Yet again, wind didn't live up to the forecast and it was up n' down the whole session, from being unable to relaunch the kite to being worried about being over-powered...
The wind situation was clear when I arrived at the lake; few whitecaps or trees moving around violently. Never mind, I've got a foil. With a bent fuselage.
It was overcast and snowing, so I wrapped up in the whale scrot and jammed the helmet on my hooded head. I went with the SB 14 cos I wanted to try a lower AR kite, but noticed in the session how it made nicer power when turning, and didn't get soggy at the bottom in lightest wind. Hmm...
Great riding today--when the wind was up. Bit of fighting to get up on the foil when it was light but goddam, I could barely keep the kite in the sky. In fact, at one time I couldn't relaunch it til the wind picked up.
Managed a couple of gybes on the foil, but sunk as I can't ride toeside. S-turns on my good side go well enough that I can get into the shallows near the beach on the foil, then bail.
So, good speed and height control, although my goofy lags behind by a session or two.
Sun came out so I got a bit pickled in the suit...
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Monday, February 15, 2016
It's a good news, bad news kinda thing
Sun's out, wind like yesterday but a work day so I got the lake to myself. Cold though, and my gears still wet so I go with the 6/5/4 suit. Ugh.
Got to the beach with the Duke, Fun Foil, and 10m XB but it was howling so I went back for the 7m kiddie's toy. So small, thin, tiny, far away from the bar!
Was fine for a bit, then the wind dropped so I was working it hard. Not so bad, I could get consistent pull out of it that way, but it was hardwork.
Went back in for the 10m. That was better, had some good foiling runs and tried some gybes and S-turns, which was fun. Got to surf a wave accidentally too, until I ran out of speed and pull and sank.
Nailed the bottom HARD at speed, twice...fuselage is bent again. But I got some epically nice rides after that, long foils at constant speed and carving turns.... Huh.
So, plan B rev. 2: ride it as-is until I can foil consistently without slamming into the bottom, then cut it down for the extended fuselage. Tempted to get some aluminum stock and shift the mast mount point too... we'll call that plan C.
There was something else I meant to add, but have forgotten. Oh well.
Got to the beach with the Duke, Fun Foil, and 10m XB but it was howling so I went back for the 7m kiddie's toy. So small, thin, tiny, far away from the bar!
Was fine for a bit, then the wind dropped so I was working it hard. Not so bad, I could get consistent pull out of it that way, but it was hardwork.
Went back in for the 10m. That was better, had some good foiling runs and tried some gybes and S-turns, which was fun. Got to surf a wave accidentally too, until I ran out of speed and pull and sank.
Nailed the bottom HARD at speed, twice...fuselage is bent again. But I got some epically nice rides after that, long foils at constant speed and carving turns.... Huh.
So, plan B rev. 2: ride it as-is until I can foil consistently without slamming into the bottom, then cut it down for the extended fuselage. Tempted to get some aluminum stock and shift the mast mount point too... we'll call that plan C.
There was something else I meant to add, but have forgotten. Oh well.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Lotsa wind but not much riding
Went out with the 10 and the TT for a few jumps, but blimey, wind is bit.... Came up earlier than it should have so that's better than not but it's very bloody gusty, but strong, and the waves...made foiling tough, as I couldn't maintain speed or power easily and had to contend with decent (for the lake) sized waves. Boing, boing.
Impressed "that guy" by gybing. He can't at all so I'm cool.
Attempting to ride the TT at the end of the session ho ho ho...
Impressed "that guy" by gybing. He can't at all so I'm cool.
Attempting to ride the TT at the end of the session ho ho ho...
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Getting better. 6 hours in. . . .
Should have been a cracking forecast but it was crappy. Took the 15 and 21 to the beach but chickened out because the wind was up. Got the 16m XB . . . dude it su-uuucks! Too slow to be useful in the light wind, too much power when the wind picked up, which of course it did. Had fits trying to get up the beach and keep the kite in the sky. Then the wind cranked up. . . .
Got the 10m but of course, the wind dropped. Got to see what it was like riding a fast, small kite and trying to build apparent wind. Hard!
Went back on the 16 and had a nice time for a while, good long runs with smooth foiling, then the wind dropped right off and I gave up on the whole thing.
Did get to try with the rear foot unstrapped, as the screw worked itself out. Not sure I like it.
Good news, the fuse has stopped bending despite how many times I nailed the bottom! Oh myyy.
Got the 10m but of course, the wind dropped. Got to see what it was like riding a fast, small kite and trying to build apparent wind. Hard!
Went back on the 16 and had a nice time for a while, good long runs with smooth foiling, then the wind dropped right off and I gave up on the whole thing.
Did get to try with the rear foot unstrapped, as the screw worked itself out. Not sure I like it.
Good news, the fuse has stopped bending despite how many times I nailed the bottom! Oh myyy.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Suddenly clicked
Got some long tacks running off upwind, with some very long runs flying the foil, standing tall and steady. Woohoo! Goofy feels horrible, out of control and twitchy, but actually getting longer runs on the foil that side. Had a play with transitions and did some accidental S-turns. Good day!
Not sure I like the SB with the foil . . . the XBs are better.
Not sure I like the SB with the foil . . . the XBs are better.
Saturday, January 30, 2016
A day of weirdness
The forecast I thought was for lightish wind... but it was a bit more when I got to the lake. 8 degrees, but sunny... I went with my 4/3 wetsuit and it was fine, til water got blasted down the neck hole.
Enough wind for the 13 and the foil, I think. Or at least to body drag out to the deep water...
That part of the plan worked. Got out into deep water ok, but just discovered new sand banks in the process. Did manage to get a bunch more time on the board though, up and riding for longish tacks with some foiling up and down in the middle. Felt so very precarious up there, in control but sorta not. Moved my back foot forward in the strap; set them up on the widest positions so I got it forward an inch or so from the middle position. Also had the time to play with foot position, rail to rail. Can't be right, weighting the heel side edge....
Very uncoordinated goofy, stance must be the problem as I'm rolling over my toes downwind of the board and having to bail, sometimes tweaking my feet in the straps, sometimes narrowly missing the foil, and once donking my head on something. Still seems to be bleeding, might have to wear a helmet next time....
Wind picked up, and the speed got unmanageable and very, very scary. Discovered the trick to going downwind is sheet in hard, drag the board with the downwind hand.
Back on the TT. Holy moly this feels weird! Every push on the front foot has my brain thinking that the whole thing is going to rise out of the water, and I can't edge properly. Add to that, the broad feels slow, draggy and totally dead, like a big lump of wood. Weird!
Doesn't look like the fuse bent any more so that's good. Plan B is cutting it down to 900mm and retapping the threads when I buy the longer fuse...
Enough wind for the 13 and the foil, I think. Or at least to body drag out to the deep water...
That part of the plan worked. Got out into deep water ok, but just discovered new sand banks in the process. Did manage to get a bunch more time on the board though, up and riding for longish tacks with some foiling up and down in the middle. Felt so very precarious up there, in control but sorta not. Moved my back foot forward in the strap; set them up on the widest positions so I got it forward an inch or so from the middle position. Also had the time to play with foot position, rail to rail. Can't be right, weighting the heel side edge....
Very uncoordinated goofy, stance must be the problem as I'm rolling over my toes downwind of the board and having to bail, sometimes tweaking my feet in the straps, sometimes narrowly missing the foil, and once donking my head on something. Still seems to be bleeding, might have to wear a helmet next time....
Wind picked up, and the speed got unmanageable and very, very scary. Discovered the trick to going downwind is sheet in hard, drag the board with the downwind hand.
Back on the TT. Holy moly this feels weird! Every push on the front foot has my brain thinking that the whole thing is going to rise out of the water, and I can't edge properly. Add to that, the broad feels slow, draggy and totally dead, like a big lump of wood. Weird!
Doesn't look like the fuse bent any more so that's good. Plan B is cutting it down to 900mm and retapping the threads when I buy the longer fuse...
Friday, January 22, 2016
Fat Bastard strikes again
Plan was to use the light wind to get some time on the foil, ready for summer.
Good decision: using the 6/5/4 suit and 5mm gloves n' boots. Spent a lot of time in the water.
Bad decision: not squaring off the bottom of the mast :-/
So the wind was good when I hit the lake, but after 20 minutes fighting out to chest-deep water, an attempt or two, the wind just dropped right off. I kept playing with the gear but it was frustrating; progress was hampered by fighting to keep the kite in the air, and the foil hitting the bottom.
Found a hole in the lake bottom down near the new breakwater... it's not very long, but if I could get up on a foil, I could fuck off upwind from there easily. The problem is of course, getting up on the foil....
Got back to the beach and thought the fuselage was bent. Yup, sure is. Dammit....
Think I got body dragging with the foil sussed out though. And the feel for the foil again, although goofy is very goofy indeed.
Good decision: using the 6/5/4 suit and 5mm gloves n' boots. Spent a lot of time in the water.
Bad decision: not squaring off the bottom of the mast :-/
So the wind was good when I hit the lake, but after 20 minutes fighting out to chest-deep water, an attempt or two, the wind just dropped right off. I kept playing with the gear but it was frustrating; progress was hampered by fighting to keep the kite in the air, and the foil hitting the bottom.
Found a hole in the lake bottom down near the new breakwater... it's not very long, but if I could get up on a foil, I could fuck off upwind from there easily. The problem is of course, getting up on the foil....
Got back to the beach and thought the fuselage was bent. Yup, sure is. Dammit....
Think I got body dragging with the foil sussed out though. And the feel for the foil again, although goofy is very goofy indeed.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Little bit light
Should have been good, but the wind didn't shift until after 3, then it was light wind puttering around. Oh well, at least I coukd still get back to shore.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Much better
Good wind, easy power on the 10. Adrian was there, so I returned the Vanguard (sniff) and got a wee run on a fat rail Limited 138... Nice!
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Ooh, lucky
Nothing at all was forecast but the wind came up so I hit the beach. Thought I might be able to try some surfing, but not enough for the 10m and the Vanguard-clone is still a slippery despite the awesome wax job by the ASP guy. Swapped it all out for the 15 and the Limited.
After a shit launch, I got rolling nicely powered and had a little boosting fun for the rest of this four hour session.
Got tired, got lazy, dropped the kite at the shore, let it get tangled... called it a day. A good day, that is.
After a shit launch, I got rolling nicely powered and had a little boosting fun for the rest of this four hour session.
Got tired, got lazy, dropped the kite at the shore, let it get tangled... called it a day. A good day, that is.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Have I told you already? I hate wax
It's the devil!
Good wind forecast and it delivered. Tide is low until very late so I went for a look at the beach, thinking I'd do a little on the surfboard then head off to the estuary...
Goddamn wax! I'd redone it but I still slipped off the front of the board every time I tried to swap my feet. Real shame cos I was having fun.
So back to the car for the TT. Zoom zoom!
Ermagerd! KICKERZ!
Good air play. Found a nice section of the beach with long period waves and flat water between the foot high kickers. Boom! Splash down depth was a bit hinkey though... thanfulky though I only ballsed it up once big time, hitting the lip of a breaking wave and jumping out of a strap, spinning around and splashing down not so badly, in front of the rubber-necker.
Repeat for 3 hours til the tide changed the water into mountainous chop and I was tired of the anal probing from the Dakine Proctologist harness. Started carving around and a wind-down but that lasted an hour...
Finally came off the water around 6:30. I love daylight saving time!
... have sunburned knees where the harness pulled my shorts up over the tanned zone :-/ stupid country. So cold out IN SUMMER you need a sweater, but you get burned in minutes.
Good wind forecast and it delivered. Tide is low until very late so I went for a look at the beach, thinking I'd do a little on the surfboard then head off to the estuary...
Goddamn wax! I'd redone it but I still slipped off the front of the board every time I tried to swap my feet. Real shame cos I was having fun.
So back to the car for the TT. Zoom zoom!
Ermagerd! KICKERZ!
Good air play. Found a nice section of the beach with long period waves and flat water between the foot high kickers. Boom! Splash down depth was a bit hinkey though... thanfulky though I only ballsed it up once big time, hitting the lip of a breaking wave and jumping out of a strap, spinning around and splashing down not so badly, in front of the rubber-necker.
Repeat for 3 hours til the tide changed the water into mountainous chop and I was tired of the anal probing from the Dakine Proctologist harness. Started carving around and a wind-down but that lasted an hour...
Finally came off the water around 6:30. I love daylight saving time!
... have sunburned knees where the harness pulled my shorts up over the tanned zone :-/ stupid country. So cold out IN SUMMER you need a sweater, but you get burned in minutes.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
I really hate wax
No joy again today. "The next three days are going to be great" seems to be the local joke.
Got desperate and headed out for a run. The Axis board stuns again with how good it is, and wax annoys me again with how shit it is.
Give up after a few runs and walks. Again.
Got desperate and headed out for a run. The Axis board stuns again with how good it is, and wax annoys me again with how shit it is.
Give up after a few runs and walks. Again.
Friday, December 25, 2015
I hate wax
Hmm, lost some days here. Sure I went out on the last two days but then what happened to Thursday?
Low tide early afternoon so I head to the beach rather than the estuary... No messing about, straight out with the Speed and Spud.
Bah. So close to being able to go upwind well, but I can't so I ride, carve a turn, ride back, jump off and wade out upwind...
After an hour or so, I give up and ogle the blonde in the bikini as I pack up.
Head to the estuary cos I think I can get some riding in. Same set up; works just ok, I'm getting upwind a tad so I switch to the smaller Axis prototype Vanguard clone.
Oh myyy! What a stunning thing to ride... only 5' 4" but bloody hell, it cranks upwind, handles chop, and carves a turn better than the Spud. Which is bigger and wider. Wow! Shame the wax is such a shit of a thing!
Give up when the wind dies away.
Low tide early afternoon so I head to the beach rather than the estuary... No messing about, straight out with the Speed and Spud.
Bah. So close to being able to go upwind well, but I can't so I ride, carve a turn, ride back, jump off and wade out upwind...
After an hour or so, I give up and ogle the blonde in the bikini as I pack up.
Head to the estuary cos I think I can get some riding in. Same set up; works just ok, I'm getting upwind a tad so I switch to the smaller Axis prototype Vanguard clone.
Oh myyy! What a stunning thing to ride... only 5' 4" but bloody hell, it cranks upwind, handles chop, and carves a turn better than the Spud. Which is bigger and wider. Wow! Shame the wax is such a shit of a thing!
Give up when the wind dies away.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Monday, December 21, 2015
35 degrees!
Total luck I got any riding at all. Forecast was supposed to switch to cracking NWs but that held off long enough to get an hour's blast in.
Prior to that, I'd gone to Tim's shop to ask about beach access and he offered the Spud to demo.
So I rode that and liked it, but I still think it's too small, but I can't get a straight answer from anyone on the matter of a longer board giving better bottom end...
Off to Jed's for fush n' chups.
Prior to that, I'd gone to Tim's shop to ask about beach access and he offered the Spud to demo.
So I rode that and liked it, but I still think it's too small, but I can't get a straight answer from anyone on the matter of a longer board giving better bottom end...
Off to Jed's for fush n' chups.
Sunday, December 20, 2015
The more I learn about wax, the more I hate it
Arrived at high tide and was the only one or two there... Bit light relatively speaking, rigged the 15 and went out in the Limited. Not that good for jumping, then the SPL broke and I had a long walk in. Weak, dude.
Pumped up the 10 and went out. Ok but the jumps aren't stellar so I start in on the stunts... yeah, the old tricks work. Tried some hand-drag back rolls and only one worked so I gave up in them.
Wind dropped so I went out on the FruJu. Good board -- too good for me. Crisp and lively, rocks upwind but I had a hard time carving it nicely. Good ollies when you hit it right, butt he was is going and I risk doing the splits...
Wind seemed to pick up so I went out on the Limited but it sucked and I went out on the FruJu again til I decided I had enough... Good long session, about 4 hours!
Pumped up the 10 and went out. Ok but the jumps aren't stellar so I start in on the stunts... yeah, the old tricks work. Tried some hand-drag back rolls and only one worked so I gave up in them.
Wind dropped so I went out on the FruJu. Good board -- too good for me. Crisp and lively, rocks upwind but I had a hard time carving it nicely. Good ollies when you hit it right, butt he was is going and I risk doing the splits...
Wind seemed to pick up so I went out on the Limited but it sucked and I went out on the FruJu again til I decided I had enough... Good long session, about 4 hours!
Friday, December 18, 2015
Fare thee well, Dialer
Wind seemed light so I went out with the 10 and the Dialer, but it was also shallow so I spent a lot of time running aground and falling over.
Board felt strange when I got out of the water and it was then that I spotted the cracks in the fin bamboo near the fin boxes. A trip to Groundswell and a conversation later, the big D is pronounced DOA.
Sadness.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Goodbye J-winter
All excited about using the 7, even thought I'd need the TT but no, the wind is just jerking my chain. Maybe 10 minutes riding, 5 continuously... bah.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Not bad, not bad
Light wind forecast, turned out ok. Rode some on the TT, rode some on the directional. Bit light, bit strong, bit gusty.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Dum-de-gah-GAH
Wind picked up as the session went on, but I really should have been on the S3 15 for the kind of riding I was doing. Gah.
The deck pad is falling apart so I pulled it off and put on the new Dakine pad but . . . it isn't the same size. GAH. Naturally I didn't check before I started ripping the old one off and naturally theres messy patches of adhesive and rubber that just won't come off. Fuck.
Am now looking at SUP and longboard pads as they're the only ones long enough to cover all the mess :(
Paid for the LF Fun Foil too--watch this space.
The deck pad is falling apart so I pulled it off and put on the new Dakine pad but . . . it isn't the same size. GAH. Naturally I didn't check before I started ripping the old one off and naturally theres messy patches of adhesive and rubber that just won't come off. Fuck.
Am now looking at SUP and longboard pads as they're the only ones long enough to cover all the mess :(
Paid for the LF Fun Foil too--watch this space.
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