Windsurfing or Kite?

I've been doing more kitesurfing than windsurfing these days.  A lot more. I think some of my ol windsurfing buddies are glad about it.  "Good to get rid of that bum"!  they think.  But I'm not gone yet.  I still have all my windsurfing gear.  It's waiting for the day when I get bored with this trendy new kiting stuff and start playing with sails again.

Why windsurf? Why kite? How to chose between the two?  I don't know.  I just do what feels good.

Here's my comparison list from someone who loves both sports.


Advantage Windsurfing

• Safer, no risk of being dragged, or lofted and carried by kite
• Safer, no risk of a kite line snapping on a big jump, or at a bad time
• Safer, easier to self rescue, board has flotation, no lines to worry about
• Can launch and land almost anywhere
• Gear is stronger, requires less upkeep, and is less temperamental
• Quicker and easier to rig the gear
• Some people just love the feeling of windsurfing

Advantage Kitesurfing

• Power, can plane and jump in 10-20 MPH, less skunks
• Range, Kite is tune-able on the fly, huge range in 1 kite
• Gear takes up less space in vehicle
• Easy to pack up gear, sling it over a shoulder and walk for miles
• Slightly less physically demanding, less forearm fatigue
• Kites can fly above dunes to get clean wind in bays, slicks, or big waves
• Angle of pull from kite can be directed upwards for more lift when needed
• Lift allows for big jumps without waves
• Lift makes it easier to get out through waves
• Lift allows for riding on very small, nimble boards
• Very small boards, very small fins, can go in very shallow water
• Lift makes complicated tricks and spins possible at an intermediate level
• It's fun to make your own boards, almost anything works, more or less
• Some people just love the feeling of kitesurfing 

Hardings- Felt good today. Nice Summer Day, turquiose water. Wind was up and down. I bunch of us got stranded on the flats for awhile but no worries.  The wind came back better than before. Kited most of the day, beautiful sunset.

Hardings, Kitesurfed, 5-20, SW, WSW, 14M Rally/Mako King & Flx138, with Frank, Sam, Andrey, Colleen, Nick, George, Des, Ron, Others.

Particle Theory Explained in Simple Terms

What are we made of?  What is our substance?  I've been involved in a project to try to determine this.  You might have heard about it in the news.  I think we've had a break through. The project involves smashing subatomic particles using a kite, kiteboard, the water, and my head.  The goal is to create a collision that mimics the Big Bang, the explosion that started the Universe, but on a smaller scale. I recently discovered a technique that makes the collisions more effective. Unhooked riding.  It accelerates the crashing of particles in both frequency and intensity.   Today, using unhooked riding, I believe that I made a completely new particle, the Kook Particle. This particle was created while smashing my head and kite into the water at high velocity at the same instant. It was a clarifying moment.   You'll probably be hearing a lot more about Particle Theory in the media, although it may not be explained in such simple, clear terms as I have tried to do here.  Here are some tips, to me, for the next time I unhook and smash some atoms to see what I'm made of. (If there is a next time). Unhooked Riding Prep- Depower the kite a little.  Switch leash to suicide mode. Down wind- Always ride a little down wind when unhooked to reduce power. Kite at 45- Overhead unhooked can mess you up. Oh Shit- If you have one of these moments let go of the bar and grab the chicken loop. Crash- This is what the experiment is all about. Why else would anybody kite unhooked? Hardings, Kitesurfed, SW, 11-22, Rally14M/ Mako150, with Sam, Josiah, John, Johnny D, Dillon, How-U-Doin, Amy, Others. Thanks to Sam for tips and inspiration on unhooked riding. Thanks to Josiah for the harness loan when mine broke into smaller particles.

Bread and Tall Ships

Man cannot live on kitesurfing alone. He also needs to view the Tall Ships in Boston. That's what Barbara and I did yesterday. I was good. I didn't think about kiting once. Even though it was windy. Very windy. The majesty of the graceful ships was enough to keep my mind from wandering. The thing I liked most about the ships was that each square rigged sail looked a little bit like a kite tied onto the boom. But I didn't think about kiting once. Dog Beach- I got out at Dog to fly my square rigged kite today. Dog was it's usual gusty, shifty self, maybe a little more so. During the lulls we all lounged in the shallows,(except for Flysurfer Chris), kites drifting sleepily, like wind up toys that had run down. Then we came alive when the wind switched on, jumping, hooting, and hollering like a 16 year old who had just got his learners permit. It was pretty fun! Sweet 16- Happy birthday Ben and congrats on getting your learner's permit! Everyone is advised to stay off the roads in Newton for awhile. Dog Beach, Kitesurfed, W, WNW, W, WSW, SW, 10-23, 14M Rally/ FLX 138, with Stoke, Chris, Frank, Mike, Ytzen, Others.

Allow Kiteboarding

I spent a few minutes, this morning, hanging out at the First Encounter Beach demonstration. I was trying to look like a respectable citizen and not the degenerate beach bum that I am at heart. Keeping Cape beaches open to kiting is a good cause.  I'm just not sure whether my presence advanced it or set it back. The wind rewarded me in the afternoon for my brief stint as sidewalk protester. I probably didn't deserved it but it made me happy. Kitesurfed, Buzzards Bay, SW, SSW, S, 12M Varial/Flx 138, with Brad, Patrick, Murphy, Tom, Chuck. Video by Dunoyer

Teaser's Day

Revere- Light, teaser winds for Father's Day. Stupid me.  I forgot to bring my Mad Cow.  The wind was O.K. for those with the right gear, (only Frank & Chris).  My right gear was sitting at home on a rack.  It's tough getting old and senile.   Kitesurfed, Revere, E, ESE, patchy 6-16, 14M Rally/Mako King & 6' Surfboard, with Igor, Frank, Andre, Colleen, Mike, Stoke, Chris, Kristof, Fred, Dillon, others.  Picture- Frank, lines, no whitecaps.  Click on pic to see full size

Newburyport Harbor

I found wind today! Gusty, shifty wind, in Newburyport Harbor, but good enough for a fix.  Gusts to low 20's.   I expected nothing, launched my 17M, wished I had pumped my 14M.  That's just one of coy wind's many charms.  She loves to keep us guessing. Newburyport Harbor- 2 hours before low tide to 1 hour after. Lots of mud flats and sand bars to kite around, over and into. I was mostly in waist to ankle deep water. An occasional low rock hiding here and there. No dreamy slicks but a few flat water spots at low tide. Strong current in channels. Parking- Dirt parking lot on north end of Plum Island sound side, $5, nice smelly bathrooms, no walk, sandy beach big enough for self landing and launching at mid to low tide.  Plum Island- Newburyport Harbor, Kitesurfed, WNW, NW, 6-23, 17M Zephyr/Mako King, Solo.

Kiting Egypt

Brad and I tried Egypt Beach in Scituate for some clean wind and waviness in a NW wind.  The beach is open to out of towners.  The parking lot is not.  Even on a wild, stormy, ugly day.  "We ticket 365 days a year", the very nice police officer said. We parked elsewhere and walked in. It was a wild, stormy, beautiful day. I love days like this!  It just feels like something exciting is going to happen.  And it did. I've got the tired muscles to prove it. Egypt Beach- A high crest of fist size rocks and pebbles with a sand and gravel beach below that disappears at high tide. Mid to low tide has best waves and launch conditions. A somewhat intimidating looking spot but nice wind and waves, (which is very elusive in NW around Boston). 2 surfers were out but there was plenty of room for all. Pictures- Brad shows how it's done. Kitesurfed, Egypt Beach, NNW, 17-33, 10M Rally/ Mako 150, with Brad.

I took out the Trash

I took out the trash and recycling, grocery shopped, got gas, deposited checks, kitesurfed on The Cape for 2 hours, took Ben to his math tutor, mowed the lawn, packed, and made it onto a 4:20 bus to New York with Ben. What's that saying?  If you have something you want to get done, give it to a busy person? Or a kitesurfer. Kitesurfed, Waq Bay, SW, 8-22, 17M Zephyr/FLX 138.

Love that Dirty Water

O.K. there was a crowd at Yirrell Beach this time! I guess everyone wants to boost their immune system by drinking the sewer water.  Maybe Deer Island could become a health spa. I know my immune system felt really, really good after this session. Yirrell Beach, Kitesurfed, E, 15-21, 14M Rally/ FLX138, with Kristof, Fred, Frank, Crazy Paul, Jean, Andrew, Shane, Others.  Picture- Kristof kiting, Deer Island in background.   Saturday- did some trash picking at the Pleasure Bay beach cleanup, lunched at Local 149 with Masskiting crew, hung out on Ytzen's unbelievable roof deck in Southie, got skunked at Yirrell with Frank, biked 20 miles with Barbara, nice day!

Dear Island

This was the first weekday afternoon in 2 weeks that I could even think about taking a few seconds off from work to fly a kite, and it was windy in Boston!  I couldn't believe it. I guess no one else could either 'cause I had Yirrell Beach to myself, just me and the Deer Island Waste treatment facility.  Hey, there's nothing wrong with kiting in the shadow of Boston's biggest sewage plant.  The water tastes fine. I drank plenty of it on my botched 720 attempts.  There were no solids floating around that I could detect. Besides, don't they say that a little E. coli exposure makes the immune system stronger? Look at Crazy Paul.  He lives and kites in Winthrop and he's as healthy as any crazy person I know. And I know a lot of crazy people.  Probably anyone reading this blog for instance. (Sorry mom, not referring to you). Yirrell Beach, Kitesurfed, ESE, 11-21, 14M Rally/ FLX 138, Solo. Picture- Deer Island Egg Carton, image from the web.

Joker

Yeah, it was a little hard to get back to real life after my Hatt trip. That nice relaxed, having fun feeling? It didn't last long. I tried to get a taste of it back today. W Dennis was choppy and gusty but I had some, "Yeah Baby", moments. A beautiful day with a good crew of jokers. Jermy in picture with admirer.     Kitesurfed, West Dennis, SW, WSW, 9-29, 10M Rally/Flx 138, with Frank, Andre, Colleen, Gregor, Jermy, Johhny D, Philip, Phil, Skyrocket, Others.

Hatt Notes

It was a great week of playing in the sandbox!! I kited 6 out of 7 days, surfed once, SUP'd twice. Last Day- Frank and I got out surfing in the morning, we all kited in the afternoon at Mile Marker 46. Superb finish to the week. If I come here again- -My back was sore for most of the week from the drive down. Don't be a     hero. Take Advil during the drive. -Try the downwinder from Kitty Hawk kites to The New Inlet. -Or try launching from New Inlet to look for slicks. Watch out for Power lines. -Alligator River Nat Refuge- rent a kayak here to paddle with alligators on a     no wind day. -Bring surfboard and SUP, don't bother bringing boat. -Mile Marker 46 is closest access to Gull Island in SW, only go to island with a     group and a plan. It's waist deep about half way out then gradually gets     overhead for second half. Island is a bird sanctuary, stay off island in     Spring and Summer but sandbars and edges are fine. -Mile Marker 48 is closest access to Planet of the Apes. Can't walk out of the     marsh to the road but can walk along the shore in the event of a     breakdown. Not as risky as Gull Island. -Think about driving half way and kiting in Delaware or Maryland on first or last     day. Maybe camp overnight. Look at EastKB.com kite map for launches.

Lost in Space

I'm at Gull Island, 2 1/2 miles out from Hatteras, (launched from Mile Marker 46). I love it out here. Everywhere I look I see nothing but water, blue sky, beach grass, and every kind of seabird imaginable dive bombing me if I get too close. The paddle out takes 1 hour, paddling slow, with a light tail wind. As I'm paddling back I can see a very subtle darkening start to develop over Hatt. I wonder what it could be. From left to right the distant line of the coast, my destination, starts to blend into the sky. Fog. This is not good. I still have a long way to go. I paddle hard. When I'm at about the half way point the fog has come in so thick that I can only see several feet in any direction. I feel it when I breath. It's eerie, peaceful, beautiful. I pull out the camera for a pic. Twilight Zone "This is cool!", I think. "I'm an ancient mariner." I navigate by wind direction and chop. But I'm still paddling hard.  It's about 1 mile to land. The thinking side of my brain knows that the wind could die or shift and I would have no orientation. It will be dark soon. I don't want to sleep on my board out here overnight, no pillow. I check the water depth every few strokes to make sure it's still getting shallower. I finally see land emerging out of the grey. I make a guess that I need to go left to find my truck but eventually realize that I'm in The Planet of the Apes, oops. I get back to the truck as the light is almost completely gone, 2 hours after leaving Gull Island. The fog is a little thinner and I can see a nearly full moon.  It's a relief to be back! I didn't get my rest day, but I did squeeze some unexpected excitement out of a no-kite day. I had a trip into, The Twilight Zone.

C'mon Baby do the Back Roll

Wednesday- Chimi House. Back Rolls. Everybody's doing em, yeah, yeah. Frank's got em, Stoke's got em, Skipper's got em, Alex tried a few. Back rolls, yeah, yeah. Everybody's doing em. SW, 14-23, Flx 138/14M Rally.

As Good as it Gets

Tuesday-I've decided to stop kitesurfing because it's never going to get better than today. It's all downhill from here.

Downwinder from Chimis to Gull Island- 2 1/2 miles out into the sound. Very secluded and wild spot, beautiful, and So fun until Skippers kite springs a leak. Kites like to wait for the very best time to do that. The brave Skipper is undaunted. After some productive swearing and kicking of sand we leave the island in a hurry.

Skipper's the first back to Hatteras. He stops at Marker 46 turnout, borrows a pump, pumps up his leaking kite and we're on our way. He does it again at Marker 48. Then on to Planet of the Apes. Nice try leaking kite. Skipper wins.

Planet of the Apes- We're all having a blast weaving our way thru the maze of channels and slicks. I zip down one long channel, about 10 ft wide, straight downwind, not knowing if it's a dead end. I get lucky. At the end it turns and rejoins the sound. Walter waits to see if I make it out before he does it. He has good common sense.

The slick in No Ache Bay is perfect, coulda stayed there all day. I can brush my hand along No Ache Island as I fly by in glassy water. I get my best crashes in there! It's a little shallow when I crash but so soft and slimy that it cushions the landing, nice. We pull out at the Salvo Day Use area. Roughly 12 miles, about 4 hours.

Oceanside Downwinder from The Shipwreck Museum to Jean's House- The wind is dropping but it's still fun playing in the waves with my 10 meter kite. Roughly 4 to 5 miles, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Get back to our house in time for hot tub and a 9:00 PM dinner, typical.

14M Rally & 10M Rally/Mako 150, SSW, 14-26, with Stoke, Skipper, Walter.