Robbed again

Crappy summer wind. So-so session; failure to ride the Duke, underpowered on the Limited and just riding on the Flydoor. Now I remember why I gave up on that board . . . maybe the old one would be better.

And I need to repair that depower line . . .

Some guy got himself a Sroka foil. God, that looks cheap, bulky and draggy! Short mast too, and seemed flexy. Should have asked for a ride.

Surprise session

Huh. Forecast yesterday for today was nothing at all, but it was picking up around 3pm so I went on down. Thought it would only be a foil day so didn't bother with the Duke . . . should have.

FX was ok but does that running-away-on-the-front-lines thing. Great power in loops, was able to get up and foiling just by working it. Couldn't jump it at all, and no wind to work on the technique :(

Contra s-u-c-k-e-d. No power in a loop, then it started bending the LE when I loaded it up hard.

But both impressed with how well they stayed in the air when the wind dropped. Very light, must be the new material.

Got a bit over-powered on the 15 when riding the foil, switched to the 'door but by the time I got it from the shed, the wind was dying off again.

Riddle me this, Batman

Q. What's worse than a small beach crowded with Asian kiters?

A. A small beach crowded with Asian kiters... with foils.

FFS people. Kites landing left, right and center on too of people and gear; foil boards left standing all over the show, wrapping up lines; kites stalling everywhere; lines laid out to every point of the compass. What a mess. Self-centered people and foil-learners is not a good combo... at least I'm not the only one getting grumpy at the dickheads...

Leaving the show aside, there was no wind. In desperation, I took the Dialer and Limited back to the car and for the Flydoor and the 21.

Super light, flat water but going upwind -- amazing. Then, as I'd feared, the wind picked up and it was a bit much... should have gone with the 15, but it was good after all the waiting and watching the comedy....

Bah

No work today for a change so naturally, the wind chooses this weekend to not blow. Bah humbug.

Tried a few tacks on both boards, and while I could get upwind occasionally it wasn't fun. Gave up and test-flew the S3 12 to check for how much I need to resplice the FDS to take tension out of it...

This time, the cocks walk

Had some hours free this afternoon, so I fixed the 21 and went to the lake for a test flight...

Oh it's the "competition" today too. Goody, the beach is completely covered with kites nobody is using, and the only free space is down the far end. Tough launch with the long lines, between the pile of bamboo trash and all the weeds and twigs on the shore... had to wade out to get it up, but the job got done.

Me and a Lotus 18 were out, and the only ones going upwind. A couple of hours fooling around doing rotations... not bad.

Idiot me... rather than land at the YMCA beach, with plenty of space, I got Miyachi to land me in the only space free at our beach.

Sigh... the North rep, call sign "Cock One", was trying four his unhooked mad skills 2 inches from the shore and dumped his kite downwind with his lines right on top of me, wrapped around my neck and actually started trying to relaunch his kite, before someone grabbed it and landed it, and I could untangle. Naturally, he apologized to Miyachi -- who was 12 feet away -- and just ignored me. Nice one.

Enter "Cock Two". First, he drags his boards and fins over my lines, then proceeds to drag his lines out from under my kite, ignoring the horrible noises as it catches on the material, then just yanks them out of the bridle lines. Then, when I'm halfway into rolling up, he's got the nerve to ask me to launch him -- without using polite grammar, so it's like he said, "I want to start, so launch me." I suggested he should ask someone who wasn't busy...

Fuck I hate comp days, and the cocks from Tokyo.

Another pair of sunglasses at the bottom of the lake

Was pretty good from about 3 to 5, but I was feeling a bit over-done on the Dialer and wanted to do some jumping so I switched to the S3 15 and the Flydoor... just as the wind died off. Did some low wind waffling around; rotations and kite loops that didn't do much.

Lost my Sundogs too... floats, my ass. Now, I wonder where I put the new ones I bought recently...

Awesome!

Forecast looked ok, but it turned out to be a stonker!

Started out doing some good jumps on the 'door then as the wind dropped, got onto the Dialer. What a great session, just totally awesome feeling.

Has to be the Dynabar, just so much freer riding the boards. Even now I put in an hour or so on the TT with the Dynabar rather than changing it for the fixed hook, that's easy too. Greatly prefer; I reckon it's easier on my back too.

Just wish I could get the Teletubbies theme outa my head...

Sonic BOOM

Typhoon forecast was all jacked up -- last night it looked great all day, this morning it looked weak as. I'd pretty much given up on it as a bad joke, but had been messaging with Jun in Mie during the day. He reckoned 4 pm would be good, and I had the time free so I rocked on over.

Bloody glad I did... Jun offered to let me use the Sonic 18 he's borrowed, so long as I could pack it away dry :D it got soaked on the weekend. High tide, low wind, hot launch...

It was 6 knots when I got out of the car, and it picked up to 16 when I got back in. At first, I filled the kite and struggled with the tips a bit, then was surprised by how much pull it actually had. Hmm...

Got out in the light wind, a loop to get up and planing (!) and away across the beach. Got halfway back to my starting point then headed back out. Can feel the wind picking up, and I'm actually GOING UPWIND WHILE WORKING THE KITE! Amazing...

Wind continues to pick up, I go upwind easier, the jumps get bigger, the hang time longer... bloody amazing kite! It's a little more stable, and a little more twitchy, than the Speed3 but in different ways. Teeny bit more bar pressure I reckon, but more responsive. I want one.

Had to pack up as Jun was going home... didn't want to stop.

My thanks to the truck driver who threw a tantrum after I overtook you -- great comedy, I laughed mightily at your antics.

:(

Forecast looked ok, but I got ripped off. A handful of tacks, barely going upwind, for about 30 minutes. The racer boys impressed with the foil boards -- Sonic 11 guy was amazing.

On top of that, it rained so I have a soggy kite with no chance of drying it out cos it's rained every day since we got home...!

And so it begins

Light wind, just enough to ride. Got a bit of practice in on the Dialer... There's a ripped cell in the right wing tip too, great. Going to fix it with Dacron tape and be done with it. Poor old girl...

Rode from about 5pm to past sunset. Temp dropped under 30 and so we get out first whining about the cold... Gotta wonder what is wrong with these people eh.

Not as good as last time

Hoped for the same as last time, and took the Limited to the lake and out for the first run, but was lighter than last time and a bit limp. Need to do the mixer...

Unprepared for a warm welcome

Back in Japan, the wind is finally blowing.  Got to the lake only to realize that I'd forgotten my hat and glasses in a suitcase somewhere. I hope. And my Limited is in the shed...

So I took the Dialer and the Flydoor over to the lake, with the 21. Nope. Too much wind for the big beast, go back for the 15.

Good choice. Wind was a bit Lully but some fun was had.

Hard work, all this chop. I'm out of shape, it seems: spiked by flat water, light wind, big boards and beer on the beach...

Met another gringo too, which was nice.

Back again after back blow-out

Pulled a muscle in my back bending over to change a nappy, and spent the day in bed with Voltaren and ice packs. The next day was a quite one too, although greatly improved. One more to be sure, then a tentative session in light wind today... No problems!

Not quite the same

Almost the same as last time, but slightly less wind... Took off and landed on the beach, so I can do that.

Light fun

Light wind la-la in the lagoon. Launched from the sand bar, noodled around having a nice time. Landed on the beach and got seaweed all up in the lines... ah yes, I remember that from last time too.

Sea Day. At the sea side. Dodging the sea life.

Thought the weather forecast has stuffed me, but after waiting til it felt like the right time, then relaunching the kite for one last time before giving up, the wind came in as predicted.

Light but went upwind with fun for a while, then slowly downwind with fun til I just couldn't get back upwind.

Goddam fish jumping out everywhere at me... think I sconed a couple with the board, so take that.

Fun! at Tsu again

Weather delivered a whole lot better than the forecast, so that was nice.

Arrived just ahead of Jun, who's training for the race this weekend. I, on the other hand, planned to have fun.

Good enough for the 15 and the Limited; not epic but I'm having a nice time for maybe an hour, then the wind drops. Take a break, Jun lands the kite for me, then he heads home. I noodle around on the 'door (middle straps better, but board feels so heavy!) for a whole, then the wind picks up so I get back on the Limited.

Not epic, as I said, but I really enjoyed myself... doing my tricks, playing with the waves - fun!

Tsu again!

Could have been better... but it was better than nothing.

Tried the old 'door on wide foot strap... Don't think I like it for that board - too hard to pop.

Let down, big time

Same forecast as last weekend, but it haut didn't pick up enough....

Tried to ride the landboard but the sand was too soft, the wind too light. Ah well.

Light but that's alright

Light wind forecast, picked up enough to have a little fun at the cable park... Nuff said.