Angry Swallow is happy

Finally, a chance to try out the new 2015 Angry Swallow! Got it real cheap, as it's a two-year old model now but the last of the 5 fin box models. And purple and green trim :)

Now, it's probably the most travelled board in history, without even getting a single drop of water on it. Shop accidentally used my old address and I didn't catch it until after Japan Post had tried to deliver it . . . then sent it back to the US. So, the board went China - Oregon - Japan - Oregon - Japan . . . before it ever got used :o

Which is a shame, cos it's great. I ran it as a quad (love FCS-II!) which was kinda strange after the Duke but clearly has more bottom end.

The differences I noticed:

The AS is a little more slappy through the chop (duh) if you stand with rigid knees, feels less crisp but is snappy rail to rail, stable for dancing around on, tends to sink the tail during a jibe if you're heavy rear-footed, carves smoothly, rips upwind--especially with the board flat.

All seems to make sense, given where the area and volume are distributed for each board. Which is better? Well for our conditions, I can see I'll be on the AS a lot, but will still love both boards. Very happy with the AS, that's for sure . . .

Miyachi had a run on the Duke and didn't want to give it back. Seems to go better for him than the Naish Skater, North thing and the Naish Global too: he struggled to get upwind on them but rocked out the Duke. Heh . . . 

Rebel rebel

Wind was on and off so it kinda sucked, but the North guy let me out on his Rebel 15 which was actually fun and boosted well when the wind was on. Bar pressure was like a Switchblade so it was bearable...miss the foil.

3 boards, much joy

So-so forecast, so-so wind reports . . . great session!

Started out playing silly buggers on the TT, which was nice.

Had been out a while when I spotted Hironobu wading out with Grandad's ugly old surfboard that he bolted on the shop Naish foil. I had promised to test it for them but hadn't wanted to spend the good wind fooling around . . . so I swapped boards with him and dragged out to deeper water.

My first time strapless on a foil, on Grandad's dodgy board. Hmm. After a mis-start and a crash into the bottom, we were under way! Foil felt much the same as mine, just a bit slower and more stable. Or more resistant to being wiggled around. Board was horrid, really noticed how long it was.

Too much wind, to close to being horribly over-powered, so after some gybes and water starts, I rode back to shore. I suggested Grandad move the mast forward about 200mm, cut the tail where he planned and cut the front about 100mm ahead of his line. We'll see :D

Went across and had a drink of water, then swapped for the Duke and had a nice time for a change. Rode it out till dark. . . .

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.

2 boards, more joy

Really wanted to ride the Duke, but it's just not a low-powered board :( didn't work well with the faulty 15 and I basically could jump straight on the TT and ride upwind better :( :( So I did that and had a nice time getting back in the swing of swinging around at the end of the rope.

The bar is in dire need of reglueing though . . .

3 boards, not a lot of joy

Testing out the repaired 15 . . . hmm, something very wrong. But I got out on all three boards trying to get my groove on. Just not feeling it today, but stuck around trying to ferret it out for 3 hours . . .

Angry on my mind

Made up some A-main's for the 15, went to the lake to sort that out, but by the time I'd swapped the QR on the 21, the wind had filled in. I took the foil and Duke and 21 to the beach, but the wind kept coming so I took it back and got the XB13 and the TT then remembered the depower rope is fraying, so just rode the Duke.

It was ok, but I was fully trimmed and wondered if I could ride the 10. Borrowed the Pivot and it was ok, but I needed more wind.

Had a nice time jumping the Mako though, think I'm getting that sorted.

But the whole time I was thinking about the 2015 Angry Swallow 5' 6" that's on the way to me. . . .

I know I went but . . .

. . . can't remember precisely, don't think I used the foil even though I took it to the beach. Do remember landing the 10m though . . .

1 kite, 3 boards . . . but wait, there's more!

More wind, that is. Marine Day delivers the goods!

Was some wind but the forecast wasn't for a lot more so I didn't know what to do. The lack of 15 is making itself painfully felt. Took the 10m and the foil and Mako Duke over to the lake, as others were on 9 to 14 and various non-foil boards.

Had a lively and tentative time on the foil, riding way out into the lake then riding the swell back in.

I thought the wind had picked up a little so I went back on the Mako and it was ok-ish for a bit, then I took a break. Brought the TT back over for a joke, and gave it a go and it was actually ok! Bit of bump and jump for a while then when the carnage had died down and the herd thinned out, I took the Mako out and it was good.

Whoever the non-local's were, were dicks. Chairs and buckets all over the beach, bad manners on the water and the guy who cut in downwind of me as I was getting off the water--next person who does that, I'm looping my kite into you. You have been warned.

1 kite, 3 boards

Just too much wind for the 21, 15 is out of action still but not enough for the 12 and/or I can't be bothered messing with line extensions. . . .

Out with ye olde 16m . . . Had a nice time on the foil, but then the wind picked up some. I tried to ride the Mako and it sucked, as I got hauled downwind. Tried to ride the TT but the kite is just too slow to be much fun. Now I remember why I don't like it any more!

Anthony went down to chat up the windsurfer girls but got yelled at and the clubhouse leader phones Miyachi to whine about our invasion into their area. On the public lake. Fuck 'em. Next time, I'm making sure to go down there too.

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.

What a difference a day makes

Bloody awesome. Good wind, got to try a new kite that didn't suck, got some good riding in and even got some jumps. Good long session too!

Drifter was great. Good bar pressure, probably slightly less than the Crossbow. Fast, responsive, stable when overpowered and predictable: I'd put it between the Park and the Pivot for bar pressure, performance and feel but would choose it over either of them, cos although I prefer the performance of the Pivot, it's just too twitchy--and it's clearly ahead of the Park. Even jumped ok which was a surprise, though the landing weren't floaty gentle and I had to redirect well to avoid a thump.

20 to 25 knots in the good bit, 34 knots in the great. So I need to look at an 11 or 12 . . .

Grr. Double Grr.

Gusty nasty nasty crap. Nothing was much fun and didn't get much of a chance to enjoy the SB, although it was what I thought it would be . . .

The Double Agent on the other hand, wasn't that good. Slow and draggy. Stable and boring. Board might be interesting though . . .

Otherwise I got very annoyed. Could be worse -- Miyachi tweaked his ankle on the foil.

Then the wind dropped

Gah. Another "why did I bother" day as the wind was up and mostly down and nothing went according to plan.

I got 15 minutes on the Duke. Then the wind dropped.

I went out on the foil with the 7m but that sucked cos it's really too small. Then the wind dropped.

So I got the 10 again and that was ok, but the riding wasn't up to much. Then the wind dropped

I gave up and went to work.

I love the D

Over the hills and far away.

Jun had just finished his morning session; he was out on the foil. I was hoping for the Duke ride and got lucky--the wind picked up and I had a rocking good session on the D for two hours, hackin' and slashin'.

Took a break, thinking I'd have a little fun on the 15 and the TT but the wind died away and it sucked so I packed up and came home.

Well that was fabulous

Probably best day ever riding a directional. Good ol' Mako, I think I got the hang of it. Finally. Still want a decent surf kite though . . . and maybe a bigger board :D

I need a bigger surfboard

Brilliant forecast. Total let down. Well, not total cos I stayed at the Yacht Harbor for 3 hours and did manage to hit some good "waves" but it was up and down again, and I spent a lot of time going downwind and being annoyed. Wanted a break from the foil and wanted to ride the waves, but the weather had other ideas. . . .

Oh it's a holiday is it?

After turning up to the kind and finding it closed--despite having made a booking the day before--I went to the lake anyway in the hope that Miyachi's wife could look after the boy.

Although I had a sneaking suspicion that it wasn't going to be worth all the messing around . . .

. . . and I was right :( gusty crappy wind. Never the right amount to be of any use. Bloody annoying.

Missed most of the rain

Sloped off to Mie early in the morning (9am) to catch the wind before the rain and hang out with Jun. It was li-iiight as but we did well, then it picked up some and I tried to ride the Duke. Didn't work so I went home.

Duking it out

12 to 16 knots, gusts to 24. So apparently that is what makes a great session in the Duke and the adequate Park 10. Had a good 3 hours bombing around, "surfing" the swell and carving around. Good foot changes, with the foil in mind.

Park is better than the Pivot regarding the gust handling, but is less reactive to inputs and inclined to go out of control if you sheet right out and it accelerates a la the old GT. Maybe the rear lines were too long. . . . So I'd have one if it were free, but I wouldn't pay for it. Still searching for a wave kite.