For some odd reason, the boss insisted I take a holiday in July. For an odder reason, I decided to take it on a day with no work scheduled. Dumb.
Wind was supposed to be good enough at Machiya in Mie Prefecture so I drove over there and arrived about 2:30pm. 4 to 5 m/s and it's supposed to pick up from 3 to 6pm to 6 or 7 m/s - that's 10 knots, picking up to 14. Drifting in on the ocean breeze is the stink of fish and seaweed. I don't really notice it though cos I left my t-shirt and shorts in the car overnight and they started to brew - so everything around me stinks!
Pumped up the 16m Crossbow, hauled out the Flydoor. Little locals were riding ok on directionals and 12m kites so I should be good. Even rigged up the GoPro ... maybe that's what jinxed it.
Not enough wind. Slogging back'n'forth like a dumb ass. Sigh. Gonna have to risk the Silberpfeil on this grotty beach ... gah.
Unpack the white monster and out I go again ... holding ground but it's a bit lully - I'm not having a lot of fun. Milk it for as long as I can then come back in and wait for a bit. Impress the locals (both of them!) with big long floaty jumps on the beach, then go back out.
Nothings improved though. I got some riding jollies though so I'm not frustrated or disappointed - but I was hoping to capture some video of big air!
As I'm heading into the beach for the last time, I stop about 1m from the sand and get off the board. I'm walking into shore, holding my board and LOOKING into the water and I suddenly stumble over something sharp and hard - it's a barnacle encrusted concrete drainpipe lurking below the surface of the ocean, totally invisible. No warning sign, buoy or even a rotted post that once held a sign ... for a country like Japan that has warning signs on everything - roads are so cluttered with reflecting signs, barriers, posts, lumps, bumps, stickers ... you gotta wonder who let the side down here :-/
I've barked my shins and taken a big chunk out of my toe, sliced off about 4cm square from the side and bottom. Yum yum. Hobble up the beach and back-stall land the kite ... I'm counting that as an 'injury' cos it's going to be uncomfortable and bleed into my socks for a few days :D
Now, as I'm eyeing up the best way to land the Silberpfeil - use the washed up tree stump to secure the chicken loop and risk the kite on a very dirty part of the beach or put a stick in the ground and leave the kite on the nice soft grass - Uncle Peabrain decided he's going to fly his powered paraglider ... he's setting up on the area where we pump out kites up - you could lay out about 4 kites without too much fuss, 6 if you pack 'em in like sardines. Which would be fine, but there's a tree stump in the middle, a little fence of looped 10mm steel at the beach side, a chain link fence and public toilets on the other, palm trees to the left and power lines to the right.
Somehow, he manages to get it all rigged up but he can't get the wing into the air so it bounces around the area for a while, wrapping around tree stump, narrowly missing the powerlines but avoiding the trees. He's having trouble controlling the wing without knocking the throttle for the motor o_0 but eventually, it's up and he's trying to run down the stairs to the beach and launch - directly over our 3 parked kites ...! His motor stalls as he gets about a meter up at the bottom of the stairs and about 3m from running over our kites, so he drops the wing - over the concrete stairs and the little fence - then drags it all back up to the pump-up area. And does it all again.
This time he gets into the air. It sounds like he got it done in a hurry but all us kiters were just standing there gaping at him for about 15 minutes.
The fun isn't over ... I waddle around packing up for about a half hour and Uncle Chucklehead has come back once to buzz the beach at about 3m off the ground 0_o before he sets himself up on finals - over some trees, dodges one and then touches down between 2 others, leaving a couple of meters between his wingtips.
Note, he did this in the middle of an area with 4 kiters, people walking along the beach path, a couple of guys on scooters going back'n'forth and a guy with a Rescue canoe. Unbelievable. The short time I've been that close to PPG's in Japan, I've seen that dicktard and another one in Hamamatsu try to fix a fractured propeller with - I kid you not - string and ducktape. Not to mention the guys who buzz the kite beach at the lake ...
Ok rant over ...
Wind speed was recorded as 9 to 11 knots with gusts up to ... 14 an hour before I got on the water. Lame.
Moment of the Day was finding my favourite ice block - frozen orange or pineapple juice - in the shops in Mie. They've stopped selling them here which drives me insane.
What I learned today ...
• I need about 5 more knots of wind, say 2 to 3 m/s, to get the same jollies on the ocean as I do on the lake - 9 knots at Locus would be pretty good fun but it was the worst kind of lawn-mowing on the ocean. I'm betting cos it's so hard to get & keep board speed. The winds were clean too, less gusty than the lake :(
• It's quicker and cheaper to take the local roads to Machiya.
• Flysurfer is good. All hail Flysurfer. Another session saved - I wouldn't have been riding at all.
• I want a Speed3 12 and 21. Then my kite collection will be complete. No really.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Whee!BoingVer2.0
Forecast was looking like 10 to 15 knots so it was all go for the lake. Thinking it'd be a 16m Crossbow kind of day, with the Flyradical and the GoPro on the new KiteHero board mount. Checked the webcam at 4pm and Grandpa was out on his 9m ... crikey!
Got to the lake about 4:30 after spending 120 seconds screaming at the unnecessary roadworks that drive up my blood pressure and fuel taxes and peaked through the trees ... people were coming in on their 11's and 10's and going on 7's :o all I have in the boot is my 16 & 13m Crossbow ... this could be fun.
Put the 13 on my back, the Flyradical under one arm and the Flydoor under the other - options, you know. Head over the road, pump up, gaze with deer-in-the-headlight eyes at the wind ... crikey! Good turn out today, pretty busy out on the water. Lot of kites on the beach too. The Slingshots seem to have been breeding too - there like 3 RPM's now. The Master of Disaster is boosting huge airs and "woohoo!"ing - it's the one thing he does half-good, aside from taking people out.
Auntie tries to talk me out of launching the 13 but I convince her that I am NOT going home for my 10 - and anyway, I've cheated and rigged the kite on the last knots of the rear-lines' bridle :D yes I know I know ... thank you Plummet & Peter. Forecast was supposed to peak at 4pm then drop off at sunset - which it did so I feel vindicated.
It's a very odd thing ... there's a heap of wind, the kite pulls hard but also depowers at a twitch of the wrist. Hmm, should have gone for the regular knots cos I'm constantly pulling the bar in. Oh well, too late - get riding while the riding is good.
Big jumps both directions, I got my mojo on and am having mad fun going as hard as I can, landing what feels like most of them and riding the waves. The small board is still giving me trouble though, it's so not the 'door :D Wind is gusty and the water is choppy but it's great fun!
Get spanked once or twice, can't remember why now but I do remember getting slapped by the water and thinking "Hey that felt just like falling off the 3m diving board!". Get some nice toeside riding in and smack a few wave-faces with accompanying cackles. Got a few really good aerial transitions in too, starting off as a 2m jump then sending it back ...
Damned GoPro lens has a fog spot in the center grr seriously annoying. I leave it and it seems to be clearing so I forget about it. Then a bit later I notice the camera is showing "999" files. Have a fiddle, get an SOS so a corrupt file is jacking it up. Bah! bet I need to put a bit of high-density foam under the mount for the shocks ... hope I can recover some film from it!
Wind is dropping now, been cracking-on for about 90 minutes ... people are starting to pack up - Wha-aaat! I head into the shore to reset my attachment points. Still too weak, so I jump on the Flydoor. Ah, that's better! Get another hour or so in; initially, some nice big air but the wind's still dropping. At sunset, it's only me and Soh out but I'm pretty hammered so I bring it in, self-land cos it's just me on the beach. Soh keeps trying but he's only down-winding it.
What a kick-ass evening! Much more wind than forecast but I'm kinda glad I didn't have the 10m after all ...
Windspeed was reported at 25 knots at 4pm falling to 10 knots around 8pm but it felt like more than that :D
Moment of the Day was discovering that sending the kite across the zenith fast, sheeting in hard generates a new style of water start - pop up and out like a champagne cork :D well it was a tie between that and "ollie"ing up the face of a 'breaker' and sorta blasting through the white-wash at the top ...
Shot from the upcoming theatrical release ...
What I learned today ...
• When using the board mount for the GoPro - point it away from the sun you dumbass :(
• Still need to put desiccant thingies in the case ...! FFS
• If you mess up the take-off and feel yourself starting to rotate, you can choke it off by not sending the kite back so far.
• When sending the kite back for a change of direction, send it AGGRESSIVELY or it just won't work.
• Pop-up water starts ...!
• Needed my Sharks :(
Got to the lake about 4:30 after spending 120 seconds screaming at the unnecessary roadworks that drive up my blood pressure and fuel taxes and peaked through the trees ... people were coming in on their 11's and 10's and going on 7's :o all I have in the boot is my 16 & 13m Crossbow ... this could be fun.
Put the 13 on my back, the Flyradical under one arm and the Flydoor under the other - options, you know. Head over the road, pump up, gaze with deer-in-the-headlight eyes at the wind ... crikey! Good turn out today, pretty busy out on the water. Lot of kites on the beach too. The Slingshots seem to have been breeding too - there like 3 RPM's now. The Master of Disaster is boosting huge airs and "woohoo!"ing - it's the one thing he does half-good, aside from taking people out.
Auntie tries to talk me out of launching the 13 but I convince her that I am NOT going home for my 10 - and anyway, I've cheated and rigged the kite on the last knots of the rear-lines' bridle :D yes I know I know ... thank you Plummet & Peter. Forecast was supposed to peak at 4pm then drop off at sunset - which it did so I feel vindicated.
It's a very odd thing ... there's a heap of wind, the kite pulls hard but also depowers at a twitch of the wrist. Hmm, should have gone for the regular knots cos I'm constantly pulling the bar in. Oh well, too late - get riding while the riding is good.
Big jumps both directions, I got my mojo on and am having mad fun going as hard as I can, landing what feels like most of them and riding the waves. The small board is still giving me trouble though, it's so not the 'door :D Wind is gusty and the water is choppy but it's great fun!
Get spanked once or twice, can't remember why now but I do remember getting slapped by the water and thinking "Hey that felt just like falling off the 3m diving board!". Get some nice toeside riding in and smack a few wave-faces with accompanying cackles. Got a few really good aerial transitions in too, starting off as a 2m jump then sending it back ...
Damned GoPro lens has a fog spot in the center grr seriously annoying. I leave it and it seems to be clearing so I forget about it. Then a bit later I notice the camera is showing "999" files. Have a fiddle, get an SOS so a corrupt file is jacking it up. Bah! bet I need to put a bit of high-density foam under the mount for the shocks ... hope I can recover some film from it!
Wind is dropping now, been cracking-on for about 90 minutes ... people are starting to pack up - Wha-aaat! I head into the shore to reset my attachment points. Still too weak, so I jump on the Flydoor. Ah, that's better! Get another hour or so in; initially, some nice big air but the wind's still dropping. At sunset, it's only me and Soh out but I'm pretty hammered so I bring it in, self-land cos it's just me on the beach. Soh keeps trying but he's only down-winding it.
What a kick-ass evening! Much more wind than forecast but I'm kinda glad I didn't have the 10m after all ...
Windspeed was reported at 25 knots at 4pm falling to 10 knots around 8pm but it felt like more than that :D
Moment of the Day was discovering that sending the kite across the zenith fast, sheeting in hard generates a new style of water start - pop up and out like a champagne cork :D well it was a tie between that and "ollie"ing up the face of a 'breaker' and sorta blasting through the white-wash at the top ...
Shot from the upcoming theatrical release ...
What I learned today ...
• When using the board mount for the GoPro - point it away from the sun you dumbass :(
• Still need to put desiccant thingies in the case ...! FFS
• If you mess up the take-off and feel yourself starting to rotate, you can choke it off by not sending the kite back so far.
• When sending the kite back for a change of direction, send it AGGRESSIVELY or it just won't work.
• Pop-up water starts ...!
• Needed my Sharks :(
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Sour Sole Session
:(
Forecast was almost identical to yesterday ... but didn't live up to expectations. I took the SA2 and the Flydoor and Flyradical to the lake beach just in case the wind got up, but I think I jinxed it.
I got maybe two tacks upwind, the rest I spent walking and standing on sharp things like fish skeletons, weird caltrop seeds and glass. Didn't get much riding in, got even fewer jumps and even though we waited and waited, nothing eventuated.
Sigh. Still, the water was cool after a blistering hot day in the "office" with no air-con at all ... 36 degrees outside, I hate to think what it was inside ...!
Windspeed was reported as 4 to 5 knots between 4 and 8pm. I think we got a touch more, albeit briefly. 2.0 to 2.6 m/s ...
Moment of the Day was riding upwind past Soh, waving in a stately manner :D
What I learned today ...
• Balance on the board can have a big effect on low-wind boardspeed ... and thus, how well you go upwind.
• Gusts as the wind shifts direction can still upset the Silberpfeil and ...
• You can't ride through the gusts!
Forecast was almost identical to yesterday ... but didn't live up to expectations. I took the SA2 and the Flydoor and Flyradical to the lake beach just in case the wind got up, but I think I jinxed it.
I got maybe two tacks upwind, the rest I spent walking and standing on sharp things like fish skeletons, weird caltrop seeds and glass. Didn't get much riding in, got even fewer jumps and even though we waited and waited, nothing eventuated.
Sigh. Still, the water was cool after a blistering hot day in the "office" with no air-con at all ... 36 degrees outside, I hate to think what it was inside ...!
Windspeed was reported as 4 to 5 knots between 4 and 8pm. I think we got a touch more, albeit briefly. 2.0 to 2.6 m/s ...
Moment of the Day was riding upwind past Soh, waving in a stately manner :D
What I learned today ...
• Balance on the board can have a big effect on low-wind boardspeed ... and thus, how well you go upwind.
• Gusts as the wind shifts direction can still upset the Silberpfeil and ...
• You can't ride through the gusts!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Sweet Soul Session
Finally, some northerlies! Forecast looked weak - 10 knots - but I headed to the lake anyway.
Dragged the Silberpfeil and the 16m Crossbow over to the lake (in case the actual wind went either way) and tucked the Flydoor under my arm ... wind was bad when I got on the beach - about 4:45pm - and looking out at the lake, the 5pm 10-knot front didn't look like it was coming so I unpacked the SA2. Put it in the air and hit the water straight away ... may as well get wet and cool!
Was riding, but not going upwind. Tack out, back in, walk it up, get back in the water, oh hello the wind is up! We all start riding it out, but only the little guy on the Slingshot RPM 14 and I are going upwind.
I proceed to have a great time, riding toe-side, monster load'n'pops and working hard on timing the jumps properly. Finally getting it sorted! Boost from the SA in this low wind is impressive ...! I go down the other end of the 'bay' to show-off to the windsurfers but end up looping around and splashing down ... but the kite is still waiting for me when I surface! Boy-oh-boy it's so much better behaved since I got it all tuned up! I manage to get upwind enough to get back across the river mouth and onto 'our' side of the beach ...
LEIs out were the 2011 SS RPM 14, Best Waroo 14 and directional, Cab Switchblade 12 x2, Naish Park 14, LF Havoc 14 ... Poor old Master of Disaster on the Park couldn't even get up on a plane :o he's one of the bigger locals though - Auntie and Taki on the SB's are probably less than 60kg each! Soh on the Havoc was riding but only downwind ... he's no lightweight either though, I think he said 75kg.
A very enjoyable evening - just the mellow, satisfying experience I've been needing. I pack it in as the sun sets and the wind dies off again ...
Windspeed was recorded as 3.2 to 4.3 m/s (6 to 9 knots) from 5 to 8pm. Seems about right - I'm riding downwind at 6, upwind easily at 8 ...
Moment of the Day was finally getting the timing right jumping the SA2 in light winds, sending it from 2 o'clock and kicking a hole in the sky! Enough time up there to think "Holy crap! I'm up high!" and balanced correctly so I could take one hand off the bar, make the 'rock on!' horns hand sign thingy and scream "WOO HOO!" at Soh - just as I reached the zenith of the jump :D
What I learned today ...
• Cost for tune-up at powerzonekitesports.com - well worth the money! Including shipping :) the stability when I mess things up now is just awesome!
• Timing for jumping the slow ol' bus - bear-off downwind a bit, pull the bar back the other way, start loading the edge again as the kite goes up, pop the edge and pull on the bar when you feel the lift ... redirect HARD as you just start to drop.
• Don't show-off :D
• Sheeting in on a load'n'pop increases the height and extends the hang-time ... a lot!
• Riding toe-side ... slowly getting there.
• You don't necessarily need white-caps to ride the Silberpfeil successfully - but it's a very fine line at the bottom end ...
Dragged the Silberpfeil and the 16m Crossbow over to the lake (in case the actual wind went either way) and tucked the Flydoor under my arm ... wind was bad when I got on the beach - about 4:45pm - and looking out at the lake, the 5pm 10-knot front didn't look like it was coming so I unpacked the SA2. Put it in the air and hit the water straight away ... may as well get wet and cool!
Was riding, but not going upwind. Tack out, back in, walk it up, get back in the water, oh hello the wind is up! We all start riding it out, but only the little guy on the Slingshot RPM 14 and I are going upwind.
I proceed to have a great time, riding toe-side, monster load'n'pops and working hard on timing the jumps properly. Finally getting it sorted! Boost from the SA in this low wind is impressive ...! I go down the other end of the 'bay' to show-off to the windsurfers but end up looping around and splashing down ... but the kite is still waiting for me when I surface! Boy-oh-boy it's so much better behaved since I got it all tuned up! I manage to get upwind enough to get back across the river mouth and onto 'our' side of the beach ...
LEIs out were the 2011 SS RPM 14, Best Waroo 14 and directional, Cab Switchblade 12 x2, Naish Park 14, LF Havoc 14 ... Poor old Master of Disaster on the Park couldn't even get up on a plane :o he's one of the bigger locals though - Auntie and Taki on the SB's are probably less than 60kg each! Soh on the Havoc was riding but only downwind ... he's no lightweight either though, I think he said 75kg.
A very enjoyable evening - just the mellow, satisfying experience I've been needing. I pack it in as the sun sets and the wind dies off again ...
Windspeed was recorded as 3.2 to 4.3 m/s (6 to 9 knots) from 5 to 8pm. Seems about right - I'm riding downwind at 6, upwind easily at 8 ...
Moment of the Day was finally getting the timing right jumping the SA2 in light winds, sending it from 2 o'clock and kicking a hole in the sky! Enough time up there to think "Holy crap! I'm up high!" and balanced correctly so I could take one hand off the bar, make the 'rock on!' horns hand sign thingy and scream "WOO HOO!" at Soh - just as I reached the zenith of the jump :D
What I learned today ...
• Cost for tune-up at powerzonekitesports.com - well worth the money! Including shipping :) the stability when I mess things up now is just awesome!
• Timing for jumping the slow ol' bus - bear-off downwind a bit, pull the bar back the other way, start loading the edge again as the kite goes up, pop the edge and pull on the bar when you feel the lift ... redirect HARD as you just start to drop.
• Don't show-off :D
• Sheeting in on a load'n'pop increases the height and extends the hang-time ... a lot!
• Riding toe-side ... slowly getting there.
• You don't necessarily need white-caps to ride the Silberpfeil successfully - but it's a very fine line at the bottom end ...
Sunday, June 26, 2011
South Seas
More southerlies, but this time including a little bit of east which puts it onshore at Machiya Beach, near Tsu city in Mie. Hummed and harred for a while - have a very stiff left thigh from Thursday's efforts at Hamamatsu - but decided to suck it up and just do it!
Left home at 12pm, aiming to be there and on the water in time for peak wind at 2pm. Almost worked out that way but we stopped for a bit of lunch on the way so it was about 1:45 when we arrived.
Checked the wind (6 - 10 m/s) and checked what others were riding. Good turn out, probably half the people were Locus locals! Bunch of windsurfers too ... is it just them or do they not go upwind very well?
Most people were on 9 to 11m kites but were on directionals so I put up the 13m Crossbow and the Flydoor. I was nicely powered for most of the next 2 and a half hours on the water, only really getting spanked by the gusts in the last 1/2 hour.
Wife had her camera - and a tripod, for all the difference that made - so I started playing silly buggers. Still having a hard time with the timing of the jumps but got a few good ones in and on film ... kinda. Had to land a few toe-side (going to starboard) cos I messed them up but I was either too tired or lazy to do that going to port so I just splashed down a lot.
Had a great time playing with wave riding, actually riding the board & using the kite rather than being pulled along by the whim of the kite. Pretty tough to do anything really on the Flydoor which got me thinking about the Mako again - as did bouncing off all the chop too!
So it was a lot of just riding around and trying to jump or ride waves. Glad I went though, and didn't let a stiff leg (just one?) turn me off ...
Wind picked up right at the end, as I began to get tired and got some good spankings. Trimming the kite to cope was unsuccessful as it was too hard to hold a fast tack, so I needed instant power from the kite; but cock it up, and it whacked me.
Windspeed was recorded as 14 to 20 knots, max gust 27 knots, from JMA. I measured 14 to 20 when I arrived but the wind picked up towards 4 unclock which wasn't recorded on the website.
Moment of the Day was riding up the face of a wave, popping a little jump (more of a hover) just before the top then skimming my bum on the peaks of the launch and the landing wave, riding down the back of the second one!
What I learned today ...
• Might need that Mako King after all ...
• Water was warm, wind was cool, glasses didn't fog at all. Hurrah Sharks!
• Licking the lenses isn't a successful way of cleaning them though :(
• As with the 16m, the 13m gets twitchy at the upper end of it's actually flying limits - which I think is about 30 knots - as opposed to the limit to where it can be used by fatties.
• I'd say that 15 to 20 knots, give or take a few knots, is the butter zone for the 13 - I had great fun on it till the wind picked up at the end of my session.
• Need to work on adjusting the fit of the harness - I'm getting massive sperlunking again :(
• Charlie Chaplin! Heels close, toes out! Best edge control.
Left home at 12pm, aiming to be there and on the water in time for peak wind at 2pm. Almost worked out that way but we stopped for a bit of lunch on the way so it was about 1:45 when we arrived.
Checked the wind (6 - 10 m/s) and checked what others were riding. Good turn out, probably half the people were Locus locals! Bunch of windsurfers too ... is it just them or do they not go upwind very well?
Most people were on 9 to 11m kites but were on directionals so I put up the 13m Crossbow and the Flydoor. I was nicely powered for most of the next 2 and a half hours on the water, only really getting spanked by the gusts in the last 1/2 hour.
Wife had her camera - and a tripod, for all the difference that made - so I started playing silly buggers. Still having a hard time with the timing of the jumps but got a few good ones in and on film ... kinda. Had to land a few toe-side (going to starboard) cos I messed them up but I was either too tired or lazy to do that going to port so I just splashed down a lot.
Had a great time playing with wave riding, actually riding the board & using the kite rather than being pulled along by the whim of the kite. Pretty tough to do anything really on the Flydoor which got me thinking about the Mako again - as did bouncing off all the chop too!
So it was a lot of just riding around and trying to jump or ride waves. Glad I went though, and didn't let a stiff leg (just one?) turn me off ...
Wind picked up right at the end, as I began to get tired and got some good spankings. Trimming the kite to cope was unsuccessful as it was too hard to hold a fast tack, so I needed instant power from the kite; but cock it up, and it whacked me.
Windspeed was recorded as 14 to 20 knots, max gust 27 knots, from JMA. I measured 14 to 20 when I arrived but the wind picked up towards 4 unclock which wasn't recorded on the website.
Moment of the Day was riding up the face of a wave, popping a little jump (more of a hover) just before the top then skimming my bum on the peaks of the launch and the landing wave, riding down the back of the second one!
What I learned today ...
• Might need that Mako King after all ...
• Water was warm, wind was cool, glasses didn't fog at all. Hurrah Sharks!
• Licking the lenses isn't a successful way of cleaning them though :(
• As with the 16m, the 13m gets twitchy at the upper end of it's actually flying limits - which I think is about 30 knots - as opposed to the limit to where it can be used by fatties.
• I'd say that 15 to 20 knots, give or take a few knots, is the butter zone for the 13 - I had great fun on it till the wind picked up at the end of my session.
• Need to work on adjusting the fit of the harness - I'm getting massive sperlunking again :(
• Charlie Chaplin! Heels close, toes out! Best edge control.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Sorry Boss can't work cos (insert excuse)
Got up, got ready to go to work but there was a good stiff breeze out there ... I thought about the impending heavy workload today - after 3 days solid of heavy work loads with no air-con in 35-degree-C classrooms - and then I thought "The hell with that!" I got a Starbucks coffee, called the boss and supplied my pre-suggested excuse. "I gotta go to the Immigration office - just like I warned I might need to last week."
Went home, hit the interweb and looked for the best wind. Looked like Hamamatsu so I loaded up the K-wagon and hit the highway ...
Got to Maisaka about 12:30pm and was glad to see other kites in the sky. Good wind blowing and I got a burst of butterflies as I got out of the car ... checked the wind with anemometer and it was reading 12-18 knots cross on-shore. Checked what the locals were riding - 9's to 12's - so I decided on the 13m Crossbow and my big board cos the surf looked a bit big.
Set up on the beach near the carpark and then walked to the water. Excellent beach, miles of space! There were about 6 or 7 other kiters there, a couple of windsurfers and a few surfers.
The waves ... they are big. Oh crap. There's about 5m of very shallow water to the first breaker, maybe a half meter, that floods the shallow bit ... I put board on feet just after the breaker washes through, dive the kite and ride out through the waves. Oh wow that was easy I must've gotten the hang of dealing with waves, thinks I.
Head out through the breakers and WOW the swells are big too! I'm disappearing down the troughs and then riding up the faces of swells that are over my head :o big fun is popping off the top and floating downwind :D
Man what a battering I'm taking ... I'll never complain about chop on the lake again! The kite feels like I should be over-powered but I'm having to sine the kite just to get some board speed - then the chop kills it all. Having an impossible time setting up jumps so they all suck :( there's no flat water and the waves are at the wrong angle to boost off good. I throw some weakness into the air but it isn't cool ... load'n'pops result in large-ish jumps and long floats downwind, so there must be some power in the kite! Frustrating.
I'm holding ground and going upwind though, which is a first for Maisaka. In fact, everyone else seems to be going downwind ...??? I've got the ocean to myself. Mostly - have to take care the windsurfers aren't in my way before I try jumping ...
Flydoor works good in the "gusty" conditions and kind of surfs down the waves too :D
Wind drops off, I head back in to the beach before I'm too underpowered to get back without walking ... and I need a drink. Take some water, chat to the guy who used to live in Kyoto and we decide that the wind is going to pick up when that there front comes in and the total lack of wind now is temporary. He sets up his 14, I set up my 16.
I launch and to try it out. I'm guessing 8 knots at best. At the water's edge, I get the beat-down by the waves and have a hell of a time getting the board on my feet and out from the breakers ... would've made a good film but the wife was working fnar fnar! I'm out on "flat" water but there's no wind to be had so I turn back in ... finally get a burst of board speed and ride in for a few minutes and it's just when I look back and around me that I realize I've been riding in on a wave! Awesome!
OMG it's the shore - whaddoIdo? WhaddoIdo? Ah, fall over, ditch the board and struggle to get on my feet, chase the board as it floats down the in the rip tide ... then walk back to carpark base camp.
Stand around with the kite up and wait for the NEXT front to roll in. It brings white-caps with it, this one does. Neat-o. Starting to feel the wind now so I head back out.
Again, I get smacked around, spun around trying to get the board on. Get up and moving but Lassie the Freestyler has decided she'll enter the water 10m downwind of me so I've got to be careful getting biffed around by waves so I don't wrap my lines around hers ... FFS I'd be trying to get board on for 5 minutes - did she not notice me thrashing around?
"Safety in Japan - it's ok, everyone else is looking out for me."
Finally get rolling - the waves are bigger, the swells are bigger holy fuck! The wind is the same gusty punchy crap though ... I'm holding ground though so I work hard on the big purple monster. The heavy bar pressure is a drag ... hmm time for a Zephyr? Still can't get the jumps right ... do a lot of low long floats downwind. Play with riding waves - what fun! Go in to shore too far and have to do some fancy (for me) riding to avoid being sloshed by the breakers - what fun! Legs are starting to burn - what fu... no, time to call it a day - got a 3 hour drive if there're no traffic jams on the way home ...
Head in, pack it up, start the drive home about 4:45 and get home about 7:45. Great day! Much better than working :D
What I learned today ...
• Riding in the ocean - much harder than on the lake!
• Need to be more powered on the ocean. Bollocks to float, it doesn't help at all.
• Surface conditions (massive swells) meant there was no wind low down - better to gently sine the kite near the top of the window.
• Chop. It's not what we have on the lake!
• There's no real point in driving all the way to Maisaka unless you're desperate - it's not that good really.
• If I went to the ocean more, I'd get a directional or a Mako. I won't so I can now forget about the Mako :D
• Don't forget to take your own fresh water for washing stuff :-/ that's why you bought the 20L tank innit?
Went home, hit the interweb and looked for the best wind. Looked like Hamamatsu so I loaded up the K-wagon and hit the highway ...
Got to Maisaka about 12:30pm and was glad to see other kites in the sky. Good wind blowing and I got a burst of butterflies as I got out of the car ... checked the wind with anemometer and it was reading 12-18 knots cross on-shore. Checked what the locals were riding - 9's to 12's - so I decided on the 13m Crossbow and my big board cos the surf looked a bit big.
Set up on the beach near the carpark and then walked to the water. Excellent beach, miles of space! There were about 6 or 7 other kiters there, a couple of windsurfers and a few surfers.
The waves ... they are big. Oh crap. There's about 5m of very shallow water to the first breaker, maybe a half meter, that floods the shallow bit ... I put board on feet just after the breaker washes through, dive the kite and ride out through the waves. Oh wow that was easy I must've gotten the hang of dealing with waves, thinks I.
Head out through the breakers and WOW the swells are big too! I'm disappearing down the troughs and then riding up the faces of swells that are over my head :o big fun is popping off the top and floating downwind :D
Man what a battering I'm taking ... I'll never complain about chop on the lake again! The kite feels like I should be over-powered but I'm having to sine the kite just to get some board speed - then the chop kills it all. Having an impossible time setting up jumps so they all suck :( there's no flat water and the waves are at the wrong angle to boost off good. I throw some weakness into the air but it isn't cool ... load'n'pops result in large-ish jumps and long floats downwind, so there must be some power in the kite! Frustrating.
I'm holding ground and going upwind though, which is a first for Maisaka. In fact, everyone else seems to be going downwind ...??? I've got the ocean to myself. Mostly - have to take care the windsurfers aren't in my way before I try jumping ...
Flydoor works good in the "gusty" conditions and kind of surfs down the waves too :D
Wind drops off, I head back in to the beach before I'm too underpowered to get back without walking ... and I need a drink. Take some water, chat to the guy who used to live in Kyoto and we decide that the wind is going to pick up when that there front comes in and the total lack of wind now is temporary. He sets up his 14, I set up my 16.
I launch and to try it out. I'm guessing 8 knots at best. At the water's edge, I get the beat-down by the waves and have a hell of a time getting the board on my feet and out from the breakers ... would've made a good film but the wife was working fnar fnar! I'm out on "flat" water but there's no wind to be had so I turn back in ... finally get a burst of board speed and ride in for a few minutes and it's just when I look back and around me that I realize I've been riding in on a wave! Awesome!
OMG it's the shore - whaddoIdo? WhaddoIdo? Ah, fall over, ditch the board and struggle to get on my feet, chase the board as it floats down the in the rip tide ... then walk back to carpark base camp.
Stand around with the kite up and wait for the NEXT front to roll in. It brings white-caps with it, this one does. Neat-o. Starting to feel the wind now so I head back out.
Again, I get smacked around, spun around trying to get the board on. Get up and moving but Lassie the Freestyler has decided she'll enter the water 10m downwind of me so I've got to be careful getting biffed around by waves so I don't wrap my lines around hers ... FFS I'd be trying to get board on for 5 minutes - did she not notice me thrashing around?
"Safety in Japan - it's ok, everyone else is looking out for me."
Finally get rolling - the waves are bigger, the swells are bigger holy fuck! The wind is the same gusty punchy crap though ... I'm holding ground though so I work hard on the big purple monster. The heavy bar pressure is a drag ... hmm time for a Zephyr? Still can't get the jumps right ... do a lot of low long floats downwind. Play with riding waves - what fun! Go in to shore too far and have to do some fancy (for me) riding to avoid being sloshed by the breakers - what fun! Legs are starting to burn - what fu... no, time to call it a day - got a 3 hour drive if there're no traffic jams on the way home ...
Head in, pack it up, start the drive home about 4:45 and get home about 7:45. Great day! Much better than working :D
What I learned today ...
• Riding in the ocean - much harder than on the lake!
• Need to be more powered on the ocean. Bollocks to float, it doesn't help at all.
• Surface conditions (massive swells) meant there was no wind low down - better to gently sine the kite near the top of the window.
• Chop. It's not what we have on the lake!
• There's no real point in driving all the way to Maisaka unless you're desperate - it's not that good really.
• If I went to the ocean more, I'd get a directional or a Mako. I won't so I can now forget about the Mako :D
• Don't forget to take your own fresh water for washing stuff :-/ that's why you bought the 20L tank innit?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Lessons Learned
Oh joy! Kick-ass forecast for today and the whole day, the wind was rockin'! Webcam looks awesome - so awesome in fact, that I go home at lunchtime to pick up the 10m Crossbow, dump the Silberpfeil and even consider the 7m Core :o
Chaffing at the bit; finally, work finishes and I race down to the lake and ... 10-12 knots!!! Oh give me a break :(
I unpack the Psycho4 15 and the Flydoor and hit the water ... hmm. This kite's a bit different. Back-stall central :( I pull the trim in a bunch and finally get up on a plane. Kite is very sensitive to sheeting in - something's gonna need a look at it! Manage to get some nice jumps in but then the wind has dropped more and I'm riding downwind. Walk up the beach - the P4 is real stable - and land, pack up and pump up the 16m Crossbow.
Pah! Just enough wind to get moving now and it's dropping even more :( Slog around on the 16 but this is not fun! Give up and land the kite. Stand around talking with Soh and Hironobu waiting for the wind, but give up about 6:30.
Could have been better, but at least I got some time on the Psycho4 - now I need to tune it a bit!
Windspeed was reported at 10-12 knots on the beach and 8 to 10 knots on the web. Pah!
What I learned today ...
• When The Fattest Kiteboarder in Japan also has The Most Powerful Kite in Japan, then you're a total jackass to leave it at home - EVER! The Silberpfeil is about to take up permanent residence in my boot!
• P4 15 - somehow, the jumps are just smoother when you're in the air, than the LEIs are ... feels more like flying rather than erm hanging under a kite :o
• P4 15 again - pulls like a 13 (so far) but also turns just as fast. VERY easy to jump with, it's just like the LEIs except smoother YOINK and longer AAH!
• Might need to Seal'n'Glide the P4 - seemed to deflate fast when I landed it on the beach. Faster than the SA2 and I thought THAT needed treatments!
Chaffing at the bit; finally, work finishes and I race down to the lake and ... 10-12 knots!!! Oh give me a break :(
I unpack the Psycho4 15 and the Flydoor and hit the water ... hmm. This kite's a bit different. Back-stall central :( I pull the trim in a bunch and finally get up on a plane. Kite is very sensitive to sheeting in - something's gonna need a look at it! Manage to get some nice jumps in but then the wind has dropped more and I'm riding downwind. Walk up the beach - the P4 is real stable - and land, pack up and pump up the 16m Crossbow.
Pah! Just enough wind to get moving now and it's dropping even more :( Slog around on the 16 but this is not fun! Give up and land the kite. Stand around talking with Soh and Hironobu waiting for the wind, but give up about 6:30.
Could have been better, but at least I got some time on the Psycho4 - now I need to tune it a bit!
Windspeed was reported at 10-12 knots on the beach and 8 to 10 knots on the web. Pah!
What I learned today ...
• When The Fattest Kiteboarder in Japan also has The Most Powerful Kite in Japan, then you're a total jackass to leave it at home - EVER! The Silberpfeil is about to take up permanent residence in my boot!
• P4 15 - somehow, the jumps are just smoother when you're in the air, than the LEIs are ... feels more like flying rather than erm hanging under a kite :o
• P4 15 again - pulls like a 13 (so far) but also turns just as fast. VERY easy to jump with, it's just like the LEIs except smoother YOINK and longer AAH!
• Might need to Seal'n'Glide the P4 - seemed to deflate fast when I landed it on the beach. Faster than the SA2 and I thought THAT needed treatments!
Monday, June 13, 2011
"Optimism, Captain!"
We had a nice wind blowing all day at work, about 10km further north up the lake from Locus. First time I check the webcam in the afternoon - there's freakin' nothing at the Locus beach ...! I keep an eye on it till knock-off time but no change at all! Decide to head down anyway.
Sit on the lake beach with all the other junkies waiting for something to change. It slowly picks up by about 5:30pm and so I decide to unpack "that white thing" as the locals call it ... it launches and kinda flies so I noodle around on the beach. Wind picks up a tiny bit more, so I try the board out ...
... I can get up on a plane but when I have to work the kite again on an upstroke, I'm sinking. I walk back up the beach. Keep playing around for a bit then suddenly, the wind starts making an impression on the back of my head!
Jump in the water and lo! I'm up and riding! Sure I'm going downwind but I'm riding :D by the time I've made a few tacks and run down the beach, started the walk back up Hironobu has hit the water with his Naish Park 14, Uncle Pyro has launched his Best Waroo 14 and that other guy is pumping up his Cult 12 like a madman. Brother Chubby gets his 15m Bandit up in a hurry too.
I get back on the butter-smooth water behind Hironobu but I'm making better ground upwind than him! Hail the Silberpfeil! Same vein; we continue to ride downwind a lot but the wind eventually picks up enough that I can make a couple of tacks upwind :o do some silly small jumps - I'm underpowered but happy to be riding. I'm still making more ground upwind than the other though - gotta love the SA2 and the Flydoor! They're the only reason I'm riding, I'm sure.
Wind finally dies right as the sun slips behind the hills; Hironobu had landed his kite already but the other guys all hindenburg like erm the Hindenburg although Uncle Pyro manages to keep his Waroo up by running backwards on the beach - but it too eventually hits the floor. I walk upwind with "that white thing" in the air.
Well, it was better than watching TV.
JMA reported the windspeed as 6 knots. I dunno what to believe cos reported 10 knots at 3pm when there was NOTHING on the webcam - not even a flag twitch.
What I learned today ...
• bottom end for riding on the SA - pretty freakin' low!
• I'm a sad junkie :D
Sit on the lake beach with all the other junkies waiting for something to change. It slowly picks up by about 5:30pm and so I decide to unpack "that white thing" as the locals call it ... it launches and kinda flies so I noodle around on the beach. Wind picks up a tiny bit more, so I try the board out ...
... I can get up on a plane but when I have to work the kite again on an upstroke, I'm sinking. I walk back up the beach. Keep playing around for a bit then suddenly, the wind starts making an impression on the back of my head!
Jump in the water and lo! I'm up and riding! Sure I'm going downwind but I'm riding :D by the time I've made a few tacks and run down the beach, started the walk back up Hironobu has hit the water with his Naish Park 14, Uncle Pyro has launched his Best Waroo 14 and that other guy is pumping up his Cult 12 like a madman. Brother Chubby gets his 15m Bandit up in a hurry too.
I get back on the butter-smooth water behind Hironobu but I'm making better ground upwind than him! Hail the Silberpfeil! Same vein; we continue to ride downwind a lot but the wind eventually picks up enough that I can make a couple of tacks upwind :o do some silly small jumps - I'm underpowered but happy to be riding. I'm still making more ground upwind than the other though - gotta love the SA2 and the Flydoor! They're the only reason I'm riding, I'm sure.
Wind finally dies right as the sun slips behind the hills; Hironobu had landed his kite already but the other guys all hindenburg like erm the Hindenburg although Uncle Pyro manages to keep his Waroo up by running backwards on the beach - but it too eventually hits the floor. I walk upwind with "that white thing" in the air.
Well, it was better than watching TV.
JMA reported the windspeed as 6 knots. I dunno what to believe cos reported 10 knots at 3pm when there was NOTHING on the webcam - not even a flag twitch.
What I learned today ...
• bottom end for riding on the SA - pretty freakin' low!
• I'm a sad junkie :D
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Post-work mad-dash
Feckin' work ... if it didn't pay for toys, I just wouldn't even bother eh. Forecast was iffy - conflicting reports on all weather sites so I hoped for the best and rushed down when I finished work at 5pm ...
... got to the lake at 5:30 and tried to figure out what kite I needed. I erred on the side of caution and took the Crossbow 13 to the beach, with the Flyradical & the Flydoor ... I really wanted to take the Psycho4 15 or the Crossbow 16 but chickened out. Should have banked on the wind dropping towards sunset, like it usually does though :(
So I pumped up the kite (damned pressure gauge I bought doesn't work on the Cab Sprint cos of the one way valve!) and hit the water with the Flyrad. Just powered enough for some fun but soon I'm working the kite hard. Back to shore, swap for the 'door. Better.
Cruising around, going upwind, doing some jumps, testing the Sharks 2.0, having some fun!
I'm landing more jumps now - like, all of them :D it's the post-landing ride away that I screw up most often now ...? Jump, land, ride away for a few meters then SPLASH ... uh? Anyway, all good fun.
Wind dies off and I'm working the hell out of the kite just to ride downwind and walk back up the beach. Sun is setting, so I pack up ... got to have a close looks at the 10m 2011 Slingshot RPM and the bar - very nice! Very light :o excellent colours and the bar looks good ... not 100% sure about the external bungy as the safety return mechanism though ...
JMA recorded the wind speed as 5 to 6 knots ... which SO can't be correct! I think weather-gpv.info offered 8 to 10 knots which sounds more likely.
What I learned today ...
• Sharks Version 2.0 are just as good as the first model - and they float!
• My sense of what the wind is doing is way off :( keep underestimating the kite I need ...
• Sending the kite WAY back is great fun - big ol' swing action going on :)
... got to the lake at 5:30 and tried to figure out what kite I needed. I erred on the side of caution and took the Crossbow 13 to the beach, with the Flyradical & the Flydoor ... I really wanted to take the Psycho4 15 or the Crossbow 16 but chickened out. Should have banked on the wind dropping towards sunset, like it usually does though :(
So I pumped up the kite (damned pressure gauge I bought doesn't work on the Cab Sprint cos of the one way valve!) and hit the water with the Flyrad. Just powered enough for some fun but soon I'm working the kite hard. Back to shore, swap for the 'door. Better.
Cruising around, going upwind, doing some jumps, testing the Sharks 2.0, having some fun!
I'm landing more jumps now - like, all of them :D it's the post-landing ride away that I screw up most often now ...? Jump, land, ride away for a few meters then SPLASH ... uh? Anyway, all good fun.
Wind dies off and I'm working the hell out of the kite just to ride downwind and walk back up the beach. Sun is setting, so I pack up ... got to have a close looks at the 10m 2011 Slingshot RPM and the bar - very nice! Very light :o excellent colours and the bar looks good ... not 100% sure about the external bungy as the safety return mechanism though ...
JMA recorded the wind speed as 5 to 6 knots ... which SO can't be correct! I think weather-gpv.info offered 8 to 10 knots which sounds more likely.
What I learned today ...
• Sharks Version 2.0 are just as good as the first model - and they float!
• My sense of what the wind is doing is way off :( keep underestimating the kite I need ...
• Sending the kite WAY back is great fun - big ol' swing action going on :)
Monday, June 6, 2011
Saved by the Flysurfer!
Been watching the forecasts like a hawk - as usual. Saturday and Sunday promised a little low wind but were total washouts - Saturday, the wind never shifted from southerlies and Sunday, the wind never picked up enough to be ridable. Everyone said Monday was going to be the day ...
Kept an eye on the webcam and the forecast ... was going to be light wind but looked ridable so I headed down after work. Looks like another job for - Flysurfer! Out comes the Silberpfeil, and I drag the Psycho4 15 over to the beach - just in case. I also take both the Flydoor and the Flyradical ... options, you'll recall, are important!
Probably on the water by about 4pm. No wetsuit, just shorts, rashgaurd and t-shirt. Water isn't cold at all, just refreshing. The SA2 launches easily, inflates nicely and seems to have enough power. Everyone hits the water at once, and we diddle about for a few tacks underpowered. I'm going on a downwinder but the wind has just picked up enough to be riding ... the water's so-ooo flat! Working hard to make the tacks head upwind but I drift halfway down the beach until the wind picks up enough to hold a beam reach ... now I can start to play!
Wind picks up a little more and I make up my lost ground. Then it lulls and while I'm still riding - albeit on a broad reach now - the LEIs are falling from the sky ... a 2009 North Rebel 14 and a 2012 Naish Charger 15 get a swim to shore for their lack of low end ;)
And so it goes until about 6:45pm - wind is up and down, sometimes walking, sometimes upwind. I have fun riding toe-side in the butter flat water, throwing out some load'n'pops and trying to jump ... the timing is tough with the big foil; I get some average heights but of course, mad hang time! I swap between the Flyradical and 'door as the wind goes up and down and Soh ends up nabbing the 'radical cos it's better in the low-wind than his Hadlow Pro thingy. Guy with the Zephyr on the large directional is doing fine, making good ground upwind - I got to try one of those!
Eventually, I'm struggling to stay upwind and running out of beach and daylight so I pack it in. The wind never got up enough to consider the P4 but I had a great time anyway. Just as well, cos the forecast for the rest of the week looks crappy :(
JMA recorded the wind speed as 2.3 to 4.5 m/s (4.5 to 9 knots). Yikes! Praise Jesus for the big foil!
Here are some pics - not from today, but it's the same person (me) in the same gear with the same kite ...!
What I learned today ...
• Sharks are great glasses! I love them!
• Wetsuit season is OVER - time to break out the new Fusion!
• Timing jumps with the SA is tough but rewarding when you get it right.
• In light wind, sending from 2 or 10 is super effective!
• Screw up that jump? Coming in for a crooked landing? Just land toeside or blind and ride off - how cool is that?!
• Looks like about a 5-6 knot difference in low-end between the two boards ...?
Kept an eye on the webcam and the forecast ... was going to be light wind but looked ridable so I headed down after work. Looks like another job for - Flysurfer! Out comes the Silberpfeil, and I drag the Psycho4 15 over to the beach - just in case. I also take both the Flydoor and the Flyradical ... options, you'll recall, are important!
Probably on the water by about 4pm. No wetsuit, just shorts, rashgaurd and t-shirt. Water isn't cold at all, just refreshing. The SA2 launches easily, inflates nicely and seems to have enough power. Everyone hits the water at once, and we diddle about for a few tacks underpowered. I'm going on a downwinder but the wind has just picked up enough to be riding ... the water's so-ooo flat! Working hard to make the tacks head upwind but I drift halfway down the beach until the wind picks up enough to hold a beam reach ... now I can start to play!
Wind picks up a little more and I make up my lost ground. Then it lulls and while I'm still riding - albeit on a broad reach now - the LEIs are falling from the sky ... a 2009 North Rebel 14 and a 2012 Naish Charger 15 get a swim to shore for their lack of low end ;)
And so it goes until about 6:45pm - wind is up and down, sometimes walking, sometimes upwind. I have fun riding toe-side in the butter flat water, throwing out some load'n'pops and trying to jump ... the timing is tough with the big foil; I get some average heights but of course, mad hang time! I swap between the Flyradical and 'door as the wind goes up and down and Soh ends up nabbing the 'radical cos it's better in the low-wind than his Hadlow Pro thingy. Guy with the Zephyr on the large directional is doing fine, making good ground upwind - I got to try one of those!
Eventually, I'm struggling to stay upwind and running out of beach and daylight so I pack it in. The wind never got up enough to consider the P4 but I had a great time anyway. Just as well, cos the forecast for the rest of the week looks crappy :(
JMA recorded the wind speed as 2.3 to 4.5 m/s (4.5 to 9 knots). Yikes! Praise Jesus for the big foil!
Here are some pics - not from today, but it's the same person (me) in the same gear with the same kite ...!
What I learned today ...
• Sharks are great glasses! I love them!
• Wetsuit season is OVER - time to break out the new Fusion!
• Timing jumps with the SA is tough but rewarding when you get it right.
• In light wind, sending from 2 or 10 is super effective!
• Screw up that jump? Coming in for a crooked landing? Just land toeside or blind and ride off - how cool is that?!
• Looks like about a 5-6 knot difference in low-end between the two boards ...?
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
First sunburn of the year :-/
On the Locus webcam, the wind looked like it was going to buck the forecast so I trotted down to the beach.
Took the Speed2 to the beach with the 'door and the 'radical. Beach was all mucky still from the typhoon the previous day, and the sand was muddy :( washed-up branches and bamboo stalks and crap everywhere, so I had to pick my way through the junk to lay out lines. Ended up doing a side-launch a la an arc, so the kite got muddy. Doh.
Nicely powered with the 'door so I came back in and got the 'radical. Easy to ride for sure, although the back-foot kept skipping out on me - I must be doing something wrong. Seem to remember a tip about it somewhere, will have to search the interweb again.
Riding around, trying some jumps and whatnot but the wind is steadily picking up. I'm starting to feel over-powered on the big foil so I head in and get Soh to land the kite for me ... he's had tuition at landing foils :D
Back to the car, I grab the 13m Crossbow and run around pumping it up blah blah blah. Get on the water and ... doh. Under-powered on the 'radical, so back to the 'door ... now only slightly under-powered :( throw some silly jumps, not much height but I land them all holy crap!
Wind dies off, I stand on the beach wondering if I should go get the SA2 again. Soh tried out the Flydoor and the Flyradical ... he's riding MILES upwind on the 'door and is surprised by how easy it is to ride, once he gets used to it. He thought the 'radical was ok but he's a wakestyle rider - too flat for him!
I run back to the car for the Speed2 again but now it's really gone off and as I unpack, the wind dies right away. Wait around for a while then give up ...
Got out on the water with the 720-armour Shark's too ...
• Very good anti-fog, I'm sure the little holes in the lens help. Better than the Wiley-X's so far. Full head dunking made a little fogging that cleared as soon as I got moving.
• The Hyrdrophobic lens coating works well until the dirty spots the water leaves start to build up but that wipes off easy. Good to know cos that seems to be a problem with the GoPro - no matter how much Rain-X I use ... looks like I'm going to have to resort to licking the lens after all LOL
• Very comfy - don't even notice they're on at all and they wrap around the face nicely too. The rubber on the nose and top/bottom of the frames is comfy but not intrusive.
• Field of view not restricted noticeable - I never tried to peer over the top like I have done with the others ...
• Stayed on the head ok when I did a bum dunk, the method I lost all the Seaspecs with. It wasn't from as great a height though as the wind wasn't up to much. And I had them leashed to the wetsuit ;)
So far, very good glasses, I'm greatly impressed - better fit, comfort and satisfaction than the Wiley-X; so I'd rank Sharks as #1, SeaSpecs #2 and Wily-X in at #3.
I got mine from ChainReactionCycles.com who seem to be the only internet vendor ... 720-armour.com told me they're working on Shark ver 2 so if they're better - they'll be pretty bloody good!
As I'm typing this I look at my hands and see red gloves :o guess I got my first burn for the season! And I forgot to put sunblock on my lips ... ouchie.
Wind was from 6 to 14 knots.
What I learned today ...
• Flyradical L - awesome board! Thanks Ripsesssionkites - again!
• 720-armour Sharks - awesome glasses!
• Getting my jumps & redirections sorted - awesome!
• Shoulda taken my P4 15 ... that might have seen me riding for longer and pumping less.
• white kites and mud ... bad.
Took the Speed2 to the beach with the 'door and the 'radical. Beach was all mucky still from the typhoon the previous day, and the sand was muddy :( washed-up branches and bamboo stalks and crap everywhere, so I had to pick my way through the junk to lay out lines. Ended up doing a side-launch a la an arc, so the kite got muddy. Doh.
Nicely powered with the 'door so I came back in and got the 'radical. Easy to ride for sure, although the back-foot kept skipping out on me - I must be doing something wrong. Seem to remember a tip about it somewhere, will have to search the interweb again.
Riding around, trying some jumps and whatnot but the wind is steadily picking up. I'm starting to feel over-powered on the big foil so I head in and get Soh to land the kite for me ... he's had tuition at landing foils :D
Back to the car, I grab the 13m Crossbow and run around pumping it up blah blah blah. Get on the water and ... doh. Under-powered on the 'radical, so back to the 'door ... now only slightly under-powered :( throw some silly jumps, not much height but I land them all holy crap!
Wind dies off, I stand on the beach wondering if I should go get the SA2 again. Soh tried out the Flydoor and the Flyradical ... he's riding MILES upwind on the 'door and is surprised by how easy it is to ride, once he gets used to it. He thought the 'radical was ok but he's a wakestyle rider - too flat for him!
I run back to the car for the Speed2 again but now it's really gone off and as I unpack, the wind dies right away. Wait around for a while then give up ...
Got out on the water with the 720-armour Shark's too ...
• Very good anti-fog, I'm sure the little holes in the lens help. Better than the Wiley-X's so far. Full head dunking made a little fogging that cleared as soon as I got moving.
• The Hyrdrophobic lens coating works well until the dirty spots the water leaves start to build up but that wipes off easy. Good to know cos that seems to be a problem with the GoPro - no matter how much Rain-X I use ... looks like I'm going to have to resort to licking the lens after all LOL
• Very comfy - don't even notice they're on at all and they wrap around the face nicely too. The rubber on the nose and top/bottom of the frames is comfy but not intrusive.
• Field of view not restricted noticeable - I never tried to peer over the top like I have done with the others ...
• Stayed on the head ok when I did a bum dunk, the method I lost all the Seaspecs with. It wasn't from as great a height though as the wind wasn't up to much. And I had them leashed to the wetsuit ;)
So far, very good glasses, I'm greatly impressed - better fit, comfort and satisfaction than the Wiley-X; so I'd rank Sharks as #1, SeaSpecs #2 and Wily-X in at #3.
I got mine from ChainReactionCycles.com who seem to be the only internet vendor ... 720-armour.com told me they're working on Shark ver 2 so if they're better - they'll be pretty bloody good!
As I'm typing this I look at my hands and see red gloves :o guess I got my first burn for the season! And I forgot to put sunblock on my lips ... ouchie.
Wind was from 6 to 14 knots.
What I learned today ...
• Flyradical L - awesome board! Thanks Ripsesssionkites - again!
• 720-armour Sharks - awesome glasses!
• Getting my jumps & redirections sorted - awesome!
• Shoulda taken my P4 15 ... that might have seen me riding for longer and pumping less.
• white kites and mud ... bad.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
FINALLY!
After nearly 2 weeks of no wind in the right direction, I was getting pretty desperate so on discovering a barely-reasonable forecast for this afternoon, I headed down to the lake right after work.
Sat on the beach watching ... nothing. No wind at all. My anemometer measured - 2 knots :( in the gusts! :D But the wind was supposed to kick-off around 5 though so I kept waiting; raked up some rubbish to pass the time and make my socks stinky ... mmm sweaty feet.
Dunno exactly when, but the wind eventually arrived 5-ish; I was getting gusts up to 9 knots when I decided to give it a shot and headed back to the car to get gear. Was pretty convinced it was an SA2 day so I got into the wetsuit, picked up the Silberpfeil and the Flydoor and headed over to the beach.
Quick setup and out onto the water (yah foils!) ... nicely powered and happy for about 20 minutes on BUTTER flat water - it was excellent! Then the wind picked up and we got some foot high waves ... and I was over-powered :( I put the advice I read recently into practice - kite low-ish, drop your bum and edge hard which worked fine. Played with load'n'pop, again trying out advice and got some nice big ones :)
Tried to work the kite for some jumps ... man it's a slow old bus. Send the kite, edge up and ... wait for it ... here it comes ... right about ... now! Up you go but not far cos there's not much boost as I've killed it already but flo-oooooat downwind, redirect the kite and whee! off you go. Got a few big jumps in though - muffed one, overflew the kite and splashed down ... the SA just opened up like an arc and floated downwind. I got my head above water and tugged a rear line to get it out of shape and moving in the wind, then body-dragged to my board - no hassles! Great tune by Jim/John at powerzonekitesports.com!
Wind dropped off a little as the sun was going down, so I started doing downloop transitions ... all good fun till the last one, when the kite built so much apparent wind and speed through the power-zone that I went shooting off like a rocket and it took almost an entire tack to get the board, kite and speed under control :D
I was the second to head in and pack up as it started to get dark - I could have kept riding easily in the dropping wind but I wanted a bit of light so I could put the kite down without skewering it on the bamboo rubbish or tangling it in the gardening implements Miyacchi left out ...
Great session! Too much kite (or board) left me wishing I had my Psycho4 or the Flyradical though ... epic wind, crappy riding on my part :D
Also, recently discovered this page of the Japan Meteorological Agency so now instead of my flakey guesses at the wind speed, you can have the official flakey guesses at wind speed.
Today, the wind was listed at 8knots at 5pm, dropping to 7 knots at 7pm. Utter rubbish, it was at least that - I'd say 12 to 14 knots easy cos I read 8knots when the wind first picked up, and it was stronger than that when I got back to the beach. Oh well better than nothing I guess :(
Ha! weather-gpv.info was listing 12 to 14 when I checked just now for the same time period!
What I learned today ...
• Options. You need them - take either 2 kites or 2 boards to the beach, even if you think you got it sussed with your kite choices. I missed getting the 'radical wet today :(
• Timing for the SA is essential - but difficult!
• Sheeting out at the right time is important too but -
• Body position - my problems have been twisting around on the descent of the jump and landing on my heels with the kite behind me, falling over backwards cos I've rotated too far. This CAN be countered by - waving your legs around :D I pushed out my back leg and sorta leaned that way and I corrected the rotation, landed clean ... nice!
• SA2 is a big ol' bus ... the Speed3 loses a bit on the bottom end but if it has better turning ... hmm ...
• Probably should have put sunblock on :(
Sat on the beach watching ... nothing. No wind at all. My anemometer measured - 2 knots :( in the gusts! :D But the wind was supposed to kick-off around 5 though so I kept waiting; raked up some rubbish to pass the time and make my socks stinky ... mmm sweaty feet.
Dunno exactly when, but the wind eventually arrived 5-ish; I was getting gusts up to 9 knots when I decided to give it a shot and headed back to the car to get gear. Was pretty convinced it was an SA2 day so I got into the wetsuit, picked up the Silberpfeil and the Flydoor and headed over to the beach.
Quick setup and out onto the water (yah foils!) ... nicely powered and happy for about 20 minutes on BUTTER flat water - it was excellent! Then the wind picked up and we got some foot high waves ... and I was over-powered :( I put the advice I read recently into practice - kite low-ish, drop your bum and edge hard which worked fine. Played with load'n'pop, again trying out advice and got some nice big ones :)
Tried to work the kite for some jumps ... man it's a slow old bus. Send the kite, edge up and ... wait for it ... here it comes ... right about ... now! Up you go but not far cos there's not much boost as I've killed it already but flo-oooooat downwind, redirect the kite and whee! off you go. Got a few big jumps in though - muffed one, overflew the kite and splashed down ... the SA just opened up like an arc and floated downwind. I got my head above water and tugged a rear line to get it out of shape and moving in the wind, then body-dragged to my board - no hassles! Great tune by Jim/John at powerzonekitesports.com!
Wind dropped off a little as the sun was going down, so I started doing downloop transitions ... all good fun till the last one, when the kite built so much apparent wind and speed through the power-zone that I went shooting off like a rocket and it took almost an entire tack to get the board, kite and speed under control :D
I was the second to head in and pack up as it started to get dark - I could have kept riding easily in the dropping wind but I wanted a bit of light so I could put the kite down without skewering it on the bamboo rubbish or tangling it in the gardening implements Miyacchi left out ...
Great session! Too much kite (or board) left me wishing I had my Psycho4 or the Flyradical though ... epic wind, crappy riding on my part :D
Also, recently discovered this page of the Japan Meteorological Agency so now instead of my flakey guesses at the wind speed, you can have the official flakey guesses at wind speed.
Today, the wind was listed at 8knots at 5pm, dropping to 7 knots at 7pm. Utter rubbish, it was at least that - I'd say 12 to 14 knots easy cos I read 8knots when the wind first picked up, and it was stronger than that when I got back to the beach. Oh well better than nothing I guess :(
Ha! weather-gpv.info was listing 12 to 14 when I checked just now for the same time period!
What I learned today ...
• Options. You need them - take either 2 kites or 2 boards to the beach, even if you think you got it sussed with your kite choices. I missed getting the 'radical wet today :(
• Timing for the SA is essential - but difficult!
• Sheeting out at the right time is important too but -
• Body position - my problems have been twisting around on the descent of the jump and landing on my heels with the kite behind me, falling over backwards cos I've rotated too far. This CAN be countered by - waving your legs around :D I pushed out my back leg and sorta leaned that way and I corrected the rotation, landed clean ... nice!
• SA2 is a big ol' bus ... the Speed3 loses a bit on the bottom end but if it has better turning ... hmm ...
• Probably should have put sunblock on :(
Friday, May 13, 2011
Dodging Trees
Ok that's twice now Lazarus plug-in has fucked me up - bastard thing! Lost 2 entries >:( one more time ...
Friday, 4pm.
Wind was all show and no blow.
Launched the 10, out and back, gave up and put the 13 up. Better.
Wind dropped off steadily till sunset.
Tons of crap in the water from the rains and wind - bamboo, rubbish, rushes and even a couple of trees!
Beach is messed up too - now there's a lagoon in our launch area!
Big air is better after following the advice from the link Ricardo posted. Even switch is getting better.
Aerial transitions are starting to zing!
Waves were huge - over my head but fun to ride.
Wily-X goggles work fine; fog up when wet but unfog with some airflow.
... stupid Lazarus!
Friday, 4pm.
Wind was all show and no blow.
Launched the 10, out and back, gave up and put the 13 up. Better.
Wind dropped off steadily till sunset.
Tons of crap in the water from the rains and wind - bamboo, rubbish, rushes and even a couple of trees!
Beach is messed up too - now there's a lagoon in our launch area!
Big air is better after following the advice from the link Ricardo posted. Even switch is getting better.
Aerial transitions are starting to zing!
Waves were huge - over my head but fun to ride.
Wily-X goggles work fine; fog up when wet but unfog with some airflow.
... stupid Lazarus!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
1 step back, 2 forwards? - The Movie!
Forecast looked crankin' for today but you never can tell, so I loaded the car up with the Flydoor, Rip Plus and my 16, 13 and 10m Crossbows. Got to Locus and the wind was good so I hauled the 13 and 10 'bow and the 2 boards over the road ...
... tough decision. Dithered around for a bit and decided to go with the 13 and the Rip Plus cos I need to get used to a small board. Started off with ol' Faithful though and was muy powered! Boosted some MONSTER jumps - seriously, they were massive and I just hung around under them for ages - but it was clear that the 13 was too much kite.
Pumped up the 10 and got back on the water ... weird being under such a small kite but I was easily powered, as the locals swapped down to the 7, 6, and 5m kites :o the big board had to go, so I jumped on the Rip Plus.
I'm determined to get used to a small board cos there'll be a Flyradical L in the mail soon hopefully - thanks Ricardo again! - so I persisted through the first few? many? minutes of nose dives and wipe-outs then I was riding and moaning to myself about the footpads not being as nice as the FS ones then I was just riding! I guess it's pretty easy to do when you're overpowered on a 10m kite :D
Spent a lot of the tack just standing on the fins, cos any edging at all sent me rocketing upwind miles away from the beach. Had a good amount of space to myself so busted some more monster jumps ... until I fucked them up several times in a row, looping the kite and slammed but myself good, at which point I came in for a break.
As I was sitting down having a drink, the Mistress of Disaster decided to launch her kite - this time, without checking that someone else hadn't laid their lines across hers. So up goes her kite with a bar wrapped around them and the kite attached to it starts to head skyward ... thankfully she got yanked into a nose dive and let go the bar and her kite depowered.
Seriously, what is wrong with people? If you're not flying the kite, wrap your line up don't leave them strung out over the beach! Common fucking sense and the only people who do it seem to be me, So and Hironobu ...
When I went to launch at the start of the day, I had to untangle the Master of Disaster's lines from mine first - he SAW me laying out my lines but landed his kite and just left his lines there, right over the top of mine. Wanker. He blew the LE on his brand new 8m Park so that'll learn him.
Anyway. I packed up my 13m before something happened to it.
Back out onto the water with the 10m and the Rip. Trying to control my jumps and land them rather than crashing or splashing down. Apparently the wife turned up for a while and she got some video, which I'll trim and upload. Not really exciting though cos like I said, was trying to do controlled jumps - not "how high can you fly?". Did a lot of jumps from the flat water behind the waves, rather than boosting off the face of the wave (although I still did them too) in the search for the elevator jumps. Did a lot of toe-side riding too ... for what that was worth :D
Sun was touching the hills, daylight is running out and I was spent. Great day, epic gusting to stupid but was muy bien! When I got back to the car, wife had left a choccie bar and drink for me too - lovely!
Finally edited the movie. After spending hours making it nicely sync with the audio track, fuckin' YouTube disabled it. Lame. Music from the '70's gets the ban-hammer but more recent tunes don't? That's a bit mad! So this is a place-holder until I get home and can upload to Vimeo ...
One step back, two forwards? from Kevin Henry on Vimeo.
What I learned today ...
• I might even need a 7m :o
• Riding a small board - possible! Starting needs more aggressive power strokes but I can cope with the short nose if I adjust my brain.
• 10m kite is crazy fast. Accidental kiteloops ... hurt.
• Small jumps I'm okay with - can redirect at the right time and ride away but going big results in splashdowns :( I still think it's timing of the redirection.
• Failed jump? Keep the kite behind you for a soft splash down.
• AERIAL TRANSITIONS! Little more than clearing the fins from the water, but I did a whole bunch in a row WOO HOO!!! At first they were lucky accidents but I did a number on purpose :)
• Don't need wetsuit boots anymore.
... tough decision. Dithered around for a bit and decided to go with the 13 and the Rip Plus cos I need to get used to a small board. Started off with ol' Faithful though and was muy powered! Boosted some MONSTER jumps - seriously, they were massive and I just hung around under them for ages - but it was clear that the 13 was too much kite.
Pumped up the 10 and got back on the water ... weird being under such a small kite but I was easily powered, as the locals swapped down to the 7, 6, and 5m kites :o the big board had to go, so I jumped on the Rip Plus.
I'm determined to get used to a small board cos there'll be a Flyradical L in the mail soon hopefully - thanks Ricardo again! - so I persisted through the first few? many? minutes of nose dives and wipe-outs then I was riding and moaning to myself about the footpads not being as nice as the FS ones then I was just riding! I guess it's pretty easy to do when you're overpowered on a 10m kite :D
Spent a lot of the tack just standing on the fins, cos any edging at all sent me rocketing upwind miles away from the beach. Had a good amount of space to myself so busted some more monster jumps ... until I fucked them up several times in a row, looping the kite and slammed but myself good, at which point I came in for a break.
As I was sitting down having a drink, the Mistress of Disaster decided to launch her kite - this time, without checking that someone else hadn't laid their lines across hers. So up goes her kite with a bar wrapped around them and the kite attached to it starts to head skyward ... thankfully she got yanked into a nose dive and let go the bar and her kite depowered.
Seriously, what is wrong with people? If you're not flying the kite, wrap your line up don't leave them strung out over the beach! Common fucking sense and the only people who do it seem to be me, So and Hironobu ...
When I went to launch at the start of the day, I had to untangle the Master of Disaster's lines from mine first - he SAW me laying out my lines but landed his kite and just left his lines there, right over the top of mine. Wanker. He blew the LE on his brand new 8m Park so that'll learn him.
Anyway. I packed up my 13m before something happened to it.
Back out onto the water with the 10m and the Rip. Trying to control my jumps and land them rather than crashing or splashing down. Apparently the wife turned up for a while and she got some video, which I'll trim and upload. Not really exciting though cos like I said, was trying to do controlled jumps - not "how high can you fly?". Did a lot of jumps from the flat water behind the waves, rather than boosting off the face of the wave (although I still did them too) in the search for the elevator jumps. Did a lot of toe-side riding too ... for what that was worth :D
Sun was touching the hills, daylight is running out and I was spent. Great day, epic gusting to stupid but was muy bien! When I got back to the car, wife had left a choccie bar and drink for me too - lovely!
Finally edited the movie. After spending hours making it nicely sync with the audio track, fuckin' YouTube disabled it. Lame. Music from the '70's gets the ban-hammer but more recent tunes don't? That's a bit mad! So this is a place-holder until I get home and can upload to Vimeo ...
One step back, two forwards? from Kevin Henry on Vimeo.
What I learned today ...
• I might even need a 7m :o
• Riding a small board - possible! Starting needs more aggressive power strokes but I can cope with the short nose if I adjust my brain.
• 10m kite is crazy fast. Accidental kiteloops ... hurt.
• Small jumps I'm okay with - can redirect at the right time and ride away but going big results in splashdowns :( I still think it's timing of the redirection.
• Failed jump? Keep the kite behind you for a soft splash down.
• AERIAL TRANSITIONS! Little more than clearing the fins from the water, but I did a whole bunch in a row WOO HOO!!! At first they were lucky accidents but I did a number on purpose :)
• Don't need wetsuit boots anymore.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Light wind - lovely!
Missed a great session yesterday - saw the joy on the webcam when I got home from hockey at 5pm :( - but the forecast was for more of the same today!
Fail. We got less :(
Luckily, I'm the proud owner of a 19m Speed2 Silver Arrow and a Flydoor so I actually got some riding in! Kept losing ground downwind cos I was jumping and fooling around, but eventually the wind picked up just a touch more (it was 4-7 knots when I unpacked the kite) and I was going upwind finally! Had some fun for a bit then was just starting to feel overpowered at full trim so thought I'd go back to the 16m Crossbow - I had pumped it up already, after all ...
... hmm, just powered. Had some fun playing silly buggers like I don't dare with the foil, pulled off some nice jumps and even some (intentional) aerial transitions! Getting real good at the down loop carve turn too :D
Was a bit crowded and there were a few close calls.
[rant]
The Mistress of Disaster - what a bitch! Everyone walks all the way up the beach, waits to get into the water and start in the order they arrived - but not her, she's got to jump in just downwind of you, fuck around for a few minutes holding you up before diddling off. She does the reverse when you're trying to walk up the beach too. And she never N-E-V-E-R looks behind herself when she fucking turns! She nearly flew into me yet again.
Boofhead the Huncback - likes to trample your lines into the sand and stand over your kite smoking, flicking burning ash all over it. Also has no idea about the water code - I was on a starboard tack, he was coming at me with his kite at or above 45° and would have gotten tangled in my lines if neither of us moved. He didn't even move his kite so at the last minute I dove my kite and went to head downwind of him - grr! - and as I did that, he started a turn by diving his kite so I had to whip my kite back to port and continue my bearing off as a heel to toe turn. Moron.
SeaSpecs - DON'T fucking float, unless you consider bricks to float. 3 pairs now at the bottom of Biwa, 2 pairs had been tied to my wetsuit pull cord ... in the milliseconds that I splash down and pop my head back up, they're fucking gone to the bottom like a rocket. Debating what to do about new pair of glasses ...
[/rant]
Despite that, had a good day playing with the low wind. Praise the lord - or Ricardo! - for the Flydoor, what a great board! And the Silberpfeil made the most of the utter butter water we had for the first 2 hours ... OMG flat water riding at last!
What I learned today ...
• SeaSpecs do NOT float ... Ffffff uuuuuuuuuuuuu ...
• Am very happy I didn't buy a Naish Cult - the dude out on the 15 had to swim in TWICE cos it simply wouldn't relaunch - even from T.E. down :o Not an unusual occurrence! The F-One's don't relaunch so well in light wind either ...
• When I've trimmed in the Silberpfeil about 1/2, I could be having great fun on the Crossbow. A smaller board will mix it all up though :D
• SA2.5 overlaps perfectly with the 16 'bow but is a PITA to pack up in a hurry!
• Don't pack it up wingtip to wingtip but rather roll one end to the center, then the other. A little more time consuming but zero SPL or bridle tangles ...
Fail. We got less :(
Luckily, I'm the proud owner of a 19m Speed2 Silver Arrow and a Flydoor so I actually got some riding in! Kept losing ground downwind cos I was jumping and fooling around, but eventually the wind picked up just a touch more (it was 4-7 knots when I unpacked the kite) and I was going upwind finally! Had some fun for a bit then was just starting to feel overpowered at full trim so thought I'd go back to the 16m Crossbow - I had pumped it up already, after all ...
... hmm, just powered. Had some fun playing silly buggers like I don't dare with the foil, pulled off some nice jumps and even some (intentional) aerial transitions! Getting real good at the down loop carve turn too :D
Was a bit crowded and there were a few close calls.
[rant]
The Mistress of Disaster - what a bitch! Everyone walks all the way up the beach, waits to get into the water and start in the order they arrived - but not her, she's got to jump in just downwind of you, fuck around for a few minutes holding you up before diddling off. She does the reverse when you're trying to walk up the beach too. And she never N-E-V-E-R looks behind herself when she fucking turns! She nearly flew into me yet again.
Boofhead the Huncback - likes to trample your lines into the sand and stand over your kite smoking, flicking burning ash all over it. Also has no idea about the water code - I was on a starboard tack, he was coming at me with his kite at or above 45° and would have gotten tangled in my lines if neither of us moved. He didn't even move his kite so at the last minute I dove my kite and went to head downwind of him - grr! - and as I did that, he started a turn by diving his kite so I had to whip my kite back to port and continue my bearing off as a heel to toe turn. Moron.
SeaSpecs - DON'T fucking float, unless you consider bricks to float. 3 pairs now at the bottom of Biwa, 2 pairs had been tied to my wetsuit pull cord ... in the milliseconds that I splash down and pop my head back up, they're fucking gone to the bottom like a rocket. Debating what to do about new pair of glasses ...
[/rant]
Despite that, had a good day playing with the low wind. Praise the lord - or Ricardo! - for the Flydoor, what a great board! And the Silberpfeil made the most of the utter butter water we had for the first 2 hours ... OMG flat water riding at last!
What I learned today ...
• SeaSpecs do NOT float ... Ffffff uuuuuuuuuuuuu ...
• Am very happy I didn't buy a Naish Cult - the dude out on the 15 had to swim in TWICE cos it simply wouldn't relaunch - even from T.E. down :o Not an unusual occurrence! The F-One's don't relaunch so well in light wind either ...
• When I've trimmed in the Silberpfeil about 1/2, I could be having great fun on the Crossbow. A smaller board will mix it all up though :D
• SA2.5 overlaps perfectly with the 16 'bow but is a PITA to pack up in a hurry!
• Don't pack it up wingtip to wingtip but rather roll one end to the center, then the other. A little more time consuming but zero SPL or bridle tangles ...
Monday, May 2, 2011
Summer's on the way!
Went down the lake today to get over the weekend blues ... forecast was for crap but the webcam at Locus looked great! But by the time I arrived, it was borked again ...
Unpacked the Silberpfeil and rode the edge of the bottom end limit for a while; doing some riding, doing some walking ... then the wind picked up and was nicely- to over-powered for the rest of the evening.
Got off the lake about 30 minutes before dark, packed up and got home about 7:30pm - woohoo! summer is well on the way!
What I learned today ...
• NEED a smaller board!
• ALWAYS take 2 boards or two kites over to the lake - they're too far away in the boot in the carpark!
• If you think the Speed is going to luff, grab a rear line and haul on it!
• Landing a decent jump - make sure the big foil is diving downwind to stop the luff.
• If you swing under it (moron) try and turn it to get speed back into it or ... grab a rear line and haul on it!
• Riding toe-side is much easier when you're tethered to a tractor ...
• A bad day at Biwako is better than a good day at Hamamatsu :P
Unpacked the Silberpfeil and rode the edge of the bottom end limit for a while; doing some riding, doing some walking ... then the wind picked up and was nicely- to over-powered for the rest of the evening.
Got off the lake about 30 minutes before dark, packed up and got home about 7:30pm - woohoo! summer is well on the way!
What I learned today ...
• NEED a smaller board!
• ALWAYS take 2 boards or two kites over to the lake - they're too far away in the boot in the carpark!
• If you think the Speed is going to luff, grab a rear line and haul on it!
• Landing a decent jump - make sure the big foil is diving downwind to stop the luff.
• If you swing under it (moron) try and turn it to get speed back into it or ... grab a rear line and haul on it!
• Riding toe-side is much easier when you're tethered to a tractor ...
• A bad day at Biwako is better than a good day at Hamamatsu :P
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Slipped in a sly one!
Forecast looked promising, headed down to the lake after work. Wind looked ok so I thought I'd rush out for a quick blast ... sunset is now pushing 6:30 so if I hauled ass, I could get an hour or more on the water.
Geared up - my US size 12 boots arrived from the Wetsuit Wearhouse last night and they're the perfect fit! Pumped up as fast as I could and that seemed to suck the wind out of the air into my kite :( wind drops off ...
16m Crossbow self-launches fine and I'm riding easily but not powered how I like ... trying to work on perfecting my stance and elevator jumps. Really need to tighten the straps to help with the stance but the pull-pull straps baffle me. Moderate success on the elevator jumps but only on a port tack :( it seems I'm very 'handed' as far as that is concerned.
Accidentally did a back loop/spin/roll - muffed a launch and spun around under the kite but hung on and landed it and rode away. Of course, nobody saw it!
Good session, glad I made the effort even though the wind was light and the lake was full of floating logs, park signs and stuff! 0_o
What I learned today ...
• Proper sent jumps - I can do them. They're just as tough to land though. There's more of a floating downwind feeling to them too which is disconcerting. Boosting up the face of a wave is still the best :D
• The 5mm gloves may be the cause for exploding forearms, not the 16m bar pressure. Will check again when it warms up.
• I load'n'pop to starboard better than to port, but jump much better the other way :(
• Can handle spins, my poor old brain is up to the task! Woohoo!
Geared up - my US size 12 boots arrived from the Wetsuit Wearhouse last night and they're the perfect fit! Pumped up as fast as I could and that seemed to suck the wind out of the air into my kite :( wind drops off ...
16m Crossbow self-launches fine and I'm riding easily but not powered how I like ... trying to work on perfecting my stance and elevator jumps. Really need to tighten the straps to help with the stance but the pull-pull straps baffle me. Moderate success on the elevator jumps but only on a port tack :( it seems I'm very 'handed' as far as that is concerned.
Accidentally did a back loop/spin/roll - muffed a launch and spun around under the kite but hung on and landed it and rode away. Of course, nobody saw it!
Good session, glad I made the effort even though the wind was light and the lake was full of floating logs, park signs and stuff! 0_o
What I learned today ...
• Proper sent jumps - I can do them. They're just as tough to land though. There's more of a floating downwind feeling to them too which is disconcerting. Boosting up the face of a wave is still the best :D
• The 5mm gloves may be the cause for exploding forearms, not the 16m bar pressure. Will check again when it warms up.
• I load'n'pop to starboard better than to port, but jump much better the other way :(
• Can handle spins, my poor old brain is up to the task! Woohoo!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Technique!
Good resource tips and instructionals. Just wish some of the pics were bigger! The search engine thingy is handy too ...
KSurf online magazine
KSurf online magazine
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
No joy
Hit the lake cos it was supposed to be crankin' and I was looking forward to trying out a smaller board from Miyachi.
Instead, there was S.F.A. wind and it wasn't looking like it was going to pick up :( took out the 16m Crossbow and tried out my lightwind LEI skills. Got a few tacks in and a single, solitary jump but was, over all crappy. Not as crappy as sitting in front of TV though.
On the other hand, the Hyperflex Access 5mm boots I bought from the Wetsuit Wearhouse were not as too small as I thought they'd be and were very comfy and warm - if you ignore the crushed toes. Size 11 is the same size as the Ion Ballistic Slippers I have but still too small ... have ordered size 12 now!
What I learned today ...
• There is no replacement for displacement - I would have been riding easily with the Silberpfeil. Thinking about all the Dyno hoo-hah, I reckon I need some extensions for the 'bow to see if I can make up some ground on the 'pfeil. Was a bit gusty and shifty though, so I might have been fishing it out of the lake which would have SUCKED.
• Really though, trying to ride in light wind sucks.
• Sometimes, no matter how groovy the kite & board, some people can ride and other can't. Had repeated occasions of being unable to get up planing while Big Brother went sailing by - and me doing the same to him.
Instead, there was S.F.A. wind and it wasn't looking like it was going to pick up :( took out the 16m Crossbow and tried out my lightwind LEI skills. Got a few tacks in and a single, solitary jump but was, over all crappy. Not as crappy as sitting in front of TV though.
On the other hand, the Hyperflex Access 5mm boots I bought from the Wetsuit Wearhouse were not as too small as I thought they'd be and were very comfy and warm - if you ignore the crushed toes. Size 11 is the same size as the Ion Ballistic Slippers I have but still too small ... have ordered size 12 now!
What I learned today ...
• There is no replacement for displacement - I would have been riding easily with the Silberpfeil. Thinking about all the Dyno hoo-hah, I reckon I need some extensions for the 'bow to see if I can make up some ground on the 'pfeil. Was a bit gusty and shifty though, so I might have been fishing it out of the lake which would have SUCKED.
• Really though, trying to ride in light wind sucks.
• Sometimes, no matter how groovy the kite & board, some people can ride and other can't. Had repeated occasions of being unable to get up planing while Big Brother went sailing by - and me doing the same to him.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Sabae Magic
The options were do yard work or go to the lake so I got the hell out of dodge ... forecast was for crappy followed by nothing all coming from the south. I took down the Silberpfeil so I could reinstall the FDS and update the chicken loop.
HOWEVER ... got there about 2:30pm and we had just a breath of wind from the north, straight shot down the lake all nice and smooth like. The Junkie and the other F-One guy were there so I thought "What the hell" and suited up.
Launched and stood around for a while then was like "To hell with it, is sunny and warm why not jump in the lake" so I did. Rode off downwind and walked back. Did it again; this time there was only just not enough wind to go upwind. Same again ... but the wind has picked on the fourth run out and I'm holding my beam reach easily so I go back and forth for a while. Wind picks up a little more and now we're heading upwind so it's fun again :)
Good time working on my light wind technique (ha!) and the wind kicks up just enough to have a little fun - perfectly powered for the big white monster! All very tentative cos last time I had the 'pfeil out, the gusts gave me grief and it got wet and sandy - but that day wind was from the west and seriously cranky. Today was butter-smooth wind from the north east and the kite was stable as, all 3 hours of the session! Despite the light wind, the kite never touched the water and never got out of shape ... or even wiggled a tip at me!
So big shout out to John at Power Zone Kitesports for an invisible repair and a rock-steady tune! Cheers dude!
Wind dropped off as the sun was setting, Granpa dropped his Switchblade in the shore-break and couldn't get it up so with burning thighs, I called it a day. Figure I'd been on the water non-stop for about 2.5 hours ... I'm gonna be sore tomorrow!
Had a chat with Miyachi at the club house about the wind - the forecast said shit all day from the south even! and he just said "Ah, Sabae magic!"
Indeed!
What I learned today ...
• A new trick - well not really. Ride with one hand on the bar which slowly sends the kite up - if you time it right and load'n'pop, you go way up and look all stylee doing it one handed - a great time to flash some intimidating gang signs at the nearest jet-ski rider. East Side is de best!
• Sunglasses are great - they also reduce the spray in the eyes which is great. Tying them onto my wetsuit zipper leash is a great idea too! The brown lenses were a little too dark for the overcast conditions so perhaps the yellow ones would be more great. Great!
• Load'n'pop - real fun when you get it right but I'm still maddeningly inconsistent. That slicing carve and BOING way up in the air is the opium yo!
• Riding the fins when the wind is light to keep the board flat is the go. Good posture and really feeling the kite and board ... FS teaches so much more than the LEIs eh - so much more feedback from the kite, if you know what to listen for. I gotta liken it to riding a V-twin versus a two-stroke.
• You CAN downloop the S2 19 - without pulling a leader line - you just need about half the window. It was fine up to being fully powered but I don't know how much utility there is in it :D
HOWEVER ... got there about 2:30pm and we had just a breath of wind from the north, straight shot down the lake all nice and smooth like. The Junkie and the other F-One guy were there so I thought "What the hell" and suited up.
Launched and stood around for a while then was like "To hell with it, is sunny and warm why not jump in the lake" so I did. Rode off downwind and walked back. Did it again; this time there was only just not enough wind to go upwind. Same again ... but the wind has picked on the fourth run out and I'm holding my beam reach easily so I go back and forth for a while. Wind picks up a little more and now we're heading upwind so it's fun again :)
Good time working on my light wind technique (ha!) and the wind kicks up just enough to have a little fun - perfectly powered for the big white monster! All very tentative cos last time I had the 'pfeil out, the gusts gave me grief and it got wet and sandy - but that day wind was from the west and seriously cranky. Today was butter-smooth wind from the north east and the kite was stable as, all 3 hours of the session! Despite the light wind, the kite never touched the water and never got out of shape ... or even wiggled a tip at me!
So big shout out to John at Power Zone Kitesports for an invisible repair and a rock-steady tune! Cheers dude!
Wind dropped off as the sun was setting, Granpa dropped his Switchblade in the shore-break and couldn't get it up so with burning thighs, I called it a day. Figure I'd been on the water non-stop for about 2.5 hours ... I'm gonna be sore tomorrow!
Had a chat with Miyachi at the club house about the wind - the forecast said shit all day from the south even! and he just said "Ah, Sabae magic!"
Indeed!
What I learned today ...
• A new trick - well not really. Ride with one hand on the bar which slowly sends the kite up - if you time it right and load'n'pop, you go way up and look all stylee doing it one handed - a great time to flash some intimidating gang signs at the nearest jet-ski rider. East Side is de best!
• Sunglasses are great - they also reduce the spray in the eyes which is great. Tying them onto my wetsuit zipper leash is a great idea too! The brown lenses were a little too dark for the overcast conditions so perhaps the yellow ones would be more great. Great!
• Load'n'pop - real fun when you get it right but I'm still maddeningly inconsistent. That slicing carve and BOING way up in the air is the opium yo!
• Riding the fins when the wind is light to keep the board flat is the go. Good posture and really feeling the kite and board ... FS teaches so much more than the LEIs eh - so much more feedback from the kite, if you know what to listen for. I gotta liken it to riding a V-twin versus a two-stroke.
• You CAN downloop the S2 19 - without pulling a leader line - you just need about half the window. It was fine up to being fully powered but I don't know how much utility there is in it :D
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Guess what I found?
No not the 2 pair of sunglasses I lost ... the top-end of the Charger 15!!! 0_o Beaufort 7 (27-33 knots) it would appear ...
Skivved off and hit the lake. I was looking at the wind thinking maybe this wasn't such a great idea but when I got my gear over to the beach, the wind had dropped and I guessed (wrongly, as it turned out) that the wind had died off for the day. So I set up the 15m Charger cos hey I really wanted to try it again ... second knot from kite, straps all loose.
Filled fine, launched with a couple of tip-claps (cos I let go the bar I reckon) but it stayed up fine. Wind picked up as I was getting into the water and I had a hard time getting some space between me and the beach - kite was lifting me up (full power trim) and the waves were driving me back into shore! Finally I got out far enough to put the board on and try to start ...
... made the instant mistake of trying to fly it like a bow and foundered for a bit. Finally got up and rolling but DAY-HUM! thems is some big waves! Yes, waves - the fuckers are breaking like ocean waves and standing in the troughs, the peaks are at eye height :o I battle my way around and get back into Arc Mode. Whee!
Came to the conclusion that the Charger 15 is about as powerful as my 13m Crossbow ... when the arc is working. It's so not a park'n'ride kite though, got to keep it moving and keep pressure on the rear lines. Stopper ball is great for that but panic ensues in gusts :o went zooming off across wind like a freakin' rocket heading for the shore, desperately trying to slide up the stopper ball :D
As the wind increased, I ended up with the kite trimmed for max depower and was still out of control :D real tough body-dragging upwind to my board ... tried a few tentative jumps but was afraid to really do it ... got freaked out by speed through the window trying to change tacks ... so basically, I got pretty mauled out there!
Tried to find out what the wind was, cos I do believe it's the most I've ever been out in and REALLY should have had the 12m Synergy or even the 10m (but I sold that) ... weather sites conistently reported 10m/s (20 knots) but it was way more than that - the wind was driving the water up over the lip on the beach, sand was being flung around like little bullets and the locals were on 7m kites but just gave up. Which should have been a sign. I'm thinking it was about 30knots and over in the gusts. Stupid gusting to ... Deathwish?
So that was the top-end for the 15m Charger then! :o
Skivved off and hit the lake. I was looking at the wind thinking maybe this wasn't such a great idea but when I got my gear over to the beach, the wind had dropped and I guessed (wrongly, as it turned out) that the wind had died off for the day. So I set up the 15m Charger cos hey I really wanted to try it again ... second knot from kite, straps all loose.
Filled fine, launched with a couple of tip-claps (cos I let go the bar I reckon) but it stayed up fine. Wind picked up as I was getting into the water and I had a hard time getting some space between me and the beach - kite was lifting me up (full power trim) and the waves were driving me back into shore! Finally I got out far enough to put the board on and try to start ...
... made the instant mistake of trying to fly it like a bow and foundered for a bit. Finally got up and rolling but DAY-HUM! thems is some big waves! Yes, waves - the fuckers are breaking like ocean waves and standing in the troughs, the peaks are at eye height :o I battle my way around and get back into Arc Mode. Whee!
Came to the conclusion that the Charger 15 is about as powerful as my 13m Crossbow ... when the arc is working. It's so not a park'n'ride kite though, got to keep it moving and keep pressure on the rear lines. Stopper ball is great for that but panic ensues in gusts :o went zooming off across wind like a freakin' rocket heading for the shore, desperately trying to slide up the stopper ball :D
As the wind increased, I ended up with the kite trimmed for max depower and was still out of control :D real tough body-dragging upwind to my board ... tried a few tentative jumps but was afraid to really do it ... got freaked out by speed through the window trying to change tacks ... so basically, I got pretty mauled out there!
Tried to find out what the wind was, cos I do believe it's the most I've ever been out in and REALLY should have had the 12m Synergy or even the 10m (but I sold that) ... weather sites conistently reported 10m/s (20 knots) but it was way more than that - the wind was driving the water up over the lip on the beach, sand was being flung around like little bullets and the locals were on 7m kites but just gave up. Which should have been a sign. I'm thinking it was about 30knots and over in the gusts. Stupid gusting to ... Deathwish?
So that was the top-end for the 15m Charger then! :o
Monday, April 4, 2011
"My business is slammin', dawg!" - The Movie!
Another great forecast ... and it panned out this time!
Got to Locus about 1pm, looked at the wind and was like "Meh!" but Hironobu said it was going to pick up so I set up the 13m Crossbow & crossed my fingers.
By the time I got on the water at 2pm, it had picked up so I was riding just-powered and feeling fine ... for about 30 minutes.
The wind continued to pick up and I had to totally depower the kite - as Drewculous would say "Epic, gusting to Stupid" and I went into survival mode for several parts of the session! Actually had the lake all to myself for most of the duration cos I got on the lake early ... and ended up far enough upwind to avoid everyone else.
So naturally, with that much wind blowing and a 13m 'bow up, I tried to jump as big as I could. I think I landed maybe one decent jump, all the little ones but the rest I splashed-down and occasionally got slammed good :) hence the title.
Had the GoPro on the helmet so got it all on film but despite the chamois in the case, the Rain-X on the outside of the lens and the defog spray inside, something went wrong so a lot of it is blurry :( a pox on it all!
Once I knew I was powered-up, I tried to ride the Spleene Rip + but it just wasn't happening - I briefly got up on a plane for a few tacks but it seems there just wasn't enough wind (or talent!) for it do really ring my bell. Gave up and went back to ol' Faithful.
Had a great time, except for when a gust came through and lobbed me and another time I landed on the side of my face* after a good yoinking and spin. Legs were starting to give out so I came off the water after what the GoPro tells me is nearly 2 hours of solid riding!
Video on the way!
What I learned today ...
• I need a smaller kite. Switchblade 10 sounds like the business.
• I need a slightly bigger small board. FlyRadical XL sounds etc etc.
• The Pro-Tec helmet - if your head goes underwater, when you pop up again it dumps the water right down into your eyes which sucks. Especially when it takes longer to clear cos of sunglasses damming it up.
• Mount on the helmet for the GoPro - where I got in now, it's basically in the center of my forehead - which, when jumping, captures great shots of ... my gloves. Gonna move it up to the top of the helmet. Pity, cos it gives a great view of what I actually see although I don't remember staring at my gloves during jumps :(
• Rain-X is a total waste of time on the GoPro - probably the number 1 culprit for smeared gunk on the lens. Defog spray on the inside probably is a waste of time too. Gotta put in the pads to make sure cos what got recorded is mega-suck.
• I think I know what I'm going wrong with jumps - redirecting the kite too early and it's twisting me downwind before I can edge against it eg. I'm still in the air. Still - it's fuckin' fun!
* 5/4 update - my face still feels like the wife slapped me upside the head 0_o I might have brain-damage.
Got to Locus about 1pm, looked at the wind and was like "Meh!" but Hironobu said it was going to pick up so I set up the 13m Crossbow & crossed my fingers.
By the time I got on the water at 2pm, it had picked up so I was riding just-powered and feeling fine ... for about 30 minutes.
The wind continued to pick up and I had to totally depower the kite - as Drewculous would say "Epic, gusting to Stupid" and I went into survival mode for several parts of the session! Actually had the lake all to myself for most of the duration cos I got on the lake early ... and ended up far enough upwind to avoid everyone else.
So naturally, with that much wind blowing and a 13m 'bow up, I tried to jump as big as I could. I think I landed maybe one decent jump, all the little ones but the rest I splashed-down and occasionally got slammed good :) hence the title.
Had the GoPro on the helmet so got it all on film but despite the chamois in the case, the Rain-X on the outside of the lens and the defog spray inside, something went wrong so a lot of it is blurry :( a pox on it all!
Once I knew I was powered-up, I tried to ride the Spleene Rip + but it just wasn't happening - I briefly got up on a plane for a few tacks but it seems there just wasn't enough wind (or talent!) for it do really ring my bell. Gave up and went back to ol' Faithful.
Had a great time, except for when a gust came through and lobbed me and another time I landed on the side of my face* after a good yoinking and spin. Legs were starting to give out so I came off the water after what the GoPro tells me is nearly 2 hours of solid riding!
Video on the way!
What I learned today ...
• I need a smaller kite. Switchblade 10 sounds like the business.
• I need a slightly bigger small board. FlyRadical XL sounds etc etc.
• The Pro-Tec helmet - if your head goes underwater, when you pop up again it dumps the water right down into your eyes which sucks. Especially when it takes longer to clear cos of sunglasses damming it up.
• Mount on the helmet for the GoPro - where I got in now, it's basically in the center of my forehead - which, when jumping, captures great shots of ... my gloves. Gonna move it up to the top of the helmet. Pity, cos it gives a great view of what I actually see although I don't remember staring at my gloves during jumps :(
• Rain-X is a total waste of time on the GoPro - probably the number 1 culprit for smeared gunk on the lens. Defog spray on the inside probably is a waste of time too. Gotta put in the pads to make sure cos what got recorded is mega-suck.
• I think I know what I'm going wrong with jumps - redirecting the kite too early and it's twisting me downwind before I can edge against it eg. I'm still in the air. Still - it's fuckin' fun!
* 5/4 update - my face still feels like the wife slapped me upside the head 0_o I might have brain-damage.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Better luck next time
Today was supposed to be even better than yesterday but it wasn't - and I only had the 13 Crossbow with me! I'd even taken my Rip + cos it was supposed to be so nukin'. Sat around waiting for the wind, set up the gear and got changed. Decided to give it a shot ...
... barely powered but gusty enough to ride for a bit and do a few fun jumps. Nothing as good as yesterday though - then, I had some awesome jumps ... the kind where, when you carve up the face of the wave you just KNOW you're going to fly clean off the top and go soaring ...
Packed up, came home. Tomorrow is supposed to be better than the day before yesterday like today was supposed to be ... arf!
What I learned today ...
• Don't trust the fricken' weather reports or even the webcam!
• Anything west of north is simply too gusty - especially for the Silberpfeil (see yesterday)
• I want an Ozone Zephyr :D
... barely powered but gusty enough to ride for a bit and do a few fun jumps. Nothing as good as yesterday though - then, I had some awesome jumps ... the kind where, when you carve up the face of the wave you just KNOW you're going to fly clean off the top and go soaring ...
Packed up, came home. Tomorrow is supposed to be better than the day before yesterday like today was supposed to be ... arf!
What I learned today ...
• Don't trust the fricken' weather reports or even the webcam!
• Anything west of north is simply too gusty - especially for the Silberpfeil (see yesterday)
• I want an Ozone Zephyr :D
On the whole - brilliant!
Forecast and webcam looked promising so I headed down the lake about 12:30. 8-9m/s were promised so I took the 13m Crossbow over and pumped it up. Seemed a bit light, but the wind was supposed to pick up after 1 so I crossed my fingers ... the glove-giving ex-windsurfer newbie was on his 15m Cult and I was thinking maybe I should have brought the SA2 over ...
... but I must have gotten onto the water just as the wind turned on, cos I was away and laughing! For about the next 90 minutes I was nicely powered, boosting some "big" jumps and am starting to get the handle on landing them too :D so it was all very fun ... tried to ride my North Sumo but it was fail ...
... the lull/gust started to do its thing again later, as it seems to do in spring here. Got really sucky so I landed the 'bow. Sat around waiting for the wind to pick up but it didn't and I thought I might chance the SA2 for one last ride so I dragged it out.
That was a mistake; I should have known it wouldn't like the gusty conditions :( got up and riding ok but it just wasn't stable, dropped out of the sky, relaunched it then dropped it again and looped a bridle line over itself that I couldn't recover. The waves turned it into a soggy mess and I had to tide it up on shore. Not fun, not impressed - guess I'll be putting the FSers away until I get decent stable wind :(
Lo-ooong time to pack up, as I waited for the Silberpfeil to dry out and shed the sand ...
What I learned today ...
• Don't even think about chancing gusty winds with the Speed2.5!
• I don't like the Sumo, I think I want a Flyradical XL :D need to try out the Rip + again though.
• Pay more attention to your kite and those around you! I nearly got taken out when the Mistress of Disaster turned without fucking looking as usual (if the silly bitch didn't do her "tricks" within a line length of the shore it wouldn't be such a problem!) and while I was feeling all haughty, I nearly sent my kite across the window into someone else's ...
• I *think* the trick with landing big jumps is not to move the kite around too much up there ... across to 1 or 11, then hold it until you're on the way down. Maybe.
... but I must have gotten onto the water just as the wind turned on, cos I was away and laughing! For about the next 90 minutes I was nicely powered, boosting some "big" jumps and am starting to get the handle on landing them too :D so it was all very fun ... tried to ride my North Sumo but it was fail ...
... the lull/gust started to do its thing again later, as it seems to do in spring here. Got really sucky so I landed the 'bow. Sat around waiting for the wind to pick up but it didn't and I thought I might chance the SA2 for one last ride so I dragged it out.
That was a mistake; I should have known it wouldn't like the gusty conditions :( got up and riding ok but it just wasn't stable, dropped out of the sky, relaunched it then dropped it again and looped a bridle line over itself that I couldn't recover. The waves turned it into a soggy mess and I had to tide it up on shore. Not fun, not impressed - guess I'll be putting the FSers away until I get decent stable wind :(
Lo-ooong time to pack up, as I waited for the Silberpfeil to dry out and shed the sand ...
What I learned today ...
• Don't even think about chancing gusty winds with the Speed2.5!
• I don't like the Sumo, I think I want a Flyradical XL :D need to try out the Rip + again though.
• Pay more attention to your kite and those around you! I nearly got taken out when the Mistress of Disaster turned without fucking looking as usual (if the silly bitch didn't do her "tricks" within a line length of the shore it wouldn't be such a problem!) and while I was feeling all haughty, I nearly sent my kite across the window into someone else's ...
• I *think* the trick with landing big jumps is not to move the kite around too much up there ... across to 1 or 11, then hold it until you're on the way down. Maybe.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
OH CRAP to toe-side
Checked the weather, some wind was promised around 1pm so I loaded up the car and headed off to the lake ... it's all been a bit flukey lately, so I took the SA2 19, both Crossbows and the Psycho4 15 just in case.
Nobody else was there when I arrived and set up, taking out the 16m Crossbow cos the wind was light. Or so I thought ... the wind quickly picked up to the point where I was pretty much over-powered and wishing I'd set up my 13 or brought a smaller board! So it was survival mode for about an hour although I managed some huge jumps, I landed what felt like none of them and lost another pair of sunglasses :( SeaSpecs - they don't float AT ALL and I mean they sink like a freakin' stone! So there's 2 pairs of glasses rolling around the bottom of Biwako there ... I didn't mind losing the Colbalt Blue pair but I was quite fond of the Copper Blaze ones :(
People started turning up just as the wind started dropping and I was comfy on the 16 except in the gusts, then the wind dropped right out and it was fighting through the lulls to ride the gusts. I had some great fun in the gusts though, with some cracking good jumps that I started to land - including one that started well, became an "OH CRAP!" in the middle and then I actually landed toe-side then rode it out ...!
I gave up on it all about 4:30pm and packed up. Thank crap I hadn't launched the SA2 19 like I was considering!!!
What I learned today ...
• Wide stance on the board is good - I think ... see below. Didn't notice as much of a difference from the neutral stance as I did last time, but it seemed easier to ride through the chop and land jumps that were erm landable.
• HOLY BAR PRESSURE, Batman! Either I've been spoiled by the 13 or the wide stance means I gotta hang on a lot more but DAH-YUM! are my forearms killing me! At the end of the session, I could hardly hold onto the bar ... I haven't experienced that EVER (even on the massive Flysurfers!) so I can only assume that either I'm out of shape so bad (damned winter!) or the gloves somehow increased the work-out! Yikes!
• I seem to be sending the kite wrong ... spent a lot of time launching miles into the air, swinging under the kite and splashing down, or landing facing the wrong way. A few times I got it right and while I think I know why, will require more testing.
• Got a perfect edge, launch and land going goofy on flat water. Lucky technique!
• Peeing in your wetsuit is just nasty.
• Either leash my final pair of SeaSpecs or just buy some new ones. I'm shopping as we speak ;)
Nobody else was there when I arrived and set up, taking out the 16m Crossbow cos the wind was light. Or so I thought ... the wind quickly picked up to the point where I was pretty much over-powered and wishing I'd set up my 13 or brought a smaller board! So it was survival mode for about an hour although I managed some huge jumps, I landed what felt like none of them and lost another pair of sunglasses :( SeaSpecs - they don't float AT ALL and I mean they sink like a freakin' stone! So there's 2 pairs of glasses rolling around the bottom of Biwako there ... I didn't mind losing the Colbalt Blue pair but I was quite fond of the Copper Blaze ones :(
People started turning up just as the wind started dropping and I was comfy on the 16 except in the gusts, then the wind dropped right out and it was fighting through the lulls to ride the gusts. I had some great fun in the gusts though, with some cracking good jumps that I started to land - including one that started well, became an "OH CRAP!" in the middle and then I actually landed toe-side then rode it out ...!
I gave up on it all about 4:30pm and packed up. Thank crap I hadn't launched the SA2 19 like I was considering!!!
What I learned today ...
• Wide stance on the board is good - I think ... see below. Didn't notice as much of a difference from the neutral stance as I did last time, but it seemed easier to ride through the chop and land jumps that were erm landable.
• HOLY BAR PRESSURE, Batman! Either I've been spoiled by the 13 or the wide stance means I gotta hang on a lot more but DAH-YUM! are my forearms killing me! At the end of the session, I could hardly hold onto the bar ... I haven't experienced that EVER (even on the massive Flysurfers!) so I can only assume that either I'm out of shape so bad (damned winter!) or the gloves somehow increased the work-out! Yikes!
• I seem to be sending the kite wrong ... spent a lot of time launching miles into the air, swinging under the kite and splashing down, or landing facing the wrong way. A few times I got it right and while I think I know why, will require more testing.
• Got a perfect edge, launch and land going goofy on flat water. Lucky technique!
• Peeing in your wetsuit is just nasty.
• Either leash my final pair of SeaSpecs or just buy some new ones. I'm shopping as we speak ;)
Stack much?
Why the hell not :D 48m of kite!
But wait, there's more!
Cos over the top is never far enough :D
But wait, there's more!
Cos over the top is never far enough :D
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Forecast fail, weater win!
Forecast wasn't worth a damn but I kept an eye on the webcam as the wind was actually blowing and it wasn't snowing ... about 2pm, people started showing up on the beach so I packed up the car and headed out.
Got to the lake about 2:50pm, got all dressed up and waddled across the road, pumped up the 13 Crossbow. Finished putting on all the clothing - wetsuit, slippers, shorts, harness, gloves and the wind-breaker cos the wind was cold! Probably got onto the water about 3:20-ish ...
Woof! Well-powered and the gusts are good or they would be if I was still in the groove I was in last year ... as it is, I feel over-powered and am pussying around until I feel it, launch a nice big jump :) Finally starting to get the form back ...
Wind is up and down for a while, shifty and gusty but stay out for 2 hours having a great time until it finally dies away to almost nothing and I ride it in to shore.
Hard time landing the really big jumps - don't remember landing a single one :D just so off-the-ball these days and getting wet and cold doesn't ring my bell. Tried some toeside again, carving turns and what-not but the desire to get dunked holds me back - although I get dunked a whole heap. Body-dragging for 10 minutes in snow-melt supplied water, while refreshing, isn't too much fun ... one or two epic big jumps though - is fun :D
The wetsuit is good, although the jets of water up the legs are annoying. The gloves are awesome, hands not even cold at all and the windbreaker is the bomb - it's actually somewhat waterproof as the water that got in the top stays in and slowly drains out the zipper! Wind on cold wet head was giving me a headache at times ... lost my SeaSpecs during a bail - 2 pairs left!
Packed up as the sun was sinking, last one off the water and last one riding - the other 2 hangers-on were walking ;) Good day that came out of nowhere!
What I learned today ...
• SeaSpecs don't float.
• Don't say "DOH!" as you head face first into the water ... cough splutter choke!
• Try the wider stance binding mounts next time.
• Move your heels closer to the edge - makes for better edge control. Not sure if it's a good idea to try and hold the board on your feet with just toes though ...
• Form! Head up, eyes on the horizon, drive the hips forward. FFS.
• Send it you sissy!
• Bring a smaller board too.
Got to the lake about 2:50pm, got all dressed up and waddled across the road, pumped up the 13 Crossbow. Finished putting on all the clothing - wetsuit, slippers, shorts, harness, gloves and the wind-breaker cos the wind was cold! Probably got onto the water about 3:20-ish ...
Woof! Well-powered and the gusts are good or they would be if I was still in the groove I was in last year ... as it is, I feel over-powered and am pussying around until I feel it, launch a nice big jump :) Finally starting to get the form back ...
Wind is up and down for a while, shifty and gusty but stay out for 2 hours having a great time until it finally dies away to almost nothing and I ride it in to shore.
Hard time landing the really big jumps - don't remember landing a single one :D just so off-the-ball these days and getting wet and cold doesn't ring my bell. Tried some toeside again, carving turns and what-not but the desire to get dunked holds me back - although I get dunked a whole heap. Body-dragging for 10 minutes in snow-melt supplied water, while refreshing, isn't too much fun ... one or two epic big jumps though - is fun :D
The wetsuit is good, although the jets of water up the legs are annoying. The gloves are awesome, hands not even cold at all and the windbreaker is the bomb - it's actually somewhat waterproof as the water that got in the top stays in and slowly drains out the zipper! Wind on cold wet head was giving me a headache at times ... lost my SeaSpecs during a bail - 2 pairs left!
Packed up as the sun was sinking, last one off the water and last one riding - the other 2 hangers-on were walking ;) Good day that came out of nowhere!
What I learned today ...
• SeaSpecs don't float.
• Don't say "DOH!" as you head face first into the water ... cough splutter choke!
• Try the wider stance binding mounts next time.
• Move your heels closer to the edge - makes for better edge control. Not sure if it's a good idea to try and hold the board on your feet with just toes though ...
• Form! Head up, eyes on the horizon, drive the hips forward. FFS.
• Send it you sissy!
• Bring a smaller board too.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Bring out the gimp!
So my new Dakine Fusion and Hyperflexx Access wetstuit arrived from www.kite-line.com this week ... due to a computer error was sent to our previous address and for some odd reason the post office didn't forward it so I had to make a run to the old house and brave the febrile wrath of the psychotic bitch neighbor.
After a successful raid, I took it home and tried it on ... fits ok! Bit stiff and a lot snugger than I prefer my clothes but it's a wetsuit, it's supposed to be like that ... no? That I fit it at all is kick-ass!
Wind & weather co-operate for Wednesday afternoon so after work (ahem) finishes and Spring holidays commence, I hit the lake for my first session all trussed up, squeaky and stiff! To add to the kook image, I wore my shorts over the 'suit ... firstly to protect the suit from my harness and secondly, I went commando and if the suit split, it'd be a chilly shock to the boys. Had the top folded down so I could bend over and pump up the 13m Crossbow ...
... took to the water with the wetsuit, Ion Ballistic slippers and a pair of $3 rubber gardening gloves on. Road-side thermometer had said 6 degrees on the way to the lake ... it was cold, and I was uncomfortable, but I wasn't suffering. Blasts of water up the leg of the suit were "invigorating" and while the gloves were dry inside, they held off the wind-chill nicely.
I got game and started doing some jumps and playing silly buggers ... still not in the swing of things though and it was all very awkward feeling. Stayed out for a good solid hour at least, probably closer to 90 minutes ... at the end of which water that had gotten inside my gloves were freezing my hands. Still not as bad as no gloves though and they warmed up quickly without aching which is nice.
Although it was very gusty and we got hit by lulls a couple of times, I was glad I didn't take the 16m out - when it was on, it was all on! I could also see the potential for having a smaller kite and working the ass off it ... that is, I can understand how some people say "You don't need a big kite!" ... the difference in bottom end between the 16 and 13 is not that much and the 13 works better. Wind was also real shifty - watched it go from nor-easter to nor-wester in a second or two!
Land the kite, change into clothes then come back to the beach to pack up the kite. While I was bagging up, the windsurfer-convert who started last season came over and gave me his neoprene gloves cos they were too big for him! How cool is that?!
What I learned today ...
• Wetsuit works great to keep me warm (-ish) but is stiff, making it hard to get feet into straps. I'm looking forward to not having to wear it.
• I need booties to stop water going up my legs. Maybe for end of season ...
• Shorts, while some may think look too kooky, actually add a noticeable layer of windchill protection - next time, I'm at least wearing my t-shirt if not my orange parka.
• 13m is a great kite!
• I'm very rusty out there! Everything from turns to jumps ... I'm betting fear of falling into frigid water has something to do with it too!
• Should take more than one board to the lake ...!
After a successful raid, I took it home and tried it on ... fits ok! Bit stiff and a lot snugger than I prefer my clothes but it's a wetsuit, it's supposed to be like that ... no? That I fit it at all is kick-ass!
Wind & weather co-operate for Wednesday afternoon so after work (ahem) finishes and Spring holidays commence, I hit the lake for my first session all trussed up, squeaky and stiff! To add to the kook image, I wore my shorts over the 'suit ... firstly to protect the suit from my harness and secondly, I went commando and if the suit split, it'd be a chilly shock to the boys. Had the top folded down so I could bend over and pump up the 13m Crossbow ...
... took to the water with the wetsuit, Ion Ballistic slippers and a pair of $3 rubber gardening gloves on. Road-side thermometer had said 6 degrees on the way to the lake ... it was cold, and I was uncomfortable, but I wasn't suffering. Blasts of water up the leg of the suit were "invigorating" and while the gloves were dry inside, they held off the wind-chill nicely.
I got game and started doing some jumps and playing silly buggers ... still not in the swing of things though and it was all very awkward feeling. Stayed out for a good solid hour at least, probably closer to 90 minutes ... at the end of which water that had gotten inside my gloves were freezing my hands. Still not as bad as no gloves though and they warmed up quickly without aching which is nice.
Although it was very gusty and we got hit by lulls a couple of times, I was glad I didn't take the 16m out - when it was on, it was all on! I could also see the potential for having a smaller kite and working the ass off it ... that is, I can understand how some people say "You don't need a big kite!" ... the difference in bottom end between the 16 and 13 is not that much and the 13 works better. Wind was also real shifty - watched it go from nor-easter to nor-wester in a second or two!
Land the kite, change into clothes then come back to the beach to pack up the kite. While I was bagging up, the windsurfer-convert who started last season came over and gave me his neoprene gloves cos they were too big for him! How cool is that?!
What I learned today ...
• Wetsuit works great to keep me warm (-ish) but is stiff, making it hard to get feet into straps. I'm looking forward to not having to wear it.
• I need booties to stop water going up my legs. Maybe for end of season ...
• Shorts, while some may think look too kooky, actually add a noticeable layer of windchill protection - next time, I'm at least wearing my t-shirt if not my orange parka.
• 13m is a great kite!
• I'm very rusty out there! Everything from turns to jumps ... I'm betting fear of falling into frigid water has something to do with it too!
• Should take more than one board to the lake ...!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Less is more?
Forecast said no wind till 5pm today, so I headed down to the lake beach at 11am with the plan to remove the FDS from the Silberpfeil and go back to the FLS and put the 6m extensions back on ...
Huh! Wind is up, from the north and I didn't even bring my harness! Unusual for GPV-weather.info to be so wrong! So I rush through my uninstall of the FDS - what a bugger, the line is so light it constantly knots! Finally get it all done, head home to grab my gear.
And come back ... The Junkie is there and so is Best Uncle. Wind seems about the same ... launch the SA2 and test out the FLS - fine. Hit the water - ooh still cold! - and try riding. Just powered to start with but the wind is falling and end up walking a few times.
Stand around on the beach, play with the FLS some more ... mmm does a death spiral at times which makes a nasty mess - maybe the FDS *IS* better? Give up and go home just around sunset ... not a great day but better than nowt!
What I learned today ...
• FDS is probably more reliable than FLS :( nuts.
• I seem to have lost my light-wind knack :( nuts.
• Still need a large directional :( nuts.
Huh! Wind is up, from the north and I didn't even bring my harness! Unusual for GPV-weather.info to be so wrong! So I rush through my uninstall of the FDS - what a bugger, the line is so light it constantly knots! Finally get it all done, head home to grab my gear.
And come back ... The Junkie is there and so is Best Uncle. Wind seems about the same ... launch the SA2 and test out the FLS - fine. Hit the water - ooh still cold! - and try riding. Just powered to start with but the wind is falling and end up walking a few times.
Stand around on the beach, play with the FLS some more ... mmm does a death spiral at times which makes a nasty mess - maybe the FDS *IS* better? Give up and go home just around sunset ... not a great day but better than nowt!
What I learned today ...
• FDS is probably more reliable than FLS :( nuts.
• I seem to have lost my light-wind knack :( nuts.
• Still need a large directional :( nuts.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Charge! Argh!
Things ... they move slowly but they do move. Took a while to sell of enough Synergy's to fund the upgrade to Chargers, but it's happening slowly. Here is the story of the first to arrive.
"What are the odds!?"
The postman ... they come in the middle of the day when, of course, nobody is home and leave an "Undelivered Notice" which means I have to call and get the post office to redeliver it sometime between 7 and 9 in the evening.
Now the amazing thing is that they ALWAYS seem to arrange it so that mail arrives at the house on a Tuesday - when I have to work late and can't be home before 8:30pm ... which means I have to either wait until Wednesday night for them to redeliver, or go in and pick it up Wednesday morning and deal with the utter retards behind the counter. Being only slightly more tolerant than impatient, Wednesday morning I left the house 5 minutes earlier than usual and went in and picked up the light-rasta Peter Lynn Charger 15 that arrived - on a Tuesday, of course - from Spain for me.
"I wonder what the weather is up to?"
Very light work load today; I'd planned on goofing off and meddling with my slightly broken Psycho3 13 and unpacking the Charger and having an Ooh-Aah Ogle session when about 11am I wondered what the wind would be doing today ... checked the Yahoo! Weather page and was disappointed with the prediction of 1m/s but checked GPV anyway - whoa! 10m/s northerlies from 2pm!
Crap, my swim suits are at home wet in a puddle at the bottom of my harness bucket. Check the air temp forecast to see if I've got an excuse to pussy out. Nope, 8 degrees C - that should be ... survivable. Ok I'll make a run for home during my lunch hour, wash my gear to get the lake funk out of it and hopefully dry it out a little from the spin cycle. Done.
"Say hello to my little friend!"
Got to the beach at 4:30pm and I'm all alone - nobody else is there but the wind is crankin'! How odd ... could it be because IT'S FREEZING you freaking dolt!
I get changed and unpack my secret weapon against wind-chill - the jacket of the $40 rain suit I bought from the local DIY store ... in 2003 :D it's done me good service on the bike but it doesn't breath at all - which is good and bad.
Unroll the 15m Charger ...
Check the bag ... says 15 yup - gee it's small! Maybe I'm just used to looking at the 19m Synergy all the time, but I swear it looks too small to be a 15! Sticks in (ah that's why it was sold - spar cap stuck in the sleeve! :D ) set the straps to 1/2 all round and the VPC second knot from the top - too cold to stand around checking the manual to see if that's right. Fills quickly.
"Who ordered the Clam Chowder?"
Thinking the kite is totally full, I close the zip then go back and to put my harness on, hook into the bar and get ready to launch. Dither a bit trying to decide if I should use some trim or not, cos the rear leaders looked muy short - the Synergy launched best with no trim but had pigtails ... the Charger does not. Go for about 2 inches of trim.
Line comes off clean, tip comes up and for a few milliseconds, it looks all good - then the kite clams up. Flaps around while I try the tricks - more trim, less trim, jerk the center lines, jerk the bar, run backwards, run forwards ... I get close on occasion - close to a bow-tie too :D - but eventually I get it into the air. Phew!
Pulling hard, good lofts so should be good to go on the water.
"Skunked in the shift!"
Water is cold but my poo-hoo jacket does its job! Wind is almost directly onshore (NE) so I gotta walk it out a fair way ... kite is a bit twitchy while I get the board on, probably cos I'm rushing to get out of the water! Finally get it done, dive the kite and off we go.
Working it like a mofo but I'm not getting upwind away from the beach. Make one turn, head back and am making ground now. Another turn, more ground. Turn again, heading down the beach but the wind has definitely gone ... while walking back up the beach, it almost dies off completely.
Stand around on the beach playing with kite kite, enjoying the sunshine and trying to warm my right hand up. Wind changes direction and is now NW and finally, the 9m/s has arrived!
"Warp factor 9, Mr Sulu!"
With the wind cross-shore, I ride out only a short distance ... fighting my way through the breakers is tough, I'm going downwind a lot to keep speed in the kite and board - every bounce over a wave costs me ground upwind and pull from the kite.
On the turn to head back in - sweet mother of mercy! the Charger screams across the window so fast I almost don't have time to get myself pointed back in the other direction before it's pulling so hard and shooting into the wind!
We're off like a race horse heading back to the shore! Riding with the waves, the water is flatter so we're really hauling ass! The beach is rushing towards me - I edge hard, shoot upwind for a bit, stall the kite then send it back the other way for another burst of mad speed!
This kite is so fast and reacts so quickly ... take eyes off it for a second, look back at it and I'm diving it straight at the water LE down, and I swear - without a meter or two of a crash I've turned it and sent it back up again! Bar pressure for the turns is lighter than Synergy, more like a big LEI but is a bit heavier on the sheet-in, like my FSers on "Hard" WAC ... which is probably a good thing!
Out and back a few times, on to the beach to warm my hands up ... then back out again. Repeat until the sun is starting to slip behind the hills ...
A quick review ... wind was about 7 to 10m/s.
I think the 15m Charger will rock in 10m/s plus ie. over 20 knots constant. So it probably won't get much use around here :(
Charger is faster than the Synergy through the window and in response to turn input - the near-crash and recovery happened a couple of times!
Holds a tighter line through the corner and pulls harder on the way through than a Synergy, I reckon - speed sure is power!
Less bar pressure than the Synergy - more like a heavy LEI, although sheeting in hard was an effort - that was more like a Flysurfer on "Hard" WAC setting.
Auto-zenith is no more or less vague than the Synergy IMHO; hunting from left to right but generally "up".
Think it needs pigtails - will ask the experts.
The little jumps I did on land seemed very floaty, compared to the Synergy. May just have been the wind but when the water is less cold and I won't mind being dunked in it - we'll see!
"Oh that's why it was so cold!"
Drag my gear back across the road, looking forward to a warm shower at the club house but - the water is all off! Bah. Probably a good thing cos the pins'n'needles as my skin reacts to the hot water is unpleasant. I get back into dry clothes and head home.
Within a few hours, we've got snow again ... 2 inches fall overnight. Bah humbug.
What I learned today ...
• Winter isn't over yet.
• Rain suit is the bomb for keeping wind-chill down ... wonder if they do gloves? Should find the pants too :D
• Charger - so fast, lots of power with the speed but it's like a 2-stroke - gotta rev it up! Gotta rev ME up!
• Gotta work on the launch.
• I think the 19m is also going to suffer from the lament of the arc - 15 knots or more for anything groovy to happen. But it'll be fun trying!
• Charger will be awesome when I can get some flat-water riding in ... it's hard work in choppy conditions keeping speed in kite and board.
"What are the odds!?"
The postman ... they come in the middle of the day when, of course, nobody is home and leave an "Undelivered Notice" which means I have to call and get the post office to redeliver it sometime between 7 and 9 in the evening.
Now the amazing thing is that they ALWAYS seem to arrange it so that mail arrives at the house on a Tuesday - when I have to work late and can't be home before 8:30pm ... which means I have to either wait until Wednesday night for them to redeliver, or go in and pick it up Wednesday morning and deal with the utter retards behind the counter. Being only slightly more tolerant than impatient, Wednesday morning I left the house 5 minutes earlier than usual and went in and picked up the light-rasta Peter Lynn Charger 15 that arrived - on a Tuesday, of course - from Spain for me.
"I wonder what the weather is up to?"
Very light work load today; I'd planned on goofing off and meddling with my slightly broken Psycho3 13 and unpacking the Charger and having an Ooh-Aah Ogle session when about 11am I wondered what the wind would be doing today ... checked the Yahoo! Weather page and was disappointed with the prediction of 1m/s but checked GPV anyway - whoa! 10m/s northerlies from 2pm!
Crap, my swim suits are at home wet in a puddle at the bottom of my harness bucket. Check the air temp forecast to see if I've got an excuse to pussy out. Nope, 8 degrees C - that should be ... survivable. Ok I'll make a run for home during my lunch hour, wash my gear to get the lake funk out of it and hopefully dry it out a little from the spin cycle. Done.
"Say hello to my little friend!"
Got to the beach at 4:30pm and I'm all alone - nobody else is there but the wind is crankin'! How odd ... could it be because IT'S FREEZING you freaking dolt!
I get changed and unpack my secret weapon against wind-chill - the jacket of the $40 rain suit I bought from the local DIY store ... in 2003 :D it's done me good service on the bike but it doesn't breath at all - which is good and bad.
Unroll the 15m Charger ...
Check the bag ... says 15 yup - gee it's small! Maybe I'm just used to looking at the 19m Synergy all the time, but I swear it looks too small to be a 15! Sticks in (ah that's why it was sold - spar cap stuck in the sleeve! :D ) set the straps to 1/2 all round and the VPC second knot from the top - too cold to stand around checking the manual to see if that's right. Fills quickly.
"Who ordered the Clam Chowder?"
Thinking the kite is totally full, I close the zip then go back and to put my harness on, hook into the bar and get ready to launch. Dither a bit trying to decide if I should use some trim or not, cos the rear leaders looked muy short - the Synergy launched best with no trim but had pigtails ... the Charger does not. Go for about 2 inches of trim.
Line comes off clean, tip comes up and for a few milliseconds, it looks all good - then the kite clams up. Flaps around while I try the tricks - more trim, less trim, jerk the center lines, jerk the bar, run backwards, run forwards ... I get close on occasion - close to a bow-tie too :D - but eventually I get it into the air. Phew!
Pulling hard, good lofts so should be good to go on the water.
"Skunked in the shift!"
Water is cold but my poo-hoo jacket does its job! Wind is almost directly onshore (NE) so I gotta walk it out a fair way ... kite is a bit twitchy while I get the board on, probably cos I'm rushing to get out of the water! Finally get it done, dive the kite and off we go.
Working it like a mofo but I'm not getting upwind away from the beach. Make one turn, head back and am making ground now. Another turn, more ground. Turn again, heading down the beach but the wind has definitely gone ... while walking back up the beach, it almost dies off completely.
Stand around on the beach playing with kite kite, enjoying the sunshine and trying to warm my right hand up. Wind changes direction and is now NW and finally, the 9m/s has arrived!
"Warp factor 9, Mr Sulu!"
With the wind cross-shore, I ride out only a short distance ... fighting my way through the breakers is tough, I'm going downwind a lot to keep speed in the kite and board - every bounce over a wave costs me ground upwind and pull from the kite.
On the turn to head back in - sweet mother of mercy! the Charger screams across the window so fast I almost don't have time to get myself pointed back in the other direction before it's pulling so hard and shooting into the wind!
We're off like a race horse heading back to the shore! Riding with the waves, the water is flatter so we're really hauling ass! The beach is rushing towards me - I edge hard, shoot upwind for a bit, stall the kite then send it back the other way for another burst of mad speed!
This kite is so fast and reacts so quickly ... take eyes off it for a second, look back at it and I'm diving it straight at the water LE down, and I swear - without a meter or two of a crash I've turned it and sent it back up again! Bar pressure for the turns is lighter than Synergy, more like a big LEI but is a bit heavier on the sheet-in, like my FSers on "Hard" WAC ... which is probably a good thing!
Out and back a few times, on to the beach to warm my hands up ... then back out again. Repeat until the sun is starting to slip behind the hills ...
A quick review ... wind was about 7 to 10m/s.
I think the 15m Charger will rock in 10m/s plus ie. over 20 knots constant. So it probably won't get much use around here :(
Charger is faster than the Synergy through the window and in response to turn input - the near-crash and recovery happened a couple of times!
Holds a tighter line through the corner and pulls harder on the way through than a Synergy, I reckon - speed sure is power!
Less bar pressure than the Synergy - more like a heavy LEI, although sheeting in hard was an effort - that was more like a Flysurfer on "Hard" WAC setting.
Auto-zenith is no more or less vague than the Synergy IMHO; hunting from left to right but generally "up".
Think it needs pigtails - will ask the experts.
The little jumps I did on land seemed very floaty, compared to the Synergy. May just have been the wind but when the water is less cold and I won't mind being dunked in it - we'll see!
"Oh that's why it was so cold!"
Drag my gear back across the road, looking forward to a warm shower at the club house but - the water is all off! Bah. Probably a good thing cos the pins'n'needles as my skin reacts to the hot water is unpleasant. I get back into dry clothes and head home.
Within a few hours, we've got snow again ... 2 inches fall overnight. Bah humbug.
What I learned today ...
• Winter isn't over yet.
• Rain suit is the bomb for keeping wind-chill down ... wonder if they do gloves? Should find the pants too :D
• Charger - so fast, lots of power with the speed but it's like a 2-stroke - gotta rev it up! Gotta rev ME up!
• Gotta work on the launch.
• I think the 19m is also going to suffer from the lament of the arc - 15 knots or more for anything groovy to happen. But it'll be fun trying!
• Charger will be awesome when I can get some flat-water riding in ... it's hard work in choppy conditions keeping speed in kite and board.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Win Win Fail
Left work and headed down the lake like a bat outa hell ... forecast looked good so I took my refurbished Psycho3 13 and the Crossbow 16 (just in case) to the beach. Wind had dropped off from what I had seen on the Locus webcam and Grandpa and Uncle weren't amused either.
Setup and launched the Psycho3, testing out my Mixer Test and all the other stuff I'd added. Hadn't hooked into the Ozone Megatron chicken loop properly (?) and it just off the hook and out of my hands - folding up nicely on the FDS. Recovered the bar and relaunched without any issues. Flew it around for a bit, all seems good ...
Win!
... so I get into the water. Yikes it's cold! The sun has gone behind clouds so it's not going to warm up and it looks like a front is coming through from the north. Wind isn't up to much - can get up but can't get onto a plane. Give up after about 50m and walk back up the beach ... leave the kite in the air while I stand around trying to decide if it's too cold to continue with a proper test on the Psycho ...
... wind picks up! Get back in the water and we're away! This Flysurfer is about as powerful as powerful as my 16m 'bow but will fly in less wind; it starts to work about the same time as the 16 but needs a little more wind to really pull.
Had about a half hour of powered back'n'forth, some nice little load'n'pops. Was being very careful on the turns cos it makes so much lift! Is relatively fast and needs an eye kept on it, kind of hard to park. Makes best power when sheeted in a little; compared to the Speed, doesn't make so much when given its head and let run through the window unsheeted. Good riding though, should jump like a mother!
Win!
Decided to head back into shore cos the front had arrived and it was snowing 0_o and was feeling my oats so at the end of a port tack, I tried a downloop turn ... didn't have the kite high enough to start with or underestimated the turning speed - whatever - dragged the RH wingtip across the water until it crashed LE down. Tried to try a relaunch by pulling just one leader line, and while the kite scooted across the window, it didn't launch. Went to a both rear header launch ... up! and away.
Started off on a starboard tack, dived the kite but it pulled back to the left and wouldn't respond to steering. I sheeted in hard to slow it down and it hit LE down again. Relaunch, turn to the left and stall. Repeat. Something seriously wrong there!
Kite is getting close to the bad end of the beach with shit all over the shore and it's bloody cold so I unhook and let the kite go to FDS which on reflection may have been a mistake ... wind up the FDS and then the lines for a self-rescue. Unfortunately, the kite has drifted onto the shore and is now tangled up on a branch of bamboo ... I untangle it gingerly but when I lift it, I think I hear a rip :(
Fail ...
Drag the kite back to sandy beach, lay it out and check it over. There a 5cm tear on the LH wingtip right where a bridle line joins. Nuts! Everything else seems fine though, apart from being wet and covered in sand.
Relaunch and it flies like the zipper is open, even though the kite is inflated. Water drains out of the LH tip but it still wants to stall out that side of the window. Gradually as it dries out it wants to stall less but is still flying all borked-like. Wonder if the mixer balls have slipped ...?
Land and pack up - I'll have to hang it up to dry cos it's COVERED in sand! Pity ... poor ol' Psycho! :(
What I learned today ...
• I need to NikWax or Seal'n'Glide the Psycho3 ... it gets very wet and very soggy.
• Stay away from "that" end of the beach :(
• Want a Psycho4 now! But what size?
• Ozone Megatron loop is hard to activate with frozen hands!
• Self-rescue with a FS is no worse than LEI; in fact, probably easier.
• Balls on the mixer may not be the best solution ... going back to the knots.
• Check the RHS of the mixer and release that twist there ...
Setup and launched the Psycho3, testing out my Mixer Test and all the other stuff I'd added. Hadn't hooked into the Ozone Megatron chicken loop properly (?) and it just off the hook and out of my hands - folding up nicely on the FDS. Recovered the bar and relaunched without any issues. Flew it around for a bit, all seems good ...
Win!
... so I get into the water. Yikes it's cold! The sun has gone behind clouds so it's not going to warm up and it looks like a front is coming through from the north. Wind isn't up to much - can get up but can't get onto a plane. Give up after about 50m and walk back up the beach ... leave the kite in the air while I stand around trying to decide if it's too cold to continue with a proper test on the Psycho ...
... wind picks up! Get back in the water and we're away! This Flysurfer is about as powerful as powerful as my 16m 'bow but will fly in less wind; it starts to work about the same time as the 16 but needs a little more wind to really pull.
Had about a half hour of powered back'n'forth, some nice little load'n'pops. Was being very careful on the turns cos it makes so much lift! Is relatively fast and needs an eye kept on it, kind of hard to park. Makes best power when sheeted in a little; compared to the Speed, doesn't make so much when given its head and let run through the window unsheeted. Good riding though, should jump like a mother!
Win!
Decided to head back into shore cos the front had arrived and it was snowing 0_o and was feeling my oats so at the end of a port tack, I tried a downloop turn ... didn't have the kite high enough to start with or underestimated the turning speed - whatever - dragged the RH wingtip across the water until it crashed LE down. Tried to try a relaunch by pulling just one leader line, and while the kite scooted across the window, it didn't launch. Went to a both rear header launch ... up! and away.
Started off on a starboard tack, dived the kite but it pulled back to the left and wouldn't respond to steering. I sheeted in hard to slow it down and it hit LE down again. Relaunch, turn to the left and stall. Repeat. Something seriously wrong there!
Kite is getting close to the bad end of the beach with shit all over the shore and it's bloody cold so I unhook and let the kite go to FDS which on reflection may have been a mistake ... wind up the FDS and then the lines for a self-rescue. Unfortunately, the kite has drifted onto the shore and is now tangled up on a branch of bamboo ... I untangle it gingerly but when I lift it, I think I hear a rip :(
Fail ...
Drag the kite back to sandy beach, lay it out and check it over. There a 5cm tear on the LH wingtip right where a bridle line joins. Nuts! Everything else seems fine though, apart from being wet and covered in sand.
Relaunch and it flies like the zipper is open, even though the kite is inflated. Water drains out of the LH tip but it still wants to stall out that side of the window. Gradually as it dries out it wants to stall less but is still flying all borked-like. Wonder if the mixer balls have slipped ...?
Land and pack up - I'll have to hang it up to dry cos it's COVERED in sand! Pity ... poor ol' Psycho! :(
What I learned today ...
• I need to NikWax or Seal'n'Glide the Psycho3 ... it gets very wet and very soggy.
• Stay away from "that" end of the beach :(
• Want a Psycho4 now! But what size?
• Ozone Megatron loop is hard to activate with frozen hands!
• Self-rescue with a FS is no worse than LEI; in fact, probably easier.
• Balls on the mixer may not be the best solution ... going back to the knots.
• Check the RHS of the mixer and release that twist there ...
Monday, February 28, 2011
2 in a row
Behaved myself and hit the lake straight after work rather than skiving off early. Wind seemed good so I carried my 16 & 13 Crossbow over to the lake but despite all the white caps, it was weaker than it looked so I pumped up the 16 and jumped in.
... how fast can I get the board on my feet and started? Pretty damn fast when it's cold :D nearly went haywire though as I missed my front footing at first. Couldn't see any snow on the hills on the other side of the lake COS IT WAS FRICKEN SNOWING UP THERE and it was covered in cloud! Had to bodydrag back to the board once ... not nice!
Had a nice time out playing, trying to get back into the groove. Wind was a bit gusty, alternately had to work it or edge hard to hold an upwind tack ...
Did some nice hop to toeside, downloop the kite then carve out the other way turns and tried some jumps but my timing is off and I'm afraid of really sending it cos it's cold in the water! Did it properly once though, and got a good jump straight up - I think I can see how it works better now!
Stayed out as long as I dared - sun was setting and I could feel the temperature dropping. Landed and packed up ... must have arrived about 4:30pm, got back in the car at 6 - probably an hour on the lake :)
What I learned today ...
• I'm a pussy.
• Sending and jumping properly is fun but needs more commitment than I was willing to give. See above.
• Love the Recoil upgrade for the Cab bar - downloop fast and powered turns rock!
• LE seems softer when I come back in than when I went out - hoping it's the cold air decreasing the volume of the LE and not a leak :(
• I need gloves.
• Seem to be getting a little better at riding toeside ... watching vids and thinking about it helps :D
... how fast can I get the board on my feet and started? Pretty damn fast when it's cold :D nearly went haywire though as I missed my front footing at first. Couldn't see any snow on the hills on the other side of the lake COS IT WAS FRICKEN SNOWING UP THERE and it was covered in cloud! Had to bodydrag back to the board once ... not nice!
Had a nice time out playing, trying to get back into the groove. Wind was a bit gusty, alternately had to work it or edge hard to hold an upwind tack ...
Did some nice hop to toeside, downloop the kite then carve out the other way turns and tried some jumps but my timing is off and I'm afraid of really sending it cos it's cold in the water! Did it properly once though, and got a good jump straight up - I think I can see how it works better now!
Stayed out as long as I dared - sun was setting and I could feel the temperature dropping. Landed and packed up ... must have arrived about 4:30pm, got back in the car at 6 - probably an hour on the lake :)
What I learned today ...
• I'm a pussy.
• Sending and jumping properly is fun but needs more commitment than I was willing to give. See above.
• Love the Recoil upgrade for the Cab bar - downloop fast and powered turns rock!
• LE seems softer when I come back in than when I went out - hoping it's the cold air decreasing the volume of the LE and not a leak :(
• I need gloves.
• Seem to be getting a little better at riding toeside ... watching vids and thinking about it helps :D
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Was it worth it?
The wind was forecast for a miserly 10 knots but I thought it'd be nice to test out the Speed 2.5, post-repairs and tweaks ... it was a nice sunny day - what better way to spend it?
Got to the lake about 2:30 and dragged my SA2.5 over the road ... set up, launched and got a run out and back before the wind fell off and I had to walk up the beach. Sat around for a while waiting for the wind to come back up, but it didn't so I gave up. Wound up my lines but left the SA2.5 on the beach.
Went back to the car and got out the Psycho3 13 and all the bits'n'pieces I'd ordered for it. Took it over to the beach then started setting it up - connecting lines and whatnot. Ordered a lineset from FS which came with the full length of 12, 6 and 3m - unlike the FDS that was on the kite originally :( so like my SA2.5, I have to use the FDS with shorter lines ... nuts!
Finally got it all together and launched!
Hmm ... FDS is now too short. Landed and added the frangible link bit. Better. Kite still wants to back stall so I trim it a bit ... WOW this things fast for a foil! And pulls hard too ... gonna be good!
Sun is falling but the wind's picked up so I land the Psycho3 and launch the Speed2 and take a few tacks on the board ... running out of beach so I come ashore but drop the kite and the fucking FDS line loops and knots itself around the other lines so I have to run away securing the kite and sorting that out before I can walk back up the beach.
So the answer is - yes :)
Got to the lake about 2:30 and dragged my SA2.5 over the road ... set up, launched and got a run out and back before the wind fell off and I had to walk up the beach. Sat around for a while waiting for the wind to come back up, but it didn't so I gave up. Wound up my lines but left the SA2.5 on the beach.
Went back to the car and got out the Psycho3 13 and all the bits'n'pieces I'd ordered for it. Took it over to the beach then started setting it up - connecting lines and whatnot. Ordered a lineset from FS which came with the full length of 12, 6 and 3m - unlike the FDS that was on the kite originally :( so like my SA2.5, I have to use the FDS with shorter lines ... nuts!
Finally got it all together and launched!
Hmm ... FDS is now too short. Landed and added the frangible link bit. Better. Kite still wants to back stall so I trim it a bit ... WOW this things fast for a foil! And pulls hard too ... gonna be good!
Sun is falling but the wind's picked up so I land the Psycho3 and launch the Speed2 and take a few tacks on the board ... running out of beach so I come ashore but drop the kite and the fucking FDS line loops and knots itself around the other lines so I have to run away securing the kite and sorting that out before I can walk back up the beach.
So the answer is - yes :)
Sunday, February 20, 2011
FFfffff ... uuuuuu ... haaaa ... reeeeezing!
Thought I'd go down the lake, fly the Outlaw and check-out the Ozone CL mod ... natch, I left it at home but Hiro-chan was there so I went and had a look at him for a bit but the wind-chill was nasty so I went home. 8°C on the Yahoo! weather forecast ...
However ...!
Driving home the sun came out and I thought about 2 months with no riding so I sucked it up, took off the skirt and put my water gear in the car, turned around and drove back!
Got there about 3:30pm and pumped up the 16m Crossbow cos the wind had dropped since erm 3pm and by the time I'd done that, I was sweating :D grabbed the board and got in the water.
"Oh wow water's about as cold as last time I was in it" ... except for the wind-chill! Crikey!
So began the first session of 2011! Boy am I ever rusty ... tooled around for a bit, timidly tried to jump (lol) but the wind was on and off - even had to drag into shore cos it dropped off but I found a new hat so that was nice - but I got in about an hour's ride until my frozen balls screamed ENOUGH and I packed up.
Bit desperate, but good to be back in the saddle :D
What I learned today ...
• I really should invest in a wetsuit - shorts, 2x rash-gaurds and a t-shirt doesn't really cut it.
• Snow on the hills beside the lake is probably a good indicator of how cold it's going to be!
• The Ion Ballistic shoe things work good to keep my feet warm but they make it tough to get feet in straps and actually make my feet hurt like my ski-boots are too tight :(
• Warming up in the shower at the clubhouse ... the pins and needles were interesting. Couldn't warm up properly until I got in the bath either. One good thing about Japan - baths!
UPDATE Feb 26
Grandpa made a movie of Hironobu that day and I make a brief cameo :D
However ...!
Driving home the sun came out and I thought about 2 months with no riding so I sucked it up, took off the skirt and put my water gear in the car, turned around and drove back!
Got there about 3:30pm and pumped up the 16m Crossbow cos the wind had dropped since erm 3pm and by the time I'd done that, I was sweating :D grabbed the board and got in the water.
"Oh wow water's about as cold as last time I was in it" ... except for the wind-chill! Crikey!
So began the first session of 2011! Boy am I ever rusty ... tooled around for a bit, timidly tried to jump (lol) but the wind was on and off - even had to drag into shore cos it dropped off but I found a new hat so that was nice - but I got in about an hour's ride until my frozen balls screamed ENOUGH and I packed up.
Bit desperate, but good to be back in the saddle :D
What I learned today ...
• I really should invest in a wetsuit - shorts, 2x rash-gaurds and a t-shirt doesn't really cut it.
• Snow on the hills beside the lake is probably a good indicator of how cold it's going to be!
• The Ion Ballistic shoe things work good to keep my feet warm but they make it tough to get feet in straps and actually make my feet hurt like my ski-boots are too tight :(
• Warming up in the shower at the clubhouse ... the pins and needles were interesting. Couldn't warm up properly until I got in the bath either. One good thing about Japan - baths!
UPDATE Feb 26
Grandpa made a movie of Hironobu that day and I make a brief cameo :D
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Notes to self on DIY of the Megatron chicken loop for Flysurfer bars
With pictures and more or less information.
Update - ordered some Samson LashIt! twine from the US ... made from Dyneema and UV coated, 180 feet for $25 plus the same for shipping 0_o 1.75mm and 500lbs (230kg) breaking load - just what the doctor ordered! Hopefully :D and there should be much less grunting and swearing involved ...
Update on the update - LashIt! has arrived and looks excellent - adds very little to the thickness of the 5mm and oddly enough, looks exactly like what is used in the Flysurfer depower line ... will get into making a line tonight and promise to take pictures!
Supplies
• About 150cm of 5mm (3/16) Amsteel Blue SK-75, breaking load 2,500kg for the depower loop line
• and 100cm of 2.8 of Amsteel Blue SK-75, breaking load 750kg for the "core" ... probably the 2.2mm LashIt! would have been better than the 1.75mm but cest la vie and all that.
• 5/8mm ID/OD PU tubing - goes under the spinning handle and is easier than reusing the Ozone stuff ... it's just compressor line anyway
• Ozone Megatron chicken loop (duh) with the "Spinning Handle" for the 5th line safety
• Heat-shrink (or whipping line - synthetic)
• Needles and thread (synthetic too)
Tools
• Long-nosed pliers
• DIY pull fid - made from coated 20-gauge wire, put the end you want a loop in, in a drill and spun slowly till at least 1m long
• tie ball to push the tubing, about 20mm
0. Skip all this crap and use the Beal line. The easiest option by a country mile, but 1,200kg breaking load bothers me ...
1. Cut the PU tubing to fit inside the "Spinning Handle" - about 6cm long.
2. Taper the end of the 5mm Amsteel ...
• measure and mark at 70mm, 90mm and 110mm
• pull out 2 braids at each mark, starting at 110mm and working towards the tip
• should leave about 3-4 lines at the tip - if there's more, pull out a few more between the marks - keep the taper smooth!
3. Splice the 'core' into the 5mm Amsteel with the wire fid. Leave some sticking out on either end so you can pull it tight.
4. Start the lock stitch about 5mm from where you plan to cut. Slide the heat-shrink over the 5mm. Stitch out away from where you'll cut, then when you turn around to stitch back, cut and heat-shrink it then stitch back to the end and over the heat shrink.
5. Figure-8 knot in that end - that'll be going inside the CL body.
6. Remove the suicide-leash loop. Feed the tapered end of the 5mm up into the body of the CL, orientated so that the knot will be inside. Pull the 5mm though, smoothing it over the core. Pull hard to seat the Figure-8 stopper knot.
7. Feed the tapered end of the 5mm into the PU tube - twist and push!
8. If all goes well, the gods are smiling, the planets align and you hold your tongue just right - you should be able to pull out the 5mm and slide the PU over the taper, down the line and over the part with the core. From here on, use the ball-thingy to push the PU tube down to the CL body. Smooth out the 5mm over the core and seat it hard against the body of the CL.
9. Fit the spinning handle onto the PU tubing ... using a smaller core makes life easier - zero strain with the 1.75mm LashIt!. Leave the screws just snugged-up for now.
10. Make sure the 5mm is smooth and taught over the core; measure 40cm from the spinning handle body (40cm is standard for FS kites - J. suggests 40-45cm; my SA2.5 is 48cm) and then figure out how much you need for a Bowline ...
11. Cut the line off square and secure the tip with heat-shrink or whipping - and lock stitch ... I had planned to cut 1.1m of 5mm and end up with 1m of depower line but somehow it ended up as a finished length of 70cm which is about perfect - you can easily (kinda!) tie a bowline at the trim strap and still have 45cm of depower. That's before it's put under load and tightens up ...
12. Feed the depower line through the bar, fit the gust absorber and feed/pull through the trim strap - make sure there's some 8mm OD PU tubing in there!
13. Bowline at the trim strap. Get it tight! It'll all snug up on the next flight, so be prepared to adjust front leader lines or mixer 0_o'
14. Tidy it all up; refit the suicide-leash loop, tighten the screws on the spinning handle (make sure it and the PU tubing is seated hard against the CL body), cover the gust absorber.
15. Go fly! Check to stretch etc and SailKote the line!
Update - ordered some Samson LashIt! twine from the US ... made from Dyneema and UV coated, 180 feet for $25 plus the same for shipping 0_o 1.75mm and 500lbs (230kg) breaking load - just what the doctor ordered! Hopefully :D and there should be much less grunting and swearing involved ...
Update on the update - LashIt! has arrived and looks excellent - adds very little to the thickness of the 5mm and oddly enough, looks exactly like what is used in the Flysurfer depower line ... will get into making a line tonight and promise to take pictures!
Supplies
• About 150cm of 5mm (3/16) Amsteel Blue SK-75, breaking load 2,500kg for the depower loop line
• and 100cm of 2.8 of Amsteel Blue SK-75, breaking load 750kg for the "core" ... probably the 2.2mm LashIt! would have been better than the 1.75mm but cest la vie and all that.
• 5/8mm ID/OD PU tubing - goes under the spinning handle and is easier than reusing the Ozone stuff ... it's just compressor line anyway
• Ozone Megatron chicken loop (duh) with the "Spinning Handle" for the 5th line safety
• Heat-shrink (or whipping line - synthetic)
• Needles and thread (synthetic too)
Tools
• Long-nosed pliers
• DIY pull fid - made from coated 20-gauge wire, put the end you want a loop in, in a drill and spun slowly till at least 1m long
• tie ball to push the tubing, about 20mm
0. Skip all this crap and use the Beal line. The easiest option by a country mile, but 1,200kg breaking load bothers me ...
1. Cut the PU tubing to fit inside the "Spinning Handle" - about 6cm long.
2. Taper the end of the 5mm Amsteel ...
• measure and mark at 70mm, 90mm and 110mm
• pull out 2 braids at each mark, starting at 110mm and working towards the tip
• should leave about 3-4 lines at the tip - if there's more, pull out a few more between the marks - keep the taper smooth!
3. Splice the 'core' into the 5mm Amsteel with the wire fid. Leave some sticking out on either end so you can pull it tight.
4. Start the lock stitch about 5mm from where you plan to cut. Slide the heat-shrink over the 5mm. Stitch out away from where you'll cut, then when you turn around to stitch back, cut and heat-shrink it then stitch back to the end and over the heat shrink.
5. Figure-8 knot in that end - that'll be going inside the CL body.
6. Remove the suicide-leash loop. Feed the tapered end of the 5mm up into the body of the CL, orientated so that the knot will be inside. Pull the 5mm though, smoothing it over the core. Pull hard to seat the Figure-8 stopper knot.
7. Feed the tapered end of the 5mm into the PU tube - twist and push!
8. If all goes well, the gods are smiling, the planets align and you hold your tongue just right - you should be able to pull out the 5mm and slide the PU over the taper, down the line and over the part with the core. From here on, use the ball-thingy to push the PU tube down to the CL body. Smooth out the 5mm over the core and seat it hard against the body of the CL.
9. Fit the spinning handle onto the PU tubing ... using a smaller core makes life easier - zero strain with the 1.75mm LashIt!. Leave the screws just snugged-up for now.
10. Make sure the 5mm is smooth and taught over the core; measure 40cm from the spinning handle body (40cm is standard for FS kites - J. suggests 40-45cm; my SA2.5 is 48cm) and then figure out how much you need for a Bowline ...
11. Cut the line off square and secure the tip with heat-shrink or whipping - and lock stitch ... I had planned to cut 1.1m of 5mm and end up with 1m of depower line but somehow it ended up as a finished length of 70cm which is about perfect - you can easily (kinda!) tie a bowline at the trim strap and still have 45cm of depower. That's before it's put under load and tightens up ...
12. Feed the depower line through the bar, fit the gust absorber and feed/pull through the trim strap - make sure there's some 8mm OD PU tubing in there!
13. Bowline at the trim strap. Get it tight! It'll all snug up on the next flight, so be prepared to adjust front leader lines or mixer 0_o'
14. Tidy it all up; refit the suicide-leash loop, tighten the screws on the spinning handle (make sure it and the PU tubing is seated hard against the CL body), cover the gust absorber.
15. Go fly! Check to stretch etc and SailKote the line!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Testing, testing ...
Took the Synergy 19 down to the lake for a quick test flight after work - I'd put
Ronstan Orbit series 20 blocks (pulleys) on it a while back, but only now just got around to flying it.
Used the same method as on the Charger to attach the block - little pig tail through the block then "Lark's Head" onto the strap on the kite. I used 3.2mm Amsteel Blue (in red) and stitched and knotted the pig tail. I think I used about 140mm but I forget now ... anyway, it was a tight fit to get onto the kite, but now it's only about 5mm longer than the OE pulley. Although the Ronstan is larger diameter so it all balances out I guess ...
... anyway, the kite flew fine, the pulleys worked as they're supposed to and all the rigging looks bomb-proof. It may just be psychological, but I swear that the steering/sheeting response was smoother ... and crisper, if it's possible to be both at the same time!
Well, that's done - now to sell all my Synergy's to fund my upgrade to Chargers ... I don't suppose that you know anyone that wants an immaculate 8, 10, 12 or 15 and a barely used 19, do you? ;)
Edit : 15 is gone, 19 is going I think ... need to sell off the tiddlers. Got a line on a 19m Charger - woop woop! - so I can see what all the moaning is about ...
Ronstan Orbit series 20 blocks (pulleys) on it a while back, but only now just got around to flying it.
Used the same method as on the Charger to attach the block - little pig tail through the block then "Lark's Head" onto the strap on the kite. I used 3.2mm Amsteel Blue (in red) and stitched and knotted the pig tail. I think I used about 140mm but I forget now ... anyway, it was a tight fit to get onto the kite, but now it's only about 5mm longer than the OE pulley. Although the Ronstan is larger diameter so it all balances out I guess ...
... anyway, the kite flew fine, the pulleys worked as they're supposed to and all the rigging looks bomb-proof. It may just be psychological, but I swear that the steering/sheeting response was smoother ... and crisper, if it's possible to be both at the same time!
Well, that's done - now to sell all my Synergy's to fund my upgrade to Chargers ... I don't suppose that you know anyone that wants an immaculate 8, 10, 12 or 15 and a barely used 19, do you? ;)
Edit : 15 is gone, 19 is going I think ... need to sell off the tiddlers. Got a line on a 19m Charger - woop woop! - so I can see what all the moaning is about ...
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Arc info!
About the VPC, as posted by Tungsten at www.arcusers.net here!
If you are a light weight, you get away with less VPC (or none at all) in the smaller sizes, and a bit to decent VPC in your low wind kites.
The more your arse is on the lard side (like mine), the more of this healthy shifting VPC effect you will fancy; the lower the wind, the more VPC, the higher the wind (high winds are gusty winds), the less instability you want, so less VPC; as an extreme, you may take the VPC off for the crazy winds.
You sure have to spend a bit of time to find your decent amount of VPC effect for the bigger sizes you use, get used to it and enjoy.
So moving the rear line towards the leading edge is increasing the VPC effect ...
If you are a light weight, you get away with less VPC (or none at all) in the smaller sizes, and a bit to decent VPC in your low wind kites.
The more your arse is on the lard side (like mine), the more of this healthy shifting VPC effect you will fancy; the lower the wind, the more VPC, the higher the wind (high winds are gusty winds), the less instability you want, so less VPC; as an extreme, you may take the VPC off for the crazy winds.
You sure have to spend a bit of time to find your decent amount of VPC effect for the bigger sizes you use, get used to it and enjoy.
So moving the rear line towards the leading edge is increasing the VPC effect ...
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