Crappy forecast but a front was due at three so I thought I'd escape the house for some quiet time staring at the far side of the lake, waiting/hoping for wind.
When I arrived there was actually enough wind to foil on the 15 so that was great; had the lake all to myself for an hour. Then the wind picked up and I swapped to the TT and had some fun jumping around...after I fought out the two tip tangles that just out not come undone. Had to drag one across the water but the other had made itself a knot which needed landing...
Then the storm front moved in. Wind got nasty and punchy so I headed back to the beach.
Just as I reached the shore, yet another gust collapsed the kite, then it opened and lifted me again. Not worried, no problem...but just as I picked me up, *that* line snapped and the kite looped hard, lobbing me at the beach. Thankfully the sand had been fluffed up some and I managed to take it on the feet like a small jump. The kite had lost shaped so it didn't pull me all the way down (just a jerk), and it stayed on the ground, so I pulled the QR after a moment of watching and making sure I wasn't broken, and Miyachi got a hand on the kite.
Quick pack up and a rush back to the clubhouse before the massive downpour hit...
Got to eyeball the Alpine Access v2 too. Very nice it was. I want a ride.
Showing posts with label gear failure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gear failure. Show all posts
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Grassed me up
Mie again. Risked the rain forecast later in the day, for the hope of the good wind at 3. Didn't come but I got 4 hours of riding on the foil. Tried to get my Duke on in the windy bits but it wasn't happening.
Grass in the water was a drag (ha!) so it was a buckin' bronco time out there as it stuck to the mast and sucked bubbles down, but I got some good foot changes and gybes done. The 13m LEI was wrong and I really want new kites now.
Snapped the depower rope on the 55cm bar, which I knew was coming as it was badly frayed :D I flew the kite to shore just fine so that's good to know how all that goes. Now I get to figure out how to repair it or at least if it's worth the effort.
Changed to the 48cm bar--and the shorter lines!--which sucked further but I rode another hour until I'd had enough finally.
Grass in the water was a drag (ha!) so it was a buckin' bronco time out there as it stuck to the mast and sucked bubbles down, but I got some good foot changes and gybes done. The 13m LEI was wrong and I really want new kites now.
Snapped the depower rope on the 55cm bar, which I knew was coming as it was badly frayed :D I flew the kite to shore just fine so that's good to know how all that goes. Now I get to figure out how to repair it or at least if it's worth the effort.
Changed to the 48cm bar--and the shorter lines!--which sucked further but I rode another hour until I'd had enough finally.
Sunday, December 20, 2015
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!
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!
Friday, December 18, 2015
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.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Guess where
Tsu again. Started good for a while then died off, but had a nice time.
Got pulled over the board, couldn't get my foot out of the strap and it broke. Sigh. Rode another hour like that til the wind was naff.
Got pulled over the board, couldn't get my foot out of the strap and it broke. Sigh. Rode another hour like that til the wind was naff.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Found a Fleshlight on the beach
Not your normal beach combing score... Thought it was a lump of dead octopus or a shark egg or something exciting. Nope... eww.
Storm coming through, brought some ok wind. Bit gusty but was the best for a long time... Biwako needs to step up its game!
Good blow for an hour, then it died off. Waited some, then went back out. Rain came in, hosed down for a while, then died off.
10 minutes into the second session, my frickin Fusion harness blew a strap, this time going up on a decent jump... had to hang on to the bar like grim death. Funny, cos I swapped out the CL on the bar before I started as it has holes and I was worried it'd break.
As luck would have it, had the Mystic Star in the car. Dang, lot of hard work using a waist harness... new Fusion is in-bound but goddam Dakine, an inch of stitching? Seriously...
Storm coming through, brought some ok wind. Bit gusty but was the best for a long time... Biwako needs to step up its game!
Good blow for an hour, then it died off. Waited some, then went back out. Rain came in, hosed down for a while, then died off.
10 minutes into the second session, my frickin Fusion harness blew a strap, this time going up on a decent jump... had to hang on to the bar like grim death. Funny, cos I swapped out the CL on the bar before I started as it has holes and I was worried it'd break.
As luck would have it, had the Mystic Star in the car. Dang, lot of hard work using a waist harness... new Fusion is in-bound but goddam Dakine, an inch of stitching? Seriously...
Sunday, May 31, 2015
In which I face-plant from several meters above the water
Started out light and built up.
I got out on the 21 and the Origin for about 30 minutes, just in case it continued not following the forecast. Flat-bottomed boards just aren't as locked and loaded feeling as the channeled boards. By the time I don't need to ride the 'door, I can get on the Limited so I think I either want an Ultra or will just get rid of the Origin and leave it at that.
Swapped out for the 15 and had a good time. Ok jumps, so I got into some tricks. Started doing some foot outs until, near the end of the day, the chicken loop snapped at the apex of a jump.
I was ended up falling and hitting the water in a staple, with the board still on my feet. Thought the spreader bar had gone again, but nope. Nothing hurt but my pride... although I had an odd, very localized ache in my left leg... gone now, so not broken or anything.
Fuckin' CLs. That's the fourth FS one I've broken. Looks like the hook is wearing through the PU tube and then the rope is just letting go, which it shouldn't cos I'm guess it's rated to thousands of pounds, so maybe it's rotting as water gets in...
Checked all my others... the 21 is borderline, the 12 is fine; 55cm Cab bar has holes, the two 48cm bars are fine; and of course the North bar is fine. Hmm... will either replace with Switch CLs or try adding another layer of PU.
Might flick a mail to FSer...
I got out on the 21 and the Origin for about 30 minutes, just in case it continued not following the forecast. Flat-bottomed boards just aren't as locked and loaded feeling as the channeled boards. By the time I don't need to ride the 'door, I can get on the Limited so I think I either want an Ultra or will just get rid of the Origin and leave it at that.
Swapped out for the 15 and had a good time. Ok jumps, so I got into some tricks. Started doing some foot outs until, near the end of the day, the chicken loop snapped at the apex of a jump.
I was ended up falling and hitting the water in a staple, with the board still on my feet. Thought the spreader bar had gone again, but nope. Nothing hurt but my pride... although I had an odd, very localized ache in my left leg... gone now, so not broken or anything.
Fuckin' CLs. That's the fourth FS one I've broken. Looks like the hook is wearing through the PU tube and then the rope is just letting go, which it shouldn't cos I'm guess it's rated to thousands of pounds, so maybe it's rotting as water gets in...
Checked all my others... the 21 is borderline, the 12 is fine; 55cm Cab bar has holes, the two 48cm bars are fine; and of course the North bar is fine. Hmm... will either replace with Switch CLs or try adding another layer of PU.
Might flick a mail to FSer...
Thursday, March 26, 2015
... in which a kite gets away and creates "havoc" on the road
Another light session that picked up to just under epic conditions. Had fun til late, then...
Tether landing a Speed. It's possible, although not for the faint of heart. My technique relied on keeping the kite flying with the upper steering line until the last moment, then letting it mosey to the ground while I dashed forward and grabbed the tip. Like the sky diver said, "So far, so good".
Today, the kite surged in a gust just as it got within grabbing range, slipped through my fingers, collapsed, opened and flew up, over the zenith and nose-dived on the other side of the window. I jogged over to sort it out, but the kite had bounced the kite up and it was headed back to the other side again, fully loaded and...
... SPROING!
Something snapped (CL it turns out) and the kite shot off downwind. I got a smack from the bar on the way through. Wind pushed it up over the trees, across the road and the bar snagged on the trees. Yikes...
Kite stuck in the trees on the other side of the road, lines strung taught across road. Got the lowest ones off ASAP despite complaints from the road users - sorry, didn't mean to keep you waiting a whole 60 seconds, wankers.
Top lines are high enough to let trucks under, and keep them out of my reach. New kiter with a Merc van helps me out. He gets a ladder, I climb it and hook the bridle with a leaf rake. Cut the pig tails just before a truck with exceedingly tall stuff on the back rounds the corner.
Now to get the kite out of the tree. Wont be jiggled or pulled out so I gotta climb the tree. Naturally, the bridle is wrapped around the highest point, so eventually my helper comes back with a saw blade (no handle) and I get to hacking. Got it down and balled up - no obvious damage.
Bar is still stuck up the tree. Won't be pulled out so up the ladder I go again. Lines disconnected at the bar (yah Flysurfer) and pulled back out through the trees.
Back at the club house, I do a quick untangle and lay out. Bridle sorted in about 10 minutes, no obvious damage again! Wrapped up nice and packed.
A nice balance of good and bad luck, I reckon.
EDIT : checked it out today - no more damage than it went into the trees with (a hole and 2 split seams) and I can't find the bridle line I thought I hacked into with the saw... huh. CL is stuffed though.
Tether landing a Speed. It's possible, although not for the faint of heart. My technique relied on keeping the kite flying with the upper steering line until the last moment, then letting it mosey to the ground while I dashed forward and grabbed the tip. Like the sky diver said, "So far, so good".
Today, the kite surged in a gust just as it got within grabbing range, slipped through my fingers, collapsed, opened and flew up, over the zenith and nose-dived on the other side of the window. I jogged over to sort it out, but the kite had bounced the kite up and it was headed back to the other side again, fully loaded and...
... SPROING!
Something snapped (CL it turns out) and the kite shot off downwind. I got a smack from the bar on the way through. Wind pushed it up over the trees, across the road and the bar snagged on the trees. Yikes...
Kite stuck in the trees on the other side of the road, lines strung taught across road. Got the lowest ones off ASAP despite complaints from the road users - sorry, didn't mean to keep you waiting a whole 60 seconds, wankers.
Top lines are high enough to let trucks under, and keep them out of my reach. New kiter with a Merc van helps me out. He gets a ladder, I climb it and hook the bridle with a leaf rake. Cut the pig tails just before a truck with exceedingly tall stuff on the back rounds the corner.
Now to get the kite out of the tree. Wont be jiggled or pulled out so I gotta climb the tree. Naturally, the bridle is wrapped around the highest point, so eventually my helper comes back with a saw blade (no handle) and I get to hacking. Got it down and balled up - no obvious damage.
Bar is still stuck up the tree. Won't be pulled out so up the ladder I go again. Lines disconnected at the bar (yah Flysurfer) and pulled back out through the trees.
Back at the club house, I do a quick untangle and lay out. Bridle sorted in about 10 minutes, no obvious damage again! Wrapped up nice and packed.
A nice balance of good and bad luck, I reckon.
EDIT : checked it out today - no more damage than it went into the trees with (a hole and 2 split seams) and I can't find the bridle line I thought I hacked into with the saw... huh. CL is stuffed though.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Pre-typhoon ride
South to the yacht harbor. Patrick Rebstock from Slingshot is there with Seigo, so there was some great strapless riding to watch.
I, however, got on the water at 1 and didn't get off for 3 hours. Wind was pretty consistent so it was fun... some ok-ish jumps. Was going to pack up but after chatting to a kiwi I thought I'd go back out for a bit more... it was good.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Typhoon FedEx
Oops forgot to update...
Named this typhoon "FedEx" cos it delivered, but it was pretty crappy with its terms of service and delivery.
Erm... I seem to remember it being a good boost fest and lots of big tricks too, but forget the details. Started on the 13, ended up on the 10.
I did manage to splash down when the wind died, unhook and - snapped the carabina of the safety leash :o had to use a FSer one - yeuch.
So that was that.
Named this typhoon "FedEx" cos it delivered, but it was pretty crappy with its terms of service and delivery.
Erm... I seem to remember it being a good boost fest and lots of big tricks too, but forget the details. Started on the 13, ended up on the 10.
I did manage to splash down when the wind died, unhook and - snapped the carabina of the safety leash :o had to use a FSer one - yeuch.
So that was that.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Crack-a-lackin'!
Well, that's more like it. Was hoping for wind on the holiday tomorrow, but that wasn't going to happen. The wife managed to get time off work to cover me, so I could go to the lake by 4pm. Niiii-thh!
People were saying it was no good, but they were going for 12m kites and I thought it'd pick up, so I went for the Speed3 12 cos I really wanted to ride it after the fun of last night...
Went well on the Flydoor for a good while, then there was a parting of the ways in the SPL and I had a kite that wouldn't fly right... it'd stay in the sky, parked at 2pm and pull so I body dragged back to shore and packed it up.
Had the 16m XB on the beach, so up it went. I was feeling pretty good, so being over-powered that much was just FUN. Jump-fest...
Packed up after sun set... although there's a good 30 minutes of light left, forgot that.
Was probably going just as high on the 12, but it was much easier to ride so there's something in that old chestnut then I guess, after all.
People were saying it was no good, but they were going for 12m kites and I thought it'd pick up, so I went for the Speed3 12 cos I really wanted to ride it after the fun of last night...
Went well on the Flydoor for a good while, then there was a parting of the ways in the SPL and I had a kite that wouldn't fly right... it'd stay in the sky, parked at 2pm and pull so I body dragged back to shore and packed it up.
Had the 16m XB on the beach, so up it went. I was feeling pretty good, so being over-powered that much was just FUN. Jump-fest...
Packed up after sun set... although there's a good 30 minutes of light left, forgot that.
Was probably going just as high on the 12, but it was much easier to ride so there's something in that old chestnut then I guess, after all.
Monday, January 13, 2014
That does it! I'm going to give you a jolly good thrashing!
Started off so well... got going with the Speed3 12 DLX and the Flydoor while the others were struggling on 12m, 10m and directionals... had about an hour of fun till a down loop transition saw the kite go flying downwind... mufuggin pigtails snapped again! I thought.
The reality was much worse... ALL the bridles on the RHS have been ripped off at the LCL and the LHS is much the same, with the added joy that there about a whole cell has been ripped off the kite.
Fuck. It's not like I was stressing the kite, what the actual fuck! So that's three out of 4 of my Speeds waiting repair...
Thinking of selling all my Flysurfers and being shot of them...
Got the XB13 and went to pump it up... but the adapter on the hose broke. Yes, the new hose that's about 6 months old. Back over to the carpark to get my 3-year-old pump's hose...
Kinda underpowered... lame jumps so I went for rotations... bit rusty eh.
Last one on the water again. What a day, eh.
Weather was reported as 15 to 11 knots, gusts no more that 24 (3 hours before I went out); 3˚C at 60%.
Wind felt like powered enough to not walk on the S3 12 while working and then having fun, to losing ground on the 13 and having to walk a couple of times... the Speed3 is the better kite.
What I learned today...
The reality was much worse... ALL the bridles on the RHS have been ripped off at the LCL and the LHS is much the same, with the added joy that there about a whole cell has been ripped off the kite.
Fuck. It's not like I was stressing the kite, what the actual fuck! So that's three out of 4 of my Speeds waiting repair...
Thinking of selling all my Flysurfers and being shot of them...
Got the XB13 and went to pump it up... but the adapter on the hose broke. Yes, the new hose that's about 6 months old. Back over to the carpark to get my 3-year-old pump's hose...
Kinda underpowered... lame jumps so I went for rotations... bit rusty eh.
Last one on the water again. What a day, eh.
Weather was reported as 15 to 11 knots, gusts no more that 24 (3 hours before I went out); 3˚C at 60%.
Wind felt like powered enough to not walk on the S3 12 while working and then having fun, to losing ground on the 13 and having to walk a couple of times... the Speed3 is the better kite.
What I learned today...
- Maybe Flysurfers really aren't for me :(
- Which is a real shame cos the bottom end of the 12 is stunningly good.
- I've forgotten how good the Flydoor is...
- and I've forgotten how to do front-rolls.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Oh well... Part 4.
It's never-ending, eh...
Red arrows on the weather forecast. Got to the lake at 2pm... nowt. As in zilch, zip, nothing. There was more wind in my trousers. Sat in the car sulking... was about to drive away for a coffee when the wind arrived. Keen! Geared up and headed over to the lake...
Should be good for the 13. But by the time I'd laid out the lines and pumped up, it was picking up. I launched the kite but it was clear I couldn't ride that...
Pack up, back to the car for the 7m Core. Pump, set up, launch... hmm, a little underpowered. Try the Origin. Huh! going upwind but not powered enough to boost. Crazy!
Go back out on the Dialer... bit rough, bouncing off the chop - gnarly. Have a few good hacks 'n' slashes...
Kite actually pulls enough to ride upwind fine without pulling so hard you need to lean against it, but needs to be worked hard for bursts of speed and it's damned fast! Too fast for me...
Right about the time I decide to sell it on, I fall off doing something simple but the wind blow my board up, into the air and... into my lines. Steering leader gets tangled, the kite loops into the water and r-i-i-i-i-p... nuts.
So that was that. Should have gone out on the 10m XB and had a boost fest. Le sigh.
Weather was reported as 16 to 18 knots, gusts to 35 :o 12˚C at 70%.
Wind felt like 10m gusting to 8m weather.
What I learned today...
Red arrows on the weather forecast. Got to the lake at 2pm... nowt. As in zilch, zip, nothing. There was more wind in my trousers. Sat in the car sulking... was about to drive away for a coffee when the wind arrived. Keen! Geared up and headed over to the lake...
Should be good for the 13. But by the time I'd laid out the lines and pumped up, it was picking up. I launched the kite but it was clear I couldn't ride that...
Pack up, back to the car for the 7m Core. Pump, set up, launch... hmm, a little underpowered. Try the Origin. Huh! going upwind but not powered enough to boost. Crazy!
Go back out on the Dialer... bit rough, bouncing off the chop - gnarly. Have a few good hacks 'n' slashes...
Kite actually pulls enough to ride upwind fine without pulling so hard you need to lean against it, but needs to be worked hard for bursts of speed and it's damned fast! Too fast for me...
Right about the time I decide to sell it on, I fall off doing something simple but the wind blow my board up, into the air and... into my lines. Steering leader gets tangled, the kite loops into the water and r-i-i-i-i-p... nuts.
So that was that. Should have gone out on the 10m XB and had a boost fest. Le sigh.
Weather was reported as 16 to 18 knots, gusts to 35 :o 12˚C at 70%.
Wind felt like 10m gusting to 8m weather.
What I learned today...
- If I decide I really don't like a kite and decide to sell it, I should get off the water before something bad happens :-/
- Shame, cos it was a good kite. I bet Miyachi can fix it easy but then who will buy it?
- Maybe I could make a jacket after all...
Sunday, August 25, 2013
In which I realize I've been spoiled by Thailand
Forecast looked like it might happen but there was no agreement between GPV and JMA . . . but at 2pm the webcam was going off.
Got down the lake at 2:30pm and headed over with the Dialer, Flydoor and Flite.
Out on the Flydoor - feels different to the v2 eh. So does the rough water :o felt a bit timid, didn't really do much. Knots on the pigtails in the wrong place make the steering vague.
Pull the strap out . . . same bolt, different board. Hmm. Wind's dropped and I ride/walk back for the Dialer. Get a few minutes in then the wind drops again. Up, down, shifting from N to NW then drops right off.
Stand around for a while then head home about 5pm. Water was a bit cool . . .
Moment of the day was carving around on the Dialer.
It sucks when you're too lazy to reset the settings.
Weather was reported as 3 to 12 knots, gusts to 20; 24˚C at 85%.
Wind felt like 12 to 15 knots . . . powered in the best bits but I could have done with moar!
What I learned today . . .
• Check all your screws often if you're not going to Loctite them!
• Or at least, leave the good screwdriver in the car.
• The new-style Airush pump is brilliant.
• The new-style Airush clip is bloody annoying on the Flite cos of the hook in the end, and the strap.
• Second knot.
Moment of the day was carving around on the Dialer.
It sucks when you're too lazy to reset the settings.
Weather was reported as 3 to 12 knots, gusts to 20; 24˚C at 85%.
Wind felt like 12 to 15 knots . . . powered in the best bits but I could have done with moar!
What I learned today . . .
• Check all your screws often if you're not going to Loctite them!
• Or at least, leave the good screwdriver in the car.
• The new-style Airush pump is brilliant.
• The new-style Airush clip is bloody annoying on the Flite cos of the hook in the end, and the strap.
• Second knot.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Could have been worse...
Forecast wasn't up to much but I was a-prayin' for the thermals... and they delivered.
Watched the webcam all P.M. until 5 when the wind turned and picked up. Rocked on down, decided to go with two TTs and the 21.
Was having an ok session... jumps still can't do well with that damned board. Foot-outs are easy though. Getting upwind fine if I slow it down.
Got stoked cos I was landing backroll board grabs :D so started trying to do backroll kite loops... but now I realize they were doomed from the start, because I wasn't thinking about the right way to do them and had used up the mojo on the triple front- and backrolls and grabs.
So I borked one up, was underwater and thought I'd let the kite finish the loop and then - SPROING - the kite is flying by the RH lines only :( the LH power pig tail has ripped in half. Sigh... kite spirals down onto the beach, with a tip in the water. Wrap up the lines and rescue the kite, bamboo tangled like a mother in the lines... and there's a broken line, so that'll have to be fixed too. Grr. And there's a boo-boo on my finger.
Oh well, I got nothing but time baby! Back to the P4 for light wind then :D
Moment of the day was landing the backroll grabs! The multiple backrolls were groovy too.
Mood of the session was ho-ho-ho-doh.
Weather was reported as 10 to 8 knots, gusts to 14; 30˚C at 71%.
Wind felt like an honest 15 knots, with a few knots on either side.
What I learned today...
• The FS pigtails aren't designed for the big boys to throw down the powered submarine moves.
• You can give yourself a lot of pain by smashing your own fist into your harness. Who knew?
• Backroll board grab! without a redirect so I gotta be careful... and they're tough on the starboard tack for some reason.
• Trimming the Z is a tough job.
Watched the webcam all P.M. until 5 when the wind turned and picked up. Rocked on down, decided to go with two TTs and the 21.
Was having an ok session... jumps still can't do well with that damned board. Foot-outs are easy though. Getting upwind fine if I slow it down.
Got stoked cos I was landing backroll board grabs :D so started trying to do backroll kite loops... but now I realize they were doomed from the start, because I wasn't thinking about the right way to do them and had used up the mojo on the triple front- and backrolls and grabs.
So I borked one up, was underwater and thought I'd let the kite finish the loop and then - SPROING - the kite is flying by the RH lines only :( the LH power pig tail has ripped in half. Sigh... kite spirals down onto the beach, with a tip in the water. Wrap up the lines and rescue the kite, bamboo tangled like a mother in the lines... and there's a broken line, so that'll have to be fixed too. Grr. And there's a boo-boo on my finger.
Oh well, I got nothing but time baby! Back to the P4 for light wind then :D
Moment of the day was landing the backroll grabs! The multiple backrolls were groovy too.
Mood of the session was ho-ho-ho-doh.
Weather was reported as 10 to 8 knots, gusts to 14; 30˚C at 71%.
Wind felt like an honest 15 knots, with a few knots on either side.
What I learned today...
• The FS pigtails aren't designed for the big boys to throw down the powered submarine moves.
• You can give yourself a lot of pain by smashing your own fist into your harness. Who knew?
• Backroll board grab! without a redirect so I gotta be careful... and they're tough on the starboard tack for some reason.
• Trimming the Z is a tough job.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Pick n' mix
Had some fun, made some gybes, ate some shit, missed the thermals. . . it's all good.
I knew the wind would only come in for an hour so I made sure I was there in time. Went with the Flite cos why not.
Started out on the Dialer, having a nice time. Some kids are waving and squealing at me - think I heard one of them say my name, wonder if they're students. Having fun riding waves.
Wind picked up some so I came back in to get the Z . . . ballsed up a gybe and things got weird - board downwind, me getting pulled at the pointy ends, body-english to avoid it, dive the kite a bit and get dragged up the beach so I half-heartedly hit the QR. Doesn't release so I think it missed it, but as I get my feet under me it goes - I'm hanging onto the kite with both hands but there's no way that I will be able to reset the QR so I just let go the kite. Now I think I could have put it to the edge of the window . . . doh.
So I reset the kite and got on the Z. Under-powered but it was actually feeling really nice . . . less chop?
That was good until the the pad slipped . . . WTH? Oh, the screw has come out - shit! Go back and get the Flydoor, but the wind has dropped.
Back on the Dialer ride around a bit but the wind has really dropped and we're all walking now. Let Miyachi take a run on the Flite and he seems to enjoy it. Thought he was bit over-powered but he seemed ok.
Stand around waiting for the wind to come up but in the end I give up and pack it in.
As I'm driving out of the carpark, it looks like the wind has come up some - could have been riding on the 17 maybe, 21 for sure. Sigh . . . maybe tomorrow.
Moment of the day was doing a flawless gybe like I wasn't a tard.
Mood of the session was rah ah? bah gah.
Weather was reported as 12 to 15 knots, gusts to 22 at 3:30pm; 31˚C at 78%.
Wind felt like just powered until I broke the board, to completely under-powered.
What I learned today...
• Probably shoulda waited for the thermals . . .
• Don't try tricky shit right next to the shore.
• Starting to feel comfy on the Dialer - finding the balance.
I knew the wind would only come in for an hour so I made sure I was there in time. Went with the Flite cos why not.
Started out on the Dialer, having a nice time. Some kids are waving and squealing at me - think I heard one of them say my name, wonder if they're students. Having fun riding waves.
Wind picked up some so I came back in to get the Z . . . ballsed up a gybe and things got weird - board downwind, me getting pulled at the pointy ends, body-english to avoid it, dive the kite a bit and get dragged up the beach so I half-heartedly hit the QR. Doesn't release so I think it missed it, but as I get my feet under me it goes - I'm hanging onto the kite with both hands but there's no way that I will be able to reset the QR so I just let go the kite. Now I think I could have put it to the edge of the window . . . doh.
So I reset the kite and got on the Z. Under-powered but it was actually feeling really nice . . . less chop?
That was good until the the pad slipped . . . WTH? Oh, the screw has come out - shit! Go back and get the Flydoor, but the wind has dropped.
Back on the Dialer ride around a bit but the wind has really dropped and we're all walking now. Let Miyachi take a run on the Flite and he seems to enjoy it. Thought he was bit over-powered but he seemed ok.
Stand around waiting for the wind to come up but in the end I give up and pack it in.
As I'm driving out of the carpark, it looks like the wind has come up some - could have been riding on the 17 maybe, 21 for sure. Sigh . . . maybe tomorrow.
Moment of the day was doing a flawless gybe like I wasn't a tard.
Mood of the session was rah ah? bah gah.
Weather was reported as 12 to 15 knots, gusts to 22 at 3:30pm; 31˚C at 78%.
Wind felt like just powered until I broke the board, to completely under-powered.
What I learned today...
• Probably shoulda waited for the thermals . . .
• Don't try tricky shit right next to the shore.
• Starting to feel comfy on the Dialer - finding the balance.
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
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Luck of the Irish
So one weather forecast looked like weak crap but the other was cracking... I got myself sorted out and down to the lake (in the new kitemobile) just after 12:30-ish. It's looking ok - Miyachi says the morning was better...
Take the Psycho4 19 and Speed3 15 over to the beach with both the Flyboards... thinking the 19 should be good. So I rig up the ol' girl and launch without a hassle.
Out onto the water, with the Flyradical. Mess around trimming the kite and getting the hang of a Flysurfer again - been a while. Struggle for a bit to get upwind much... then the wind drops. I blame Miyachi, cos he just turned up on the beach with his kite.
Switch to the Flydoor and get into a groove, working upwind and throwing some jumps... then the wind kicks it up a notch! Swap back to the 'radical.
Now we're starting to have some fun! Jumps are fun but the kite is fully depowered and I'm fighting hard to go upwind... thinking maybe I should go the 15 but don't want to stop.
Have fun for an hour then the gusts start getting uncontrollable... this one time, I'm heading out way past our beach and the marina and get hit by a good gust. I start rocketing off towards Otsu and it doesn't look like it'll quit - so I boost :D ooh, it's a good 'un too! Shame I didn't land it...
So it goes, for a while. Fighting the gusts, jumping when I can... get pulled off my edge a lot.
Miyachi has landed his kite and I'm thinking I might be due to give it up too... when a gust hits again. I jump, get elevatored but bork the landing... then the gusts REALLY hits! My head is underwater and I feel the kite pulling like crazy and it's heading into the eye of the power zone - so I pull the safety.
Well.
I come up out of the water to see the kite goes to safety fine - then the line breaks (twice as it turns out) and the kite goes sailing!
I'm over 2 line lengths from the beach, the beach is about 100m from the trees, the trees line the road, the road is in front of a YMCA camping grounds with cabins, and that's in front of a paddy field - in front of some guys house...
The kite (completely folded in half) clears the trees, the road (thank god!), the trees and cabins in the camping ground, and comes to rest in the paddy field - just in front of the guys house. Ho-lee-shee-it!
Miyachi bolts after it and I fight my way out of the water and follow him... down the road, into the camping ground... then I lose Miyachi. He hollers from the field and I make a right turn to find him.
Roll up the kite and lines... amazingly, I can't see any tears. We walk back to Locus and I lay the kite out and untangle the lines (about 2 minutes!) and give the kite a once over - I can't see any tears or holes!
So, missed the road and cars, missed all the buildings and trees... woo and hoo!
Moment of the day was boosting out of the speed run :D
Mood of the session was ooh ahh eek.
It sucks when your safety line breaks.
Weather was reported as 12 to 18 knots, with gusts to 30 :o 4 °C at 50%.
Wind felt like 10% blarg, 40% ooh, 30% yeah and 20% OMFG!
What I learned today...
• NeoWork gloves work just fine and don't stress my fingers/forearms. 5mm and sort of lined and warm enough!
• They've got holes in the side though that let the water in. Not a huge issue cos I'm a heater in my spare time - check out the sweat in my boots!
• Tip-clapping on landings - diving the kite then riding at it is the cause... either edging harder on landing, jumping more vertical and landing slower, or just leaving the kite 'up' when you finish the jump is the solution.
• Think I need to research the mixer... kite is back-stally on full trim and doesn't want to drive upwind unless it's trimmed out some.
• DEFINITELY need to fix the FDS... that'll learn me for being lazy and not adding the 5th line from my old Switch bar.
Take the Psycho4 19 and Speed3 15 over to the beach with both the Flyboards... thinking the 19 should be good. So I rig up the ol' girl and launch without a hassle.
Out onto the water, with the Flyradical. Mess around trimming the kite and getting the hang of a Flysurfer again - been a while. Struggle for a bit to get upwind much... then the wind drops. I blame Miyachi, cos he just turned up on the beach with his kite.
Switch to the Flydoor and get into a groove, working upwind and throwing some jumps... then the wind kicks it up a notch! Swap back to the 'radical.
Now we're starting to have some fun! Jumps are fun but the kite is fully depowered and I'm fighting hard to go upwind... thinking maybe I should go the 15 but don't want to stop.
Have fun for an hour then the gusts start getting uncontrollable... this one time, I'm heading out way past our beach and the marina and get hit by a good gust. I start rocketing off towards Otsu and it doesn't look like it'll quit - so I boost :D ooh, it's a good 'un too! Shame I didn't land it...
So it goes, for a while. Fighting the gusts, jumping when I can... get pulled off my edge a lot.
Miyachi has landed his kite and I'm thinking I might be due to give it up too... when a gust hits again. I jump, get elevatored but bork the landing... then the gusts REALLY hits! My head is underwater and I feel the kite pulling like crazy and it's heading into the eye of the power zone - so I pull the safety.
Well.
I come up out of the water to see the kite goes to safety fine - then the line breaks (twice as it turns out) and the kite goes sailing!
I'm over 2 line lengths from the beach, the beach is about 100m from the trees, the trees line the road, the road is in front of a YMCA camping grounds with cabins, and that's in front of a paddy field - in front of some guys house...
The kite (completely folded in half) clears the trees, the road (thank god!), the trees and cabins in the camping ground, and comes to rest in the paddy field - just in front of the guys house. Ho-lee-shee-it!
Miyachi bolts after it and I fight my way out of the water and follow him... down the road, into the camping ground... then I lose Miyachi. He hollers from the field and I make a right turn to find him.
Roll up the kite and lines... amazingly, I can't see any tears. We walk back to Locus and I lay the kite out and untangle the lines (about 2 minutes!) and give the kite a once over - I can't see any tears or holes!
So, missed the road and cars, missed all the buildings and trees... woo and hoo!
 |
| Me on the 19, pre its trip over the trees |
 |
| To give you an idea of how tall the trees are! |
 |
| Flight path from lake to paddy field... |
Moment of the day was boosting out of the speed run :D
Mood of the session was ooh ahh eek.
It sucks when your safety line breaks.
Weather was reported as 12 to 18 knots, with gusts to 30 :o 4 °C at 50%.
Wind felt like 10% blarg, 40% ooh, 30% yeah and 20% OMFG!
What I learned today...
• NeoWork gloves work just fine and don't stress my fingers/forearms. 5mm and sort of lined and warm enough!
• They've got holes in the side though that let the water in. Not a huge issue cos I'm a heater in my spare time - check out the sweat in my boots!
• Tip-clapping on landings - diving the kite then riding at it is the cause... either edging harder on landing, jumping more vertical and landing slower, or just leaving the kite 'up' when you finish the jump is the solution.
• Think I need to research the mixer... kite is back-stally on full trim and doesn't want to drive upwind unless it's trimmed out some.
• DEFINITELY need to fix the FDS... that'll learn me for being lazy and not adding the 5th line from my old Switch bar.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Joy from the North
Had a couple of beers now (cos I earned them) and on an empty stomach, I'm having a hard time remembering what happened today exactly... went a bit like this.
Got to the lake at 12:30pm-ish. Gloves Man was waiting to get on the water but Junkie Sensei and Old Duffer were waiting for the wind. I took the S3 15 over to the lake with the 2 boards.
Set up the kite and it filled nicely but the wind was up'n'down. Noticed that the endline was looking worn, around wear it bangs up against the tube it threads through... hmm, that doesn't look good. Should be ok, no worries mate.
So I head out on the Flydoor cos the wind is light. I'm riding around ok, not flying upwind but not getting sucked onto the beach either. Noodle noodle doot-de-doo.
Clunk. What is clunk? Oh, the end has snapped off the end-line and my leash is flailing around. Gah. And naturally, the ring falls off when I hook it onto my spreader bar.
What to do, what to do... tie a knot in it and attach the leash to that - but now I can't do rotations or loops without the leash getting wrapped around the QR etc. Hmm...
But the wind has picked up so I swap out for the Flyradical and whoop it up. Gusty and punchy, kite is misbehaving and I have a few tip-wraps, clams, and drops but am getting the hang of either avoiding them (feeling what's happening) or catching them before the bad happens. And then...
And then...
And then the wind switches to the north. ZOMFG smooth, consistent wind!!! Let the good times roll! Which they did for quite a while... I even start to cope with the leash/safety line situation and start doing some nice rotations - even some kewl front rolls. This is more like it! Even the sun comes out... happy times.
Wind starts to drop... I work for a while and enjoy the gusts but now it's starting to rain and the sun is gong time. Time to pack up.
Good day - hopefully, a sign of things to come... from the North.
Moment of the day was when the wind switched to Northerlies. Hallelujah!!!
Mood of the session was anxious annoyed ecstatic.
It sucks when shit breaks.
Weather was reported as 14 to 9 to 10 knots, gusts to 36 (ROFL) and 10°C at 78%.
Wind felt like 30% underpowered, 65% having a good time, 5% OHH SHIIIIIIT SON!!!
What I learned today...
• Worn bits should have attention paid to them :-/
• Unpleasant kite behaviour post-jump seems to be the result of redirecting directly downwind too soon or too aggressively and sending it too far to the edge of the window.
• Better to leave it later and redirect hard.
• Also better to send it with a hard turn, sheet way out and let it run! Big yoink!
• It IS getting cold... thin gloves would be nice. Something to block the wind around my arms too. Don't think it's time for that... scary... 6mm gimp suit. How the hell do I get in that small hole in the top?!
• That's all carry on pass the gin.
Got to the lake at 12:30pm-ish. Gloves Man was waiting to get on the water but Junkie Sensei and Old Duffer were waiting for the wind. I took the S3 15 over to the lake with the 2 boards.
Set up the kite and it filled nicely but the wind was up'n'down. Noticed that the endline was looking worn, around wear it bangs up against the tube it threads through... hmm, that doesn't look good. Should be ok, no worries mate.
So I head out on the Flydoor cos the wind is light. I'm riding around ok, not flying upwind but not getting sucked onto the beach either. Noodle noodle doot-de-doo.
Clunk. What is clunk? Oh, the end has snapped off the end-line and my leash is flailing around. Gah. And naturally, the ring falls off when I hook it onto my spreader bar.
What to do, what to do... tie a knot in it and attach the leash to that - but now I can't do rotations or loops without the leash getting wrapped around the QR etc. Hmm...
But the wind has picked up so I swap out for the Flyradical and whoop it up. Gusty and punchy, kite is misbehaving and I have a few tip-wraps, clams, and drops but am getting the hang of either avoiding them (feeling what's happening) or catching them before the bad happens. And then...
And then...
And then the wind switches to the north. ZOMFG smooth, consistent wind!!! Let the good times roll! Which they did for quite a while... I even start to cope with the leash/safety line situation and start doing some nice rotations - even some kewl front rolls. This is more like it! Even the sun comes out... happy times.
Wind starts to drop... I work for a while and enjoy the gusts but now it's starting to rain and the sun is gong time. Time to pack up.
Good day - hopefully, a sign of things to come... from the North.
Moment of the day was when the wind switched to Northerlies. Hallelujah!!!
Mood of the session was anxious annoyed ecstatic.
It sucks when shit breaks.
Weather was reported as 14 to 9 to 10 knots, gusts to 36 (ROFL) and 10°C at 78%.
Wind felt like 30% underpowered, 65% having a good time, 5% OHH SHIIIIIIT SON!!!
What I learned today...
• Worn bits should have attention paid to them :-/
• Unpleasant kite behaviour post-jump seems to be the result of redirecting directly downwind too soon or too aggressively and sending it too far to the edge of the window.
• Better to leave it later and redirect hard.
• Also better to send it with a hard turn, sheet way out and let it run! Big yoink!
• It IS getting cold... thin gloves would be nice. Something to block the wind around my arms too. Don't think it's time for that... scary... 6mm gimp suit. How the hell do I get in that small hole in the top?!
• That's all carry on pass the gin.
Friday, November 9, 2012
A lucky disaster
The forecast on GPV and the Locus webpage finally aligned - I checked them both at 1pm at it looked good so I finished my whatnot at home then loaded up and headed out around 2. Must have arrived about 2:30pm, headed over to the beach and measured the wind - good solid 16 to 20 knots... The Master of Disaster thought it was just the "rain blow" but I thought I'd rely on the good forecast and rig small.
Had moments of doubt setting up the S3 12 but once it was in the air, and once I'd had a single walk up the beach, it was all on. Good wind!
Seemed fairly consistent for a while; smooth enough that I was doing foot outs (ugly but landed them... need more work huh) and phat backrolls like a boss... then the wind got punchy :( and started making me look like a twat.
My timing for redirects was wa-aay off and at first, I sending the kite too early and getting yoinked. Got back in the groove a little but the kite started to get fond of shooting across the window to the very edge... then front-stalling. Recovered a number of tip twists when it did this. And the kite would front stall when I unloaded the lines carving 'waves' rather than just floating downwind. Hmm, mixer not right?
Some good jumps, loving the 12 and it's got nice hangtime now, more consistent feel through the wind range. Just that stalling issue... gotta do some research!
So I'm having a good time, trying to cope with the redirects when I drop the kite and twist the left hand tip... dick around trying to fix it but it's not going to recover this time.
Then I notice that the metal clip on the chicken loop has broken - one end is held on by only one side of the U-loop :o so it's kinda lucky that the kite is all messed up, otherwise... it might have given way in the middle of a jump :o
The kite is thrashing around, but I can touch the bottom so I try and sort it out while shuffling back towards the beach - naturally, I'm upwind of the bloody trees. Miyachi comes into the water and rescues my board, then rescues the kite from The Master of Disaster who is trying to grab the bridles. I wrap up the lines while Miyachi holds the kite, then fold it tip-to-tip and walk it to shore. Bridle looks a horrid mess but is untangled in a few seconds :)
Close look at the QR... sigh, guess I won't be riding that again today. But I launch the kite on the beach to dry it out, holding onto the depower line. Back up, head home... got about 80 minutes on the water.
After what feels like weeks of no wind, it's all good!
Moment of the day was that feeling of extended hangtime for the first time.
Mood of the session was relieved philosophical thankful.
It sucks when you've borked up the mixer test... or think you have.
Weather was reported as 12 to 14 knots, 15°C at 61%. Gusts to 22 knots at 4:30pm.
Wind felt like it was closer to my measured 20 knots... 80% nicely powered, 10% under-powered and 10% thrilled.
What I learned today...
• Foot outs... I seem to be messing up the balance of myself or the kite and making landings a bunch more difficult than they need to be - I've gone down in skills! :o
• As the mixer test is, I've gotten better bottom end than before, faster turning speed (slightly), and the upwind is good. Hangtime is really nice, and there's no backstall while floating under the kite with the bar right in.
• However, it seems unstable and prone to shooting across the window then front-stalling... hmm.
• Gotta get to the forums for some research.
• The water is shallow :o I guess all the storms have driven sand into the beach, making it shallow further out than it used to be... hit the bottom on a couple of splash downs!
• Me and metal just don't seem to be getting on at the moment :(
• This is the season to be riding my LEIs...
Had moments of doubt setting up the S3 12 but once it was in the air, and once I'd had a single walk up the beach, it was all on. Good wind!
Seemed fairly consistent for a while; smooth enough that I was doing foot outs (ugly but landed them... need more work huh) and phat backrolls like a boss... then the wind got punchy :( and started making me look like a twat.
My timing for redirects was wa-aay off and at first, I sending the kite too early and getting yoinked. Got back in the groove a little but the kite started to get fond of shooting across the window to the very edge... then front-stalling. Recovered a number of tip twists when it did this. And the kite would front stall when I unloaded the lines carving 'waves' rather than just floating downwind. Hmm, mixer not right?
Some good jumps, loving the 12 and it's got nice hangtime now, more consistent feel through the wind range. Just that stalling issue... gotta do some research!
So I'm having a good time, trying to cope with the redirects when I drop the kite and twist the left hand tip... dick around trying to fix it but it's not going to recover this time.
Then I notice that the metal clip on the chicken loop has broken - one end is held on by only one side of the U-loop :o so it's kinda lucky that the kite is all messed up, otherwise... it might have given way in the middle of a jump :o
The kite is thrashing around, but I can touch the bottom so I try and sort it out while shuffling back towards the beach - naturally, I'm upwind of the bloody trees. Miyachi comes into the water and rescues my board, then rescues the kite from The Master of Disaster who is trying to grab the bridles. I wrap up the lines while Miyachi holds the kite, then fold it tip-to-tip and walk it to shore. Bridle looks a horrid mess but is untangled in a few seconds :)
Close look at the QR... sigh, guess I won't be riding that again today. But I launch the kite on the beach to dry it out, holding onto the depower line. Back up, head home... got about 80 minutes on the water.
After what feels like weeks of no wind, it's all good!
Moment of the day was that feeling of extended hangtime for the first time.
Mood of the session was relieved philosophical thankful.
It sucks when you've borked up the mixer test... or think you have.
Weather was reported as 12 to 14 knots, 15°C at 61%. Gusts to 22 knots at 4:30pm.
Wind felt like it was closer to my measured 20 knots... 80% nicely powered, 10% under-powered and 10% thrilled.
What I learned today...
• Foot outs... I seem to be messing up the balance of myself or the kite and making landings a bunch more difficult than they need to be - I've gone down in skills! :o
• As the mixer test is, I've gotten better bottom end than before, faster turning speed (slightly), and the upwind is good. Hangtime is really nice, and there's no backstall while floating under the kite with the bar right in.
• However, it seems unstable and prone to shooting across the window then front-stalling... hmm.
• Gotta get to the forums for some research.
• The water is shallow :o I guess all the storms have driven sand into the beach, making it shallow further out than it used to be... hit the bottom on a couple of splash downs!
• Me and metal just don't seem to be getting on at the moment :(
• This is the season to be riding my LEIs...
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