My Feet are Too Big

I never really hit my stride with the kite today but I felt like I was learning a lot and it was great to be out there on such a beautiful day. I could feel myself taking a good deep recharge. My feet are too big- One thing I learned is that I should get a screwdriver and adjust my straps to fit brand new Winter booties before I put my kite up. And I learned what it's like to kite with my toes jammed into the unadjusted straps and my heels hanging on the edge of the board. It's really hard to edge that way, especially on my smaller board, not to mention how sore my toes are now. Windsurfing really has kiting beat on the footstrap adjusting score. Learning by not trying- I also learned that the best way to self land without crashing the kite is to do it by mistake. Every time I try this move I crash the kite and make a mess of everything. Today I snuck up on it. I had the kite low on the edge of the wind window as I walked it in. When a healthy lull hit, my kite fell out of the sky, landing on its leading edge. To my amazement, all I had to do was pull on my outer line to spin the kite into a perfect parked position, no crashes, no birds nest of lines. Of course, I acted like I had meant to drop the kite on that exact spot. I felt like a pro. Windsurfing when you least expect it- The wind died, shifted and came back stronger than before. So I had a bonus session of windsurfing at West Dennis on my way home. This wasn't in the forecast, which made it even sweeter. I was really powered up, so fun. Kiteboarded, First Encounter, 8-22, WSW, W, 12M kite/ 132 & 152 ply boards, Des, Dave, Katherine, Lisa. Windsurfed, West Dennis, 15-29, WSW, 5.2/ RealWind 85, Hardy from New York, Dave, others. Picture- Dave at First Encounter.

Side-lined by Swine Flu

Barbara has it not me. Still, it doesn't look like fun, very high fever that is hard to bring down. For anyone thinking about getting it this season, I recommend against it. I heard from the usual crowd that it was a pretty good weekend on the water, sunny, warm, some wind both days. Igor got his first moves with a kite, thanks to Frank's help. Go Igor! I was there in spirit. Here's a picture of Soccer Ben. He finished his season with a bang. He scored 7 goals in his last 2 games. That gives him bragging rights! If he ever brings that energy to kiting or windsurfing he'd have the potential to be a lot better than me. I'm not sure that would be a good thing...

Wakeboarding- Fun with Face Plants

Paul with boat, looks like a spy or action movie hero First time wake boarding- Masskiters Paul & Holly needed a spotter and I needed some planing time after my skunky yesterday. What a blast! I got up on my first try with my right leg forward, (ego up), but I couldn't get up at all with left leg forward (ego down). This seems like a great way to experiment with board control and balance and have some excitement on a glassy day. I especially liked the feeling of putting more weight on my front leg to rest my rear leg. After this I should have no problem landing arial transitions and loops on a kiteboard. Fun with Face plants- I have a special talent for dramatic kiteboarding face plants or so I'm told. But I didn't really know what a face plant could be until I caught an edge wakeboarding. I don't know if it was because my feet were glued to the board with bindings or because of the low angle of pull from the boat but these falls packed a punch. It was great fun though. I'd go back out in a heartbeat if the chance came up. Thanks Paul & Holly!

Windsurfing- 3 Strikes and You're Out

Scott- underpowered at Nahant The forecast was for winds up to 40 MPH, widespread, blowing all day & thru the night, dropping off on Sunday morning. Too much wind for me to kite! This was going to be a windsurfing day. Strike 1, Nahant-Scott and I got there around 8:30 AM. I did 2 runs. It was side-on, NE, head high waves, very dirty wind on the inside, underpowered on my 5.2, waves breaking way out made it hard to get past the whitewater, much stronger wind near the outside break but exhausting to get there. I had no strength left to get over those last few waves. Neither Scott nor I made it all the way out. Strike 2, Revere- Straight side shore wind, small but fun waves, nice. I did 3 runs. My first 2 were good. I was just getting settled into the conditions when the wind switched off. I landed way down wind and walked back (thanks for the help carrying my board, Frank). Strike 3, Duxbury- The IWindsurf meter said Dux was still blowing 20-30. So I gave up on those nice little waves at Revere and drove south. No wind. There were still 2 kiters flying their kites when I got there but the wind was disappearing fast. My total runs for the day? 5. Don't shoot the messenger? It's too bad that the IWindsurf site crashed in the AM. I waited until 7:00 before leaving the house so I could check the morning update but the whole site crashed at that time so I had to rely on the previous nights forecast. Later I found out that the morning update accurately predicted the wind to drop off during the morning, especially in Boston. What good is it if no one can see it? Busted Drysuit- I sent it back for new knees. Barbara suggested I try her full baggy drysuit for a temporary replacement. It fit! Bottom Picture- unknown kiter playing in the waves at Revere.

Drysuit Blowout

I blew the knee out of my drysuit today at Hardings Beach. I just bent my leg and it split. Man that water was cold! My knee went numb almost instantly. It felt like someone hit it with something hard and cold but it was just the water. The bottom half of my suit is neoprene, tight fitting, so water didn't migrate in very far, allowing me to keep kiting, frozen knee and all. First time Self launching- I used a sign post at Hardings, put a rope and caribiner around it, hooked my chicken loop in and it worked great! Then I did it again at West Dennis pond after launching Scott. I used a metal pole and flew the kite out over the water, still worked great. First time landing a buddy while flying my kite-Scott's kite was leading edge down in the water at the shoreline. I just grabbed the LE and twisted it into the wind and held it until he ran down to it. After he had his kite secure, he landed me. Hardings Notes- in SW at low tide had lots of little breaking chop waves even though it was mostly waist deep or less where I was kiting- out near the inlet to Stage Harbor. Pretty challenging for my kiting level but I felt like I was learning a lot. There were more waves than in W. West Dennis Pond Side Notes- Mid tide in WSW winds worked great for Scott and me. It was mostly waist deep everywhere. Only room for a couple of kiters though. Hardings Beach, Kited, SW 14-21, 12M/ 152 ply board, Des, Jerry E, others. West Dennis, Kited, WSW, 11-18, 12M/ 152 ply board, Scott.

Patron Saints of Kiting

Windsurfing and kiting seem to bring out the best in some people. And some people's best puts the rest of us to shame. I'm not talking about being the best showman on the beach here. I'm talking about being friendly and helpful to others in need. I'm thinking of 2 people in particular. You know who you are. One of whom saved my butt again today by bodydragging about 1/4 mile out to my lost board and bringing it back in. Then he let me take a turn on his 9M because the reason I lost my board in the first place was that there was too much wind for my 12M to stay down here near the earth's surface. Saint #2- Then there's the friend that got me kiting to begin with by telling me I didn't need a lot of $ to get started and proved it by pointing out an unbelievable deal on a used kite. She has also been known to save my butt multiple times when kiting together. Both of these enthusiasts have given me endless tips and encouragement. Don't try to deny these charges. How do these people get this way? Is there something in their genes that is triggered by watersports? Or are these generous qualities always present in these individuals? Nature or nurture? Will all windsurfers and kiters eventually become like them if we do it long enough? I vote for them to be presidents of the world. The world would simply be a happier place. Imagine a world where everyone helps out everyone, (and no beach access problems). Waquiot Bay, Kited, S, 15-25, 12M & 9M/ 152 ply board, Frank, Andre, others. Windsurfed, S 18-33, 4.2/ RW85, Sandie, others.

Picture- Frank coming in for a landing.

Why they call it The Cut

2 Kiters playing in the bathtub at The Cut, no sharks in there Because of the Great White sharks. fortunately, it seemed like they were eating their seal dinners somewhere else today. I didn't see too many fins anyway (none). I counted my toes before the session and after, and the number was the same. So I think I didn't lose any. The Cut, Windsurfed, 15-25, S, 5.2/RW 85 & Acid94, with Gerry, Scott, Leif, Simon from Quebec, Des beach visit, others.

Autumn in New England

Autumn in New England brings pastel painted leaves, halloween pumpkins, apple pie, and nor'easters. These are all beautiful things. Everyone was getting closed out at Naragansett Naragansett Notes- NNE was only slightly side off at the S end of the beach but it was enough to keep the wind very light in the waves. The swell was about shoulder high but apparently the previous day's surf had washed out the sand bars making for closeout waves (this happens a lot here, so they say). Poor wind quality, poor wave quality, not what we had hoped for. It was still fun to sail with Gerry and Jeff and to try something new... After we packed up, it was too windy to go straight home. I made a detour to P Bay. Naragansett Beach, Windsurfed, NNE, 10-25, 5.7/Carve123, Jeff B, Gerry S. Pleasure Bay/ Boston Harbor- The wind wasn't big enough to have fun in the bay so I did a few runs then carried my rig across the causeway, near the pavillion and tidal outlet, and gave the harbor a try. I felt some satisfaction that I negotiated the rocky climb on the causeway without slipping and cracking my skull or board. The wind was a little better in the harbor but still not enough to plane consistantly. I was getting out close to Thompson Island, a little upwind of it. The towering cargo ships and cruise ships were going in and out, blocking my wind. Very rude! I scampered back across the causeway and made the last few runs in P Bay as the sun was setting. Pleasure Bay & Boston Harbor, Windsurfed, NNE, 10-25, 5.7/Carve123, Dave, Martin.

Plywood Kiteboard Experiment # 2

I got 1 run on my new board on Saturday. It felt like it was spinning out a little but I wasn't sure. Stormchaser, 132 x 41 I had fun with the spray gun again but if the board doesn't work then it's just nicely painted junk. 1/2" rocker, a lot of flex, maybe too much This one was even cheaper than the first. The pads cost $5 for set, fins were $40 for set, screws, paint, epoxy didn't add up to much, straps were from a defunct windsurfing board, wood was 2 pieces of 1/4" birch scrap from making cabs in the shop.

First Encounter

First Encounter Beach- They say that this beach was named for the pilgrim's first encounter with kiteboarders. That's what they say! There were plenty of kites here today but not enough to feel crowded. Good Company- It was great to kite with Des and Luke. Thanks Des for showing me the spot and rescuing my board, twice! Lucky timing- I switched to windsurfing just before the wind cranked up. There was a wind jump from 20 to 35 in a couple of minutes. I'm glad that I wasn't out kiting with 12 meters then. High tide, strong wind, windsurfer = nice floaty jumps. Beach notes- Mid tide; the launch is flat water, kiting over sandbars, very user friendly. Low tide; the same but can have a 1 mile walk to water. High tide; (2 hours before and after), beach gets small, water gets choppy and deeper, if the wind is really strong it gets very jumpable chop, fun for windsurfing. First Encounter, Kitesurfed, 10-20, NW, Mid Tide, 12M Kite, 152 & 132 Ply Boards, Des, Luke, Lisa, Dave, others. First Encounter, Windsurfed, 20-35, NW, high Tide, 4.2/RW85, Solo.

Skunks at Scarborough

Same old story. It was howling when I arrived at Scarborough Beach, it died while I was rigging. at least I was skunked in R.I. for a change. After not windsurfing, I visited my mother in Conn. She had her hip replaced 1 week go and is doing great. Go Mom! Picture- Scarborough had the waves, no wind.

Surfing Fool

I wanted to stay local because I didn't have much time to sail. Besides the local forecast for wind looked good for a change. Fooled again. Nantasket surf scene I crashed the surf scene at Nantasket. There were the usual stifled laughs and inquiries about my kooky looking board, footstraps and all. I said that it was a tow-in surboard that I bought from some guy named Laird Hamilton in Maui. Nobody seemed very impressed. Nantasket, Surfed, Carve123, with others. After surfing and waiting for wind at Nantasket I hit Duxbury, pond side, for some wind that looked good on the meter, felt good in the parking lot, but was mostly a tease on the water. If I had more time I would have put up bigger equipment to get me thru the near-constant lulls. I had to get home and cleaned up for a Porcupine Tree concert with Josh and crew of teenagers. Duxbury, Windsurfed, SE 12-27, 5.2/RW85, solo.

2 Winds

Peter K Levitating at Corporation A windsurfing wind and a kiting wind. I sailed in waves, strong wind at Corp in the AM then kited in the mellow flats at Chapin during mid/low tide in the afternoon. It was a soul satisfying day!!! Almost a kitemare? So when I was walking my kite upwind, in knee deep water, another kiter, Dave, kited too close and crossed my kite. We both released to our safety lines, walked it in and untangled everything, no big deal in this case (light winds, shallow water, no kite spirals) but it definitely worried me. He was a newbie too, and very apologetic. I've been wondering, since I started kiting, what would happen if 2 kites crossed. Now I know. It's not pretty. In strong winds, or at the wrong location I'll bet it could be a lot more serious. Igor- It was great to see you! Your a human weather sock. When you start showing up at Chapin again it means the windy season is coming! Bring it on. Sagamore Bridge Repaving- The traffic was good leaving the Cape, until exit 2. Then it just stopped dead. It took 45 minutes to go the last few miles. I rummaged thru my lunch left overs, made some phone calls, and clipped my toenails while I was bumper to bumper. How often can you clip your toenails while you're driving on the highway?! The repaving is supposed to continue around the clock for the Fall and Spring. Corporation, Windsurfed, NW 13-30, 4.2, 5.2/ RW85, with Scott, Jerry E, Jerry C (Field Pub, Cambridge), Jamie, Jeff, others. Chapin, kitsurfed, NNW, N, 7-17, 12 M Kite, 152 Ply board, with Frank, Sandie, Igor, Dave, others.

AMC, Petra Kanz, and the Lighthouse Inn

The forecast for this weekend's AMC trip was bad. The trip was good. The clinic went well despite mostly rainy, mostly non-planing conditions, thanks to Petra's enthusiasm. This is the most important lesson from a windsurfing instructor- we're windsurfers. We make the most of what we get. Ben had a spontaneous urge to back flip It was a fun group. There were some new faces, some old faces, and some very old faces, (even older than mine), but most faces looked pretty happy. I think everyone had a good time. West Dennis in E wind- On the rainy Friday evening, I got down early enough to have almost 2 hours of windsurfing, practicing my very weak port tack jumps, in strong E winds before dark. The wind seemed almost dead side shore but there was a very noticable wind shadow near the beach, and the meter read low by about 5 MPH. West Dennis, Windsurfed, 15-28, E, 5.7/ RW 85, solo Who kites during a windsurfing clinic? Traitors. On Saturday mid day, I did a downwinder from the Lighthouse Inn to chair 9, using Petra's board. Petra gave me a ride back to the Inn. It helps when the windsurfing instructor is also a kitesurfing instructor. West Dennis, Kitesurfed, 12-17, ESE, 12 M kite, Petra's board, Peter Barbara gets on a plane in light winds with the help of a 10 HP motor Wakeboarding with only a 10 horsepower motor- Barbara & Ben came down on Saturday evening. On Sunday Ben trainer kited. The wind was pretty light. It was a good time to pull out a motor. Ben and I got planing on the Real Wind 85 liter board behind the boat. The trick for getting up was to do it when the boat was moving pretty slowly. Once up and cruising, it was stable enough to cross the wake side to side and play around. We got Petra up on the RW 85 board. This inspired Ben to get up on the kiteboard, with a little starting help from Petra. I tried to get up on the kiteboard but the boat didn't have the juice to pull me onto a plane. Petra got up. Barbara took some turns blasting the boat out to the rock island and driving for my wakeboard attempts. It was another classic, rainy, make-the-best, AMC West Dennis weekend trip.

Total Body Muscle Cramp

I windsurfed in the morning until my arms cramped up, then kited in the afternoon until my legs cramped up. It was perfection in muscle cramps. I didn't neglect any small part of my body. Chapin was a huge kiting/windsurfing party on the beach! This is only half. Windsurfing- I made the long walk out to the water to start but I was just 1 person in the parade of windsurfers and kiters crossing the sand bar. The windsurfing felt so nice, with the side shore wind and Chapin's small wind waves. I practiced going down the line a little and even tried a couple loop attempts. Kiting- From 2 hours after high tide to 4 hours after, Chapin was a giant bathtub, perfect for baby kiters! There was nothing around except shallow, flat water, and sand bars, very safe and easy. I was up and riding, and completed 1 slide turn without crashing or sinking! The new fins fixed the slipping out problem I was having with my cheapo ply board. This day was about as good as it gets! Windsurfed, NE, 15-23, Acid 94/5.7, with Chris, Sergey. Kited, ENE, 8-18, 12 kite/152 ply board, with Frank, Jamie & Robin, Sandie, Sammy.