richshunter
Since 22 Jun 2008
11 Posts
St. Louis, MO
New Member
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 Fri Jul 11, 08 10:38 am Rufus Thursday |
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About 2:30, while I was watching the Progessive Intermediate DVD at China Gorge, I got a call that I was invited to demo a 7m kite at Rufus, if I could get there in 45 minutes.
To my surprise there were not many vehicles in the Rufus parking lot about 3:30, nor many windsurfers or kiters at Maryhill, The Wall, or Rufus (most were at The Wall). What a difference from my last visit to the Gorge in 2001, when there would have been hundreds of windsurfers and probably no kiters in those conditions. There were 7 or 8 kiters this day at Rufus, all very accomplished, with fewer windsurfers at Rufus.
While the kite was lifted into position, I felt a strong tug and yelled something like "Wait. There is too much power." Everyone nearby turned toward me, (maybe 5 kiters and windsurfers) obviously wondering why a newbe (my interpretation of their thinking) would be there in 3.8 windsurfing conditions. The kite rep wasn't worried, as he allowed me to demo a 9 and 10 the day before. So, I proceeded to give the thumbs up.
My concern, unfounded forturnately, was largely based on my previously relatively good experience in 2000 using a 3.5m Wipeka in 3.5 windsurfing conditions at the Hook. Thursday, in similar conditions, I got a great session on a 7m. Expensive session though, considering the long drive for 30 minutes of kiting, but it was well worth it.
I would have rigged a 3.8 for windsurfing after kiting, but had enough from two underpowered kite demo sessions at the Spit that morning. I could have even used a different model 7m kite that the rep set up for me while I was testing the first kite. I could have used it while he used the first one for his long session.
I don't know if I should mention the type of kite and rep in this forum, so I left that info out for now.
Well fellow kiters, I'll soon be owning 3 new kites. I am also in better physical condition from 3 weeks of kite testing, after 7 years of dancing, instead of kiting and windsurfing. So I won't have the time now to write so much, to the delight of many, I'm sure.
Rich |
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