More Kiting - Saturday at Kailua Beach Park

I have rediscovered kiting!  Second time back out (after a long hiatus) and it doesn't quite feel like it is brand new again, but I haven't quite thrown caution to the wind either -

I also haven't found my gopro mount for the kite, so I only have these pictures of the before and after.

The wind was good for most of the session.  It did die once and my kite just fell out of the sky, but at the end I didn't feel like my arms had gotten ripped off.  Good day (with more to follow)!!!

Kiting Again

Oh yes it has been awhile - but I finally broke the dry spell.  I pressure tested both the 16 and the 11 Crossbows and there were no issues.

Back when we lived in Gulfport, MS I was actually kiting a fair bit.  The kids were much younger and they always took shelter from the wind under the kites - as soon as I had these pumped up - that's where they went.

The next day, I got a call from a friend and we headed over to Kailua.  I put the 11 up and used the twintip.  The wind was just a hair too strong, but I depowered the kite and stayed out for a couple of hours.

I truly missed kiting - this is something I'm going to have to remedy although living in Ewa Beach makes any kite outing a good haul (Kailua or Mokuleia...).  I'm also gonna get my directional ready. 

It's been a while...

Back in the late 90's and 2000, I used to frequent this beach so much, I felt like I lived here. I've been back on island now for almost four months, but I haven't spent any real time back here. I had an appointment with Windwards Boats to demo sail a Hobie Adventure Tandem Island sailing kayak at 10:00. And I finished surfing at 8:45 - so I figured I could kill some time walking back over to where the kiters launch. The beach has changed over the years. Sand migration, tons more people, and a deteriorating bath house to name a few, but over all it still feels the same. Kailua mellow...

The First Signs....

The anchored ships were all pointing to the South East...

And the track the sun takes across the sky has moved further North.

First signs the weather patterns are shifting -

Time to do the gear inspections on the kites and boards!!!!

Kiting Again

I experienced technical difficulties with several things today.

First - I dragged the kite/board around on errands this morning (I rarely drive the truck around - my way of cutting back on carbon footprint and burning, but today I did) - I didn't end up kiting this morning due to the errands. Also I passed on the morning kiting session in anticipation of a sailing regatta this afternoon - save energy for butt kicking!

So I am back on the bike and off to the marina for the regatta. I'm there early talking about the course and the wind conditions (a little blustery). Stretching, gearing up and looking forward to running the course early to get a lay of the wind lines.

Then, as I was waiting for the skipper's meeting, a small craft warning went up (and the regatta was called off).

So - back to my room on the bike (I must have rode back and forth between the marina and my room at least 4 times by this point), I got the kite gear and then back to Jake's Place to launch.

Now that all that discombobulation was over, you think everything was smooth from this point forward. Furthest thing from the truth -

Really choppy water. Made riding actually painful at times.

The wind was full of holes south of the marina, and full on north of it.

Also, I thought I'd get more charge out of the batteries on the GoPro - not. These three pictures were the best out of the 13 taken.

Put those negativities aside, it was fun trying to step up the game during the jumps - I lost the board three times today and got some wicked crashes.

Saturday Morning Kiting Session

Got a bunch of jumps in today. This jump was one of the better ones - I got the board and most of me above the bar.

Check out the picture of me coming up after a dunking - you can see large water drops in suspension in front of my left leg. Sometimes you get some pretty cool pictures from the GoPro.

Procrastinating Part 2

As I am typing this blog entry I am successfully procrastinating...

If I didn't already say/imply it, today was fun. Lots of jumps, some swell riding and several people out on the water to share the sunshine and warm, blue water.

I also windsurfed after lunch. Actually it was a regatta - I haven't learned my lesson yet to test out the harness line positions. Now I have very, very, very, very,very sore forearms. Used an 8.0 sail in what I would have called 7.5 wind conditions. Still a good time (came in third this time - I won't admit I threw the race, but the marina guys are threatening to throw me into the advanced category - which I would gladly do if I could jibe at speed). I'll post pictures of this later.

Nice day on the water!

Procrastinating Part 1

In a deliberate effort to not "work" today (even though I have enough to keep me busy 36 hours a day, 10 days a week), I went kiting this morning.

Here are some of the many faces of kiting - the "I have water in my eyes" look, the "oh boy" look and the dreaded "uh oh" look.

Sunday Kiting Session

The wind was pretty steady and stiff today.

CF137x41 and the Cabrinha 11m Xbow - equipment perfection!

I got some crazy jumps in, but I actually went way inside of where I normally track - the windsurfers went South today to do a long downwinder - I went where they normally go so I can ride the swell.

No peeling breakers, but I'll take what I can get - even discontiguous wind swell.

I think it is awesome crosstraining when you have to surf fakie (more like switch snowboarding) - my outbound tack did this today (right foot forward for me). I could feel muscles being used in ways they normally aren't.

Fun session!

Now if I can translate these 'S' turns and body positioning to my windsurfing...

Saturday - Kiting

The wind was really patchy - at the launch site, there was just enough wind to loft the 16m. After moving out, the wind bent in from an altered direction (land mass upwind effecting the flow), then it filled in nicely, and finally at the sailing boundary line (established so you don't accidentally head off to the West Coast of Africa), the wind was too much for the 16m.

I managed to get some pretty high jumps with rotations.

I also used my new pair of surf trunks - I picked the color because my wife likes me in orange. I feel like a bowl holding fruit salad when I look at the trunks - don't ask me why.

Braking

Since I'm in the blogging mood, here's another analytical post:

This is picture was taken as I'm initiating a twintip turn. You don't have to jibe a twintip in order to change direction - you just throw your back foot out and use the rail to slowdown your forward speed, while simultaneously swinging the kite towards to opposite direction of travel.

When the wind is not fully powering your kite, you have to dive the kite through the wind window to get up to speed again. With a twintip, when the rail is disengaged, you can slide across the surface of the water.

Whatever is happening, I liked the way the water is breaking up while I was going through the turn.

Hanging Around (Upside Down)

Two-blocked with meetings all day - I didn't feel like staying after 1700 like I normally do to answer emails - the wind was up and blowing past 15 mph!!!

I had the kite up and ready to go by 1730. Got some great jumps but this one in particular (and the one just after it) was awesome! I used to be able to do the 'tabletop' maneuver when I was new to kiting - primarily because I would jump unhooked (chicken loop out of the harness hook). I could rotate the lower half of my body (and the board) while I was approaching a horizontal profile with my entire body just as I hit the pinnacle of the jump. At the top of the jump, the board's bottom deck is pointing skyward, and the rider is horizontal facing the surface of the water.

Poetry in motion ....

Doing it is hard enough, but then being able to get a picture of it is a different level of effort all together. The GoPro takes a shot every 2 seconds - I have tons of pictures of everything but pinnacle shots, but every now and then you get lucky. This one isn't perfect (water stuck on the fisheye), but you have to take what you can get.

I have been using the chicken finger on the kite rig (so the chicken loop cannot come undone accidentally) a lot recently and as a side effect, I have not been able to do a complete rotation.

I pushed a little harder today and got close - next session I'll use the leash instead of the chicken finger to see if I can get the full rotation. GOING OLD SCHOOL!!!

More Helmet Cam Pictures

More to show the new perspective

Friday Afternoon Kiting

Busy week -

I left work at 4pm to try and harness some wind. The forecast for the weekend is calling for lower winds - adding to the urgency.

This is the first time I am using the helmet cam perspective - most of the shots were not good - I'll have to play with the positioning to get it right.

The helmet cam made it easier to take video - I'll work on loading a few clips up to the blog.

Almost two hours out in gusting, bending winds. The 16 was barely enough on the inside, but too much out in the middle of the lagoon.

Still - anyday out on the water is better than one in the office

Kiting in the Afternoon

Lighter winds, but whitecaps on the water. I decided to take out the 11m.

Got some good jumps during the "quickie" session. Nice, lofty big air - quality: Prime for "Sticking" it at the apex!

With the rain and stronger squall winds that have been prevalent lately, any session is a good session.

I really miss my family - but days like today make the time go by well.

Up and Down

The wind that is (was).

I packed up the 16m Crossbow and headed to the kite launch. By the time I got there, the previously clear sky was dark and squalls were pushing through. I waited the band out and then put up the kite.

For the next two hours, I was fighting smaller bands of moving water vapor, followed by lighter winds (compression - release).

The 16m was not as agile as the 11m (duh), and I got launched on one jump attempt - lost the board and got spun around pretty effectively (I got a spanking). A few upwind body drags and I was back in business.

When I landed, the Picos came out in force -

So - I'm chalking this one up to great fun, but challenging conditions.

Saturday Run, Part 2

Went kiting a second time - got tons of jumps, not small ones either - big air all around.

I have way too many pictures this time around...

I tried to pick ones that showed the different colors of the lagoon.

The camera angle is good too - I am using the GoPro clamp located at the depower/power adjusters. My favorite move out here is getting big air and throwing a board twist at the apex of the jump. It's hard to do a full on table top because of the chicken loop - but I'll keep trying. I will be working to get more comfortable jumping on my weak side too (I'm a regular foot).

If I hadn't already said it - this place is paradise for kiting!

Awesome day!!!

Saturday Run, Part 1

Today isn't turning out the way I thought it would, but it is still fun -

I was hoping to kite around 0800, but it was raining pretty solidly.

I did get to kite - pretty gusty conditions. I used the Raptor (twin tip) - really a random thought but glad I did. When I got there it was super low tide - inches of water (check out the pictures) - the Raptor TORE IT UP!

I tried to stay on the inside for most of this run - with the gusty winds and no leash, I felt I should play it safe. I did venture out a couple of times and even lost the board for a second - I just dumped the power in the kite and got the board without any drama.

Lots of high jumps - definitely got some adrenaline pumping!

I landed the kite (just in time - as a squall pushed in about 5 minutes after I landed) and went home thinking I was going to get a dive in - nope - work issue.

Max Speed 22.4 mph; Total distance 13.07 miles covered in 1 hour 13 minutes (yes I had the GPS on me).

Now that that's done, I think I'll put the kite up again. See you in a bit!