Maybe the last hurrah

Wind never picked up, maybe 12 to 15 knots, but I got to play with the Sonic2 and the TT at high tide  on the estuary . . .

Having a hard time getting the timing right for the kite, as it's as big and slow as the 21 some times and is as easy to stall as the 12. Not 100% sure I like it for "freeride" as it proved impossible to do any tricks that needed a loop to complete or power them.

Hmm. Still stayed out for 4 hours though :D

Foil fail-ish

Tried to foil at the beach. Fail. Too light . . . got up for a handful of tacks but not enough with the get upwind, and impossible to ride waves or gybe. So that's the limit for the SB. And I think it's too slow :o

Went to look at the estuary and the guy with the foil from last year, with the 16m XB, was out so I got tooled up again and headed out to keep him company at high tide.

Started out just fine, got my courage up and did some downloop gybes. Dropped the kite once, and it was interesting reverse launching it. The higher AR shows . . . got going again, then as the sun went down the wind dropped a little and I chickened out and heading back to shore.

So the LF still works, eh.

Back again

Gah, wind never arrived. Probably just as well, an easy easing back into it to test the tender bits.

Tried to ride the Sonic and the TT but the wind kept falling. Waited for the tide to come in then tried the foil, but it was just too shallow out there. Or my mast is still too long (!) despite all the bits I've cut off...

Ho-hum, this'd better do

Last one for a while . . . don't ask.

It's light but I'm enjoying running through my repertoire of TT tricks, so that was nice. Might have clicked with getting the best air out of the SB too . . . maybe.

A new toy!

Good forecast and the tide was right...and I had the time. So let's go.

Started out light and picked up but the kite was deforming so I landed and pumped it more. Better! Still a bit of a hiccup if I sheet out fast and rapidly...hmm.

Can't figure out how to jump it. Really seems I'm either out of touch with the TT or the technique has to be spot on, or at least very tight. Maybe 12m is still too big...

Had some fun, got the tricks flowing finally after a messy start.

After a very long time I headed back to shore to call it a day, and who should be there be Mr Axis?! Couldn't say no to a ride on the foil!

It's a prototype aluminum mast and fuse, flat G10 wing set. Board was a carbon stubbie. Whole thing was taut (like a toiger) and light. 600mm mast might have helped.

Easy to ride, great speed range, and stable but still fun to flick around. Adrian reckoned I was riding very nose up, but I was keeping the speed down cos I was overpowered on the 12. Low speed stall was gentle and no nasty speed twitches. In fact, I got a runaway on a gust that just kept building speed but I rode it out for a long time before deciding to bail. There was a bit of fish-tailing but Adrian said all the wing and fin holes were hand tapped and are wonky! :o Good ride though, I want it :D

Adrian reckons I need a bigger wing and is going to get the factory to make one :D hope he brings a 7 or 800mm mast too.

Season gets under way

Got out on the last of the tide to try put the new kite. Seems ok :D wind wasn't up to much put I got to play some...

Little bit light

Should have been good, but the wind didn't shift until after 3, then it was light wind puttering around. Oh well, at least I coukd still get back to shore.

Much better

Good wind, easy power on the 10.  Adrian was there, so I returned the Vanguard (sniff) and got a wee run on a fat rail Limited 138... Nice!

I really hate wax

No joy again today. "The next three days are going to be great" seems to be the local joke.

Got desperate and headed out for a run. The Axis board stuns again with how good it is, and wax annoys me again with how shit it is.

Give up after a few runs and walks. Again.

I hate wax

Hmm, lost some days here. Sure I went out on the last two days but then what happened to Thursday?

Low tide early afternoon so I head to the beach rather than the estuary... No messing about, straight out with the Speed and Spud.

Bah. So close to being able to go upwind well, but I can't so I ride, carve a turn, ride back, jump off and wade out upwind...

After an hour or so, I give up and ogle the blonde in the bikini as I pack up.

Head to the estuary cos I think I can get some riding in. Same set up; works just ok, I'm getting upwind a tad so I switch to the smaller Axis prototype Vanguard clone.

Oh myyy! What a stunning thing to ride... only 5' 4" but bloody hell, it cranks upwind, handles chop, and carves a turn better than the Spud. Which is bigger and wider. Wow! Shame the wax is such a shit of a thing!

Give up when the wind dies away.

35 degrees!

Total luck I got any riding at all. Forecast was supposed to switch to cracking NWs but that held off long enough to get an hour's blast in.

Prior to that, I'd gone to Tim's shop to ask about beach access and he offered the Spud to demo.

So I rode that and liked it, but I still think it's too small, but I can't get a straight answer from anyone on the matter of a longer board giving better bottom end...

Off to Jed's for fush n' chups.

The more I learn about wax, the more I hate it

Arrived at high tide and was the only one or two there... Bit light relatively speaking, rigged the 15 and went out in the Limited. Not that good for jumping, then the SPL broke and I had a long walk in. Weak, dude.

Pumped up the 10 and went out. Ok but the jumps aren't stellar so I start in on the stunts... yeah, the old tricks work. Tried some hand-drag back rolls and only one worked so I gave up in them.

Wind dropped so I went out on the FruJu. Good board -- too good for me. Crisp and lively, rocks upwind but I had a hard time carving it nicely. Good ollies when you hit it right, butt he was is going and I risk doing the splits...

Wind seemed to pick up so I went out on the Limited but it sucked and I went out on the FruJu again til I decided I had enough... Good long session, about 4 hours!

Fare thee well, Dialer

Wind seemed light so I went out with the 10 and the Dialer, but it was also shallow so I spent a lot of time running aground and falling over.

Board felt strange when I got out of the water and it was then that I spotted the cracks in the fin bamboo near the fin boxes. A trip to Groundswell and a conversation later, the big D is pronounced DOA.

Sadness.

But... the forecast was the same as yesterday!

Got skunked as the wind dropped while trying to ride the Nitro and then the Flite. Had a nice chat to Brendan, who turned up and set up but wisely, didn't bother...

Vanguard really is a fantastic board...!

Good show, old chap

It was that kind of forecast again, and there was wind in thw , ever so slightly in the morning and that meant, last time, that a good day would follow.

And so it was. Put on a good show for Dad, who came to watch and had a good time myself.

Wind was a bit up and down so it was a mixed bag of boosts and attempts at stunts... but it was a hoot.

Eventually I pushed my luck with a poorly timed loop transition and managed to land with my board square to the wind, digging the toe side edge and face planting with a goodly power in the kite... thought I'd taken the skin off my face I hit the water so fast :o and now ( the next day) my neck is stiff and sore :(

Weather was reported as 19 knots...

Fancy-schmancy, look at me...

Another day of hitting the estuary in time for the tide. Wind was almost as good as yesterday, to start out with, but fell off and continued to do so all afternoon, until at about the 3 hour mark I had to work the kite... but still got back to my starting point!

So the boosts were just meh and I started to do some rotations... getting back in the groove, as it were. A few fails, noticeably trying to do multiples when the wind wasn't strong, but no slams as bad as jumping out of straps... BOOM! the mud goes flying.

Another great day, really satisfying to get back into the air style... just wish I could reach my feet :o

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Weather was reported as 24kph falling to 20, at 21˚C.
Wind felt like almost over-powered falling to having to work the kite... but still getting back up wind enough. Damn, that's a good board!

What I learned today...

• It's so weird to be on the same size kite - or smaller! - as everyone else.
• Bottom end of the Vanguard seems to be pretty darn good... so hard to tell eh. I mean, I'm working the kite and don't have the power to actually complete any tricks, but I can still get back to my starting point. I'm sure the "flat" water helps... although I wonder what effect the in-going/out-going tide has...
• Using a flatter board to boost from ensures you don't jam the edge and get ripped off the board... and you seem to go higher. I'm still getting used to boosting off flat water... certainly much easier to go higher from a "kicker".
• There was one more thing that kept popping into my head but now I've forgotten...

Straight jackin'!

Got to the estuary before the tide peaked - skillful work on my part! Wind is doing it's thing, feels good. VERY gusty and gnarly on the launch site...

But once on the water it's a huck-fest... for the next 3 hours. Nothing fancy, just boost and glide and enjoy the view!

Spot who I thought was Adrian out on the water, also doing the boost... when he parked up, I took a break and had a chat.

Most boosts successful... now I'm feeling battered but happy ;)

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Weather was reported as 43kph and falling... are they sure it's not actually knots? Max of 20˚C.
Wind felt like woohaa!

What I learned today...

• Yes if you redirect too soon you can send the kite back a little and recover your glide.
• Today wouldn't have been possible without a seat harness... guess there's still room for one in my gear pile.
• There's never a camera around when you want one...

Toys galore!

Same plan - if there's any wind, hit the estuary at high tide. There is some, but it looks like 17m weather. Called Adrian at Axis before I hit the water and he said he was busy but come and pick some boards up from his house... on it!

So we get talking and showing off the wares and I have to turn down some boards cos I don't have space in the car... but wave mutant thing, I'll be back for you. I set of with a Vanguard 137x42, Ultra 144x45 and a prototype light wind thing slightly larger than the Ultra.

Back to the estuary... wind is up a bit, should be fine on the 13m. Head off with the Vanguard to see how a small board goes in ok wind.

Well... I love it! Spray is pretty much nil, bottom end is actually pretty good for such a small board. Carves nice, goes edge-to-edge quick and sticks like shit on a blanket, pops happily and yes the funky channels actually work.

Can't remember the sequence of gear, but I changed kites and boards - 10m and the Ultra I ended up finishing my session with. Greatly prefer the Vanguard I think, probably due to the size and smoothness of the edge... the Ultra feels more draggy and locked on the edge like the Flydoor with the fin.... didn't stop me riding it for another hour or so.

Got a few ok jumps and one nice elevator ride... had a lot of fun but still not back in the groove.

---

Weather was reported as up to 31kph from the NE. LOL again.
Wind felt like slightly over-powered on the 13 to fine on the 10 dropping to slightly underpowered.

What I learned today...

• Where to begin :o
• Vanguard will be my next board for sure!
• The straps and pads... money!
• Carbon - you sexy beast!
• Adrian is my new bestest friend...

10m weather... crikey!

Determined to get out to the estuary at high tide and just wait for the wind... Nice sunny day and whaddyaknow, the wind is coming! From the best direction, even...

Start out on the 13m but soon I'm more powered than I'm comfy with so I change it out for the 10m. Good move... lots of fun! Not up to best standard but had a nice time.

When I was driving away, I got a call from Adrian of Axis setting up a meet. Haul ass back to the estuary... very nice to meet him and eye up his boards...

Weather was reported as 30kph i.e., about 18 knots. LOL!
Wind felt like comfortably powered on 10m, whatever that is :o

What I learned today....

• Should've had my seat harness with me.
• Need to work on my rotations.
• Gotta get a SurfLock :o

Back on The Big Stinky

Itching to get on the water, I headed out to the Estuary for high tide, regardless of the forecast. Looked ok, and the other guy there headed out so I thought I'd back him up. We did ok for a 1/2 hour of lame lawn mowing then it got gusty and shifty.

I gave up, he kept trying with lots of kites falling out of the sky.

Naturally, as we'd just finished loading our cars, the wind picked up from the NE... and I'm beginning to regret not going out again cos it looks like it's still blowing :(

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Wind felt like 15 knots dropping to 10, lulls to nothing.

What I learned today...

• Flat water much good. Bottom end so drop.
• Jumping more difficult... but load n' pops go big.
• Sun is terribly strong - feeling burnt through my hat :o
• SunDog glasses are the goods - so like!
• The bottom is less gooey and dirty - your feet don't come up with black mud stuck all over them... but it's still squelchy.
• Launching on grass is a bit rough - you really shouldn't slide as the kite powers into the sky :o