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Old 04-16-2007, 12:49 PM
toby wilson's Avatar
toby wilson toby wilson is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Palmetto, FL
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Default Erick's first downwinder

So Erick and I went to Treasure Island to do a downwinder to Bongos on Sunday. We got there and rode for a while with a bunch of the other locals. Got to try the Nano 9 and that kite is SUPER stable and QUICK! Anyway so we go to launch for the downwinder and Erick says “okay, launch me”. It looked like my 12M Thruster lines were over the Nano ones so I said “no, let me launch first, my lines are over yours". So I get all set to launch, Erick starts to move into position as do I and I see the Nano start to move. I’m like “Erick!!! You are dragging the Nano with the Thruster lines!!!” Skyway Scott walked over and started laughing…I had hooked into the NANO bar!!! DUH!!!

So I hook into the Thruster bar, Erick launches me, SW Scott launches him and we’re finally off on an Eclipse/Mako downwinder!!! Erick’s first by the way and in conditions that were not too favorable for a first time downwinder but Erick tore it up the whole way!!! CRAZY chop/waves, at LEAST head high if not overhead in some places…big boosts off of waves and I was finally landing some bigger ones!!! So we get into the beach and there is this family there. I am LITT OUTTA MY MIND, had to body drag into the beach and then laid on my back just to hold the kite down fully depowered. The gusts were hitting so hard that the kite was picking me up off of my back at some points. So what does Erick do? He takes time out for a photo shoot with the 2 little kids in the family while I am getting lofted behind him. I think I’ll start calling him Hollywood Erick from now on…then the family starts to walk away and Erick is about to self-land. I’m like “let them catch our kites!!”

So we finally get the Father in the family instructed in detail on catching a kite, he did a perfect job of it and I grabbed it from him and set it down and caught the Nano from Erick. I get a thought…then ask Erick “you DID remember to leave your keys here didn’t you???”. You guessed it!!! Erick has that “OH, SH!T” look on his face.

As if things couldn't get any better, some bum walks up the beach, picks up a plastic trash can and walks over to my Thruster like he's gonna put the trash can on top of it. I'm like "Don't put that there man!" JUST in time. The guy that caught my kite stopped him from putting it on my kite at the last minute. THEN, MR. I'M GONNA STEAL A PIZZA FROM THE RACE AFTER PARTY shows up and won't leave us alone, following us on his crusty old bike. By the way, he still has his rhinestone flip flops!!!

Then Dennis (Russky) comes riding in and had a friendly chuckle about our misfortune. I think he finally decided to ride on down to PAG. So for Erick and I, it’s getting colder and the sun is going down so I head off to go find a pay phone to call Amber on. I find one at 7-11 and another at McDonalds and try to call Amber collect first, then my Parents with no luck. So I just say to myself “F*%& it, I’m gonna walk!” So I start walking and hitch-hiking soaking wet in some pretty darn cold wind. After a few minutes of unsuccessful hitching I realize that my hair is blown all over the place, I'm in a shortie, LS rash guard and board shorts, bare feet and a full beard. I look just like 99% of the bums on St. Pete Beach!!! Noone is gonna pick my gnarly ass up!

Just as I get to the light on St. Pete Beach near “SHHH, DON’T TELL MAMA” (porn shop) and “Mermaids” (exotic dancers) I am getting REALLY cold and think to myself “I just wish someone would pass driving home”. No sooner to I think that than I look up and see guess who driving by??? My roommate MIRA!!! So Mira picks me up and drives me to TI to get my truck.

When I get back, Erick is NOWHERE to be found!!! I’m like “where’s Erick?” The kites were still inflated on the beach and I could just imagine how cold he had to be by then. At least I was walking…

Then “Hey dude!!!” Erick comes running around the corner soaking wet and shivering. “I met this really cool windsurfer who invited me to chill out and wait for you in the pool's jacuzzi at the resort next door!!!” I could have strangled him to death right then and there...J/K!

Then, to add insult to injury I get to my 12 Thruster to wrap it up and the canopy has a small “L” shaped tear in it. Oh well, the downwinder was a classic one and I’ll just remember to let Erick drive upwind next time so I can sit in the Jacuzzi while he freezes his @$$ off in the cold and wind!!!

Last edited by toby wilson; 04-16-2007 at 08:43 PM.
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