Wind is due later in the afternoon, so did some stuff at lunch time then headed to the lake. Got there about 3pm, just ahead of the wind. Came in cracking like yesterday but was a bit more gusty.
Headed out on the 'radical with the Renegade harness, slung low and doing fine... till I fell over and pushed it up again. Got off the water and swapped harnesses... felt really weird at first but is an improvement. Much more comfy...
So the wind is cracking, and I'm having a blast! Over-powered but loving it. Front-rolls were off but back-rolls were great. Numerous no-hander foot-outs too... guess that's how I tweaked my knee :-/
Fun jumps, not so high but hours of hang time. Then the wind kicked it up for a bit and I got a few jumps that made me want to "HOOWOO" and wish someone was filming. Narrowly missed someone's kite when the gust lofted me a good 'un... but kinda got the hang of looping on landings. Kinda. One time I wasn't paying attention and managed to get the kite out of shape and folded the leading edge.
Waves were only good one way for boosting, so it was ride out jumping then back in making ground upwind.
Stayed out til I was the last one on the lake, pushing sunset. Feeling very beaten up but I like flying.
Gloves man had either a front line or bridle break on him - guess the later, cos he didn't just swap the bar over... ooh, just thought - he might have broken a pulley! Going to replace mine with Ronstan Orbits - so long as I can find blue Amsteel.
On Miyahci's blog, I am now a kite size. He makes a short comment about the day, often adds a phot, lists wind direction, number of kiters, and the sizes used; like 8~14 or whatever. Days I'm there, I'm using gear that's just so OTT it's merely written as "8~Kevin". I'm not sure how to process that...
Moment of the day was smacking a 'wave'... long carve across the front of it as it broke and sent a fine, gentle spray across my face.
Mood of the session was mwa-hahahaa!
Song stuck in my head was The Immigrant Song by Led Zepplin... "Valhalla I am coming..." BOOOST!
It sucks when you fall over and push the harness up your body so it starts digging into you chest again... and the muscles are still sore from yesterday so even though you're using a waist harness, it still feels like it's digging into you, every time you have to use the muscles.
Weather was reported as 12 to 18 knots, gusts to 26; 12˚C at 48%.
Wind felt like ~18 knots with gusts just over 20.
What I learned today...
• Wetsuits fit better when you put them on properly :D
• Seems I can either have a harness that gives proctological exams or one that attempts open-heart surgery.
• Flite has about the same wind range (tad wider) as the XB16 but is way more fun.
• Really need a smaller kite though, cos I'm losing the edge boosting when that over-powered.
• Gotta sort out the 15m Speed3. See above...
• Upwind easier with the knots on the long setting.
• Looping on landing big jumps... don't forget to pay attention to what the kite is doing.
• All the people with cameras out there... and I bet I don't get any pics of the good stuff!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
At long last!
Made the mistake of checking the hourly weather on the lake while I was in Nagoya "on business" and of course, it was cracking. I felt so good. Today, the forecast was for not very much but GPV said a burst of nice would come in about 3pm, so I headed down the lake about 1 and set up...
Out with the Flite again, then stood around on the beach waiting for the wind. Picked up a bit around 2:30 so I thought I'd give it a go... Almost 100% walk back up the beach. Then 75%, then 50%, then 0% and then 75% again so I gave up, landed the kite and had a drink.
Shortly after, the wind came in! Cracking! Bit over-powered so I headed straight out on the Flyradical... blast out and get straight into boosting. Easy semi-decent jumps... the Flite doesn't boost to the moon but has mad hangtime. It's just a shame the spreader bar pad is digging into my chest. Felt a bit too much for stunts but tried some, and they all went well.
Was riding with my new Switch 4/3 wetsuit and Dakine Renegade waist harness... The wetsuit was fine but the harness spent the whole time digging into my sternum :(
3-hour session wound up when I couldn't stand the poking in the ribs. It was good though. At least I think it was... finishing this after Sunday's session cos we went out to see Cloud Atlas last night right after I got home...
Moment of the day was just getting out again after all week stuck in Nagoya.
Mood of the session was do-de-doo rock on! gnnn.
Weather was reported as 8-12 knots, gusts to 20 (1am) and 12˚C 50%.
Wind felt like sub-10 knots then 15 to 20.
What I learned today...
• Had the kite on the 'short' knots which was nice when the wind was down, but had to trim the kite when it was up. Will stick with the long knots, I think.
• Trimming the kite is easy enough, I have no issues with below-the-bar depower.
• What I do have issues with is the waist harness, digging into my chest... I'll try it again but I may be going back to the seat harness if I can't get it to sit on my waist properly!
• The Swtich 4/3 wetsuit is 2XL and a ittle big snug around the legs (seam behind the knee bit some), little bit lose around the forearms?!?! Fits fine otherwise. Warm enough today, although I could feel cold wind-chill on my chest... a fleece panel there would be great!
• Wore my Ballistic Slippers but too cold for that sill - the exposed skin chilled the rest of my feet.
Out with the Flite again, then stood around on the beach waiting for the wind. Picked up a bit around 2:30 so I thought I'd give it a go... Almost 100% walk back up the beach. Then 75%, then 50%, then 0% and then 75% again so I gave up, landed the kite and had a drink.
Shortly after, the wind came in! Cracking! Bit over-powered so I headed straight out on the Flyradical... blast out and get straight into boosting. Easy semi-decent jumps... the Flite doesn't boost to the moon but has mad hangtime. It's just a shame the spreader bar pad is digging into my chest. Felt a bit too much for stunts but tried some, and they all went well.
Was riding with my new Switch 4/3 wetsuit and Dakine Renegade waist harness... The wetsuit was fine but the harness spent the whole time digging into my sternum :(
3-hour session wound up when I couldn't stand the poking in the ribs. It was good though. At least I think it was... finishing this after Sunday's session cos we went out to see Cloud Atlas last night right after I got home...
Moment of the day was just getting out again after all week stuck in Nagoya.
Mood of the session was do-de-doo rock on! gnnn.
Weather was reported as 8-12 knots, gusts to 20 (1am) and 12˚C 50%.
Wind felt like sub-10 knots then 15 to 20.
What I learned today...
• Had the kite on the 'short' knots which was nice when the wind was down, but had to trim the kite when it was up. Will stick with the long knots, I think.
• Trimming the kite is easy enough, I have no issues with below-the-bar depower.
• What I do have issues with is the waist harness, digging into my chest... I'll try it again but I may be going back to the seat harness if I can't get it to sit on my waist properly!
• The Swtich 4/3 wetsuit is 2XL and a ittle big snug around the legs (seam behind the knee bit some), little bit lose around the forearms?!?! Fits fine otherwise. Warm enough today, although I could feel cold wind-chill on my chest... a fleece panel there would be great!
• Wore my Ballistic Slippers but too cold for that sill - the exposed skin chilled the rest of my feet.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Better than forecast but not good enough
Forecast called for SFA but the camera and hourly reports looked good so I geared up and headed out. Hmm, up close the lake doesn't look this there's a lot of wind after all.
I rig the Flite with a bit of trepidation cos it seems strong... get into the damp wetsuit and take the Flyradical and Mako over to the beach. So is on his 14m Havoc but reckons he's over-powered. I go out on the 'radical and feel just powered... it's ok. So get his 12m Hadlow out but very soon slams it and rips it LE to TE. Poor bugger!
Rolls are good, jumps are ok-ish, transitions are fun. Water is chopped up to shit, like there were big boats going every which way... tough to get board speed, a smooth line or launch. Wind keeps dropping...
Stop for a break and a drink. Beach is getting a bit crowded cos there's a few of us here. Mr Fujii turns up in a light wetsuit and no gloves or boots... and later complains it's cold LOL.
Go back out on the 'radical but it's not working. Come back in, take the Mako back to the car and get the Flydoor. Better, but I still have to work the kite some.
Come in for another drink, wait for a bit more wind. Chat with Gloves Guy and he confesses he's working on frontrolls. Inspires me to go out and try them more... mmm, they're tough when there's no wind. Start doing sent frontrolls - they're working! Woo hoo! Wind keeps dropping...
... now I'm the last one on the water. No one is looking and a voice in my head says "Try a kite loop"... first attempt, the kite gets around but I land hard on the board. Second attempt goes better - a pull downwind and land with speed, ride off. Keep in mind though that my fins are barely clearing the water - real sissy loops! Eventually, I forget to really pull the bar and slam hard - right into my nuts! Ouchies... do one more to prove I can, then get off the water.
Long session, crappy wind but some good times!
Moment of the day was carving up the face of a way, redirecting the kite then carving out the other way... it felt good!
Mood of the session was grr whee bah.
Song stuck in my head was My Beautiful Balloon by Nancy Sinatra. Up, up and away!
It sucks when the wind looks like it's storming but is actually a baby fart.
Weather was reported as 12-15 knots, gusts no more than 24 knots at 11am. 9˚C at 54%.
Wind felt like 5 to 10 knots. It was some serious all show and no blow BS going on today!
What I learned today...
• Sent frontrolls - not that difficult, actually. Just haul on the bar when you're halfway around.
• Kiteloops jumps... mmm. Now I've started, I guess I'll keep doing then until I smash myself in the nuts again. Need more height, I think, and to watch the How To's again.
• More sunblock! More water!
• Want a directional... Nugget?
I rig the Flite with a bit of trepidation cos it seems strong... get into the damp wetsuit and take the Flyradical and Mako over to the beach. So is on his 14m Havoc but reckons he's over-powered. I go out on the 'radical and feel just powered... it's ok. So get his 12m Hadlow out but very soon slams it and rips it LE to TE. Poor bugger!
Rolls are good, jumps are ok-ish, transitions are fun. Water is chopped up to shit, like there were big boats going every which way... tough to get board speed, a smooth line or launch. Wind keeps dropping...
Stop for a break and a drink. Beach is getting a bit crowded cos there's a few of us here. Mr Fujii turns up in a light wetsuit and no gloves or boots... and later complains it's cold LOL.
Go back out on the 'radical but it's not working. Come back in, take the Mako back to the car and get the Flydoor. Better, but I still have to work the kite some.
Come in for another drink, wait for a bit more wind. Chat with Gloves Guy and he confesses he's working on frontrolls. Inspires me to go out and try them more... mmm, they're tough when there's no wind. Start doing sent frontrolls - they're working! Woo hoo! Wind keeps dropping...
... now I'm the last one on the water. No one is looking and a voice in my head says "Try a kite loop"... first attempt, the kite gets around but I land hard on the board. Second attempt goes better - a pull downwind and land with speed, ride off. Keep in mind though that my fins are barely clearing the water - real sissy loops! Eventually, I forget to really pull the bar and slam hard - right into my nuts! Ouchies... do one more to prove I can, then get off the water.
Long session, crappy wind but some good times!
Moment of the day was carving up the face of a way, redirecting the kite then carving out the other way... it felt good!
Mood of the session was grr whee bah.
Song stuck in my head was My Beautiful Balloon by Nancy Sinatra. Up, up and away!
It sucks when the wind looks like it's storming but is actually a baby fart.
Weather was reported as 12-15 knots, gusts no more than 24 knots at 11am. 9˚C at 54%.
Wind felt like 5 to 10 knots. It was some serious all show and no blow BS going on today!
What I learned today...
• Sent frontrolls - not that difficult, actually. Just haul on the bar when you're halfway around.
• Kiteloops jumps... mmm. Now I've started, I guess I'll keep doing then until I smash myself in the nuts again. Need more height, I think, and to watch the How To's again.
• More sunblock! More water!
• Want a directional... Nugget?
Thursday, March 21, 2013
You won't believe what I seen...
No pogo-sticks - the lunatics were at the end of a kite... I'll get to it in a bit.
Forecast was for epic all day but we got crappy gusting to gravy instead. Dropped the wife off at that train station (she's going to Singapore in the school hols) and hit the lake... got on the water about 2, I guess.
Dennis the Menace was there too and was thrilled he wasn't alone... I wasn't so sure. He put up his 9, and I put up my 13 and thought I was making a mistake... too small!
Played for a bit on my 'radical, then got on the Mako cos I really wanted to try it out again. But the wind was up'n'down like whore's drawers and I ended up walking and getting on the Flydoor - yes I took all three over to the beach!
Some nice backrolls - I'm really getting my goofy side sorted! - but for the life of me, couldn't land a frontroll that wasn't UGLY. A few nice jumps but a lot of the time was spent mowing the lawn back upwind... really needed more sail in the air - probably could have gotten away with a 15m :D loop transitions were iffy cos the wind was erratic... did a lot of chicken loops tee hee!
As the afternoon wore on, So turned up and broke the wind, then Skinny Naish Dude turned up and fixed it. Had another hour of hee-haws then I started feeling sick from lack of food and drink so called it a day. It was 6pm when I got into the car :o long session!
Now for the derp... Dennis the Menace of course.
First up, he drops his kite at the shore break (numerous times) but gets it tangled and twisted... so he marches in from the water, picks the kite up, straightens out the bowtie and... lobs it downwind :o it tumbles till it reaches the end of the lines then he spins the bar to sort it out.
Next, he's fucking around on shore again and is trying to tether-launch. He's at the right hand side of the window, setting up the kite - I look away briefly, and when I look back, the kite is making its own way to the LHS of the window... slam!
So he finally gets the kite in the air and there's a bloody stick - not a twig or weed - a STICK jammed in his front line bridle. Does he land and pull it out? No way man! just keep riding till it falls out... or kills him.
Lunatic!
Moment of the day was hard to choose - no jumps that really made me go woohoo, no really awesome stunts, no great wave rides... lets just say riding powered was an achievement.
Mood of the session was grr gar aah.
It sucks when the kite stalls when you sheet out, it stalls when you sheet in, but the wind is blowing leaves off trees...
Weather was reported as 16 to 12 knots, 6.5˚C at 45%. No data on gusts that's reliable, cos we had 50 knots at midnight and we only get peak gusts recorded so... I measured 15 to 20 knots on the beach when I arrived, so I bet that's the best we got.
Wind felt like 40% aah 40% bah 20% argh!
What I learned today...
• Sometimes, you should go with your gut and rig big.
• Sunburn! Hey Zeus, I need to go with multiple coatings.
• Need to check the bar tune on the Cab 65cm.
• Also need to start taking the 2L thermos to the beach... damn the 6mm sweat suit!
• Going from the Flyboards to the Mako... the Fly's seem so locked into the edges, the Mako more loose. Still struggle to get it upwind in light conditions...
• Can fit three boards and all the gear into the car nice and snug, with no knocking or abrasion. It matters.
• Take your shades and wear them!
• I'm sure there was something else...
Forecast was for epic all day but we got crappy gusting to gravy instead. Dropped the wife off at that train station (she's going to Singapore in the school hols) and hit the lake... got on the water about 2, I guess.
Dennis the Menace was there too and was thrilled he wasn't alone... I wasn't so sure. He put up his 9, and I put up my 13 and thought I was making a mistake... too small!
Played for a bit on my 'radical, then got on the Mako cos I really wanted to try it out again. But the wind was up'n'down like whore's drawers and I ended up walking and getting on the Flydoor - yes I took all three over to the beach!
Some nice backrolls - I'm really getting my goofy side sorted! - but for the life of me, couldn't land a frontroll that wasn't UGLY. A few nice jumps but a lot of the time was spent mowing the lawn back upwind... really needed more sail in the air - probably could have gotten away with a 15m :D loop transitions were iffy cos the wind was erratic... did a lot of chicken loops tee hee!
As the afternoon wore on, So turned up and broke the wind, then Skinny Naish Dude turned up and fixed it. Had another hour of hee-haws then I started feeling sick from lack of food and drink so called it a day. It was 6pm when I got into the car :o long session!
Now for the derp... Dennis the Menace of course.
First up, he drops his kite at the shore break (numerous times) but gets it tangled and twisted... so he marches in from the water, picks the kite up, straightens out the bowtie and... lobs it downwind :o it tumbles till it reaches the end of the lines then he spins the bar to sort it out.
Next, he's fucking around on shore again and is trying to tether-launch. He's at the right hand side of the window, setting up the kite - I look away briefly, and when I look back, the kite is making its own way to the LHS of the window... slam!
So he finally gets the kite in the air and there's a bloody stick - not a twig or weed - a STICK jammed in his front line bridle. Does he land and pull it out? No way man! just keep riding till it falls out... or kills him.
Lunatic!
Moment of the day was hard to choose - no jumps that really made me go woohoo, no really awesome stunts, no great wave rides... lets just say riding powered was an achievement.
Mood of the session was grr gar aah.
It sucks when the kite stalls when you sheet out, it stalls when you sheet in, but the wind is blowing leaves off trees...
Weather was reported as 16 to 12 knots, 6.5˚C at 45%. No data on gusts that's reliable, cos we had 50 knots at midnight and we only get peak gusts recorded so... I measured 15 to 20 knots on the beach when I arrived, so I bet that's the best we got.
Wind felt like 40% aah 40% bah 20% argh!
What I learned today...
• Sometimes, you should go with your gut and rig big.
• Sunburn! Hey Zeus, I need to go with multiple coatings.
• Need to check the bar tune on the Cab 65cm.
• Also need to start taking the 2L thermos to the beach... damn the 6mm sweat suit!
• Going from the Flyboards to the Mako... the Fly's seem so locked into the edges, the Mako more loose. Still struggle to get it upwind in light conditions...
• Can fit three boards and all the gear into the car nice and snug, with no knocking or abrasion. It matters.
• Take your shades and wear them!
• I'm sure there was something else...
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Flite delivers the goods again
Hurt my back lifting weights this morning - no, really, I was doing kettlebells and on the up-swing, something in my mid-back spasmed and left me whimpering like a little girl. Finished my workout though :D I'll be skipping the 'bells for a while.
Despite that, the wind was forecast to be a teeny bit good today so I thought I'd head out for a look anyway - being my last week of holidays and all. Got to the lake about 12:20 and the wind was picking up, so I thought I'd go for it with the Flite and the new OR Freeride bar.
Pumped it up and laid the bar out - nice! That sure is a lo-oong depower line LOL! I like the orange too, it matches my bike :D and it's easy to see when spinning the bar.
A bar review then...
OR ditched the ergo bend and adjustable width cos they said nobody used them and I have to admit, I don't on bars I have that do. Shame, cos I like ergo things; been using an MS ergo keyboard for 20 years now :o
Bar is of a thick diameter (bucking a trend) and has serious finger ridges. I like both so far - but I was in 2mm gloves again today. The bar ends are the 'horns' like Ozone bars and do their job just fine. They have 'built-in' bungy line-tides with a tab that tuck away when not it use - I like that design touch.
Line adjustment is under the floats. Oh Shit! handles are velcro secured for tidiness.
The depower line has two areas about 50mm long that have a smaller diameter line spliced inside it - I guess they are there to give tactile feedback for the stopper for depower throw and for max trim. If/when I replace the depower line, I'm going to splice in a red line and loop it over like Naish bars for a visible reference. Swivel is the Mickey Mouse-ears things with a neoprene covered pulley for the depower line; apparently, these things work just fine but they look naff. If I get anal, I'll replace it for the Naish/Mutiny/Slingshot plastic sexy thing.
Lines are 23m long, plus the depower/leader lines are at least 3m I swear! Look like Ozone lines too - red for left, blue for right. Pigtails are on the end of the lines. Bridles are short but do their job to roll the kite over easy.
QR is old school; a flap that releases the chicken loop, similar to the Naish system but external - easy to reset in the water. QR/CL body is rugged black nylon. Chicken finger is bolted onto the body, so it swivels and is easy to engage... I'd prefer it to be integrated into the body cos that looks slicker ;) no swivel below the bar but you don't need it.
Safety is one end of the depower line - when released it pulls through the CL body and the kite goes away; works just fine, the stopper slides up to the swivel. Depower is the other end of the depower line, below the bar, a cleat on the CL. Forgot to test it but it held fine. I imagine you could leash to the depower side if you really wanted too... QR/CL body will 'lock' or nest into the bar nicely...
Relaunch... finally tested it today several times. It's almost automatic! A poorly timed looped had the kite LE down directly down-wind of me; the kite was on it's back but had tension in the steering lines, so it floated away to the edge of the window, came up on it's tip then got off the water and hovered a few feet in the air when I tensioned the bar :o fabulous!
Re-ride... hmm. Kite goes totally onto its back, completely depowered, the depower line goes all the way through the CL/QR body and up to the swivel. I hauled the bar back in, reassembled the QR (easy!) then expected the depower line just to feed out till the kite was in 'normal' configuration. Didn't happen so I manually fed the line through the swivel... kite stayed on it's back, despite me pulling on the rear lines. Oh noes! it's going to be a C-kite launch. I was too lazy to swim around so like a dummy I just kept pulling the lines until... I tangle it all up :D manage to invert the kite and relaunch it but now the rear lines are through the fronts - OMG it's actually an arc!!! Got back to the beach though...
I guess I gotta work on that!
...
Back to the kiting. Tether-launch, hum'n'har about board choice then head out with the 'radical. Works fine! The water is unusually flat so it's super-sweet riding! Upwind is good so I get to playing. Man it's good to be able to ride the fun board in light wind and on flat water! Despite the light wind, I'm having a great old time! Front-rolls, back-rolls, transitions - oh my!
I'd been on the water for an hour by myself before I decided to test the re-ride. Got back to the YMCA beach and tried to land the kite to throw the bar through the lines... it wasn't co-operating so I walked back to our beach and noticed that asshole guy who tells everyone what size kite they should be using had arrived. Self-landed, got a drink of water, then got back out on the lake.
Having such a great time! More people arrive - Tall Skinny Guy, Can't relaunch my Helix guy, and Dennis the Menace.
I don't want to stop but I'm starting to fell REALLY tired so I call it day - the wind has dropped anyway, just as it was forecast to do. I get back to my car at 4:30 - I was out for 3 hours!
Back didn't bother me either ;) bi-winning!
Moment of the day was front-roll, back-roll, front-roll, back-roll, jump-downloop transition, back-roll... like a BOSS.
Mood of the session was surprised extra-stoked exhausted.
It sucks when you only have your 6mm suit and it's 20˚C out!
Weather was reported as 8 to 12 knots, gusts to 18; 16˚C at 61%.
Wind felt like 75% gravy, 24% almost gravy, 1% oh damn I'm walking.
What I learned today...
• Relaunch is awesome.
• Re-ride is need practice.
• Have to start putting my 3/2 in the car - too damned hot in the 6mm, I was dying out there! But the water is bloody cold!
• Got a repair to do on the 6mm too :( stitching coming undone under the chin.
• Jumping with the Flite: best results from riding fast, edging but not braking then leaping when it pulls up, sheet in and... I can see my house from here! Sheeting out some once it's sent seems to help but I had good results just riding up the face of waves with the bar in too :D
• Sheeting out on a too big back-roll chops the height but you don't lose control.
• Knees up on the front rolls!
• Backrolls on my goofy side are feeling pretty much like on my good side!
• If you do a bunch of loops all in the same direction, the depower line will twist but you can loop back in the other direction to sort it out.
• The depower line will clack on the hole through the bar... distracted me till I figured out what it was.
• Sand washes out of the bar holes etc very easily!
Despite that, the wind was forecast to be a teeny bit good today so I thought I'd head out for a look anyway - being my last week of holidays and all. Got to the lake about 12:20 and the wind was picking up, so I thought I'd go for it with the Flite and the new OR Freeride bar.
Pumped it up and laid the bar out - nice! That sure is a lo-oong depower line LOL! I like the orange too, it matches my bike :D and it's easy to see when spinning the bar.
A bar review then...
OR ditched the ergo bend and adjustable width cos they said nobody used them and I have to admit, I don't on bars I have that do. Shame, cos I like ergo things; been using an MS ergo keyboard for 20 years now :o
Bar is of a thick diameter (bucking a trend) and has serious finger ridges. I like both so far - but I was in 2mm gloves again today. The bar ends are the 'horns' like Ozone bars and do their job just fine. They have 'built-in' bungy line-tides with a tab that tuck away when not it use - I like that design touch.
Line adjustment is under the floats. Oh Shit! handles are velcro secured for tidiness.
The depower line has two areas about 50mm long that have a smaller diameter line spliced inside it - I guess they are there to give tactile feedback for the stopper for depower throw and for max trim. If/when I replace the depower line, I'm going to splice in a red line and loop it over like Naish bars for a visible reference. Swivel is the Mickey Mouse-ears things with a neoprene covered pulley for the depower line; apparently, these things work just fine but they look naff. If I get anal, I'll replace it for the Naish/Mutiny/Slingshot plastic sexy thing.
Lines are 23m long, plus the depower/leader lines are at least 3m I swear! Look like Ozone lines too - red for left, blue for right. Pigtails are on the end of the lines. Bridles are short but do their job to roll the kite over easy.
QR is old school; a flap that releases the chicken loop, similar to the Naish system but external - easy to reset in the water. QR/CL body is rugged black nylon. Chicken finger is bolted onto the body, so it swivels and is easy to engage... I'd prefer it to be integrated into the body cos that looks slicker ;) no swivel below the bar but you don't need it.
Safety is one end of the depower line - when released it pulls through the CL body and the kite goes away; works just fine, the stopper slides up to the swivel. Depower is the other end of the depower line, below the bar, a cleat on the CL. Forgot to test it but it held fine. I imagine you could leash to the depower side if you really wanted too... QR/CL body will 'lock' or nest into the bar nicely...
Relaunch... finally tested it today several times. It's almost automatic! A poorly timed looped had the kite LE down directly down-wind of me; the kite was on it's back but had tension in the steering lines, so it floated away to the edge of the window, came up on it's tip then got off the water and hovered a few feet in the air when I tensioned the bar :o fabulous!
Re-ride... hmm. Kite goes totally onto its back, completely depowered, the depower line goes all the way through the CL/QR body and up to the swivel. I hauled the bar back in, reassembled the QR (easy!) then expected the depower line just to feed out till the kite was in 'normal' configuration. Didn't happen so I manually fed the line through the swivel... kite stayed on it's back, despite me pulling on the rear lines. Oh noes! it's going to be a C-kite launch. I was too lazy to swim around so like a dummy I just kept pulling the lines until... I tangle it all up :D manage to invert the kite and relaunch it but now the rear lines are through the fronts - OMG it's actually an arc!!! Got back to the beach though...
I guess I gotta work on that!
...
Back to the kiting. Tether-launch, hum'n'har about board choice then head out with the 'radical. Works fine! The water is unusually flat so it's super-sweet riding! Upwind is good so I get to playing. Man it's good to be able to ride the fun board in light wind and on flat water! Despite the light wind, I'm having a great old time! Front-rolls, back-rolls, transitions - oh my!
I'd been on the water for an hour by myself before I decided to test the re-ride. Got back to the YMCA beach and tried to land the kite to throw the bar through the lines... it wasn't co-operating so I walked back to our beach and noticed that asshole guy who tells everyone what size kite they should be using had arrived. Self-landed, got a drink of water, then got back out on the lake.
Having such a great time! More people arrive - Tall Skinny Guy, Can't relaunch my Helix guy, and Dennis the Menace.
I don't want to stop but I'm starting to fell REALLY tired so I call it day - the wind has dropped anyway, just as it was forecast to do. I get back to my car at 4:30 - I was out for 3 hours!
Back didn't bother me either ;) bi-winning!
Moment of the day was front-roll, back-roll, front-roll, back-roll, jump-downloop transition, back-roll... like a BOSS.
Mood of the session was surprised extra-stoked exhausted.
It sucks when you only have your 6mm suit and it's 20˚C out!
Weather was reported as 8 to 12 knots, gusts to 18; 16˚C at 61%.
Wind felt like 75% gravy, 24% almost gravy, 1% oh damn I'm walking.
What I learned today...
• Relaunch is awesome.
• Re-ride is need practice.
• Have to start putting my 3/2 in the car - too damned hot in the 6mm, I was dying out there! But the water is bloody cold!
• Got a repair to do on the 6mm too :( stitching coming undone under the chin.
• Jumping with the Flite: best results from riding fast, edging but not braking then leaping when it pulls up, sheet in and... I can see my house from here! Sheeting out some once it's sent seems to help but I had good results just riding up the face of waves with the bar in too :D
• Sheeting out on a too big back-roll chops the height but you don't lose control.
• Knees up on the front rolls!
• Backrolls on my goofy side are feeling pretty much like on my good side!
• If you do a bunch of loops all in the same direction, the depower line will twist but you can loop back in the other direction to sort it out.
• The depower line will clack on the hole through the bar... distracted me till I figured out what it was.
• Sand washes out of the bar holes etc very easily!
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Like an internet tough guy
... the weather was making a big ol' noise beating its chest and wobbling my car around on the way to the lake, but when I actually got out on the water is wasn't that strong at all.
Measured 6-10m/s on the shore so went with the 13m XB... got out on the Flyradical too so that was good.
Wind sure was odd - couldn't just sheet and go, had to work the kite and it was seeming like it wanted to be sheeted out the whole time to make power... sheet in and it'd stall. Uh?
Got some nice boosts in but I had to pick'n'choose the gusts and aim for decent waves. Wind was a bit on'n'off so I didn't do many stunts, although I did try to do foot-outs but was so tired by that time I couldn't lift my legs high enough to grab the board.
Went down the windsurfers side of the river and played in the bigger, cleaner waves there - what a hoot! But it looked like I decided to head 'home' just in time, cos the wind dropped just after I arrived. Diddled around for a while, but the wind died right off and I was getting tired so I decided to call it a day.
Great session, it was actually pretty relaxing out there, in spite of the wind's attempt to be all rough'n'tough.
Moment of the day was whooping a BIG back-roll with a sent kite, facing the wrong way for a long time and thinking "Oh crap I'm gonna get spanked!" then redirecting the kite and coming in for a smooth landing like I meant to do it.
Mood of the session was doop-de-doo whee blah.
It sucks when you find a hole in your kite :(
Weather was reported as 14-18 knots, gusts no more than 36 knots (8 am) at 6˚C, 48%.
Wind felt like 60% ok powered, 30% happy-happy, 5% uh-oh, 5% su-uuucks.
What I learned today...
• Front-rolls are physically easier than they are mentally.
• Need to get back into doing my trademark "Disco is Dead" Man...
• The LE access zipper can pinch holes in the canopy. Shit.
• Might get an electric pump, if I'm going to be working until 5pm... might save me a few minutes. Especially if I'm going to set up more than one kite... today, I could have done with the 10m set up for shits'n'giggles but couldn't be arsed pumping it up too.
Measured 6-10m/s on the shore so went with the 13m XB... got out on the Flyradical too so that was good.
Wind sure was odd - couldn't just sheet and go, had to work the kite and it was seeming like it wanted to be sheeted out the whole time to make power... sheet in and it'd stall. Uh?
Got some nice boosts in but I had to pick'n'choose the gusts and aim for decent waves. Wind was a bit on'n'off so I didn't do many stunts, although I did try to do foot-outs but was so tired by that time I couldn't lift my legs high enough to grab the board.
Went down the windsurfers side of the river and played in the bigger, cleaner waves there - what a hoot! But it looked like I decided to head 'home' just in time, cos the wind dropped just after I arrived. Diddled around for a while, but the wind died right off and I was getting tired so I decided to call it a day.
Great session, it was actually pretty relaxing out there, in spite of the wind's attempt to be all rough'n'tough.
Moment of the day was whooping a BIG back-roll with a sent kite, facing the wrong way for a long time and thinking "Oh crap I'm gonna get spanked!" then redirecting the kite and coming in for a smooth landing like I meant to do it.
Mood of the session was doop-de-doo whee blah.
It sucks when you find a hole in your kite :(
Weather was reported as 14-18 knots, gusts no more than 36 knots (8 am) at 6˚C, 48%.
Wind felt like 60% ok powered, 30% happy-happy, 5% uh-oh, 5% su-uuucks.
What I learned today...
• Front-rolls are physically easier than they are mentally.
• Need to get back into doing my trademark "Disco is Dead" Man...
• The LE access zipper can pinch holes in the canopy. Shit.
• Might get an electric pump, if I'm going to be working until 5pm... might save me a few minutes. Especially if I'm going to set up more than one kite... today, I could have done with the 10m set up for shits'n'giggles but couldn't be arsed pumping it up too.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Me, Miyachi and Mako
Yesterday Miyachi said there'd be wind today and he was right. Wind looked steady all day on jma.co.jp so hopefully, it won't be gusty madness like yesterday. Got myself organized, got myself a coffee, and got myself down to the lake about midday.
Had a bit of a chat with Miyachi while I finished my Joe. Can't get a bead on the wind so I take the XB13 and the Flite over to the lake - gonna pump one of them up before I get into the wetsuit cos it's hot. Measure the wind as 8 to 12 knots at the edge of the lake, gusting to 16... but it's cold and every time I turn my back on the lake, it hits like more than 20. Rig the 13 to be safe, take the Flydoor and the Mako (for a change) over when I'm changed...
Start out on the Mako, easily powered but the wind is up and down. Swap it and the Flydoor a few times during the next 90 minutes. Just me and Miyachi for the whole time I'm riding too - lake to myself, basically!
Now that the mutant holes are plugged in the Mako, it's much more pleasant to ride. Spend some time getting used to it, trying to figure out how to get upwind best. Board is much more pleasant in the rough with the pads in the 'normal' stance width. Still bounces a bit much if you don't soak it up a bit with your knees, which makes for a very smooth ride. Board jumps easy too, with a slightly different technique than the flatter boards. Carves and glides down the "waves" like a boss - this is going to be a hoot in mutant mode!
Wind is not really cooperating - it's up'n'down and I have to keep swapping boards; loosing ground while playing then riding the gusts to get back upwind. Gack.
Nothing much to report otherwise, had a nice time till 2:30-ish when, at the peak of a jump, I heard a sproing and felt something give - looked down and yup, the spreader bar has broken again. Only on the right hand side, so I try to land myself without loading the kite, the make it back to shore very gingerly. Land the kite without drama... huh, the remaining side is actually pretty solid - I can't wiggle it to break it at all. But I have no spare so my day is over... only advantage is I can get another coffee.
Good session; rediscovering the Mako, having a gentle play, enjoying some moderately good air... gravy!
Moment of the day was the first big easy boost on the Mako.
Mood of the session was confused amused bemused.
It sucks when you break ANOTHER spreader bar, and have long since stopped putting the spare in your car...
Weather was reported as 12 to 16 knots, gusts no more than 32 but that was at midnight. 7˚C at 44%.
Wind felt like 10 to 15 knots, gusts to 20. Tops. 63% comfy-power, 25% slightly under-power, 10% about to walk, 2% glad I didn't rig a bigger kite.
What I learned today...
• Best way to ride the Mako seems to be bend both knees thus weighting the front, not edging too hard thus riding the concave and fins, keeping as much of the board planing as possible. Maybe.
• Jumping doesn't need a lot of carving upwind, just loading the rear and actually jumping off the back of the board, as it were.
• Need sunblock :(
• Sunglasses, too.
• Also need to start carrying spare spreader bars FFS.
• Those thin gloves from Workman do just fine. When you're body-dragging, you feel the cold water but it's not uncomfy and once you're out, they're just peachy. Win!
• Could do with a 15m :D
Had a bit of a chat with Miyachi while I finished my Joe. Can't get a bead on the wind so I take the XB13 and the Flite over to the lake - gonna pump one of them up before I get into the wetsuit cos it's hot. Measure the wind as 8 to 12 knots at the edge of the lake, gusting to 16... but it's cold and every time I turn my back on the lake, it hits like more than 20. Rig the 13 to be safe, take the Flydoor and the Mako (for a change) over when I'm changed...
Start out on the Mako, easily powered but the wind is up and down. Swap it and the Flydoor a few times during the next 90 minutes. Just me and Miyachi for the whole time I'm riding too - lake to myself, basically!
Now that the mutant holes are plugged in the Mako, it's much more pleasant to ride. Spend some time getting used to it, trying to figure out how to get upwind best. Board is much more pleasant in the rough with the pads in the 'normal' stance width. Still bounces a bit much if you don't soak it up a bit with your knees, which makes for a very smooth ride. Board jumps easy too, with a slightly different technique than the flatter boards. Carves and glides down the "waves" like a boss - this is going to be a hoot in mutant mode!
Wind is not really cooperating - it's up'n'down and I have to keep swapping boards; loosing ground while playing then riding the gusts to get back upwind. Gack.
Nothing much to report otherwise, had a nice time till 2:30-ish when, at the peak of a jump, I heard a sproing and felt something give - looked down and yup, the spreader bar has broken again. Only on the right hand side, so I try to land myself without loading the kite, the make it back to shore very gingerly. Land the kite without drama... huh, the remaining side is actually pretty solid - I can't wiggle it to break it at all. But I have no spare so my day is over... only advantage is I can get another coffee.
Good session; rediscovering the Mako, having a gentle play, enjoying some moderately good air... gravy!
Moment of the day was the first big easy boost on the Mako.
Mood of the session was confused amused bemused.
It sucks when you break ANOTHER spreader bar, and have long since stopped putting the spare in your car...
Weather was reported as 12 to 16 knots, gusts no more than 32 but that was at midnight. 7˚C at 44%.
Wind felt like 10 to 15 knots, gusts to 20. Tops. 63% comfy-power, 25% slightly under-power, 10% about to walk, 2% glad I didn't rig a bigger kite.
What I learned today...
• Best way to ride the Mako seems to be bend both knees thus weighting the front, not edging too hard thus riding the concave and fins, keeping as much of the board planing as possible. Maybe.
• Jumping doesn't need a lot of carving upwind, just loading the rear and actually jumping off the back of the board, as it were.
• Need sunblock :(
• Sunglasses, too.
• Also need to start carrying spare spreader bars FFS.
• Those thin gloves from Workman do just fine. When you're body-dragging, you feel the cold water but it's not uncomfy and once you're out, they're just peachy. Win!
• Could do with a 15m :D
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Storm front fun
Didn't think I'd get a session in today, cos the forecast looked borked - snow and rain and mental wind. Storm front coming through I guess... thought I'd go and look anyway. Yeah, it's cold but the wind is up and the rain is easing. Hmm...
Junkie sensei is out on the water with a 7m SB he borrowed (brave man) from Dennis the Menace and he looks like he's doing well. Measure the wind as 10-12m/s - if the gusts are bad, I might prefer the 10. Miyachi reckons I should take the 16. He's taking a 6 - bloody joker!
Leave the shop to get ready about 2:30pm... by the time I gear up and get over to the lake, the wind has dropped some and I'm a bit concerned the 13 won't be enough. I can tell it's gusty though, so I head out on the Flyradical.
Not bad. Trim the kite for comfort and start playing. Fun!
Then the wind kicks it up a notch :o crikey it's a bit mental out here! Hang on to the kite and try to jump when I can... get some great boosts in but it's hard getting upwind in the gusty conditions and some get a bit close to shore. Not to mention the epileptic elevator rides... gets hairy at times, lobs and drops and jerks. The wind is punchy and shifty and very, very angry!
This one time, I lose the board on take off and get to enjoy a nice flight without it... recover from the off-kilter take-off, then almost loop the kite, now the shore is coming up and SPLASH oh I've hit the bottom - hope I don't lose the kite and... no! Whee, great fun - now I'm still alive.
Repeat that with various erm variations... I daren't try doing any stunts. Carving the waves is risky enough... after a while, I'm alone on the lake. Then Ji-chan comes out and - the wind drops. I ride for a while more but am just powered and falling... I give it up when I almost have to walk. It's been about 3 hours anyway!
Moment of the day was not getting killed.
Mood of the session was hmmmm yeaaaah aaaargh.
It sucks when the wind has a delta-V of about 30 knots in the gusts...
Song stuck in my head was California Dreamin' by The Mamas & The Papas. "I'd be safe and warm, if I was in LA."
Weather was reported as 12 to 16 knots with gusts to 36 :o 5.3°C at 80% and falling.
Wind felt like 50% the 20-25 knots I'd measured on the shore, 30% AW SHIT SON and 20% Am I going to have to walk?
What I learned today...
• Drying your gloves inside-out messes up the rubber on the fingers, where they crease as they're inverted. Thankfully, only on the $8 gloves, not my lovely XCEL gear.
• You can invert a Crossbow by sending it hard across the window and completely sheeted out.
• Might need to start wearing sunblock... and sunglasses.
• Thank god I didn't try to use a Flysurfer - they would've been jerking and yanking like a school boy.
• Crossbow is good'n'stable but not very exciting, except when the shit is hitting the fan... Razor 12 want :)
Junkie sensei is out on the water with a 7m SB he borrowed (brave man) from Dennis the Menace and he looks like he's doing well. Measure the wind as 10-12m/s - if the gusts are bad, I might prefer the 10. Miyachi reckons I should take the 16. He's taking a 6 - bloody joker!
Leave the shop to get ready about 2:30pm... by the time I gear up and get over to the lake, the wind has dropped some and I'm a bit concerned the 13 won't be enough. I can tell it's gusty though, so I head out on the Flyradical.
Not bad. Trim the kite for comfort and start playing. Fun!
Then the wind kicks it up a notch :o crikey it's a bit mental out here! Hang on to the kite and try to jump when I can... get some great boosts in but it's hard getting upwind in the gusty conditions and some get a bit close to shore. Not to mention the epileptic elevator rides... gets hairy at times, lobs and drops and jerks. The wind is punchy and shifty and very, very angry!
This one time, I lose the board on take off and get to enjoy a nice flight without it... recover from the off-kilter take-off, then almost loop the kite, now the shore is coming up and SPLASH oh I've hit the bottom - hope I don't lose the kite and... no! Whee, great fun - now I'm still alive.
Repeat that with various erm variations... I daren't try doing any stunts. Carving the waves is risky enough... after a while, I'm alone on the lake. Then Ji-chan comes out and - the wind drops. I ride for a while more but am just powered and falling... I give it up when I almost have to walk. It's been about 3 hours anyway!
Moment of the day was not getting killed.
Mood of the session was hmmmm yeaaaah aaaargh.
It sucks when the wind has a delta-V of about 30 knots in the gusts...
Song stuck in my head was California Dreamin' by The Mamas & The Papas. "I'd be safe and warm, if I was in LA."
Weather was reported as 12 to 16 knots with gusts to 36 :o 5.3°C at 80% and falling.
Wind felt like 50% the 20-25 knots I'd measured on the shore, 30% AW SHIT SON and 20% Am I going to have to walk?
What I learned today...
• Drying your gloves inside-out messes up the rubber on the fingers, where they crease as they're inverted. Thankfully, only on the $8 gloves, not my lovely XCEL gear.
• You can invert a Crossbow by sending it hard across the window and completely sheeted out.
• Might need to start wearing sunblock... and sunglasses.
• Thank god I didn't try to use a Flysurfer - they would've been jerking and yanking like a school boy.
• Crossbow is good'n'stable but not very exciting, except when the shit is hitting the fan... Razor 12 want :)
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Best day evah? Flite for the win!
Miyachi said yesterday that there'd be wind today - I was skeptical cos I'd seen the forecast, but I went out and did some chores in the morning, stopped by at Locus to check... anything.
There was a slight breeze and I was going to fiddle with the Pyscho4 again but somehow I got roped into fiddling with the Locus webcam - locus-biwako51.ddo.jp/ - which hasn't been working for weeks. Miyachi is about as tech-savvy as the missus... which is to say, not at all. I figured out pretty quick that the new camera he got for the system didn't have the same AV plug as the old one and Miyachi was trying to use the USB plug. I fiddled with the old camera and.. bingo! Got it working again :)
Miyachi was convinced the wind was on the way, so I went home and got my gear... put a drain hole in the legs of the whale scrot. Took the old 3/2 for Miyachi to fix the seams before I chop the legs off to make it a 3/4... while we were meddling, the wind kicked it up a knot and the Master of Disaster and Mistress of Disaster both headed over to the lake. Oh goody...
I had a moment of genius and remembered that ages ago I'd bought a set of Slingshot pigtails from Miyachi - they'll be prefect to convert the OR kite to work with the Cabrinha bar... so I take that over to the lake. In the back of my mind, I'm thinking I might have to have the Psycho4 19 too cos while we've got white caps, the waves aren't very big and the wind doesn't feel strong enough for a tube...
Ooh, it looks beautiful pumped up! Pigtails work - should be trimmed about right too... rush back to put the 'suit on. Jesus it's getting too hot for that thing but I want to test the drainage...
By the time I get back to the beach, everyone is on the water - even Miyachi - so I have to tether launch. With a strange kite on a non-matching bar... joy! Despite my fears, it goes up without a problem. I check the trim - might be a tad over-sheeting but I've got grunt so I'm going for it...
Out onto the water with the Flydoor a-aaand... we're off! Nicely powered! I trim the kite a bit to ease the pressure on the bar...
What do I think of the Flite?
• Jumps are floaty and hang-time is great; height is very good but I think the Psycho get me up higher. Setting up for a jump - sheet in, point downwind a tad and pick up a bunch of speed, then send the kite and hang on!
• Landings are easy as the redirect is precise and the kite is quick.
• Turns fast makes great power in the loops!
• Stable - I really want to see it on a bar with a stopper and see how it compares to the Naish Fly.
• Very well behaved; even when fully depowered and sheeted right out, the kite responds to the bar and barely flutters the canopy.
• Upwind is great, working the kite makes power, it builds apparent wind quickly, you can park it real quick.
• Gusts don't bother it much, although it gets a tad twitchy - the tips jiggle a tiny bit. 4 struts and it's LIGHT so I guess the jiggling is to be expected... compared to a 7-strut Crossbow!
• Comparing it to the 16m XB... turns quicker; makes more power, easier, in loops; sheet'n'go is as easy; upwind is comparable, if not better; bottom end is perhaps better; top-end is marred by the twitching but probably comparable - depends on the accuracy of the weather station :-/ and the bar pressure is probably about the same...
• Things I want to change - the pulleys for sliders or Ronstan Orbits; the tube clips - are different to the Cabs - feel funny; low-flow pump valve - seriously?; big white panel in the canopy - my OCD can see the dirt there :(By far the most fun big kite I've used! I want the 15 and a razor 12 and 10 now :D
So anyway... I was loving it! Jumps were a hoot! Started doing back-rolls and they were working so well I started doing front-rolls and they were just awesome so I started doing back-roll transitions with a downloop to power out of them and they were so good I got into the downloop jump transitions and... dang I had fun! It all seemed so easy to do!
Luckily, the Master of Disaster did his thing (fly upwind on the race board) then got the hell off the lake. He was on an 11m Naish Charger. The Mistress of Disaster was doing her half-assed unhooked railey-to-assplant thing on her new 10m Switchblade Siren series (lassie, replacing your 2012 Envy isn't going to help) and was going back'n'forwards on the same tack - she couldn't really get upwind, it seemed. I had no issues ;) She left and it was just me and Miyachi on his 10m Reo and directional...
Having a great time on the Flydoor, easily going upwind no matter how many silly things I did... thought I'd swap to the 'radical. Also easy to do silly things then work back upwind :D awesome fun to be had!
I was getting pretty tired - hadn't eaten anything but a tomato advocado salad and a milkshake all day - but I was determined to be the last one on the lake. As the sun slipped below the horizon, Miyachi finally landed his kite and I followed suit.
So to sum up today...
Moment of the day was when I realized just how good the Flite is (or at least, how well suited to me it is) and then started throwing down :D
Mood of the session was cautious psyched exhausted.
It sucks when you realize you have to sell all your Crossbows!
Weather was reported as 7 to 10 knots, peak gust of 16 just before I got on the water about 3pm. 12.6°C at 54%.
Wind felt like 15 to 20 knots :o Seriously, the kite was pulling like a good 'un the whole session!
What I learned today...
• I have moments of genius. They may be few and far between, but when they're good, they're really good.
• The Flite is the right kite for me now and it ROCKS!
• I want my frickin' bar!!!
• It's so much easier to do stuff when you can rely on the kite! I'd find myself doing backroll downloop transitions and forget that I've done all that hard stuff and can just be enjoying carving away on the new tack!
• Might have to sell the Psycho too :o
• The drain holes work good - but I can feel cold water come in through them when I'm IN the water :( so I don't think I need more than the one.
There was a slight breeze and I was going to fiddle with the Pyscho4 again but somehow I got roped into fiddling with the Locus webcam - locus-biwako51.ddo.jp/ - which hasn't been working for weeks. Miyachi is about as tech-savvy as the missus... which is to say, not at all. I figured out pretty quick that the new camera he got for the system didn't have the same AV plug as the old one and Miyachi was trying to use the USB plug. I fiddled with the old camera and.. bingo! Got it working again :)
Miyachi was convinced the wind was on the way, so I went home and got my gear... put a drain hole in the legs of the whale scrot. Took the old 3/2 for Miyachi to fix the seams before I chop the legs off to make it a 3/4... while we were meddling, the wind kicked it up a knot and the Master of Disaster and Mistress of Disaster both headed over to the lake. Oh goody...
I had a moment of genius and remembered that ages ago I'd bought a set of Slingshot pigtails from Miyachi - they'll be prefect to convert the OR kite to work with the Cabrinha bar... so I take that over to the lake. In the back of my mind, I'm thinking I might have to have the Psycho4 19 too cos while we've got white caps, the waves aren't very big and the wind doesn't feel strong enough for a tube...
Ooh, it looks beautiful pumped up! Pigtails work - should be trimmed about right too... rush back to put the 'suit on. Jesus it's getting too hot for that thing but I want to test the drainage...
By the time I get back to the beach, everyone is on the water - even Miyachi - so I have to tether launch. With a strange kite on a non-matching bar... joy! Despite my fears, it goes up without a problem. I check the trim - might be a tad over-sheeting but I've got grunt so I'm going for it...
Out onto the water with the Flydoor a-aaand... we're off! Nicely powered! I trim the kite a bit to ease the pressure on the bar...
What do I think of the Flite?
• Jumps are floaty and hang-time is great; height is very good but I think the Psycho get me up higher. Setting up for a jump - sheet in, point downwind a tad and pick up a bunch of speed, then send the kite and hang on!
• Landings are easy as the redirect is precise and the kite is quick.
• Turns fast makes great power in the loops!
• Stable - I really want to see it on a bar with a stopper and see how it compares to the Naish Fly.
• Very well behaved; even when fully depowered and sheeted right out, the kite responds to the bar and barely flutters the canopy.
• Upwind is great, working the kite makes power, it builds apparent wind quickly, you can park it real quick.
• Gusts don't bother it much, although it gets a tad twitchy - the tips jiggle a tiny bit. 4 struts and it's LIGHT so I guess the jiggling is to be expected... compared to a 7-strut Crossbow!
• Comparing it to the 16m XB... turns quicker; makes more power, easier, in loops; sheet'n'go is as easy; upwind is comparable, if not better; bottom end is perhaps better; top-end is marred by the twitching but probably comparable - depends on the accuracy of the weather station :-/ and the bar pressure is probably about the same...
• Things I want to change - the pulleys for sliders or Ronstan Orbits; the tube clips - are different to the Cabs - feel funny; low-flow pump valve - seriously?; big white panel in the canopy - my OCD can see the dirt there :(By far the most fun big kite I've used! I want the 15 and a razor 12 and 10 now :D
So anyway... I was loving it! Jumps were a hoot! Started doing back-rolls and they were working so well I started doing front-rolls and they were just awesome so I started doing back-roll transitions with a downloop to power out of them and they were so good I got into the downloop jump transitions and... dang I had fun! It all seemed so easy to do!
Luckily, the Master of Disaster did his thing (fly upwind on the race board) then got the hell off the lake. He was on an 11m Naish Charger. The Mistress of Disaster was doing her half-assed unhooked railey-to-assplant thing on her new 10m Switchblade Siren series (lassie, replacing your 2012 Envy isn't going to help) and was going back'n'forwards on the same tack - she couldn't really get upwind, it seemed. I had no issues ;) She left and it was just me and Miyachi on his 10m Reo and directional...
Having a great time on the Flydoor, easily going upwind no matter how many silly things I did... thought I'd swap to the 'radical. Also easy to do silly things then work back upwind :D awesome fun to be had!
I was getting pretty tired - hadn't eaten anything but a tomato advocado salad and a milkshake all day - but I was determined to be the last one on the lake. As the sun slipped below the horizon, Miyachi finally landed his kite and I followed suit.
So to sum up today...
- Got a choco-mint milkshake
- Fixed the webcam
- Sorted the draining in the legs of the whale scrot - ju-uuust right
- Rocked the Flite til dark - like a boss
- Came home to find a job offer waiting for me
- Toasted cheese sandwiches for dinner
- Baskin Robbins ice cream for desert
Moment of the day was when I realized just how good the Flite is (or at least, how well suited to me it is) and then started throwing down :D
Mood of the session was cautious psyched exhausted.
It sucks when you realize you have to sell all your Crossbows!
Weather was reported as 7 to 10 knots, peak gust of 16 just before I got on the water about 3pm. 12.6°C at 54%.
Wind felt like 15 to 20 knots :o Seriously, the kite was pulling like a good 'un the whole session!
What I learned today...
• I have moments of genius. They may be few and far between, but when they're good, they're really good.
• The Flite is the right kite for me now and it ROCKS!
• I want my frickin' bar!!!
• It's so much easier to do stuff when you can rely on the kite! I'd find myself doing backroll downloop transitions and forget that I've done all that hard stuff and can just be enjoying carving away on the new tack!
• Might have to sell the Psycho too :o
• The drain holes work good - but I can feel cold water come in through them when I'm IN the water :( so I don't think I need more than the one.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
A nice surprise...!
Well. Forecast was for absolutely nothing gusting to SFA. I'd finished the FDS bridle tune-up and reworking the Switch fifth-line as an FDS line, so I thought I'd take advantage of being an unemployed bum and go to the lake and replace all the gubbins.
Quick'n'easy to sort out... and there's a teeny bit of wind so I pull and pump the kite into the air. The FDS is MILES too long with the 3m extension so I drop it and yank it. Nope still too long... by about a 1/2 meter I reckon...
... hmm, the wind is up. I'm doing some jumps on the beach and thinking it might be good for a ride but my gear hasn't been hung out and is still sopping wet. Tall skinny guy with the Park on the directional is setting up though - and Hironobu has just arrived. All signs for a good session!
Wriggle into the suit - eek! it's cold - and lumber out to the beach where the P4 19 is still laid out. This'll be it's first run since it's trip over the road and trees...
Launch it and test it out - should be good enough. A tack out and in, one more and I have to walk the whole way up the beach. Out again and gradually the wind picks up and we're all riding upwind - just.
It's pretty funny that I can boost 3m airs but struggle to get back upwind to my starting point... the Psycho is pulling hard across the zenith, so loading the board with speed then carving and popping from the board as the kite is sent makes all the altitude.
Several times though, I boost right out of the straps. Or land with one foot in the strap... manage to drop the kite a few times too, in the process of falling on my ass/face/back. Had to launch it arc style twice, which got me a bit concerned cos it didn't really want to open up one time... had to haul in a LOT of rear line until I got air into the trailing edge, then the kite opened out LE down.
Some nice back-rolls too, both directions. Started in on the loop transitions too - so much easier to get a good lateral pull with the Psycho! Lose so much ground downwind though :D Taco the kite on a redirect only once, but keep pulling and loop it back around and into flight again... hmm...
The wind builds to a nice peak - all from the north - for an hour or so, then tails off again. As the sun sets, I'm struggling to get back to the starting point so I call it a day. The bells go off as I'm loading the car - 6 p.m. already! - must have been on the water for 2 hours... and I thought nothing was going to happen today! Sweet!
Moment of the day was when the picked up and I realized I could actually get out and ride - when I hadn't been expecting anything at all!
Mood of the session was surprised happy satisfied.
It sucks when you jump right outa your straps... but not much.
Song stuck in my head was You're the Voice by John Farnham. Whoa-ohhh-ooh-ohhh-whoa-oh-ooh oh! etc.
Weather was reported as 9 to 12 knots, gusts no more than 20 knots (at 1 a.m.); 9°C at 54%.
Wind felt like 10 to 15 knots, gusts to 20 or so. Slightly under-powered to nicely powered but wanting MOAR.
What I learned today...
• You can pop earlier, use the board to get off the water a bit before the kite starts the pull up... cool feeling to get yoinked up once you're already airborne!
• Ran the kite with about 5cm of trimmer pulled, seemed to ride the best there... might put a knot or two in the rear leader under the floats once I've tuned the lines again.
• Gotta repair the stitched stopper on the Black Rope - it's been ripped in half :o
• The best thing about FDS is that it doesn't twist when you do rotations, like the FLS does.
• Might be able to replace the Endline with the one off the 15m bar...
Quick'n'easy to sort out... and there's a teeny bit of wind so I pull and pump the kite into the air. The FDS is MILES too long with the 3m extension so I drop it and yank it. Nope still too long... by about a 1/2 meter I reckon...
... hmm, the wind is up. I'm doing some jumps on the beach and thinking it might be good for a ride but my gear hasn't been hung out and is still sopping wet. Tall skinny guy with the Park on the directional is setting up though - and Hironobu has just arrived. All signs for a good session!
Wriggle into the suit - eek! it's cold - and lumber out to the beach where the P4 19 is still laid out. This'll be it's first run since it's trip over the road and trees...
Launch it and test it out - should be good enough. A tack out and in, one more and I have to walk the whole way up the beach. Out again and gradually the wind picks up and we're all riding upwind - just.
It's pretty funny that I can boost 3m airs but struggle to get back upwind to my starting point... the Psycho is pulling hard across the zenith, so loading the board with speed then carving and popping from the board as the kite is sent makes all the altitude.
Several times though, I boost right out of the straps. Or land with one foot in the strap... manage to drop the kite a few times too, in the process of falling on my ass/face/back. Had to launch it arc style twice, which got me a bit concerned cos it didn't really want to open up one time... had to haul in a LOT of rear line until I got air into the trailing edge, then the kite opened out LE down.
Some nice back-rolls too, both directions. Started in on the loop transitions too - so much easier to get a good lateral pull with the Psycho! Lose so much ground downwind though :D Taco the kite on a redirect only once, but keep pulling and loop it back around and into flight again... hmm...
The wind builds to a nice peak - all from the north - for an hour or so, then tails off again. As the sun sets, I'm struggling to get back to the starting point so I call it a day. The bells go off as I'm loading the car - 6 p.m. already! - must have been on the water for 2 hours... and I thought nothing was going to happen today! Sweet!
Moment of the day was when the picked up and I realized I could actually get out and ride - when I hadn't been expecting anything at all!
Mood of the session was surprised happy satisfied.
It sucks when you jump right outa your straps... but not much.
Song stuck in my head was You're the Voice by John Farnham. Whoa-ohhh-ooh-ohhh-whoa-oh-ooh oh! etc.
Weather was reported as 9 to 12 knots, gusts no more than 20 knots (at 1 a.m.); 9°C at 54%.
Wind felt like 10 to 15 knots, gusts to 20 or so. Slightly under-powered to nicely powered but wanting MOAR.
What I learned today...
• You can pop earlier, use the board to get off the water a bit before the kite starts the pull up... cool feeling to get yoinked up once you're already airborne!
• Ran the kite with about 5cm of trimmer pulled, seemed to ride the best there... might put a knot or two in the rear leader under the floats once I've tuned the lines again.
• Gotta repair the stitched stopper on the Black Rope - it's been ripped in half :o
• The best thing about FDS is that it doesn't twist when you do rotations, like the FLS does.
• Might be able to replace the Endline with the one off the 15m bar...
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Patience is its own reward
One homepage said the wind would be good till 3 p.m., the other said it'd be crap. The window showed no wind at all, not even moving the steam clouds from the factories. So we went to lunch at Stagione in Yasu and enjoyed great Italian food - as always.
About 12 I saw the leaves twitch. And flags flap. And grass fields sway... so I dumped the wife at home and headed down to the lake.
My plan was to play with the Ocean Rodeo Flite 17.5 but I had a nagging suspicion that they have their pigtail "back to front"... so I took it outa the bag - beautiful! but the pig tails ARE back the front. I toy with the idea of putting the pigtails on my Cabrinha bar back-to-front but they're really jammed in there and now the wind is up. I give up on it and drag the 16m Xbow over to the lake and set up...
Wriggle into the whale scrot. Choose the thinner gloves cos it's not that cold and the sun is out... stand around on the beach waiting for the wind.
It comes and goes. We get a bit of a ride then we wait some. It'd be good if it stayed around for more then 5 minutes. Then we get a good session... starting to feel a bit over-powered after a half hour or so, so I swap for the Flyradical and whaddyaknow? The wind dies...
Wait around a bit while everyone else packs up... once they've left though, the wind really picks up and we (me and skinny directional guy with the Park) have a really good hours play till what must be about 5 p.m. Wind was good and consistent - got some nice jumps with good grabs, phat back-rolls, neato jump and back-roll transitions and even throw down some front rolls!
Nice session, should keep the psychosis at bay for a while.
Moment of the Day was landing 2 very sweet front rolls!
Mood of the session was amused annoyed satisfied.
It sucks when your kite falls outa the sky and wraps around driftwood on the shore then turns itself upside and floats up into the sky.
Weather was reported as 10 to 15 knots, gusts no more than 26 knots (which was at 2 a.m.); 6°C at 54%.
Wind felt like 15 knots gusting to 20 but I couldn't get on the 'radical :(
What I learned today...
• You can't ride along with one foot out of the straps on the front of the board then put it back in after it falls out when jumping. You fall over. Which is a shame, cos it looks stylish.
• The Cab bar could do with a stopper. If you hold the bar carefully and keep the kite constantly turning it makes nice power... sheeting out during turns really kills the power.
• Grabs (that could be foot-outs) can be flown single-handed if you redirect gently pretty much the whole time after you get the board grabbed.
• Front-rolls need more power and less kite-sending... for now. Except the redirect for landing.
• I WANT MY Ocean Rodeo BAR fucking Chinese factory...
About 12 I saw the leaves twitch. And flags flap. And grass fields sway... so I dumped the wife at home and headed down to the lake.
My plan was to play with the Ocean Rodeo Flite 17.5 but I had a nagging suspicion that they have their pigtail "back to front"... so I took it outa the bag - beautiful! but the pig tails ARE back the front. I toy with the idea of putting the pigtails on my Cabrinha bar back-to-front but they're really jammed in there and now the wind is up. I give up on it and drag the 16m Xbow over to the lake and set up...
Wriggle into the whale scrot. Choose the thinner gloves cos it's not that cold and the sun is out... stand around on the beach waiting for the wind.
It comes and goes. We get a bit of a ride then we wait some. It'd be good if it stayed around for more then 5 minutes. Then we get a good session... starting to feel a bit over-powered after a half hour or so, so I swap for the Flyradical and whaddyaknow? The wind dies...
Wait around a bit while everyone else packs up... once they've left though, the wind really picks up and we (me and skinny directional guy with the Park) have a really good hours play till what must be about 5 p.m. Wind was good and consistent - got some nice jumps with good grabs, phat back-rolls, neato jump and back-roll transitions and even throw down some front rolls!
Nice session, should keep the psychosis at bay for a while.
Moment of the Day was landing 2 very sweet front rolls!
Mood of the session was amused annoyed satisfied.
It sucks when your kite falls outa the sky and wraps around driftwood on the shore then turns itself upside and floats up into the sky.
Weather was reported as 10 to 15 knots, gusts no more than 26 knots (which was at 2 a.m.); 6°C at 54%.
Wind felt like 15 knots gusting to 20 but I couldn't get on the 'radical :(
What I learned today...
• You can't ride along with one foot out of the straps on the front of the board then put it back in after it falls out when jumping. You fall over. Which is a shame, cos it looks stylish.
• The Cab bar could do with a stopper. If you hold the bar carefully and keep the kite constantly turning it makes nice power... sheeting out during turns really kills the power.
• Grabs (that could be foot-outs) can be flown single-handed if you redirect gently pretty much the whole time after you get the board grabbed.
• Front-rolls need more power and less kite-sending... for now. Except the redirect for landing.
• I WANT MY Ocean Rodeo BAR fucking Chinese factory...
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