Kitesurfing Log

28 June - Good session out at Pine harbour, powered on my 14, lots of wind, but gusty. Mark and I were loving it ! A squall came through that looked real nasty so we dropped our kites, for the duration.

27th June - Quick session out at Ihumateo Rd, heaps of wind to start with, but then it died as soon as we setup, Mark had his 20m and was curising alright, I waited for the wind to come up again, 15 mins later it arrived, I was nicely powered on my 14, and marka was overpowered and had to ditch his kite. I rode out to Pukatutu Island, and back, boosting jumps all the way ! Solid wind, very smooth, as always out here.

25th June - Surf out at Raglan ! Went for a dawnie at Raglan, 2-3 foot out at Indies, with a easterly offshore. Good fun, caught a few waves on my new board, easy board to use when I'm not fit, but Raglan really suits small shortboards..

No updates for a while, have had a few sessions, including a good one at Bramley, see the good pic of Grant, after dark !

I have finished the DVD version of the Eastside kiting video, with extra bonus oldschool footage from Scotland, Raratonga and old old old stuff from when we were learning to kite out east..

 

6 March - Rising Northerly expected during the day, up to 20 knots by midnight, we got 22+ knots by 5pm! Out at Bramley, just missed Grnt, but Mark, Phil and a few other guys were still out when I arrived at 4pm. Maxed on my 14, really windy, came in to set up max depower, still powered, got some 10m jumps in, super hangtime, not much else to do, Mark was on his 12 and came in after a while, Hamish arrived later and was just about out all by himself, got a photo or two to post up, here they come....

Friday 4th March - Was late arriving at the beach, but the wind was good at the Manukau harbour, Matt and Adam were already out, and I was gonna setup but Matt offered up his 15 for me to try, he had to go into town in a hurry, so off I went, well powered on the 15m Fuel, not much water out there, so we ended up over in the channel next to Pukatutu Island. Adam was pulling some impressive unhooked backloop kiteloops, and landing some of them, wiping out on a few too, I wasn't trying anything new, but the hangtime was great, and was enjoying being out after 2 weeks with no session. The wind has been a bit flukey, and I've had the glider out instead!

12-13th February - Went up north for the weekend, along the west coast to Kai Iwi Lakes, up past Dargaville. Good weekend away, and yes, I got to kitesurf on the lake up there, I'll post up the pics, all ready on the forum. Great location, and nice to get out in fresh water!

9th February - Out to Pine harbour, for a afternoon session, really windy, the sea breeze really came up, 20 knots this afternoon. Lit on the 14x2, Mark arrived at the same time.

13th January - Hot sunny, afternoon sea breezes

12th January - Hot sunny, afternoon sea breezes

11 th January - Finally got some summer weather been clear, hot sunny weather, with afternoon sea breezes

8th Jan - Been a while since I updated this! had a few good sessions, we have had a heap of westerly winds, and unseasonably cool and windy weather! Was NW today, like it's been the last 3 days, and Pine harbour was the venue of choice again, and everyone showed up. 15-25 knots mostly, quite choppy, but good fun, playing dodgems with kites with four of us on the water in close proximity!

5th January - Pine harbour

4th January - 8-10 knots at Bramley

17 December - Friday night session with Grant and Matt, out at Ihumateo Rd, wind was blowing 25+ when I first arrived, but when out on the water, it backed off to 15-20, and I was trying Grants 8m Aero II but underpowered all the time! (it picked up later to 30 + again after we came in! Matt let me try his new 2005 11m Slingshot Fuel, what a boosting machine, definite front line flyer, with loads of depower and power when you ride with speed, and super hangtime!! got some very big jumps even in 15-20 knots, with really good hangtime (closer to 15 mostly, had to work the kite a bit, and was getting jumps like I normally get with my 14 in 25 knots! Grant was out on his new slingy 7, which is pretty small, and he was a bit underpowered too..

7 December - Heading out to Pine harbour this arvo, good wind forecast SW 15 knots, probably end up being more. Took out the 20, but the wind was intervalling and 5-20 knots isn't the easiest with a 20m ! got some monster jumps on the gusts though, massive hangtime, and huge drift downwind (50m!) the wind settled down later after 6pm, 15-18 knots. Phil, Grant and Scott were all out!

6 December - Windy day, tail end of the nukin 45 knots in the weekend, only 30kts today, and it backed off to 15-20+ in the afternoon, great for my 14. Had a 2 hour session, Phil came in just as I was heading out, me and Grant was loving it, pretty consistent wind, not intervalling, and pumping through sometimes, got some massive boosts, and a few double lift jumps that had the wind just not putting me down again! Tried out Flat Island as well, the spit there give you some flat water, but it's too shallow even on half tide, with lots of reef just below the surface, and sharp shells, so went upwind, back up to Pine narbour beach, played for a bit longer, and Grant made it back upwind as well. Grant got a few good boosts in too, riding very confidently now!

Outlook for the weekend - Bit of rain, light wind Saturday, SW kicking in again on Sunday, will be nukin.

2nd December - Got out to Ihumateo quite early, no-one else around, high tide, waited for anyone else to come along, and finally went out all by myself, 20-25 kt wind blowing, too good to turn down! Well, Mark showed up at Ihumateo, but disappeared again, setting up, very very windy out there, at first I thought it
was too windy, then it backed off for a bit. Grant still hadn't showed so i charged out by myself, right on the limit for my 14, started at the first beach out at Im (short for Ihumateo) , not far to walk, and actually was soo powered I ended up by Ihumateo Rd(gravel rd entrance).

No one there, hit a rock out there, nice hole in my board, and
the wind backed off to 15, so big downwinder back down, wind picked
up again to 20+. Grant showed up but only armed with a 12, when he really needed a 8, it was 25 kts easy, super whitecapping... I came in after another 45 mins, hideously overpowered and getting lofted, got some king sized jumps out there!
My back was not quite recovered from yesterday, so a bit more tired today, need a few days to recover now, shoulder and legs bit sore too!

1st December - Met Grant out at Ihumateo, quite windy at first, maybe 20 kts WNW, by the time we'd walked out there, the wind had shifted and dropped away as we setup. Down to 10 knots now, but flat water. After a few puffs of 15 knots, the wind dropped away completely. Waiting another 10 minutes resulted in the wind returning, although quite NW, and a little too sheltered, but enough to try a few moves. Did one rather ambitious unhooked double backloop, to toe side to kite stack! Ended the session at just after 6pm, and the wind had picked up to 15-18 knots..As I was walking in, Grant tried to over take me, unfortunately in 1 cm of water, and a bit sideways too! skim boarding till the mud slowed him down! in fact I haven't seen him ride that fast before ! Grant was very powered on his 16 at the end there...
My back was tired, but not sore.

23rd November - Rolled up to Bramley around 4pm, wind was pumping 15-20 knots, arrived just after Scott. few thunder clouds around, but no rain yet, so nipped out for a quickie on the 14, bit gusty, but this was frontal wind weather, so it's to be expected. Tried a few toeside rail grabs, and heelside grabs, along with the usual assortment of backloops and frontside spins.. Joel arrived just as I was coming in, and he charged out on his 15m Fuel, and then the rain started, and soon after, the NW change came storming through in the space of 5 minutes, resulting in a 90 degree wind shift, and thunder and lightning.. Joel stayed out in the rain, and came in when the wind faltered. No pain the next day from my back, but I took it easy, only had a couple of small wipeouts. Riding conservatively.. rather be out on the water cruising than pull some tricks and be off the water for 2 weeks.

19th November - Out to Manukau harbour for high tide straight after work, sunny day, 18-22 knots ( maxing out my 14!) , flat water fun! Met Joel there, and Scott and Grant turned up soon after. Only went out for 20 minutes, but good fun, lots of hangtime! Being very restrained to avoid hurting myself. Joel was going hard with backloop kiteloops. No back discomfort the next day or the day after.

12 November - Well got back on the water yesterday, knew today was the day from 7am, cause the NE was already 5 knots at 7am ! Wind built during the day, and I couldn't leave work fast enough, and cruise down to the beach! mark and Joel were out at Eastern, but a bit underpowered. I gave them the hustle to get out to Bramley (which was already definately windier than Eastern, cuase I drove there first to check it out! Anyway, all gathered down at Bramley, I was first out, and ok powered on the V4, and dealing to a few gusts over the glendowie side! Beaut summer day, super warm water, and whitecaps up the tamaki ! We were joined by Phil and 2 other learner guys too, making it the most crowded I've seen for a while! Super hangtime on my 20, and the quick turning caught me out sometimes, the kite was already in the power zone and pulling hard before I landed and set my edge! Good power out of transitions, and 15 knots was about the limit for me, even fully depowered it was pulling hard with the bar out against the stop! Came in after I stacked myself in a jump, and pulled a muscle. The wind stayed around all evening, it was 7pm when I left.. good session, and not feeling to bad the next day either! Had a bit of a bad back hangover 2 days later, over strained my upper back (lower back ok)

11 November - First session back on the water for several months, and my back going into relapse with another spasm, muy chiropractor has me sorted. Went out with Mark to Pine harbour, for a bit of a light wind session on my 20m V4. only 5-10 knots, but enough sometimes to gt going ok, did one floaty jump. The wind was a rather standard intervalling Westerly, which lulled and then got up again. Never quite blew consistently. Mark tried my V4 and was impressed. It's quick enough to powerloop on transitions and rather like my 14 in its turning.

Monday 30th July - NE wind out at Eastern, good for an atfernoon session! Bit rainy on and off, but good wind, between 12 and 18 knots, on low incoming tide! I met up with Scott who couldn't decide which kite to put up, but eventually went with his 12 as a few rainy squalls were coming through, and Joel turned up later, after the wind had sorted itself and settled to 15 knots or so. Matt (the Challenger dude) showed up late for the last gasp of wind before it got dark, and was trying some new stuff. Joel was going well with his 15 '04 Slingshot, and Scott was going ok, if a little underpowered. I was not really taking it easy, as I was going for big frontside rotations with grabs and toesiding and big backloop transitions, but I survived! Gona take a break from kiting till at least October (maybe the 12th?! :-) , to full rest my back, and get a big kite sorted for summer (most important!)

28th July - Turned up late at Bramley, again, perfect high tide this time. been raining all day, but it stopped for me to go for a quick sesh! Joel had just finished his day of kiting, Eastern beach and Bramley had been good all day! It was about 15-20+ knots, well powered on my wavetray, and boosting big! Got a couple of double lift super floaty jumps that caught me out, and plenty of flat water to blast on. Tried Joels slingshot board, which is wide, short and about the same weight as my wavetray, bit slower board than my wavetray, even though its wider, the wavetray made me feel a lot more powered! Played with Joels new toy? his Naish Stubbie 115, very short, rather bouncy, and narrow stance, and needed more power to really go well with this board. Got some moves in, and packed up before it got dark.

26th July - Session in super light Bramley northerly, met up with Joel, and tried his Slingshot kite, very nice, good power for a 15. The wind was barely 8-11 knots, but joel was making it up wind, I was jumping but not making it upwind. dead flat water and outgoing tide, Had a quick run with Joels kite, it turns sweetly, and jumps well, but the low end for me was a little better than my 14, jumping wise, but upwind its probably better at the low end, there was really stuff all wind and the slingshot would top out heaps earlier from the feel of it. Joel had some good tail grabs and inverted backloops going on! Packed up as it was getting dark, and the wind faltered.

14th July - Yet another winter NE wind, I finished at 2.30pm, but Mark, Grant and Scott had already been out at Eastern beach earlier in the day, and Scott and Mark showed up after me at Bramley, on the high tide, to continue their day long session, 6 hours on the water!
The wind was good, 14-18 knots just fine for my 14, and Mark put his 12 up as usual. Scott had his new PL G-arc 15, but had problems with trim and got dragged downwind, before dropping the kite, and then getting a bowtie situation with the kite, and swimming in. Mark and I both charged till it got dark, the wind didn't back off, unlike the summer northerlies that fizzle out by 6pm, this one was not seabreeze induced.

10th July - We've had a SE wind all week, and it swung enough for a session at sandspit, bit too much E in it, but there was enough wind, that was the main thing, there was anything up to 25 kts. Dragged a new guy Matt out here, and he tried his 16m Toro briefly, but it was right on the limit for his kite. Mark was doing ok out on his 12, and his FD 138 and the direction allowed us to romp along the glass near the beach, and carve up and down the water on the offshore side, great fun!
Mark was just trying to stay upwind most of the time, but was getting the odd jump or two, we are identical weight, and with my 14 and WT combo, I seem to have a little more upwind ability.

27th June - Had a primo session at Bramley, first since March! Only went out for half an hour, but everyone else had already been out for a couple of hours at Eastern beach, and then setup again out at Bramley on the rising northerly. had 20 knots while I was out there, then later it picked up to 30 knots, and everyone had pretty much worn themselves out by then! Grant came down, and managed to loose his board during the squall and got teabagged downwind with his 8m AeroII, and I ran over to help him out. Joel was out there going big, and so was Mark, pulling some nice frontside 540 transitions. There were a few other guys too, one guy (Paul) who ended up losing his board in a similar way to Grant, but got blown way downwind, and lost his board. The other guy (Phil) who I had met out at Pine harbour a few times (drives a Fiat Punto) was getting going for the first time today, in the ideal conditions. Good to get out on the water again, but my bodys feeling pretty sore now, I am soo unfit!

21st March - Organised Mark, Alan and Susan to me out at our new spot, with a rising WSW wind, 10 knots, and made the trip out there, perfect weekend, sunny all the time and 22 degrees! Initially it was 10 knots then built to 12, Alan tried out his new Rhino 2 18 while Mark made do with his 12 X2 and one of my ply boards. I was too underpowered to use my 14 so waited. Susan was up and away on Alans board, and then Al was left with no board to ride. I offered my wavetray if he let me have a go on his Rhino2.. Al was well powered in 12 knots, charging around, then after a while he came back in and I stole his kite for a bit, boosting all the way downwind a bit. Quite a different kite, you can ride with almost as much speed as an X2 and it doesn't produce lots of power till you are up to speed, but still has enough low down grunt. Different jumping technique with this kite too. Lots and lots of hangtime, and very predictable. After another half hour after I gave Alan his kite back, the wind picked up we got 15-18 knots, perfect for my 14, me and Mark were going ballistic, and Alan had to go in, as he was too powered to hold the 18!! Styles of the day for Mark were boardoffs, and for me it was indy grab front loops...Great session till around 4pm, when the tide was a long way out, *high tide was 11am. Mint spot with good butter smooth wind. 10/10 session~!

20th March - Had a wicked headache this afternoon, had to work out how to get to the Ihumateo Stonefields for a kitesurf. The wind was about 15 knots, SW perfect for the manukau harbour, not much wind out east. Bit of hike out to the new beaches, and I'm the first kiter out here, christening the beach! I name it "Imapotato North" ! Despite going away for a year, I'm still pioneering the spots in Auckland!! It was supposed to be high tide at 8.20pm so when I went out the tide was good, at around 1pm, so the tide was pushing out, helping me stay powered and upwind. Dead smooth wind, and soft sand/mud bottom, and waist deep water make it a primo spot! It's like the NZ version of Maui (but not gusty!)..2 hour session, then chilled out in the grass behind the beach waiting to see if Alan and Susan were going to turn up. Unfortunately Al and Susan didn't show till 4pm, even though I called them at 12.30 ! Chilled out session, just a few slo mo spins and grabs, lots of speed runs, all the way out to Puketu island, ! feel better now, no headache!

14th March - Had a few windless days, but we have a sea breeze today, 8-15 knots, and Mark and I went out to Pine harbour, the wind was up and down, not great wind, and I was struggling on my 14, but Mark was on his 12! I borrowed Marks 20m Aero for a play, and was going alright, overpowered at some points, and managed a few good jumps, but not getting up wind very well. Very easy kite to fly. Wind dropped by 5pm. Nice relaxing muck around, got a bit adventurous and did a unhooked backspin monkey grab one handed thing, followed by a kiteloop which almost ended in disaster near the rocks! Got a bit of practice relaunching the 14, I haven't dropped it for a while, I remember the trick now, it actually goes into the relaunch shape and ready to take off no where near the edge of the wind window!

6th March - Straight off the plane and into some kitesurfing! Caught a ride with Mark to Bramley beach, just down the road, 10-20 knots of wind

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