amazing weekend in high wind

this weekend proved to be the most adventurous and amazing ...3 days in a raw 9m kite 20 - 30 kts
best thing about kitesurfing vs windsurfing is accessibility of flat water and playing in shallows ...might be dangerous but hey its fun.  St Kilda pond was perfect ..question of smaller kite came up and maybe add a 6m..9m Fuse was a handful but perfect for upwind ..no dramas ....

Self launching was a drama and technique needs improvement...pulling the bottom line and getting the kite under control must be practiced. also put sand to weigh the kite down in high wind.

Key learning points:

• launching slowly with pulling bottom line
• sliding transition kite on opposite side to new direction first
• Edging with foot sliding down in high wind
• shoulders out hand extend

Upwind and epic last day @ Rosebud

Finally cracked the upwind puzzle at Rosebud in 20-30knots of wind, 3 hours in the water with Joseph .11m Rebel flew beautifully with 133cm TT. and a kitecrashed as we were trying to get selfie and tear the canopy..poor girl
.now this is done what's next..

• transitions
• boosting
• kite loops

Learning Steps

1.overhead stability - 70%
3.Up wind body drag - 50%
5. ride outside rail -60%
6. sign with 10 to 11 (narrow range) - 70%
6.2 Stop flying the kite in other direction - 95%
7. overhead at 12 without looking at the kite - 75%
8. Ride without looking at the kite 80%
9. twist your body towards the direction of ride -70%
10. looping medium winds 8m
11. looping light winds 12m/11m both directions 50%
12. looping wide arc 8m
13. looping light wind water start
14. Self land 4 line kite - pull front lines and then pull top front line - 30%
15. Launching kite from left - both hands - 50%
16. balance on board with even foot pressure - 60%
17. Water start with double sine - 80%
18. Chop handling - 50%


Learning Priorities
1.Upwind body drag -50%
2.Self launch on left side - 50%
3.Surf board with back leg in front of foot straps - 50%

Deep water board recovery

• grab board with one whilst keeping the kite at 12
• if you loose the board first control your kite and keep it at 12 with minimum pull
• if the board doesn't float back upwind body drag to board
• On a twin tip or surf board keep feet in the straps when you fall off

Self Launching Gone Wrong

There is a really stupid way to self launch
Without line tension and both hand on the bar there is no control

1. Medium depower setting
2. Pull back lines enough to get line tension
3. pull bar to feel the tension
4. move upwind
5. pull more backline to stand the kite
6. feel the tension on all lines and check lines
7. both hands on the bar
8. slowly move up
9. pull back hand or lower line to get kite back on the the ground

Practice pulling lower line 

5 strut performance kites

Interesting Friday afternoon session in St Kilda pond, gusty as hell, raining and the forecast was shit.
11m Rebel and 133 TT - liquid force recoil.

Never thought there is so much difference in performance when a kite is as powerful and rock solid as a North rebel. Once you learn to harness the power then it's a beauty. Compared to 3 struct Reo and 1 strut Mono this one pull like a 2$ hooker. Main problem with this type of kite is when the wind is gusty you have to actively fly the kite overhead rather than just park it. Kite doesn't fall back in low winds like a 3 strut so you should always maintain line tension and make sure kite is not dropped causing an inversion. That said this only a beginners problem.

Key takes from the session in St Kilda

• Do not launch with full depower as you cannot steer the kite
• Keep both hands and line tension when self launching
• Try to park the kite once get going.  Sining creates power but also pulls downwind. Strike a balance between power and upwind performance.  More sining means more edging to avoid going downwind.  keep the board flat when starting, once planning slow down kite movement and edge upwind

On the subject of board, new 133cm TT worked well with the 11m Rebel.  Interesting to see how it will perform with 12m Mono.  Now I question board size vs kite type.  Is it better to have a bigger board or kite that has more pull and upwind? In some ways this session takes be back to basics in terms of rethinking kite type, size and board size.

Kite looping with high aspect 11m

Compared to 8m Reo this kite takes wide arch and generate so much more power. Reo 8m turns on a very tight circle and in fact you need to widen  the circle to generate power. With the 11m Rebel you really need to crank the bar to get it loop but once looping it generate so much more power

Key takes for the next session

• Self launch with 1/3 depower
• Even pressure on both feet once planing
• Park kite at 45 - more lift 
• Slow smooth sining once get going
• Twist your body and look where you are going
• Move the kite overhead with one hand

two days in a row in Rosebud

finally had enough of kitesurfing ...Two days in Rosebud

Key lessons

• Don't stay close to the beach when water starting or low wind sining
• Keep lines tight when walking up the beach
• don't go downwind when the kite is at 12 clock or kite will hindenburg
• When inverted QR and recover - don't try to launch in water
• check QR and make sure its tight
• Bend your knees when overpowered , have weight on both feet

5 hour winter session

this is by far the longest non stop session I've ever had kite-surfing or windsurfing and it's winter. what made session possible:

1. 5mm wetsuit 
2. loads of food before ...rice oats, saising, energy drink,coffee
3. fitness

Need to work on 

1. leg endurance
2. shoulder endurance
3. abs

kiting wise pretty good session want to work on the following

1. board positioning on water start - get both legs on the board before digging into foot straps

2. keep one hand on the footstrap and bend knees 

3. look at the kite not board

Technique

1. did more of the front foot pressure in light winds
2. signing kite didn't work , must have a short sin from 9-11 rather than 12

Next session

1. work on getting the board positioned
2. short sin on one side of the window
3. Don't look at the kite
4. Twist your body and look where you are going

During the week

1. focus on leg endurance - Tuesday and Thursday
2. shoulders - more dips
3. meditate

Cold water swim

Today I was trying to kite but no wind so ended up swimming...ok had 4/3 wet suite but interesting to note that swimming in 10c is nit that bad...yes if you immerse you head and do freestyle its painful but fine for breaststroke though.  This could be dangerous and no more than 20 minutes should be allocated to cold water specially if no one if monitoring you

Bye bye Twin Tip

Ok selling my twinie today , against advise
No point having a 140X43 board for future , much better to have a surfboard/foil for light winds.  For high winds buy another one later. Only properly been on the board once but that's enough. If you only have a surf board you have no choice but to learn. Lets see how how this goes

Seaweed in ELwood

Tried to Kite in Elwood and learned couple of lessons

First, avoid self launching when there's ton of seaweed. When it get stuck to your line will take an hour to get rid and that's actually how long it too me. Second if the wind is too low so the kite doesn't stand up from direct downwind position don't try to self launch.

On the positive, if it's 15 knots Elwood will be a nice place. Grass to fold the kite,  showers and Deep water for foiling. Can't wait for the next session in Elwood

Surfboard first go

what a change coming from a twin tip a surf board. Biggest challenge was not on riding the damn thing but water starting.  Without a handle to place board and pull yourself in board keeps wobbling and no friction. Problem is when the kite is at 12 no horizontal force on the board.  SO the trick is to to move the feet quickly and while moving the kite with.  Few tips:

1. Move the kite overhead bit pulled in 
2. plant both feet bottom part of the board so board turn on its tip 
3. no need to fully insert feet into foot straps
4. dive the kite as so as feet on the board
5. drive down wind with your front foot
6. carve upwind once get going

anther issue was floaty surfboards fly over water too fast so turn your hips and edge the board upwind to slow down

that was not the biggest issue of the day

North Rebel 2013 11m ended up on tree..??

Lessen learned ...keep an eye on the kite when close to beach specially with a heavy kite like Rebel. I dont think Mono would fall out of the sky like like that

Kite lines...hate it and absolute nightmare....spend more untangling lines than flying ...tips

1. fold lines tightly when taking the bar homes
2. when untangling do not pull lines in a way that all lines tangles to ball...better STRETCH the lines all the way first and then separate the outside lines so the centre lines don't get tangled
3. always do the five point check ..always

nearly self launched the kite with 4 lines...

getting on the board and narrow beach

big session in Rosebud.  Great location for NW breaze but this is on the lighter side.

First the Kite- new Mono 12m...what a difference ..so easy to pump and the standard north pump works without any stupid adapters, one strut makes it so easy to pump even a 12 m..so what are the pluses and minuses

Plus

• easy pumping
• light
• low end
• Light wind
• depower

minus

• flutter like crazy
• self launching needs bit more angle to get the kite filled in 

Verdict

Great kite for lighter days and 12 and above batter choice than Neo?

Now getting on the board

failed on getting technique nailed

• board too square to wind
• not enough pressure on back foot
• shoulders too far back
• kite goes to opposite side 

Key takes for next session

• Roll on to the board with shoulders forward
• pressure on back foot and point board downwind
• get kite back to 10-11 rather than 12

Deep water struggles

Ok, I must admit that its not that easy to do stuff in the deep water.  Body dragging in the deep water is not fun because you get water in the ears and it boring.  Here's the problem with starting as beginner in a sport when you are already advanced windsurfer.  Who wants to drag in the water.  Few things learned:

1. Keep the kite up -45 - when body dragging and specially light wind.  Do not get the kite down when light wind
2. Self landing a 5 line kite - finally did the self landings in 18 knots and it works.  Aggressively pull the 5 line is the key and keep pulling even if the kite doesn't land 

Deep Water Water Start

My first day water starting in deep water.  Thought I had more kite control than the level I actually had.  One of the main problems in deep water getting on the board is loosing your board so it's a good idea to keep closer to the beach rather than trying to get it in one hit.  So here are my key lessons:

1. Focus on one direction at a time
2. Do not swing the kite opposite directly, rather move up and down in a sin motion
3. let the kite pull you on to the board rather than using the arms
4. Wait until on the board before straightening your legs
5. First go downwind before trying to edge

All in all need  more time controlling the kite with board on feet before trying full on board.

1. control the kite while on board without looking at the kite
2. slowly drift towards one side with partial down strokes
3. As soon as on the board get kite to 12 o clock and fall back
4. Need to master above without looking at the kite

First Try water start

did as the instructions said..
take the board to knee deep water and slowly increase power ..idea is not to superman so you have more time practicing getting the power stroke right ...as a beginner you don't have a feel for the right power ...this takes a while and acquiring this skill in stages makes sense rather than trying to do it in one go..
So the key learning objective is kite control whilst having a board under your feet...once you master the this you can focus more on getting on the board..

1. board downwind (side kick towards the kite)
2. let yourself get pulled by the harness rather than arms
3. bend your knees

Important to go deep enough in one direction so you have room to practice on the other direction

mistakes...

1. board not downwind
2. kite not back up to 12 

First time water start on my own

No need to introduce what I'm trying to do here...water start...
After researching many hours on what's the best way to start water start I have the following steps:

1. In knee deep water put board between on and keep the kite overhead 1 and 11...move slow with first both hands and then with one hand...idea is controlling the kite while drifting down wind with a board.  Prerequisite would be downwind drifting without the board.  Here one hand control in important as the board could move away.  Tips...Keep line tension, let the pull from harness, light overhand grip
2. In knee deep water dive the kite lightly to one side and back up to 12...important to get the kite up to 12 before doing the next dive ..it's a bad habit to learn swinging the kite straight after other direction as this will slow down the board going in one direction. Also before the next dive control the kite....Key word CONTROL.  Feel the pull of the kite from harness and not arms.  Now increase the dive gradually until you stand on the board. Once one the board take kite to 12 and fall back in water. Keep knees bent.Do this for both directions. Roll onto the board rather than pull on to the board with arms
3. Now dive the kite and angle the board down wind...but instead of getting the kite to 12 sine the kite in one direction. Focus on kite pulling form harness and front leg straight
4. Now focus on stance - shoulders back front leg straight ...once get going with planing try to edge upwind

Tips

1. Feel harness pull
2. Light overhand grip
3. Board downwind
4. Knees bent
5. Tension on lines

Common mistakes

1. No line tension when kite parked on 12 - kite will fly out of the window and crash
2. Legs straight rather than bent - board will skid sideways on water
3. Board sideways - will skid side ways on water
4. Pulling from arms - superman over board - no control
5. front leg not straight - board will sink or no planning

Can you teach old dogs new tricks?

I was pondering on this since started kitesurfing maily becuase to learn anything cool you have to take some risks.  See how many people ride their bike but so few kitesurf, motor bike or any extreme sport. To be successful in extreme sports you got be able to take risks.  Risk taking is not an exact science when it comes to sport.  Most of us grew up taking risks but never analysed it intellectually...for good or bad.  Once we older our cautiousness and analytical side get in the way of learning as we think more than we do. This is true of all our activities...jobs, relationships and travelling included. But mostly a big negative impact of learning when risk taking is a necessary and fun part of the activity.   Its your choice...live a life without fast food, drugs or anything considered risky or have an interesting life though shorter...
How do you apply this practically...start by asking a basic question everytime you are faced with a risky out of the Cfort zone situation.  Can I act now and think later...?

Kite looping

I have been wondering about kite looping for a while..not as a freestyle trick but to generate apparent wind is a scenario where the prevailing wind is not enough to plan.  There seems to be two types of loops:

1. Forward loop
2. Back loop

Difference is forward loop, loop the kite upwards to generate power while the back loop drive the kite down to generate power.  It's easy to explain these moves than actually doing them.  So what learning steps can we do:

1. Looping with a trainer kite
2. Looping with a small kite in low wind
3. Looping while on a board
4. Looping while boosting

Like most things in kite surfing it's hard to bridge the gap between theory and practice as there are few safe options to practice.  Most kiters learn the tricks when they are young and stupid rather than learn them from theory. That's true for most Adrenalin sports say dirt bikes and skate boarding, how many tricks old people learn? Can't teach new tricks to old dogs....

Tips on Self Launch and Landing

Last post I have provided the detailed steps and since then I have tried the steps. Here's my thoughts

Self Launch

1. Do not come too forward and keep the tension
2. Use both hands and control the kite with top hand
3. Steer the kite down first before getting up to 12

Self Land

1. With a five line kite - first touch the wingtip on ground before pulling
2. Pull red line 3 handfuls
3. If the kite drift downwind keep pulling so only 5th loaded
4. In high wind punch out from 12
5. With 4 line - from 2 o clock drop down whilst pulling the back bottom line

Training self launching and landing

Have been training self launch and land and few surprises.  First is the self launch. No dramas except the fact that if you pull the top steering line too quickly kite will fall back and loop.  This could be really dangerous in a crowded beach.  So as a safety check first stabilize the kite on first.

Self launching steps:

1. Turn rear wing slightly into wind
2. Depower from adjustment (not fully)
3. Walk upwind with lines tensioned slightly so they don't tangle
4. Check lines and pull back line once close to 45 upwind
5. As the kite turn take step forward so front wingtip upright
6. stand kite on wingtip and check lines
7. Steer the kite from top hand only while keeping the other hand lightly on the bar
8. Bring kite up-to 11 or 1 and walk towards water
9. Once in the water check de-power and adjust

Key step is that before pulling the kite check lines and see if the wind is string enough to fly by moving the kite slightly up. Move the kite back on to wingtip if the wind is not string enough

Another method to use in case the kite is slipping downwind on the sand is to put some sand on the leading edge close to you.

Self landing had it's own problems.  First you have to be committed and when the kite hit the ground you should pull the red 5th line at least two full hand lengths.  problem with this is all this extra rope can tangle the lines over the bar and soon a kitemare.  if the kite take off in this position it will be quite dangerous and you might not be able to activate QR.  Another trick to land the kite and make it to fall on face is by pulling the back line

No Wind

Time to write post complaining about wind ..why not ..everyone loves to complain so it's just my turn

So in Melbourne we have been without wind for a long time..actually there is wind but it's gusty offshore wind coming form either East or North.  Problem with type of wind is it's not suitable for beginners and you could fin yourself easily in trouble and no one there to help. No one seems to be enjoying on this conditions as the beaches were practically empty of kitesurfers.  One wonders whether kitesurfing in normal place like Melbourne is a loosers game..just think ..How many days a year can you kite/ Is that enough to compensate for the equipment cost and training...and also all the trouble we get when we go home late?

Maybe virtual kite surfing will come one day in the future so we don't have to rely on the whether but then whole fun and frustration of wind sports rely on unpredictable conditions...

Trimming the kite with depower

There's so much confusion about kite trimming that its easy to assume most people don't know what it means and how to use it. Experienced kiters have no idea either as they think they know.

Posture and arm length 
Ok, first things first...the de-power ropes or lines are used mainly  to adjust the position of the bar not changing the angle of attack. In short if you are struggling to maintain a good posture with a relaxed grip then adjust the strap so the bar is closer or further away. Now that this done let look at the second reason.

Back line tension
Without adequate back line tension you cannot steer  the kite - try steering the kite with full depower. So you have to tension the back lines by extending the front lines

Maximum depower 
Third reason to adjust the depower is how soon you fully depower in gusty conditions for safety.  After the back lines are slack any more depower is completely useless and it takes longer to take control of the kite

This discussion is also about trimming for launching. Do not fully depower for launch as it makes it difficult to steer plus if the kite swings to across the wind wind it will generate more power on the upstroke 

Water Start Learning Steps

So many people have tried water start if different ways...lets say the best steps

First prerequisites

1. Upwind body dragging
2. On hand kite control
3. power stroke body dragging

Now that you covered the above try below steps

1. Knee deep water keep kite stationary- short figure 8 -with the board on feet
2. Knee deep water power stroke from 12 and and feel the pull on harness - if you feel the pull on arms something is wrong
3. power stroke from 1 or 11 and let you pulled on to the board and then take kite to 12 and land on your back. ensure bar is not pulled. Keep knees bent. Do both side
4. Once step 3 is mastered you have a good idea of how much power is needed to get you on the board
5. Now do step 3 while positioning the board down wind and extending your front leg
6. now instead of getting the kite to 12 sin the kite or get the kite down. Get the kite quicker if you loos momentum

Tips

• Point the board down wind
• Point the front feet at the kite
• Don't pull the bar
• Point slightly upwind if the lines get slack - meaning getting too close to the kite

If you fail in either of the steps go back and practice the earlier step

Problem with Wind Sports

I thought I'll write something about the wind sports in general after a disappointing session yesterday ..waiting for wind.  Well it was forecast to be 10-15 knots south east meaning I thought I could at least get the kite up in the air..but no no wind close to the beach. If you went out far enough you'd probably get enough wind but this is not an option.  So let me try to formulate the problem first...problem with wind is its forecast both for strength and direction.(and time of day) ..if you working full time or have other family commitments you can't just bu out on the beach waiting for wind...just need to get going...so unless you are on holiday variation of wind 4/5 knots mean you are not on the water ...after paying for and thousand $$ on equipment and training now your sitting at home or waiting for wind...so here what you can do to minimize this risk and be on the water as much as possible.

• Get equipment with a bigger wind range.  Say some of the foil kites like Flysurfer speed 12 m can have a wind range of 10-20 knots. This is a huge range and your probability of hitting this range is relatively high but you need skill at the either end of the spectrum.  
• Have spare gear that is easy to change.  Its always easier to change the board than sail/kite so keep an extra big board or foil board that  can be used if the wind drops
• Learn low wind and overpowered kiting.  Most people don't have enough skill to keep the kite up and go upwind when the low for a given kite size.  Next time when the wind drop don't just come in - stay out closer to shore and practice 
• Get out when the wind is enough rather than waiting for the upper limit of the forecast. After all a forecast is just a forecast so get out when you can and change later if you have to

After years of windsurfing the lesson I learned is it's better to get sometime in the water than analysis on the beach

Kite control before deep water

Here are my thought's about the priorities and learning if you don't have a partner to launch and rescue

1. Relaunching without touching ground
2. Relaunching light wind
3. Relaunching with the board
4. One handed relaunch
5. Relaunching with waves
6. Relaunching after QR
7. Self rescue
8. Sand surfing

Ok here I'm sitting at my desk Monday morning writing a blog...if you want to learn kite surfing or anything you need the correct environment setup first..

1. safety
2. fail without damage or cost
3. fail and know and know why you fail

Well the third point is important as failing itself is not enough to learn something quickly...you should know why you fail and this will provide feedback for learning further

Why deep water at all if you cannot control your kite properly..well the thought is that deep water train your brain to handle the extra stress and improve problem solving skills because you are constantly moving with the current ...relaunching without touching the ground is much harder than I thought before specially when the wind strength is marginal
What's idea here? Well if you want to learn riding on the board you need disaster recovery and relaunch under your belt first.  Relaunch is easy while in knee deep water but while swimming against a current its a different kettle of fish altogether.  Know your limitations and plan conditions to try going on the board.

17/09/2017 update---
Relaunching is harder in deep water if you don't have a board to create resistance against the pull of the kite. Square your board and aggressive pull on one line whilst keeping the bar out.  as the kite comes out of the water release line slowly and lean back against the board so you won't get lifted up.  In strong winds steer the kite to the edge on the wind window before launching.
In really light winds try pulling the 5th line to make kite fall on its back.  In shallow water run towards the kite whilst pulling the font lines.