Two different forecasts online today: GPV said a nice peak at 1pm then falling off; JMA said 12-18 all day. Hmm… put my money on GPV and went early.
Arrived about 12:30. Hmm, tough call on the weather—people are out on 9 to 12s… it's supposed to pick up too. I'll go with the Flite, I think.
Hmm, crowded beach—lots of non-regulars. Launch and go, making my way through the gear.
Out with the Flydoor, easy powered but could do with more power. Jumps aren't massive and I can't get double-rotations done. After a few minutes, it picks up though and I'm enjoying myself.
Good double front-spins, definitely different feel to the S3—more direct which shouldn't surprise me. Seems a bit easier to time it too, but it's also easy to send it back too far. Splash!
Had fun for a while then decided to get on the Mako before the wind dropped. Had a nice time playing out there, then decided to head back and get the Flydoor and a drink again, but could hardly get back to the beach, so had to walk a bit.
Went back out but it was light, so I gave up and headed back to the beach. Hironobu was doing his TV thing in the Shiva suit; very amusing! Stood around watching that and waiting for the wind, but I don't think it's going to happen so I pack it in. First back to the showers, that's a first!
Moment of the day was… well, there were the perfect 720 front- and back-spins, but I think the long ride into the marina beach on the mutant was the winner.
Mood of the session was well-satisfied.
Weather was reported as 8 knots with gusts to 15; 28˚C at 60%.
Wind felt like 15 dropping to 10, gusts to 18—happy-powered at best, just under-powered when I got off the water.
What I learned today…
• Flite likes speed into the jump with enough edging to load and pop but not so much that your stop the board. Sheet in, ride downwind a while until you build speed then send the kite and edge.Be gentle with the board!
• Front 720 down-loop transitions. Easier than 360s!
• Hand-drag back-spin transitions… watch the loop! Hand further out.
• Sunburn season is here :( glad I wore my hat!
• Sand burning feet season is here too!
• Accidentally did a kite-loop back-roll and I didn't die. Not sure I want to try it again just yet though.
• Mistress of Disaster is just u-s-e-l-e-s-s: she can't even transition properly. And she nearly dumped her kite on top of kids swimming at the YMCA beach zone. Stupid cow.
• Turkey just can't relaunch any kite. He got blown down to the marina beach and his kite dragged over the rocks on the drain. I spotted 2 holes in his canopy when he tried to relaunch later on…
• Back foot pad further back on the Mako… sticks better into the water but also feels vaguer. Which is odd, cos with it further forward it feels less vague but more slide-y.
• No problem with upwind again.
• The thing with the bottom end Flydoor vs. Mako mutant—the 'door will park 'n' ride for longer but the angle is about the same. You gotta work the kite sooner on the Mako and so you sink. Not much sooner though…
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