5.11.06--where's the session?

[E-Bone]

So, where is everybody going to throw down today?

[toby wilson]

I think I'll be either at backside Skyway or either at Cypress tearin' it up with the 25.5 or 20.5 depending on wind...

[inferno]

i might go to back side as well, ive never actually rode there, but i would rather ride flat water then cypress chop

[Skyway Scott]

Either East beach or the "beach" in general. I think it is trying to blow right now.

[inferno]

anybody thinking picnic????

[sgrundy]

at 1030am
cypress 12 to 14 mpg
light chop
should pick up
parking sucks some tech demo taking up usual spots.
'looks like I self launch
shane
8139276652

[bryanleighty]

going to backside skyway myself.. need me some flat water.

[Skyway Scott]

I'm hitting the beach! :P

[toby wilson]

Scott,

East Beach? Is it gonna be good there today? I'd much rather go there but didn't think it would be good conditions...let me know man.

T

[sgrundy]

rode 11 to 1230
light
now not rideable
sg

[Skyway Scott]

That bites Shane, the beach was blowin' good.

I just got back from the Undertow. It started off at around 13knots, then at around 1:30pm went straight to 16+ and continued to build.
By the time I left at around 3:30 it was right at 18-20 or so. I was just too tired to keep riding (I hate leaving wind.. but just exhausted)
It was definitely a great day at the beach, nice ramps to jump off of 8)

I rode the Super Phatty the whole time on a 16m kite. When it picked up, it was zero troubles... I just went upwind even more. I think the SP is gonna be a one quiver board for me.
I am very pleased with it, to say the least. :D
It is unreal light.. its like jumping with nothing on your feet :)

[sgrundy]

Scott, it was very strange.

12-14mph at 11am and should have picked up all afternoon.

Bruce got there at 1pm and it was DEAD. Could not lanch the kite. 8mph max.

Looks like it picked up again after 3pm.

Any work on how the Backside Skyway was?

Also used the Magic Carpet. It was a upwind machine, thanks again for the trade.

Shane

PS The city workers at the park basically yelled at Bruce and I for "walking on the grass". All those sand side cuts through the dunes are "off limits". I am sure over the weekend hundreds of people walk through, but today it was "you kiteboarders". All two of us with 2 trips each. Hopefully they will not label us as trouble.

Shane

[Optionryder420]

I just got back from riding redington...

A BIT underpowered with the waves/chop... but man, this is my first time actually riding waves(if you can call them that) and it's hella fun...

What I'd have to do, was get enough power by jumping, then heading upwind into a wave, carve it for a little, then rip upwind into another wave and use that as a jump...

After doing it a few times, I finally crashed... just RAMPED off of one wave and not sending the kite... hooked in raley onto my face... crashed the kite and a TON of seaweed got on my lines and it was so heavy the kite wouldn't relaunch.

I needed a 16 for today, but only had a 13 :( Oh well, it was still fun...

[Z-Type]

I went to east beach, really gusty, and then it would completely die.....
still did body dragging and realized I still need more kite control before I get on the board.

gotta question about the trim though, is there a chart or common knowledge about adjusting the the power of the kite via knots on outside lines on the bar, and the ones by the kite hookups?
I know that when the trailing edge corners are flopping in the wind the strap has to be pulled to increase AOA, but is there a way to know that kite is tilted forward too much?
It kept flying behind me when at 12 o'clock, I tried bringing it down to the power zone by doing 8 figures, but was either to slow or doing it wrong.....

any thoughts......

[E-Bone]

Sarasota stayed up at maybe 12-15, rode 5 hours today on my 15 Ion, stoked, full report to follow at another time.

[Wolfie]

I had a great session with Skemp the pimp and Kevin out at Picnic Island. From 2:00 till 4:00, when I had to go, the wind was 14 Kn gusting to 18 Kn, though gusty. The waves were bigger and better formed than I have ever seen. It was neat to play on them. Overall, a good day!

[bryanleighty]

i rode backside ..

got there at 2:30p .. rode there by my lonesome for about 30 to 45 min until Jason showed up .. he and i rode for about another 45 min before the next kite hit the sky.

by about 4:30 there were a number of guys there riding mostly 15 C's and 12 bows.

i was lit on the 12 waroo .. passed it off to my riding partner and i rigged a 15 yarga and had a blast.

failed attempt at trying to fly a kite and help toby launch his 20.. kitemare did not occur.. just a lesson to not try that again.

waroo on flat water is about as perfect as it comes. i tried my first backloops and even though i failed miserably and even sent the kite for a loop.. the waroo's depowerability made it actually "fun". i know on a C kite i would have been in a world of hurt.

amazing day.

wind was gusty but not too bad.. readings were anywhere from 13 to 18 all afternoon/evening.

[Optionryder420]

I think I would've been okay powered on flat water... but in that choppy surf, wasn't so great... oh well, had fun.

And Z, you were at East Beach? It would've been side-offshore there, bad choice man... stay in side-on winds for now. Don't do anything with offshore at all, and bad idea to do directly onshore right now too. It's REALLY gusty at East Beach when it's an offshore day...

But, you'll learn how your kite should be trimmed eventually. And a lot of bars like to be trimmed differently.

All my kites I just use the second knots and the bars (pulley and 17" surefire) are setup just right for those second knots. When the bars are fully powered and unhooked there's no oversheeting, and when they're fully depowered the 17" is probably as far as I can go (rule of thumb for me is when I'm getting blown off my pulley bar on my 13m, I'll just change bars, then when blown off that, it's time for the 9m).

You don't want the back lines too short, it'll oversheet. But I think almost all C kites (ESPECIALLY high aspect ones) will overfly while in 12 oclock and will fly over you... you've just gotta keep the kite at 11.

And I wouldn't even try figure 8's with a LEI kite... figure 8's are for trainers and that's really it. You'll never do figure 8's with an inflatable.

If you can body drag proficiently, grab a board and try some downwinders on a N-NW day... start at Sand key and work your way down. Take the trolley back to your launching point. It's safest when you're in the water... but I'd recomend either heel straps, board leash(bad idea actually), or being able to body drag upwind before going on a really windy day... don't want to lose a board.

[Stevil Kenevil]

Sarasota stayed up at maybe 12-15, rode 5 hours today on my 15 Ion, stoked, full report to follow at another time.

E-are you feelin' alright man?
That was your shortest post ever!
Someone please check his vitals.....

Actually, I think he's building hype for a 14 page masterpiece on the upwind performance of his new line of kite bags. :P (do those come with a 5th line?)Just kidding.... I want to order a few bags for my rocket powered kiteboards,so maybe we can work out a sponsorship deal.

Z-your line lengths need to be checked to make sure they are all even.Find a knowledgable kiter and they will be glad to show you how to keep your bar tuned properly.

[shawnwar4586]

Gabe, P J, Tommy and myself rode sunset beach up in tarpon springs. It was easily blowing 18 to 20 out there. It was a nice day, the water was pretty flat and i got to tra a 16 xbow whic is a pretty nice kite. Thanks pj.

[Skyway Scott]

Eric,

I would really like to hear about that Ion, if you got the time to wirte about it.
Thanks. Mainly range, low end grunt, and "feel". Does it feel like a C? in terms of inputs to the bar?

The Super Phatty is the s##@ for sure :shock:

[tomstock]

Rode TI on on my 15 with 20m lines for 2 hours from 6-8. Awesome session. Saw some newbies with a yellow (le) and white kite with no leash and no lessons who were unable to ride. Anyone recognize this kite? Just thought I'd mention it since there were a lot of thefts lately.

[Skyway Scott]

Glad to hear you rode Tom :P

[E-Bone]

Scott, I am still toast and I have to bear down at work today, but I'll review the 15m Ion as soon as I can. It is really stable, even unhooked, and it was not twitchy. A lot of depower, plenty of grunt. Unreal. With a big board that performs in waves better than the Glide, my session yesterday would have been even better, so it looks like after you demo this Ion, I'll borrow the Aggression!

You need to fly it. This kite may be right up your alley.

[Skyway Scott]

Cool. Sounds like my kinda kite. I won't need bigger than a 15m bow.
Yeah, the SP is just "slightly better" in chop 8)

After yesterday, I plan on riding it just about every time I ride. (My all-in-one-'der)

It has better low end than my 157 WT (and MC), and is also much easier to hold it down when litt/overpowered than the 157 (which is ALL I rode in all windspeeds for 2 years).
It does not develop alot of drag (like most bigger boards) in higher wind, it just shoots upwind easier. It was weird, I am use to having to use my legs and force the (bigger) boards upwind when litt. Not this one, it was cake. I think the lack of drag is what allows this.

And, its so light, your brain is fooled into thinking you are riding a little dink under your feet (its only 132 long) The only thing I am gonna change is the heelside fins. They are currenly very litte (1 inch). I am gonna put 2inch "cleavers" on there to help hold an edge after a bigger jump.. I did slip out on a couple when rotating on the landing from height. I rode Paul's with the bigger fins and never spun a landing.

So, the one board, two kite quiver is getting closer to reality, at least for a guy my size who doesn't care about being perfectly DIALED as much as constantly SMILED by riding the whole day without re-rigging while consistently screaming upwind/jumping at will :wink:

I think you (Eric), Randy, and myself are all shooting for this goal. (minimal equipment)

[toby wilson]

Scott,

I haven't really had a good look at Aggressions stuff. Do they have boards any bigger than the 132 for a tall fat bastard like me???

T

[tomstock]

Scott that board looks similar to my Best Float. I've found I really like that size... just like you describe. Seems to work great in just about anything. I'd like to compare some time.

[Skyway Scott]

Yeah,

Lets compare. Any and all com(parisons)(petitions) welcome. It makes stuff fun. Tom, this board is extremely light and very fast. I simply love it.
I don't see a reason (for me) to bring another board to the beach.

Toby... yep.. There is the BARN DOOR... that's the real big one.
Jordan has one coming. He might let you test ride it.

[toby wilson]

Goody goody!!! I sent you a PM Scott. I may just lump one all in with that if I like Jordan's barn door (if he is generous enough to let me take it out for a quick spin that is...)!!!

[Skyway Scott]

Big Air Al rode the SP today. If he decides to post, we will hear from him :P

I rode his 16m Flying Pe... I mean Best Waroo, after the wind died down to around 11knots.
It felt damn good to me 8) Lotsa low end grunt... turned nice, real stable, jumped well... what else do you want at 11 knots from a big kite?

[E-Bone]

Word on the minimal equipment goal, Scott. I am tired of dragging it all around. I know I can live with two kites now. The question will be how many boards I can reduce to?

It doesn't help that I love having a lot of different board options, depending on my mood. It seems that dragging a mess of boards around is easier than dragging a load of kites around, though.

[Skyway Scott]

Well, I am gonna try to make the Super Phatty my one board quiver. We'll see how it goes.

I rode it today in solid 20 on a 14m TD in the choppy Gulf and it felt good.
Could I have been on a 120 by 38 (at the beginnig)? Yep. But what to do when it dropped to 13? Lose all my upwind ground, sail back, self land my crap, run out to my truck.. exchange board....self launch....nah.. I will pass on that.

If the winds were more stable around here, I wouldn't have this attitude.
But, seems like every time we ride, it goes from X...X....
Is it ever steady winds here? If I am in the Gulf and by myself, I don't wanna have to switch boards when the wind drops/increases.