I'm Dreaming of a White Horseneck

I love the Horseneck foam. It's delicious. After a good set of waves goes through, the water is covered with a fluffy blanket of white. It's like kiting in a huge beer mug with a good head of hops. I like to crash so I can get a mouthful. I had some swigs today. Oh yeah, I was feeling pretty good. No worries, no cares. The only thing on my mind was wind, waves, and where that next slug of happy juice was going to come from. But I'll pay for it tomorrow. Do I need to go to Horseneckaholics Anonymous? Horseneck Beach, Kitesurfed, SSW, 16-28, 10M Rally/Mako150, with Walter, Brad, Alex, Peter, Jay, Bill, Dylan, Others.

It's Only Stupid if You Die

The Winter Solstice. The shortest day of the year. It's always windy on the shortest day of the year. It's compensation for being such a dark miserable day. This particular Winter Solstice is also warm, with hazy sunshine. A perfect day for kiting deep into the First Encounter marsh. I love the Winter solstice. I'm having fun popping little jumps over a corner of the marsh grass and landing on the other side. This is great. It makes me feel like I know a little about jumping. Then I see Brad doing it. Brad knows jumping. Chris L and I watch as Brad comes in fast, jumps an island, maybe 50 to 100 feet wide, and lands in a tiny channel on the other side. A perfect 10 of a jump. Then he disappears downwind winding thru the long channel that goes nowhere. Who was that masked man? Later Brad says that his island jump was probably a stupid move. It was a bigger hunk of real estate than he thought. Well it's only stupid if you die. Then we have to dig a shallow grave and bury your body at the place of impact with a marker that says Stupid Kiter. If you live, you're a hero and all the other gunslingers will come from all over the country to test themselves against you. Certainly all the local quickdraws are going to want to prove that they can do it. Mostly to keep Brad from getting a big head. The marsh may soon be littered with dead bodies. But don't look at me. I'll stick with my cautious little jumps around the edges. I may be stupid but I'm not crazy. First Encounter, Kitesurfed, SW, SSW, 15-30, 12M Rally/Mako150 and skimboard, with Brad, Chris L, John L, Walter, Jeff, Peter, Alex. Temp 52F.

This aint no Foolin Around

So it's not winter yet. So I spend the morning shoveling my truck out of frozen snow and slush to go kiting. And my wiper blade brakes off on a hunk of ice when I'm getting on the highway, making it kinda hard to see the snow plows I'm stuck behind. So it's 51 F. on the Cape when I'm home shoveling but it drops to the 30's by the time I start kiting, upper 20's by the end of my session. So what? This is way too important to let a few minor inconveniences get in the way. This aint no party. This aint no disco. This is kitesurfing. Chapin/Mayflower, Kitesurfed, WNW, 15-30, 8M RPM & 12M Rally/ Lotsa boards, with Brad, Frank, Kristoff, Chris L, John L, Phil, Noel.

Don't Let the Wind Push You Around

The wind likes to play tricks. Don't be afraid of it. Be firm. Make the wind respect you. It's been strong all day. A few of us kite the Chapin pools, the Mayflower waves, then into the Bass Hole marsh. Colleen and I are pretty far in, heading out, when the wind decides to take a nap. The incoming tide doesn't. There is some swim time, some messing with kites on the bank time. Colleen's hot launch on the muddy bank shoots her across the slick surface like she's a rocket on skates, really funny. At least I think so. I'm sure the wind is enjoying this. We're not deterred. We end up kiting out through the marsh grass on the far side of the boardwalk, high tide treat. Hah! Take that wind. You thought you could outsmart us but not this time. We showed you who's boss. I hope the wind learns something from this little episode. I celebrate our victory with a solo sunset session on my surfboard at Mayflower. How did the days get so short? It must be another one of nature's tricks. Chapin/Mayflower, Kitesurfed, NNW, 15-25, 14M Rally/Mako150, 6' surfboard, with Frank, Andrey, Colleen, Chriz, Brad. Temp 41F.

Making Change

I embrace change. Change is good. I kite West Dennis ocean side, pond side, then over to South Village ocean side, pond side, then back to W Dennis. Dead high tide, mid tide, dead low. I use my surfboard, my Mako, my Flx, my Sawed Off Board. The wind is mostly light and shifty but it's just strong enough to have fun. Why so many changes in gear and location? It keeps it interesting. No moss is gonna grow on this kiter. Picture- Kristof playing in the pond. Click for full size. West Dennis, Kitesurfed, SE, ESE, 10-16, 14M Rally/6'Surfboard,Mako150,Flx138,SawedOff83, with Kristof, Frank, Jamie, Andrey, Colleen, Chris L, Peter, Shane, Noel, Ivan.