Dancing with Skiis

I traded in my dancing-with-kites for dancing-with-skis this weekend. Not that I'm very graceful at either. It's all about getting in the zone, tuning out the noise, and focusing on the big world that is outside the confining walls of my head. This is what makes my brain happy. The hot tub was pretty good too. Thanks to Al for the house, hospitality, and for not taking us down Aftershock. Sunday River, Skiied, with Barbara, Ben, Al, Brian, Mom on reading chair. Picture- Barbara dancing with the elements.

Rockin Wind

Yeah it was windy! The Chapin parking lot turned into a sand blaster, sand flowing over and around the dunes, rocking my truck. The best method of walking down the path to the beach was backwards, baby steps. Flo put up a 5.5 M kite, with someone hanging onto his harness for extra weight, for about 30 seconds. The meter read 53 MPH. Colleen is a human wind gauge When the wind died down to the 20 - 40 range we launched in the grassy marsh behind the beach. The extra high tide had covered the normally dry grass with knee to waist deep water for a few miles. Flo and I kited all the way over to the access road, behind Mayflower Beach, then eventually out to the ocean side for some waves, great fun! Another big Winter crowd, about 12 kiters. My Bularoo was leaking air and inverted during a jump at the end. It's always something. Chapin, Kitesurfed, NW, 20-42, 7M Bularoo/ Litewave 179, with Flo, Frank, Brad, Jermy, Johnny, Chris, others.

To Pee or not to Pee

I used to avoid drinking water when I had my drysuit on. Now I have a relief zipper. I can hydrate all I want. I'm so happy. I can pee all over the place, like a dog. Don't stand too close. Kiters don't like to tie their own shoelaces Sparkling W Dennis had about 15 slap happy kiters on the water today! It looked like a crowded Summer day, except for all the drysuits. W. Dennis, Kitesurfed, SSW, 10-15, Rally 14M/Litewave 179, then SSW, 14-23, Varial12M/Surf 148, with Igor, Frank, Sam, Andrey, Colleeen, Peter, Kristof, Rod, Johnny, Jeremy, Chris, Others, Air Temp 41 F.

A Few Kinks

I felt like I was all thumbs and toes this morning. I ripped a strap out of my board on my first waterstart. Better then that, I tried 4 boards, 2 kites, 2 beaches, but couldn't find the right gear at the right time. And none of my footstraps adjust big enough for my new size 12, 7MM booties so I could only jam my toes in the straps. On one fall my bootie toes were jammed in the straps so tight that I came out of both booties, they stayed on the board. It was pretty funny actually. I would have had a good laugh but all the fits and starts had put a kink in my brain. I think it's going to stay there until next weekend when I'll have another chance to get on the water and work it out. In the mean time all of my boards are going down to the workshop for footstrap work. Mayflower, Chapin, Kitesurfed, 4 boards, 2 kites, with Jean, Peter, Igor, Kristoff, Johnny, Jeremy, Alex & Franz from NY. Picture- Jean preparing for take off.