Horsenecking

Brad Horseneck Beach is wild today. Lots of blowing sand. My face gets some much needed exfoliation walking to the water. Waves are a little overhead. We make the mistake of launching at the state beach. Too much whitewater, wind is too onshore. We can get to the outside but it's a lot of work each time. I kite upwind to the town beach, where kiters in the know go in SW. Conditions are much better here. Lesson learned, (relearned actually). Late in the day the wind drops so I go out for a few runs without my board. I want to practice duck diving and bodysurfing with just my kite. Damn, the water is cold this time of year! I had no idea. Every wave I dive under gives my brain pins and needles. I get some good insight into duck diving and bodysurfing though. Namely that I want to avoid them at all costs in the Winter. Horseneck, Kitesurfed, SW, 25-38, 6M RPM/Mako150, with Brad, Walter, Jonathan, Skyrocket, Others.

Gloucester- Fools Gold

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No wind today. I scout out some kiting spots, go for a uni ride around Goose Cove Reservoir, and hike through Gloucester's Dogtown Reservation to see Peter's Pulpit and The Whale Jaw, which turn out to be plain boulders with fancy names. It's exercise. A beautiful day at Goose Cove Reservoir Dog Bar Breakwater- No access? This whole area is marked PRIVATE, HOMEOWNERS AND GUESTS ONLY. I drive in past the first set of signs but feel like I'm trespassing and turn around at the second set of signs. I never get to the breakwater. Niles Beach- This launch looks kitable in SW but the parking is marked RESIDENT STICKER PARKING ONLY. I don't see any nearby spots where it would be possible to park and walk in. Good Harbor- I know this is a good wave spot in S to E winds but the parking lot is closed and gated for the Winter. Notgood Harbor. No wind and no access. I feel like a double loser. Gloucester, you're not a friendly town. I do find a small beach at the Fisherman's Wive's Memorial at the end of Rt 133. The road is a little close to the water but it could work as a launch point at low to mid tide if very careful. The beach at The Fisherman's Memorial, right nearby, might work too. Long beach, near Good Harbor also has public parking on one end, similar conditions as Good Harbor I think. Why bother kiting here? I don't know. I probably won't. I was looking for hidden gems and found plain boulders.

Lumpy Gravy Slicks

First Encounter has good wind, dazzling sunshine, and icebergs. Little slushy icebergs all around the edges. 10 kiters have to trudge through drifts of the stuff to get out to the sand bars. Nobody hesitates. You can't show weakness to your kite buddies. We're cool. We do this all the time. Doesn't everybody? I'm on my plywood skimmy cause it goes through the low tide shallows like nothing. It turns out that it goes over icebergs like nothing too. Hah, this appeals to my novelty seeking gene! I have to sample all the various textures. I kite into channels of slush, across tiny ice flows islands, through lumpy gravy slicks, up onto snowy sand bars. I have some great crashes! Too much snow on my board and my feet slide off. My board submerges under snow and I go over the handlebars. I slide and bounce across snow, through slush, over sand. My best crash is when I'm cruising at speed and I run out of water a split second before I hit a small berg. I can't sink the tail of the board to get the nose up onto the snow chunk because there's no water left. The nose of the board goes straight into the berg like an arrow into a bulls eye and I find myself running across the sand bar as fast as my legs will go, laughing. You either love this sport or you think it's really stupid. Or both. What planet have we landed on? First Encounter, Kitesurfed, 15-25, W, WNW, 10M Rally/ Skimmy, with Frank, Andre, Colleen, Jon, Lorenzo, Lotsa Others.

It's the Most Windiest Time of the Year

I walk out into a snowy morning. I had forgotten how beautiful everything is right after a fresh snowfall! There's about 10" of downy fluff covering the trees, the yard, my truck, the driveway, the driveway... The only thing disturbing the tranquility of the scene is a shovel leaning against the railing. I'd like to get rid of that shovel, just throw it out. It ruins the beauty of the moment. I start shoveling. All this snow. It puts you in the spirit of the season doesn't it? The soft blanket of white draped over the trees. Seeing your breath hang in the cold, crisp air. The squeak and crunch of snow under your feet as you pump up your kite. This is the true meaning of the holidays. Being warm and cozy on a frosty morning, snug in your drysuit. Sharing a session with friends. Sticking out your tongue to try to catch one perfect snowflake as you rotate through a back roll. We New Englanders are hardy people. We have an appreciation of Winter's challenges. A love of that which is cold, hard and miserable. It makes us better people. To go out in the frost. To kite. To love it. This is what we do. It's perfectly normal. A slush puddle with chop in the Corp parking lot Not Normal- O.K. so I'm back to worrying about my head being blown off of my body. 2nd time in 2 weeks with wind to 50 MPH! Brad and I both agree it's windy. We kite in the Chapin marsh for a while, gusty as snot, then ride waves downwind to Corporation. Not Nice and Not Normal- Between Chapin and Corp I get a little cocky and go over the falls on a closeout wave, have a yard sale. I relaunch my kite before it gets trashed, but come in boardless where there's no real beach to land on. There are some shallows, a little sand, and a nice big rock wall. With Brad's VERY MUCH APPRECIATED help I eventually get my board back, land my kite, fix a torn open footstrap, and walk until we find a spot with enough beach to relaunch. While I'm laying out my lines for relaunch on the small beach, I keep losing my bar and lines in the drifts of foam blowing off the water. I have to use my board as a marker to find my bar in all the foam. This is not normal. This is 50 MPH. I relaunch. We make it to Corp. We kite some more. It's a happy ending. Except for the part where I think about what would have happened if I had come in on that rock wall an hour or 2 earlier, at dead high tide. I'm going to bookmark that thought for next time. Today's wasn't the sanest kiting I've ever done but it was pure adventure. It was a beautiful day to be outdoors, marred only by the task of shoveling the walk and driveway in the morning. 2 Turtles- We helped rescue 1 stranded Kemp's Ridley sea turtle at Corp, saw another at Chapin that was too far gone. Downwinder, Chapin to Corporation Beach, Kitesurfed, NW, WNW, 25-50, isolated gusts to 55. 6M RPM/ Mako150, with Brad. Air temp around 32 F.

Size Matters

This is one of the best wave sessions I've had! Yesterday's worry about having my head blown off of my body by an evil gust is gone. The fear monger in my brain is mostly silent. It feels great to charge the waves and get myself joyfully munched like I don't care what. This is so fun! Brad Riding strapless surfboard Jean Airborn Some waves are like ski slopes to shoot down. Sometimes I try to turn on the wave and hit the lip without accelerating into oblivion. A few times I think I'm getting close. To oblivion. Jamie I ride some freight trains. I get stuffed big going out. I get stuffed big going in. This is how I learn. It's a thrill! Jean Gilles Straight side shore wind- Makes it easier to get out, go down the line, and makes the waves cleaner. It creates some gusts and lulls but that's the price you pay. It's still a lot more sane then yesterday's wind. Size Matters- Everyone's commenting on how big the waves are. I always question my own perspective but this time they really are big, I think. Horseneck Beach, Kitesurfed, W, 15-30, 10M Rally/ Mako150, with Jean, Brad, Peter L, Brian, Jon, Gilles, Jamie, others. 12' waves?  Click on pics for full size

Always Kite with Rodeo Clowns in 50 MPH

A few of us delinquents got out today at Yirrell. Scary conditions! It was a good reminder of how important it is to be kiting with buddies when the wind gets big. Everyone stayed safe but we were holding each other down during our launches like rodeo clowns trying to hold back a raging bull.  One memorable scene- A gust blasts through during my launch. Walter and Peter both hang onto my harness handle in the shore pound while I wiggle my feet into the straps. When my feet are in, I yell O.K.  They let me go as I send the kite and shoot out thru the break, a smile on my face.  I guess it all seems pretty stupid until you're out on the water. Then everything in the world makes sense. Then it seems pretty stupid again later. Yirrell Beach, Kitesurfed, ESE, 30-50, isolated gusts to 55, 6M RPM/Mako150, with Walter, Peter, Jeff H. 10'-12' waves? Thanks to Peter for the picture!

Getting Rich from Kiting

I love trying new kite spots! Going to a new spot is like buying a lottery ticket. Each one could be the jackpot. The big payout. The perfect glassy slick behind low dunes, steady wind across a smooth white sand bar, long peeling waves. It could make me rich! Nauset Harbor- This spot is a winner. Great slicks inside. A little gusty, not bad. It reminds me of Stage Harbor but bigger. So fun to explore the whole harbor. After a while, we walk across to the outside, ride some waves, kite back in through the mouth, try some small channels into the marsh, then back to the slicks behind the dunes. I see one seal, don't see any Great Whites thank you. More details- The outside waves are very disorganized at high tide. A local kiter said that the waves are much better at low tide, breaking on sand bars around the mouth of the harbor. The launch/landing is lacking of beach at high tide, not beginner friendly. ENE might be the perfect direction for the inside but E is very good. Parked at end of Priscilla Rd, Orleans, only off season. Thanks to Peter for scouting this site! Nauset Harbor, Kitesurfed, E, 12-25, 10M Rally/Flx 138, with Walter, Peter, Jeff, Scott. Walter waltzes with his kite before launching

What to Expect When You're Expecting Wind

It was hard to know if there was going to be any wind today. The forecasts were all being disagreeable, arguing with each other. I wasn't worried though. On hard to predict days like this, I use a simple equation to combine and average the local forecasts. It gives me a much more accurate picture of how much wind to expect. Here it is- I combine IKitesurf, Wind Guru, and NWS graphic numbers, divide by three, then add 15 knots. Today the formula tells me that the wind will be at least 15 knots or more all day. That's enough for me! It works perfectly. In the Cross Hairs- A professional photographer walks out at low tide with a camera on a tripod that looks like an army issue weapon. It's frightening to be kiting with a 10' bazooka aimed directly at me. I do evasive maneuvers, dodging, twisting, jumping, anything to throw off her aim. No good. I can't shake her. I feel vulnerable. Like the camera is undressing me with it's eye. It makes me wish that I had put on fresh underwear in the morning. And trimmed my nose hair. You should always do those two things before going kiting. Chapin meter- is way off again. It's become less reliable then a used kite salesman. Chapin, Kitesurfed, N, NNE, 14-24?, 14M Rally/Flx 138, with Chriz, Jean, Eric, Frank, Sam, Denn, Andrey, Colleen, Ivan, Noel, others.  Thank you Betty Wiley for the great photos!!! Your web portfolio is beautiful and inspiring! www.avagracestudio.com Click on pics for full size.

Pickled Brains

Did you ever notice that when you have a good crash your brain soaks up a little water? Mine does. That's why this blog is called waterlogged. Then, when I lean over my kite to roll it up, my sponge of a brain squeezes itself out. A deluge of sea scum and little bits of seaweed pours out of my nasal passages onto my nice dry kite. Yuck! Snotty brain water all over my kite! It surprises me every time. My sponge brain thinks this is funny. I get pissed. And you know if you roll the kite up like that it won't dry out. The scum will just fester and grow. If they ever need a DNA sample from me to confirm that I do or don't have an evil secret twin, they'll take it from the stains on my kite. 2 sessions in 2 slicks- with a lunch break in between! It was warmer than anybody had a right to ask for. Very civilized day. Hardings to Stage Harbor, SSE, 15-25, 10M Rally/ Flx 138, With Sam, Gregor, Peter, Jeff H. Hardings to Buck Creek, SSE, 12-20, 14M Rally/Flx 138, Solo.

I Curl my Toes

I grunt during times of extreme exertion. It's like a low growling noise deep in my throat. I usually don't even notice that I'm doing it because I'm pretty focused on living through whatever I'm doing, but later my throat feels sore, my voice is hoarse, and I know why. Sometimes on a big jump, which for me is anything over 12", I catch myself doing it. "Stop it", I yell at myself! It would be very embarrassing if anyone knew that I was doing it but luckily nobody notices. Unless I do it during sex. Or I have the poor judgement to write about it on a blog. There are worse things than grunting like a warthog when I'm having fun. Sometimes I curl my toes. I also grimace and fart. Brad at Corporation Lip Smackin' Good! I grunted and farted my way downwind from Mayflower to Corporation with 5 energetic kiters. Lotsa wind, lotsa waves, lotsa smiles! Downwinder, Mayflower to Corporation, W, 14-35, 6M RPM/Mako150, with Brad, Jean, KiterMike, Kristof, Chuckie.

Power of Suggestion

Sunrise I tell Brad that I'm planning on being at Chapin around 8:00 AM. He says he's going to be there around 6:00. What?! That's way too early for me. I want to get a good night sleep. The last thing I think of when I'm drifting off to sleep is how early I would have to get up if I wanted to get there at 6:00. But I don't want to get there at 6:00. I want a good night sleep. My internal alarm clock goes off at 4:00. I try to get back to sleep. I look at the clock. I tell myself sleep... sleep...  Thoughts of kiting start to creep in. Sleep... sleep... I finally give in to the inevitable, roll out of bed with a thud, crawl downstairs, get in the truck and drive to Chapin. I'm there at 6:00. The parking lot is empty. Brad stayed local. Good. I was worried it would be too crowded. I get a beautiful sunrise session in Chapin's kiddies pools on my kite, then a sunset session on my new inflatable stand-up-paddle board at Nantasket on the way home. These days are getting way too short. I'm glad I got up early! Many thanks to Brad. Sunset Nantasket, SUP'ed, 2' to 3' waves, Solo. Chapin, Kitesurfed, 12-25, NE, 14M Rally/ Flx138, with Frank, Andre, Colleen, Kristof, Chriz, Kitermike, Igor, Ivan, Alex, Others.  Chapin meter- seems to read low in NE by about 3 to 5 MPH.

Kiter's Hair

How does this happen to me?!  My hair is completely covered with a helmet and fleece hoodie, but when I get home after kiting my mane is standing straight up, massively windblown. Every time. It looks like I tried to use my hair as a kite. Neighborhood kids run away and hide. My wife admires my wall of hair and comments on it's impressive vertical drop. I look like a wild animal, from Mars. Is kiting worth this grotesque disfigurement? Should I give it up so I can once again look the part of a respectable husband, neighbor and citizen? I'll let you know when I decide. FE- was sweet today! I spent an hour or two carving out some private time in the Herring River slick. Had it all to myself. It was good even a few hours after high tide. Then I got social and kited with the crew in the tidal flats for the rest of the day. Tide Chart- IKitesurf tide chart for Chapin was closer than the FE tide chart. First Encounter, Kitesurfed, NW, 10-25, 14 M Rally/FLX 138, with Frank, Chriz, Andre, Colleen, Peter, Barry, Kate, Others.

Overstaying my Welcome

Well, we had fun for an hour or 2. Then the wind got crappy. I refused to accept reality, switching to a bigger board and still struggling to go upwind, happily waving goodbye to everyone else as they packed up and left. I stayed. I did pathetic downwinders into the marsh and walked it back out, flirting with an upwind and uptide swim if I couldn't kite out. I had to drop my kite in the marsh and struggle to relaunch it before I finally recognized my folly and called it quits. There's always one fool who doesn't know when the party's over. First Encounter, Kitesurfed, NW, 8-18, 14M Rally/ Flx138 & Mako King, with Frank, Jamie, 1 other.

Sandy's Curves

Yirrell- What a thrill! These are the biggest waves I've kited in to date. Beautiful, long period set waves, all smooth in between, leaving fields of foam and whitewater in their wake. We think they're about 10', big enough to make me feel about 2'. I love that feeling! Hurricane Sandy has some nice curves. Waves crashing against seawall at Winthrop Beach Yirrell Beach, Kitesurfed, 12-22, E, ESE, 14M Rally/ Mako 150, with Brad.  Click on pics for full size

Waves or Slicks

Some kiters live for kiting in waves.  Some kiters hate waves but love kiting in flat water more than they love life itself. Me? I can't decide. I'm an undecided voter for waves vs slicks. Some days I vote waves. Some days I vote slicks. Today I voted both. I don't even know if that's legal. Waves- I play in a variety of little waves on the outside of the Sand Spit during the incoming tide. The best time is just before high tide. There are a few spots where the small waves are spaced far apart and the water gets all smoothed out in between. It's almost like slicks with ramps. I just wish the waves were bigger. This was all covered with water at high tide Slicks- At high tide I go inside the Sand Spit, into the rivers and marsh. The full moon tide has completely covered the marsh. I kite upwind as far as the boardwalk, which is covered over. I can't believe I'm kiting over so much real estate. At 2 hours after high tide the marsh is all land again. At 3 to 4 hours after high tide the wind is getting a little dirty in the river from coming across the beach. Waves- I've gotta ride upwind to get back out to the waves. With 3 rivers and a few miles of salt marsh all emptying into the ocean, the current here makes itself known. It can hit 7 knots. It sucks me upwind like a bug to a bug zapper. I know if I drop my board in the channel I'm probably never going to see it again. I'm much more cautious in the waves with the outgoing tide, especially since my kiting company, 3 local kiters, is gone. Time to head in and load my gear onto my bike for the ride back to my truck. Ahh, nice day. O.K. I still can't decide. Waves? Slicks? I guess I need to study them both some more so I can make an informed, educated choice. It's hard being a responsible voter. Sand Spit, Kitesurfed, ENE, 15-30, 10M Rally/ Mako 150, with Skip, Eric, John. Click on pics for full size