KB4C was off the hook!

MW · Since 09 Jan 2006 186 Posts Hood River, Oregon Stoked

It was not only a great day but great weekend as the buzz just kept going around. It should definitely be an annual event, and I am sure it will only keep increasing participants and money raised. It shouldn't stop there either, as I think there can never be enough events and I think the NW is proving that its kite community is as strong as anywhere in the world. Props to Tonia, Garrett, and Greg, all the vendors, and volunteers for an amazing event and great energy.

Bettyboarder · Mon Aug 27, 07 10:26 am

Here's some picts my sis took at the event...the dunk tank was a hit with the kids.

colby · Since 23 Apr 2005 613 Posts Celebrity Photographer

the NW kite community is unbelievable! keep the pics and/or video coming!

mystrygrl · Since 07 Sep 2006 95 Posts PDX/HR - What day is it?

Wow... ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL EVENT!!!

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

Great job guys/gals. Thx for sharing the pix.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

did you have any problems with the glide pearling on the downwind sections?

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

boarderchick · Since 10 Aug 2007 196 Posts Wherever there's wind:-) Stoked

OK, should have originally posted under Kodiak's post. Oops!

What can I say, what an amazing day. Blue skys (some clouds), lots of sun, wind (up and down), kiting for a GREAT CAUSE, music, food, fellow kiters on the water and the list goes on....

Everyone did a fantastic job, whether you finished first or last, kited some of the day or all of the day, the awesome thing is that everyone kited for one reason or another today and it was just so wonderful seeing so many kiters on the water together, beautiful scenery.

An especially loud Shout Out to all the riders who kited the entire 7 hours without breaks. Absolutely unbeliveable that they were out there on the water so long. HipHip Hooray! There were quite a few of you who did this, and it was a pleasure to be on the water with you the whole day, and feel the energy from you all!

Oh, and we cannot forget all the volunteers who worked their little booties off all day! Great Job!

Thanks to Garret and Tonia for starting something that will problaby continue for many years to come! Appreciate all the hardwork you put into the event. Good times.

Thanks also to all the sponsors, phew, lots of great things given away today. I've gotta say, SLINGSHOT always comes though BIG!

:astly, wow to the donors for the silent auction. There was such a wide variety of items in the tent today. Some amazing artwork, a really sweet table, clothes, spa items, vacation accomodations, and the list goes on. Just sweet to have all these people donate for KB4C.

Oh my gosh, almost forgot, Katie and her oh so scrumptious food. Thanks so much Katie for catering the volunteer dinner, that was absolutely delicious! Also, thanks for donating your time to the BBQ today. Go Jetty Island Kite Shop. WoooHooo!

I can't imagine what next year is going to be like.

Congratulations to everyone!

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

I started on the 9m and a slingshot fuse. Then I saw Phil pass me on the glide and I started kicking myself for not having it sitting on the beach to swap out. I think Phil got 5 or 6 laps in for my first 3. Janet was able to grab my board and put it on the beach, so when I switched out the the glide it made a HUGE difference. The Fuse is a great board, and goes upwind very well one direction, but it is no Glide. That thing made a huge difference. Once I switched I went from 4 or 5 tacks upwind to 1 or 2. I only wish I switched earlier.

That thing was a beast going downwind though. The worst part for me was my left thigh would really start to burn on the downwinders. You had to put a ton of backleg pressure to make sure the board didn't nose over on the downwind section.

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

Yeah, I was on a 9m with my shittly little twin-tip. Water in the face, and slogging though the lulls.....
Very Happy

After lunch (yes, I stopped to eat lunch) I got out the surfboard w/o straps...WOW, my lap time was cut in half, and this is when the wind was lighter...same kite. Even when I botched some jibes....my laps were significantly quicker!!!

Twisted Evil

What a cool event...it was technical, fun, and you really had to pick you line and make sure you stayed powered...eventually I was making it up to the bridge in 2 tacks..

tonyb · Tue Aug 28, 07 10:08 am

I was on a 9m Waroo all day and a Spleene 141 which is a lot like the glide. Same comments as Phil - lousy foot straps, rock hard pads, and definately don't ride it flat going downwind. I got slammed down a couple of times because I didn't keep the nose up. Constant transition from heel to toeside worked best. I figure I made the bridge in one tack about 75% of the time, then one more tack to the bouy. Late in the day when it got lighter I had to do an extra short tack in the middle to get far enough upwind to glide down through the lulls below Wells. (that hole up there with no wind sucked!)

I had the same feeling watching Cory come up on me as Phil did!!! Out of nowhere here comes this dark green kite, hauling ass, pointing just a little higher into the wind than I could go. About every 5th or 6th lap I'd start looking over my shoulder wondering when he was going to lap me again!

It looks like a directional board is really the thing to use in the type of conditions we had Saturday. Alex, who got third, and started almost an hour after me, was riding an SRT and hauling ASS on it. He said the down wind run was super easy as he didn't have to worry about pearling.

Definately some strategy in this type of race! Looking forward to next year!!!

Tony

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Cory (surfboard) said he figured he pulled ahead of me (Glide) a bit more in the stronger wind and I got ahead in the lighter stuff. That figures I think because when I finally passed him was in the last hour when it was lighter but more filled in. The fins on the surfboard work way better at tracking in the heavy chop and swell than the clumsy edges of a Glide, might be an advantage in overpowering wind in heavy chop/swell.

I think though in flat water with any kind of significant upwind component the Glide would win every time. Its just got so much flat area and no drag. Surfboards have huge fins and rocker... They do have edges that release really well and flotation, both of which I think are great for going downwind. For races like the Blowout which are 100% downwind, directional boards for sure are awesome for that.

But the downwind part of KB4C race was only about 10% of the lap time, to me 60-70% of the lap time was going upwind. I think I did very poorly the first half of the race on the downwind portion and actually a lot of people on better downwind boards passed me there, but I always knew I'd catch those folks on the upwind leg.

You want as little resistance as possible... Maybe you could make a surfboard with less resistance than the glide, but it probably wouldn't be able to surf waves anymore Very Happy

.. Still might be fun, Hein? Very Happy

Actually Hein style fliptips on a Glide style board would probably kill it, no more catching tips and you still have TT versatility.

One advantage of the Glide/TT is you waste no time on the transitions, if you can jibe like a pro then you might be okay here, but mere mortals like me lose a lot of time on the turns. The race the other day was a simple loop, so not many turns... If you had more forced turns on the upwind portion I think it would start to favor TTs more.

Another interesting tactic is following your opponent on the upwind portion so you can pick a more efficient line. It’s a lot easier to aim at the person in front of you or slightly upwind of them then it is picking a spot on the other side of the river. When I was behind Cory it seemed like I could point a bit higher, when he was behind it seemed like he could point higher.

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

I was thinking the same thing about a flip tip glide about the 4th time I ate it over the front of the board. I am surprised it hasn't been done yet.