is supposed to turn tomorrow - rain and no wind :(
Man, fast little kite! Offered my 13 or 16 but he declined so we had a chat ... then the wind came up! So I did some more riding - just me and Sam.
A few nice big jumps and some good rotations and transitions ... chatted with Sam as he packed up and enjoyed the sunset. Nice guy!
Moment of the Day was the guys laughing at my 16m then getting skunked fnar-fnar!
Weather was not very much indeed ... maybe 15 knots? Very flat water though!
What I learned today ...
• Flat water makes a huge difference!
• Weather is supposed to turn tomorrow - rain and no wind :(
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Light wind love then let down
Late tide tonight - think we got it sussed so I arrived at 5:30pm then set up ... got on the water about 6. Started on the Flyradical but the wind was dropping ... all the guys on 10s got off the water and I tried to ride my Flydoor but it wasn't happening.
Asked around, Sam though the wind would keep dropping so I pulled out the really freakin' big guns - good ol' Relentless. Had a chat with the guy who I would come to know as Brendan - he's learning and was desperate for a ride so set up anyway ... Fixed the bridle, put it in the air to many "OMG that's hooj kite!" type comments.
Powered! on the 'radical. Boosting to the moon! Front-spins, back-spins, transitions no worries! Wind is still dropping and jumps cost me too much ground upwind so I get back on the 'door. More big jumps then ... in the middle of a transition, something goes "sproing!" and the bar flies out of my hands ... I pull it in and check the CL - all seems well ... huh, maybe I popped it off when over-sheeting or something. Kite is soggy and tangled, I untangle it but it seems LE heavy and doesn't want to relaunch. I get it in the air and it arcs across to the RHS and I *think* there's something wrong up there, so I release to safety and self-rescue ... oh nuts I'm way the hell across the other side of the estuary from the car park and launch beach and downwind is the road that's only a meter or so from the water - can't go that way ... I'm in for a lo-ooong walk ...
No wait - Brendan has come to my rescue! We haul the kite on the curb, tie it up and he gives me a lift back to the carpark - cheers dude! "I so want one of them!" he says!
Check the kite - nothing seems wrong ... WTH did I just cause all that hassle cos I had the bar in my hands backwards or what?!?!?! Fu-uuuuu ...
Got back to the wife 90 minutes later than I was supposed to ... she was worried :D
Moment of the Day were all the people me watching me riding and playing in "no wind at all" :) FSer wins! Flawless victory! Except for the erm ...
Weather was SFA. Probably 10 knots when I messed up.
What I learned today ...
• Self-rescue with the big foil is fine - sure you have bridles floating around ... but I'd have the same problem on the Crossbows anyway. And it floats just fine. Too bloody well, in fact - if it had deflated at all, it would have been much easier to handle LOL
• Arriving 2 hours before the tide turns is perfect.
• Take yer bloody cell phone with you, jackass!
Asked around, Sam though the wind would keep dropping so I pulled out the really freakin' big guns - good ol' Relentless. Had a chat with the guy who I would come to know as Brendan - he's learning and was desperate for a ride so set up anyway ... Fixed the bridle, put it in the air to many "OMG that's hooj kite!" type comments.
Powered! on the 'radical. Boosting to the moon! Front-spins, back-spins, transitions no worries! Wind is still dropping and jumps cost me too much ground upwind so I get back on the 'door. More big jumps then ... in the middle of a transition, something goes "sproing!" and the bar flies out of my hands ... I pull it in and check the CL - all seems well ... huh, maybe I popped it off when over-sheeting or something. Kite is soggy and tangled, I untangle it but it seems LE heavy and doesn't want to relaunch. I get it in the air and it arcs across to the RHS and I *think* there's something wrong up there, so I release to safety and self-rescue ... oh nuts I'm way the hell across the other side of the estuary from the car park and launch beach and downwind is the road that's only a meter or so from the water - can't go that way ... I'm in for a lo-ooong walk ...
No wait - Brendan has come to my rescue! We haul the kite on the curb, tie it up and he gives me a lift back to the carpark - cheers dude! "I so want one of them!" he says!
Check the kite - nothing seems wrong ... WTH did I just cause all that hassle cos I had the bar in my hands backwards or what?!?!?! Fu-uuuuu ...
Got back to the wife 90 minutes later than I was supposed to ... she was worried :D
Moment of the Day were all the people me watching me riding and playing in "no wind at all" :) FSer wins! Flawless victory! Except for the erm ...
Weather was SFA. Probably 10 knots when I messed up.
What I learned today ...
• Self-rescue with the big foil is fine - sure you have bridles floating around ... but I'd have the same problem on the Crossbows anyway. And it floats just fine. Too bloody well, in fact - if it had deflated at all, it would have been much easier to handle LOL
• Arriving 2 hours before the tide turns is perfect.
• Take yer bloody cell phone with you, jackass!
Monday, December 26, 2011
Boxing Day blast!
Headed out to the estuary early to figure out the tides ... peak was due at 6:40pm and we arrived about 4. The lads went out on the water early though, in only a few inches of water. I waited patiently until the water had reached the shore then set up my 13m. Big wind! Didn't even bother with taking the Flydoor to the edge of the water :)
Bit gusty, from a tad underpowered to overpowered but big fun all the same. Lots of nice big jumps, some rotations and a lot of wipe-outs ... epic!
Moment of the Day was getting some long toe-side runs in ... so hard to do in a seat harness though! That was good, but the back-spins that got a bit of height on them take the win!
Weather was lots. Probably 25 to 30 knots I reckon but still, almost no chop!!!
What I learned today ...
• The Flyradical works best with the foot straps in the center position - it's just a whole lot less twitchy!
• Should have brought my 10 ... wasn't jumping that well because the kite was so depowered.
• Estuary is pretty bloody good!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Xmas on the ocean
In between opening Crimbo pressies and Xmas dinner, went to the beach to take advantage of low tide ... well that was the only time I could get out of the house and the tide was out and the estuary is closed so well, what can you do?
There was a bit of wind and I know that the sea breezes pick up later so I went for the Crossbow 16 and Flydoor. Pumped up on the grass area at the North Beach Surf Club and then locked the car and dragged it all down the beach.
Wind was a bit light, bit tough doing anything but holding ground for a long time; riding the flat water between waves and then trying hard to get upwind.
Then I dumped the kite in the surf and had to walk in to shore cos it had inverted then folded in half and refused to pop back into shape ... could've recovered that easy if it was a foil!
Took the opportunity to change the settings on the bridle - moved it to the 'faster steering' setting ... I like it. A tad faster steering, a little more bar pressure for turning but less for sheeting in.
Wind has picked up so I'm having more fun, jumping, crashing, splashing around ... nice day!
Bumped into the guy with the hair from Groundswell, who tried to have a windsurf - no good for him as the wind was all 'up' above wave height ...
Moment of the Day was discovering the different bridle settings were worth landing the kite for.
Weather was guessing again ... I would have said it was about 15 knots when I got there and got up to about 20 when I got off, but the guy with the hair said it was more like 10 to 15 at most ... I got the feeling that there was quite a gradient though!
What I learned today...
• Steering settings are better on "light" ... so far.
• Ocean is a whole other kettle of fish here - wind drives up much bigger waves than Machiya - more like Hamamatsu but they break further from shore.
• Seems that the Xbow likes to be turned as fast as possible and the dived up or down the whipped back around. Medium speed turns just bleed power but very slow sines are ok. How about that then.
• One application of sunblock is not enough :(
There was a bit of wind and I know that the sea breezes pick up later so I went for the Crossbow 16 and Flydoor. Pumped up on the grass area at the North Beach Surf Club and then locked the car and dragged it all down the beach.
Wind was a bit light, bit tough doing anything but holding ground for a long time; riding the flat water between waves and then trying hard to get upwind.
Then I dumped the kite in the surf and had to walk in to shore cos it had inverted then folded in half and refused to pop back into shape ... could've recovered that easy if it was a foil!
Took the opportunity to change the settings on the bridle - moved it to the 'faster steering' setting ... I like it. A tad faster steering, a little more bar pressure for turning but less for sheeting in.
Wind has picked up so I'm having more fun, jumping, crashing, splashing around ... nice day!
Bumped into the guy with the hair from Groundswell, who tried to have a windsurf - no good for him as the wind was all 'up' above wave height ...
Moment of the Day was discovering the different bridle settings were worth landing the kite for.
Weather was guessing again ... I would have said it was about 15 knots when I got there and got up to about 20 when I got off, but the guy with the hair said it was more like 10 to 15 at most ... I got the feeling that there was quite a gradient though!
What I learned today...
• Steering settings are better on "light" ... so far.
• Ocean is a whole other kettle of fish here - wind drives up much bigger waves than Machiya - more like Hamamatsu but they break further from shore.
• Seems that the Xbow likes to be turned as fast as possible and the dived up or down the whipped back around. Medium speed turns just bleed power but very slow sines are ok. How about that then.
• One application of sunblock is not enough :(
Friday, December 23, 2011
Shaken, not stirred!
Landed in Christchurch, New Zealand yesterday about 5pm ... went to the in-laws and crashed.
Got up the next morning and did a little business in the morning, then picked up the rental car. I went out to the beach alone to check it out - Estuary park looks awesome, nice grass area to set & launch and maybe landboard - then came home and started loading some gear into the car.
I'd just started rustling up the wife to come with me when the first earthquake hit - 5.8 on the Richter and 20km away to the NE and 8km deep. A good 'un! We had a few after-shocks but we jumped in the car anyway and headed back to the estuary - flat water awaits!
Got to the estuary and the tide wasn't properly in. Wind was cold and well up - I hadn't brought either my smaller Xbow or my wetsuit. As we were talking to another couple, another quake hit - 6.0 and only 10km away, 6km deep! Very violent, both the wife and the other couple got thrown to the ground ... I managed to keep my feet though - boarder skillz!
Had tons of daylight left and although I had to drive across the city, it takes very little time thanks to good drivers and road design. So we went home and got the 13m Xbow and wetsuit ...
Lots of liquifaction around the eastern suburbs, water and mud welling up ... gonna be heartbreaks out there today.
Got back to the estuary at 6pm and hit the water with the 13 and the Flydoor. Nicely powered, just comfy and having fun! A bit rusty - some messy jumps and rotations. Tried out the Flyradical but not enough wind. Go back to the 'door ...
Good session, I had fun and LOVED the flat-water! So nice to ride ... must get in some practice on toe-side while I can!!! Bit short, I could have done with another hour I think ...
Went home, had a souvlaki on the way and then enjoyed more quakes throughout the night ...
EDIT: Plummet gave me a link to a good weather site here - http://www.swellmap.com/surfing/new-zealand/new-brighton-beach
Moment of the Day was the flat-water riding! So smooth, so easy ...
Weather was I don't know. Felt like 15 to 20 knots. Probably 20°C but the wind was quite cold. I was comfortable in the wetsuit - until I had to take it off :o
What I learned today ...
• Flat-water is great! Easier to build up speed and hold it working the kite (duh!) but still not a magic pill for being a fattie ... everyone else was on 10's or 11's, and I was on a 13m bow kite and a huge board :(
• Shallow water is a bit freaky ... especially when the tide goes out :o
• And when the tide is out, it's time to stop - or the bottom will grab your board and stop you.
• Mud is just nasty.
• It gets everywhere and is hard to wash off.
• It's both easier and harder to boost off flat-water cos there are no waves-as-launch-ramps but there are no waves-as-brakes either ...
• I think I'm right in saying that shallow water runs smooth when there's nothing on the bottom ... those were the spots my fins touched down first!
• I hate Macs.
Got up the next morning and did a little business in the morning, then picked up the rental car. I went out to the beach alone to check it out - Estuary park looks awesome, nice grass area to set & launch and maybe landboard - then came home and started loading some gear into the car.
I'd just started rustling up the wife to come with me when the first earthquake hit - 5.8 on the Richter and 20km away to the NE and 8km deep. A good 'un! We had a few after-shocks but we jumped in the car anyway and headed back to the estuary - flat water awaits!
Got to the estuary and the tide wasn't properly in. Wind was cold and well up - I hadn't brought either my smaller Xbow or my wetsuit. As we were talking to another couple, another quake hit - 6.0 and only 10km away, 6km deep! Very violent, both the wife and the other couple got thrown to the ground ... I managed to keep my feet though - boarder skillz!
Had tons of daylight left and although I had to drive across the city, it takes very little time thanks to good drivers and road design. So we went home and got the 13m Xbow and wetsuit ...
Lots of liquifaction around the eastern suburbs, water and mud welling up ... gonna be heartbreaks out there today.
Got back to the estuary at 6pm and hit the water with the 13 and the Flydoor. Nicely powered, just comfy and having fun! A bit rusty - some messy jumps and rotations. Tried out the Flyradical but not enough wind. Go back to the 'door ...
Good session, I had fun and LOVED the flat-water! So nice to ride ... must get in some practice on toe-side while I can!!! Bit short, I could have done with another hour I think ...
Went home, had a souvlaki on the way and then enjoyed more quakes throughout the night ...
EDIT: Plummet gave me a link to a good weather site here - http://www.swellmap.com/surfing/new-zealand/new-brighton-beach
Moment of the Day was the flat-water riding! So smooth, so easy ...
Weather was I don't know. Felt like 15 to 20 knots. Probably 20°C but the wind was quite cold. I was comfortable in the wetsuit - until I had to take it off :o
What I learned today ...
• Flat-water is great! Easier to build up speed and hold it working the kite (duh!) but still not a magic pill for being a fattie ... everyone else was on 10's or 11's, and I was on a 13m bow kite and a huge board :(
• Shallow water is a bit freaky ... especially when the tide goes out :o
• And when the tide is out, it's time to stop - or the bottom will grab your board and stop you.
• Mud is just nasty.
• It gets everywhere and is hard to wash off.
• It's both easier and harder to boost off flat-water cos there are no waves-as-launch-ramps but there are no waves-as-brakes either ...
• I think I'm right in saying that shallow water runs smooth when there's nothing on the bottom ... those were the spots my fins touched down first!
• I hate Macs.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
No joy
Forecast looked great ... wind failed to deliver :(
Got literally 2 tacks out then it all packed in. I gave up and went and stood by the fire on the beach ...
Got literally 2 tacks out then it all packed in. I gave up and went and stood by the fire on the beach ...
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