Kite Practice #4- My first Jump

I'm starting to get up on the board more. It turns out that waterstarts aren't really that hard. It's stopping and changing direction that's hard. I was doing very short runs to stay in the shallows, except when I didn't. Sometimes I would hit the brakes and the board would keep on cruising. I guess I was supposed to edge the board upwind to slow down but sometimes I edged the board downwind and accelerated instead, at just the wrong moment.

My first Jump- I was coming into the beach a little too quickly, (see edging above), so instead of sending the kite the opposite way slowly and smoothly, I sent it fast. I didn't hit the beach. I went up in the air. It was a really nice feeling, being pulled right up off the water and redirected just where I wanted to go, away from the beach. It felt great until I crashed. The peanut gallery on the beach shouted and hollered and had a good laugh! It was pretty encouraging. Of course, I wasn't really in danger of hitting the beach. I just thought I was and overreacted.

What worries me a little- I was feeling a lot of pull and lift in the kite when I was walking it back upwind. Maybe I should pull in the power strap for the walk? The deep water relaunches are still slow, and I was getting dragged down wind pretty fast while I was trying to get the kite to break free of the water and go up on it's edge.

Signs of progress- Besides getting some nice, but very short, rides, I did the upwind bodydrag twice when I lost the board in deep water. Both times, I was barely going upwind but I made it back to the board just as Frank was finishing his swim out to rescue it. Thanks Frank! I thought I lost your board on the last one. Also, Frank taught me to bodydrag with a board, good move to know.

Photo- The newbie kite scene at Waq Bay, the upwind beach.

Waquiot Bay, Bodydragged, Kitesurfed, SW, 10-18, 12M Kite, Door 64, with Frank, others

Kite Practise #3- Death Spirals and Face Plants

Nomadic kitesurfers on the move at the end of the day First time on a board- Yeah, I went over the handlebars. I also did some spectacular kite loop crashes, death spirals Frank called them. It didn't hurt. But I did notice that the nice bay water was draining out of my sinuses endlessly and the Bay seemed to be getting shallower from all the water that I drank. I got vertical on the board a few times, for all of 30 seconds! That was a thrill! Thanks again to Frank for loaning me his board and giving me critical instruction, "bend the knees!!!" What seemed to help the most, besides bent knees, was focusing only on the kite and telling myself over and over, "don't pull in the bar, don't pull in the bar". What worries me a little- My upwind body drag sometimes has the same result as my down wind body drag. Water relaunches are still mysterious- sometimes quick & easy, sometimes not. Everyone who said that they are easier in deep water should go straight to jail do not pass go. A few times I blew across half the Bay before getting the kite up. I saw this as an opportunity to practise self rescue. Sign of progress- I noticed by the end of the day that I was mostly flying the kite 1 handed, which is a sign of progress, or a sign that I was too tired to use both arms. Waquiot Bay, Bodydragged, Kitesurfed, S, SW, 10-15, 12M Kite, Door 64, with Frank, Scott, others

2 Mishaps in 1 Day

Gerry taste testing my Real Wind 85 Sunny, 80 temp, and super windy all day. This is the stuff dreams are made of! I can't believe that days like this really happen in New England. I was there and I still don't believe it. Windsurfing mishap- Gerry and I stopped to help a fellow windsurfer who was down on his luck. His mast base had separated from his board while he was sailing. It was a star base and I'm sure it got loose, slid back and came out of the opening to the mast track, which was in the back of the track. It was really hard to get that bugger back in while bobbing around in the water. This has happened to me too but I haven't had the problem since I started using 2 bolt bases. We got it reconnected eventually and no one was any worse for wear. The unfortunate windsurfer was very appreciative. Kiting mishap- I saw my first kiting mishap and I wasn't even kiting. I met Jason, a kiter who was waiting for his no-show slacker friends. I offered to sail up to kite beach and help him launch his kite. He walked his gear up. When I got there, I realized that there were plenty of other kiters to help Jason. He offered to let me try bodydragging with his 11M kite but a voice of reason, which is sometimes almost silent in my head, spoke out loud and clear. "Thanks but I think it's too windy for me." As I was about to head back out on the water I heard a shout. I looked up to see someone standing in the middle of some kite lines, helping to land a kite that was barely in control. As I watched, the kite blew out of his grip. The lines were taught, the guy was trapped, and I knew that if the kite took off this guy could be sliced and diced. I thought to myself, "that is a position that I really don't want to be in". Fortunately, Phil of Inland Sea grabbed the kite along with Jason and averted a disaster. Lesson learned. Windsurfed, West Dennis, WSW 15-30, 5.2/RW85, With Gerry, others, kiter Jason.

Kite Practice #2- Baby Kiters in Wack Bay

First time flying my new 12M kite- The wind was perfect for baby kiters, just enough of it to keep the kite in the sky, with active flying, but not enough to get into a lot of trouble. I practiced downwind bodydrags trying not to teabag, walking the kite back upwind, water relaunches, kite handling. I noticed that when the wind picked up the water relaunches were easy. First time at Waquiot Bay- A torturous dirt road going in probably keeps out everyone that doesn't really want to be there. The first tiny parking lot could be a good launch for beginner windsurfers, shallow, no walk to water, safe. The second tiny parking lot is a good launch for beginner kiters, very shallow, walk to water but who care this is kiting, great fiddler crabs. Gerry showed up to see what this kiting thing is all about. His comment after hearing a mini discourse on kite dynamics from Frank was, "it's a pretty complicated sport". I agree. I'm still trying to figure out exactly how the depower strap works. Thanks again to Frank for all his help. It's fun learning a new sport! Gerry tries my trainer kite, Don't get hooked! Waquiot Bay, Kite Practice, Bodydragged, SE, S, WSW, 5-12, with Gerry, Frank, Scott, Ludwig, others.

Kite Practice #1- How Do You Hold This thing?

Scott & Frank- ready, set, bodydrag! Kiteboarding gear is too small for my truck- I'm starting to accumulate some kiting gear and there's one thing that seems very strange about it. I can fit it all in the front seat of my truck. What's with that? I keep thinking where's my gear? It's not a real watersport if I don't need racks, a van, or a truck. It's hard to adapt to something new. Kite Practice #1- Scott and I had an informal kiting lesson from Frank today. He set up his 9M Waroo and risked his well being, and his kite, to spend all afternoon coaching us. I can't thank him enough! This was my first time using a real kite. It was a little scary at first. We were on dry land and the wind was pretty gusty, very slightly side off. We just practiced keeping the kite at the side of the wind window and bringing it up very slowly, just a little off the ground, then back down. When we got wet I felt less tense. We could be much more aggressive with the kite in the water. Bodydragging was a kick and I just wanted more power! I can tell that it takes a lot of time-on-the-water to learn. My muscles have a lot of memorizing to do. Just handling and carrying the kite made me feel like a klutz. It was a fun session, a great way to squeeze as much excitement as possible out of mostly light winds! Revere Beach Notes; Kiting is done on the north end of the beach at the last bath house. Revere Beach, Kite Practise, Bodydragged, N, NNW, NNE, 5-20, 9M Waroo, With Scott & Frank

Making the Cut

Gerry S and I sailed out from Scatteree/ Pleasant Bay for an afternoon session, chasing each others wakes in the smooth water behind North Beach. It was big sails and hi speed blasting to boost our egos. It was great. After Gerry left, the wind picked up a little. I went down to a 4.2, ditched my glasses (too rainy to see with them on), and did some exploring. The exploring happened mostly because I couldn't really see where I was going without my glasses. I found myself standing on a small strip of beach separating me from some nice looking waves on the ocean side near the new cut (not that I could really see anything). It was almost a mile from where I had launched and it was completely isolated out there, just sand, seagulls and waves. I knew that I shouldn't go to the ocean side that far out, by myself, but it was such a small strip of sand to walk across. It would only take about 30 seconds. How could I resist that? Ever since the new cut opened up I'd wanted to sail there. I told myself that I would just do a few runs to test the spot. After all, the tide had just changed and was now flowing in, or it was supposed to soon, I wasn't sure. I was little cautious but the sailing was fantastic. I stayed just inside the outer bar, where the waves and shorebreak were smaller, except for once when I went too far and took a tumble in the shorebreak out on the edge of the crescent shaped area that I was in. I had a thrill from seals swimming under my board and jumping out of the water right in front of me. When I first saw their dark shapes in the water I thought that they might be sharks and it really improved my focus. I got one of my best quick waterstarts ever. I didn't stay out there for as long as I would have liked. I sailed upwind, avoiding the outer bar, and eventually cleared the last spit of sand, let out a whoop, and went back into the bay through the new cut. It was getting close to sunset by the time I made the last speed runs down wind back to the launch at Scatteree. It was a great Nor'Easta session in the Summer! Boston Globe photo in the paper a few days later P.S. It turns out that the remaining camps on Nauset Beach were washed out by the NE storm while I was sailing there, or shortly thereafter. These houses are right on the new cut, where I was sailing, but it was too misty/drizzly for me to see them, (and I didn't have my glasses on). Scatteree, Windsurfed, 15-30, NNE, NE, 5.7 & 4.2/ RealWind 85, with Gerry S.

Going to the Dark Side

Nahant, sunset session, kite landboarded Why am I learning kiting? I want more power in light winds. I'm sick of schlogging on my biggest sail while kiters breeze by me, lofting big air, big smiles on the their big faces. I want some of that! No, I'm not going to the dark side. I'm just visiting. No way I'm giving up windsurfing in strong winds. First impression of kite landboarding- It's harder than I expected to balance without a sail in my fists/ Fun/ Am I nuts?!/ Shin guards would be nice/ I wish my board had a brake!/ My harness is useless cause I'm not even thinking about hooking in while I'm on the board/ I need more wind to keep my kite up/ I'm glad my board doesn't have straps/ Hey, I haven't fallen once without landing on my feet!/ I could get completely pulverized in strong winds. Nahant is only a 35 minute drive without traffic! Nahant, Kite Landboarded, ENE, E, 6-12, 3.6 trainer kite, solo.

Crazy Like a Windsurfer

The morning forecast called for 15 to 20 MPH with higher gusts, dropping off by noon. I set my alarm for 5:30 AM. My family said that I was crazy to get up that early on a Saturday morning.

When I got to the beach the white caps were small, tiny really. Nobody else was there. Maybe it was windier than it looked, I thought. I rigged big and got 2 or 3 planing runs before the wind dropped. I stayed and worked on non-planing freestyle and used the trainer kite, just like last weekend, and the one before. I left feeling unsatisfied.

My family said that this confirmed their belief that I'm nuts. I got up at 5:30 for 2 or 3 planing runs. They're right. It doesn't make any sense... I should have set my alarm clock 2 hours earlier.

Plymouth, Windsurfed, Trainer Kited, NE, 10-20, 6.2/Carve123, solo.

Camp Petra Highlights

20 enthusiastic campers attended the Petra Kanz clinic/ AMC trip. Sat was a perfect day for it, sunny, warm, light winds building to planing conditions then dropping. Sun was light winds, dry land Q & A, SUP demos. It was great to see Petra, and the AMC crowd. What I learned; Short board tacks- switch sides early, (before going thru the wind), throw the sail towards the nose of the board, then push out with back hand, if I need to I can sail backside briefly to bring the board thru the wind. Fin first- It's fun to tack, fin first to fin first, but you gotta be quick on the switch. This I could do, sometimes. Good workout- Light wind freestyle is just as tiring as sailing in planing conditions! Ben had a lot of fun with the trainer kite. He loved jumping up on the beach and trying to get a little hang time. We had a long session with it in 10 - 18 MPH wind. Barb and Ben both sailed briefly on Sat. They left early on Sunday to get Ben to a Little League game. I stopped at Fogland on the way home Sunday evening to catch a front as it went thru. The wind hit 23-38 for about 30 minutes then died. Ben was the master roaster of Marshmallows at the Sat night bootie roast!

Wind Gumbo

What luck! I stumbled upon an oasis of wind in what was shaping up to be a 3 day weekend of still air and glassy water. I got some solid planing conditions, some marginal planing conditions, some non-planing freestyle conditions, and trainer kite conditions, all mixed together like a gumbo. It wasn't pretty, or particularly impressive, but it turned out to be very satisfying. Mostly what made it special was the 2 hours before and after low tide. The inside at W Dennis was all buttery smooth knee to waist deep water. Conditions like that are just plain fun. There is no other way to say it. I seemed to have been at the beach for about 8 hours, not sure just how that happened. Tomorrow I will enjoy resting my creaky muscles while watching Ben play in 2 little league games. It will be a perfect rest day.

Photo- The winds up!, unknown guys.

West Dennis, Windsurfed, Trainer Kited, SW, WSW, W, 5-25, 6.2/ Carve 123 & Realwind 85

What Makes Me Tick

Windsurfing. It winds my clock. It's my stress therapy. Even a few hours in mild mannered conditions gives me tractor treads to roll over another week of unruly economys, unhappy teenagers, and fickle customers. It's my un-unhappiness pill. Duxbury, Windsurfed, WSW 10-20, 6.2/ Carve 123, Solo. Landboarded, WSW 8-15, 4.2/ Landboard.

Best Kept Secret in Windsurfing Clinics

Do you have a friend, spouse, or child who wants to learn to windsurf? Or you want them to? Check out this clinic with Petra Kanz, (ex ABK teacher), May 29-31, sponsored by the Appalachian Mountain Club Windsurfing Group- http://www.amcboston.org/windsurf/upcomingtrips.html It's a great deal for the cost, partially defrayed by the club. It's also good for those that are trying to get over the intermediate hump, nail their jibes, or just immerse themselves in windsurfing ambiance for the weekend. The trip is open to non AMC members too. The best part is that the weather is always perfect at Pt. Judith, the Carribean jewel of New England! Day 1 of the clinic, 2008, Ninigret Pond, the wind took a break for lunch.

Horseneck Heaven

Mother's Day. I wasn't really planning on sailing. But the forecast was sooo good. During the night the wind started howling through our open windows and woke us up. Barbara mumbled, "you should go windsurfing today". She didn't have to suggest it twice. I went to Horseneck during the afternoon because the drive is relatively short. I wanted to be back for a Mother's Day restaurant dinner. A lucky choice, it was my best wave session since last November at Deep Hole! I have a lovely wife. Seth, waiting for a break in the sets Horseneck Public- Beautiful side shore conditions for working on the down-the-line stuff. It was a little gusty because the wind was coming across the land upwind so I went about 1 meter bigger and 10 liters more than I thought I needed. It was perfect. I only schlogged in an occasional hole, had plenty of power to get out, and motored upwind easily so I could go downwind in the waves. When I felt overpowered on the outside, I just pointed higher into the wind. Waves were waist high, maybe chest high by the end. Great fun! Horseneck, Windsurfed, WNW, S Swell, Windy, 5.2/ Acid 94, with Juan, Seth, Larry.

Slaking My Thirst with a Surfboard

Well, not a real surfboard. I still don't own one of those. My 94 liter wave board got me out there. The waves were about waist high, smooth and glassy, perfect for a perpetual novice like me. 2 hours on the water left me tired and satisfied. Who says that you can't have fun without wind? Riding on Narragansett glass, unknown surfer Narragansett Notes- The wave size and quality decreased about 1 hour before high tide. Almost everybody left then. I'm guessing that this spot works best at low to mid tide. Narragansett, Surfed, Acid 94, 3 or 4 other surfers.

Video- Chris Eldridge Does Bonaire

This freestyle video inspires me and makes me feel clumsy at the same time. Thanks for sharing, Chris!

Bonaire 2009 from Chris Eldridge on Vimeo.