Sunday, June 29, 2014

And now it's time for a bucket of sangria...

Light wind expected, but it was same in Hikone and Otsu and that usually means it's rideable.

Well, it was for a half hour or so but then it was up and down and gusty nasty - got lobbed and backrolled the "jump" riding it out - and then lulled to nothing.

So it sucked, but I hung around for as long as possible, being a sad desperate tosser. Sigh.

Weather was reported as 10 to 12 knots; 26˚C at 66%.
Wind felt like crap.


Thursday, June 26, 2014

Skirting the shore

Not some clever pun about summer fashions on the girls but a statement of the distance of my tacks today...!

Forecast was worse the risk of a day without responsibilities... looked ok-ish for the 13 when I arrived at 12 but I knew it was supposed to pick up so I risked the "small" kite.

Hard work to start with, working the kite to get moving and upwind. Gets easier, and more fun.

2 hours later, I'm pretty done - arms etc sore from working the kite hard, legs etc sore from doing stuff... time to call it quits and head to work.

Wind was 8 to 16 knots when I arrived and was pushing 20 when I left. It was good... except for the sunburn.

Forgot to add: SOME-THING-IS-TOUCH-ING-ME!!!

Stood on something slippery, thick and muscled that squirmed underfoot and gave me the heebie-jeebies... I jumped and squeaked like Grant Imahara.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Improvement impresses

Another light wind day scheduled... but the wind picked up gradually and it turned out to be oddly fun, doing rotations and getting real close to perfecting back roll transitions after some pfaffing around on the Dialer.

Having to go to work meant I cut it short as the wind was picking right up... sigh.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Sigh...

A few tacks were had but it was just too light to ride much, and it was up n' down playing silly buggers with my lust.

Weather was reported as 8 to 12 knots, 24 degrees at 65%.

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Too light

Wind was up, the forecast wasn't. A few of us had gathered... to be disappointed. Riding a few tacks but walking til it drops right off and dies. Oh well, at least I got out of the house for a bit.

What I learned today...
  • Need to pre-stretch my DIY pigtails... yikes!
  • Need to do the mixer!
  • Need to learn how to make a directional go upwind when the wind is light.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Forgot but not forgotten

Eep, forgot to fill this out...

Good ride on the 21 and the Limited. Wind picked up til I was uncomfy so I swapped for the XB but then the wind dropped. A few tacks on the Dialer but it was a waste of time so I packed up and went to work...

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Worth the effort

Had the day off and looking at the forecast wasn't really sure I wanted to bother with the trip... ended up glad I did though, despite having to avoid the lo-oong traffic jams on the highway by taking the "local" roads.

Thought the wind was good enough when I arrived for the S3 12 and a boost session, but I was wrong. A couple of tacks were a waste of time.

Out with the 21. Ride for a bit but then it drops. I messed with untangling the twisted mini-5th and by the time I'd done that, I was thinking the wind had picked up some.

Yeah, it had. Gradually went from holding ground to fully depowered kite.

So that was fun... gave up when I was too tired.

Weather was reported as 12 to 16 knots, gusts to 25 :o 27 degrees C at 75%.
Wind felt like underpowered a lot to approaching uncomfortably over-powered. 25 knots might explain that...!

What I learned today...
  • Have to sort the 15 out!!!
  • hop-to-toeside carve transitions - need more board input, it seems.
  • Orange and peach frozen sherbets are in season! w00t.