The Best Way to Blow a Jump

What a great session at Hardings! This was one of those days when the kite and board felt perfect for the conditions. I didn't want to stop. I landed my first jump to toeside! It was a complete mistake. I messed up a jump. The board spun around in the air and I thought that I was going to eat it but I landed on my toeside, fully powered up, and kited on, as smooth as butter. I quickly looked around to see if any of my friends had seen it. Of course not. Hardings Beach, Kitesurfed, WSW, 20-30, 18-23, 10M kite/Surf 148, with Jean, Frank, Jamie, Andre, Colleen, Ron, others.

Sunrise, Sunset

Sunrise- Only a mad cow could love a morning like this. I got a quick sunrise session in at Mayflower and made it back for a fantastic breakfast with the AMC crew at the Lighthouse Inn. I knew the wind was light but I was surprised to check the meter later and find it was a steady 6-12 when I was out. This is a new low for me. Sunset- This is the 30th anniversary trip and celebration for the AMC windsurfing group. After dinner, Jan ran a fun slide show from some of the first AMC trips, Lake Tarlton & Pt Judith, circa 1986. Those were the trips where Barbara and I met. It's hard to believe that we were ever that young and that the equipment was ever that primitive- floppy triangle sails with no battens, tie on booms that were longer than a bus, boards that were so big they required a group of people to lift off the roof rack and carry to the water. But the pics of Barbara and me in our youth really pulled my heartstrings. Those were the good ol' days! Windy wishes to all who have been involved with the AMC group over the years and special thanks to leaders and shakers! Petra, we will miss you up here. Mayflower, Kitesurfed, NE, 6-12, 15 M Flysurfer/Mad Cow, Solo. Picture- Ben and Barbara dress up our cottage at the Lighthouse Inn.

Imaginary White Caps

I see white caps when nobody else can. It's a special talent that I have, like x-ray vision. Frank's Slingshot- There really were white caps when I borrowed Frank's new Slingshot Octane 13 and his Door64. They were tiny but they were there. I loooved this set up for light winds! The kite felt so stable and predictable, beautiful! The board floats forever thru the lulls but I did notice that it was tiring in the chop, a lot back foot pressure needed since it has no rocker, (like my ply boards), and I got some face spray from water off my front foot. I think this was the low end of this rig. It was getting hard to fly it thru the 10MPH lulls. Mad Cow- The wind got too light for anyone in their right mind to launch, so I did. There were occasional mini white caps. I saw them so they were there. I got a short session in before I dropped my Flysurfer in a lull and made a mess. Again this seemed like the low end of my rig/board combo. The Mad Cow was so floaty I could have no power in the kite and still be standing. I had no face spray problems and I could put weight on both of my feet. I'm starting to like this crazy board. Picture- Look at all those white caps! Revere, Kitesurfed, ENE, 10-17, Slingshot Octane 13M/ Door 64, then ENE, 8-15, 15M Flysurfer/Mad Cow with Frank, Paul, Flo, Colleen, Others.

Windsurfing & Kiting with Baby Elephants

It was as windy and gusty as snot today! The bumps in the deep water were as big as baby elephants. I started on my smallest kite gear but I was feeling a little freaked out by the gusts so I eventually switched to my smallest windsurfing gear. After a lot of fine tuning of my ancient 3.5 sail I finally got comfortable out there. Then I couldn't stop. I went until the light ran out, a good day of punishment for my aching body. Kiting on Light, unknown kiter Kiteboard rescue- While I was windsurfing, I located and towed back a lost kiteboard for a fellow kitemeister. I found that towing with a long rope didn't work because the kiteboard would submarine and stop me like I had hit the emergency brake. A short tow rope worked best. The boards owner had drifted far downwind, past the windsurfing area. He was extemely appreciative to get his baby back! To the tune of a couple of cold beers. This was just my puny effort to try to improve relations between the diverging cults of windsurfing and kitesurfing. Kitesurfed, WSW, 22-38, 7M kite/Surf 138, With Frank, Flo, Sam, Andrey, Colleen, Paul, others. Windsurfed, WSW, 22-38, 3.5 sail/RW 85, With Sandie, others.

The gusts you can see are better than the ones you can't

Everyone was complaining about the wind being gusty at W Dennis today. I learned to kite at Waq Bay. I expect it to be gusty. If it's rock steady I get nervous, like maybe Mother Nature is trying to trick me. I was loving it out there today! W Dennis, Kitesurfed, WSW, 15-25, 12 M Kite/ Slingshot Surf & 132 Ply board, Johnny M, Others.

Picture- The walk to kite point is shorter now that Plover season is done.

Surf Replay

No wind again, surfed again. The waves were a little smaller today. I wasn't getting the adreneline rush. Still, it was the best place to be during a Boston boiler heat wave. Nahant, Surfed, Acid94, others.