Manzo Weekend

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4907 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Fun weekend - nice waves on Sat (sorry no pics) - small waves but glorious day Sun.

colby · Since 23 Apr 2005 613 Posts Celebrity Photographer

you guys suck! Wink

can you make it tmrw also or is it back to being responsible?

pacifichigh · Since 11 May 2005 1004 Posts ATX Texan

Saturday was lots of fun out there until I destroyed my ribs (again). The vicadin made transformers better though!

Onad · Mon Jul 09, 07 5:17 am

Tonski snapped a few pics on Saturday. Killer day at MANZO!! Cool

Bummer about the ribs PH...

Bettyboarder · Mon Jul 09, 07 7:10 am

Sweet picts looks like you guys had fun.

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1873 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

Ahhh.....Manzo....wind....sun...

-nice job! Cool

smokey · Since 24 May 2005 47 Posts Portland, OR

Great weekend at the coast. Surfing in the a.m. at short sands and kiting in the afternoon at Manzo! Very Happy

I am still trying to get the technique for going down the line in the onshore conditions. As soon as I head right down the line to try to hit the lip, the kite races forward in the window and I lose all power. Can any of the Manzo vets out there offer some pointers for keeping down the line speed?

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1210 Posts Seaside BRACKISH

Pretty tough to get back to the wave face in WNW at Manzo but three techniques work.

One (regular stance/down the line), drive the bottom turn way out in front of the wave (more than u think u should). This lets you return back to the wave w/enough speed to either make a move, or if the wave is walling up too fast, get smacked like a truck Twisted Evil

- it is important that as you return to the wave face, start pulling hard back on the kite so it returns to the window. At Manzo, this will create a lot of power so be ready for the kite's power and the wave's. Your heel turn will typically not be at the top of the wave as it is breaking due to the wind direction but lower down and will drive you left up the beach.

Two (regular stance/down the line), same as One but search for waves outside that have more of a southerly direction (lately we've had SW/NW mixed sets so that helps) and this will help getting back to the wave face.

Three (regular or goofy), Go LEFT!! Many of the sandbars at Manzo offer great upwind lefts that can be skated on, aerialled, and fun spins and rotations off of. Gusty and strong winds can blow you right up on the beach or in dangerously shallow water - goes without saying.

Hope this helps - have fun!

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

To keep speed going down the line you can either sine the kite left and right (right if you're doing bottom turn and left if you're smacking the lip). You should keep the kite moving one step ahead of the board. If you need to go downwind even faster downlooping the kite can help a lot too. When downlooping make sure the kite comes out the direction you want to head next. Finally, switching to a surf style board (if you're not riding one) can work wonders for keeping the speed going. Then you might actually be happy you lost power in the kite since you can do a nice surf style turn on the wave with just the board speed and power back up once the turn is completed and you start edging again.

gabe · Since 16 May 2005 475 Posts Obsessed

Just sounds like you’re not turning the kite for your bottom turn. The onshoreness of manzo is grossly exaggerated, but you still typically need to turn kite toward the wave (or at least up) for bottom turn, and redirect back toward the beach before the top. Pretty typical wave technique, but not park and ride. If you aren’t on a surfboard then you would need to swing the kite lower and more powered. I have never experienced a condition there that was remotely “tough to get back to the wave face” after a bottom turn (regular foot) but everyone has a different opinion on that place. If you actually are turning the kite for bottom turn, but having the problem you mentioned, then probably underpowered, not flying kite low enough, not keeping up with the kite in the bottom turn (overflying), or have too small of a board. Try to watch some good wave kiting videos—educational, humbling, and motivating.

gabe · Since 16 May 2005 475 Posts Obsessed

gene, get to the beach. you're already late.

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Awesome!

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4907 Posts Portland Unstrapped

scottnorby · Mon Jul 09, 07 6:58 pm

Down loop on the bottom turn, down loop on the top turn.
It allows you a moment to time your carve off the bottom without spinning out. ...and then you get a big burst as you are heading back up.

The down turn right before you turn off the lip allows you time to carve off the lip with just the board speed and no kite pull.

Sometimes you can just keep it looping and time your turns between the down loops when the power fades.

Just my opinion and choice of style. And I ride lower aspect kites than most. But it might work for others?