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