Camera Crazy or Just Crazy?

Slap me. I've been getting carried away with photography lately. Upgrading my lenses, taking photo classes, calculating mathematical angles to the sun at various times of day with adjustment for seasonal tilt. It's silly. I don't know why I'm doing this. It's distracting me from the really important stuff in life, like kiting. I never thought anything would distract me from kiting. Except perhaps death, or paralysis. Maybe just death. But don't worry. I know it'll pass. I'll wake up one day and be completely cured. I'll come to my senses. What little I have. In the meantime, try to face the camera when you do your inverted triple backroll handlepass kite loop. Just relax and smile. Like This! P Bay, Kitesurfed, SSW, S, 15-35, Rally 14 & North 10 (Thanks Kristof!), Flx138, With Kristof, Kirk, Johnny H, Alex, Mike, Dunoyer, Skyrocket, Others.

May the Best Crash Win

I get wet, have some crashes, have fun. Kristoff and Walter have a bake off for the best crash of the day award. I thought that I was a good crasher but my crashes are child's play compared to these guys. Kristoff's crashes show exemplary technical skill Walter has explosive form Walter wins the prize! He makes crashing look easy. Next time we have a Crash Off we're getting prize money, bleachers, and porta potties. Walter- I hope your neck is O.K. Hatch Beach, Kitesurfed, WNW, 18-32, 8RPM/Flx138, with Walter, Kristoff, Jeff, Peter, Frank, Andrey, Colleen, Chriz, Chris L, Kitermike, Flo, others.

Had This Been a Real Emergency

Ah, at last! A nice windy kiting session with no problems. No lost boards, leaky drysuits, gear break downs, Harbor Master rescues, Coast Guard helicopters, Navy Seal teams. No swimming. But it doesn't seem right. I feel like I'm missing something. So I go for a self inflicted swim, after my session. My plan is to float around in my drysuit, in winter water, to see how bad the hypothermia gets. I notice, after a 1/2 hour of swimming and floating, that it takes me about 1 minute to recall today's date, and my name. It usually takes me a little longer than that so I think I'm doing O.K. My hands, however, think differently. They make me get out of the water. They're getting hypothermic, in spite of 5mm lobster claws. They're all tingly and angry. The rest of me is pretty happy. This experiment is a big confidence booster for me! How long do I think I could have lasted if it had been a real emergency? Based on this experiment? I have no idea. My hands are still a little pissed about the whole thing. I have a nice 2 hour hot shower when I get home, and I'm writing this with a down vest and winter jacket on. I think everyone should test their drysuits like this. I feel great! Chapin, Kitesurfed, N, 12-26, 14M Rally/ Flx 138 & Plywood 134, With Frank, Sam, Chris, Kristof, Barak, Ed, Alex, others. Air temp 39 F. Water temp 39 F.

Don't Read This

Alright, I don't want to write about this kiting stuff anymore. I want to keep my stupidity to myself. Go get someone else to laugh at! P Bay, WSW. The wind quality is terrible. I know, I know. P Bay, SW, good. P Bay, WSW, bad. But here I am. It's just before sunset. I catch an edge popping to toeside, drop my board. I'm in close, in shallow water, but the wind picks now to go crazy. My depower rope pops out of the cleat and gets jammed. I'm pulled into deep water and I notice, as I drag to the rock wall, that my 1 year old drysuit is leaking on the inside of my left knee. Why do people do this crazy sport?! I look back at the beach and see clouds of sand blowing across the water. I hit my quick release and walk back along the wall, dragging my kite in the water. I can just barely see my board blowing toward the middle of the bay in the fading twilight. I estimate it's heading straight for the far opening to the harbor. Tide is ripping out. It's too dark to chase it down. I'm in a bad mood when I get home. Everyone gives me wide clearance. P Bay, Saturday, Sunrise. I find my board about 20' from the opening to Boston Harbor. I'm feeling better. When I get home, I find and fix the leak in my drysuit. Life is good. Now I just need some wind so I can get a real session in! Go ahead and laugh at me if you want. You're going to anyway. Pleasure Bay, Kitesurfed, WSW, 10-42, 10M Rally/Flx 138, Solo.

Out of the Hobbit Hole

Why kite? It's an absurd sport. I've been troubled by this nagging thought lately. Kiting adventures are such a bother. Something is always happening. It would be cozy to settle into my hobbit hole on the weekends and not have to think anything about anything. Like a normal curmudgeon. Just imagine the pleasure of watching I-Love-Lucy reruns from the comfort and safety of an overstuffed couch. Who needs more than that?! I certainly don't. Relaxing and being sensible is what life is all about. Why would anyone in their right mind want to do this? It's a mystery. Kitesurfed, Plymouth/ Nelson St, NE, 11-18, 17M Fat Lady/ Flx 138, Solo. Thanks to Walter & Jeff for sticking around to take photos!

Winter for a Weekend

This is my one weekend this year to embrace the snow and cold. I'm on a mountain instead of a beach. Seems strange. Good snow again this year. Lotsa fun as always! Skiing works well as a social sport. Ski lifts lend themselves to conversation. It's a nice way to get caught up with everyone. Ben is going to get has first car in a few days. He's thrilled! I don't understand how this happened. He was running around in diapers just a few days ago. Sunday River Weekend, Skied, with Ben, Josh, Al, Lee, Mom. Picture- Ben growing up right before my eyes.