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...!
Showing posts with label vanguard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vanguard. Show all posts
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
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...
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...
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Nitro at Waikuku
Due to circumstances, I had to use a different part of the beach than usual - Waikuku :o there's an estuary there that the .kml file said was usable at all tides but that's horseshit. So the beach was the only option til the tide came up.
Wind looked light for the guys on 10m kites, so I thought I could get away with the Nitro v3 14m on it's first run, with the small Vanguard... pumped up in a protected area behind the dunes and carried the kite out to launch on the beach. Would have been easier to fly the kite there :-/
Easy launch, feels like I got some power so should be good to go... head out to the water, start fine and - yikes, that's a big wave! Bit of a battle getting out through the breakers; got knocked off once, dropped over a wave and fell over... nearly had the kite tumbled by a wave when I dropped it on the water.
God, it's gnarly out here! The choppiest and sharpest breaking waves I've ever encountered. I get out the back but I'm just mowing the lawn. Boosts are bit lame but it's interesting to try out the Nitro.
Get sick of riding back n' forth and notice there's a kite out on the estuary now, so I head over there. Walk over the spit and jump in...
Better. Flatter water, bigger boosts but the kite... well, I guess it's over-powered. Nothing fancy, cos the water is only a foot or so deep :o
After a while, the wind suddenly drops and the other 3 locals make a bee-line for the set up point so I follow them in...
Not bad, I guess but I'd have had more fun on the Mako, playing in the waves.
Weather was reported as 30kph at 4pm, 20˚C.
Wind felt like I dunno... the trim was never touched on the Nitro and I never felt over-powered but I wasn't working the kite hard.
What I learned today...
Wind looked light for the guys on 10m kites, so I thought I could get away with the Nitro v3 14m on it's first run, with the small Vanguard... pumped up in a protected area behind the dunes and carried the kite out to launch on the beach. Would have been easier to fly the kite there :-/
Easy launch, feels like I got some power so should be good to go... head out to the water, start fine and - yikes, that's a big wave! Bit of a battle getting out through the breakers; got knocked off once, dropped over a wave and fell over... nearly had the kite tumbled by a wave when I dropped it on the water.
God, it's gnarly out here! The choppiest and sharpest breaking waves I've ever encountered. I get out the back but I'm just mowing the lawn. Boosts are bit lame but it's interesting to try out the Nitro.
Get sick of riding back n' forth and notice there's a kite out on the estuary now, so I head over there. Walk over the spit and jump in...
Better. Flatter water, bigger boosts but the kite... well, I guess it's over-powered. Nothing fancy, cos the water is only a foot or so deep :o
After a while, the wind suddenly drops and the other 3 locals make a bee-line for the set up point so I follow them in...
Not bad, I guess but I'd have had more fun on the Mako, playing in the waves.
Weather was reported as 30kph at 4pm, 20˚C.
Wind felt like I dunno... the trim was never touched on the Nitro and I never felt over-powered but I wasn't working the kite hard.
What I learned today...
- Vanguard - god-like. No issues with the chop and slop waves, no bogging or sinking even with the new kite I wasn't used to. Great planing when the wind died too... just a fantastic board.
Thoughts on the Nitro 3 14m
- Wind range seems great.
- Boosts and floats as well as the XBows, although today the XB would probably have been a more violent rip off the water.
- Flap flap flap flap flap flap flap flap flap flap flap flap flap flap flap flappity flap.
- Folded a wind tip, while loading a down loop :(
- Bit vague through the bar, and doesn't like being told to turn when sheeted out.
- Might be something to do with the light bar pressure.
- Really flies of the front lines, eh Eppo.
- Very short run in light wind - seems to have a great bottom end.
- Need to try it when it's not horrendously over-powered.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
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
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...
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
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...
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
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 ;)
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...
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 ;)
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...
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
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...
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...
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