Not too shabby of a weekend so far

ryan800 · Since 09 Dec 2007 64 Posts Seattle

Sounds like a pretty good weekend all around considering the unusual forecast. Just want to tell my (painfully long, sorry) stories...

Friday night I was out at Frenchman's bar on my 11, definitely milking the low end for the most part, but it was enough to boost a bit in the gusts. There was quit the audience on the beach and I can now land forward and back rolls pretty consistently, so I pretty much felt like a rockstar with the beach-goers cheering. I guess I should be thankful there weren't other kiters there to show everyone how it's really done. Someday my moves will be "legit" too...

So on to today, where I was planning to head back to Frenchman's to keep a few miles off my car, but I woke up to see the easterly spots going off. Got to rooster around 12-1 to see that sure enough, it's nukin' and the water is high. I decide fuck it, I always tell people if there's wind, there's a way to kite so I grab my 7 and my board and head into the NudeZone.

I could see bare sand at the NE tip closest to the Island so I figure I'll swim for it, but with the current, dense bushes, and the fact that I left my pump in the car, I turn around halfway and join the nudies once again. Now with my pump I figure I'll launch on the bank then float down through the bushes till I can get to the river. Good plan, except with the light wind near the bank and bushes snagging my lines I cant get the kite off the water. Fortunately a couple HOT (yes, this was at the nude beach), 20-something nude sunbathers felt bad for my plight and wanted to help. I had them flip the kite when it was downwind and up it went. I mushed through the bushed and sure enough when I got to the river I was JUICED.

*I swear this is true, I went back with my phone to ask for a picture (clothes on, I'm not going to be that guy) but they had left.

Anyway, definitely the most wind I've kited in to date and I could boost like crazy. I've decided it's awesome to feel the lift from a small kite when it's really powered. A few guys in a ski boat signaled to throw a kite loop, but I pussied out and did a weak ass front roll instead. They think I'm a loser. Later I got up the courage though, so I boosted huge and cranked the bar when I was maybe 30 feet off the water (ok, 20 at the most, but I felt like I was way up there). I think since I was at the top of the jump my kite didn't have much power, so it didn't turn as fast as I thought it would. So I powered my ass into the water from damn high and it hurt. Then to add to matters, my calf cramped up (bad idea to run then kite) and I couldn't get it to let go for a couple minutes. Pulled on it with both hands, both feet, nothing. That sucker was LOCKED. Fortunately the current was so strong my board actually stayed right next to me the whole time. Oh, and later I lost a fin, so forget about going upwind after that, I called it a day.

Anyway, that's about it, sorry for the long story. I'd like to end by saying the nudists were a helpful and nice people, even after bumping my kite into some guy while the hot girls tried to launch it.

Also, if you did read all that, how can I make my next legit kite loop go better? I'm thinking I need to start the loop while I'm still headed upwards...yes? no? appreciate the help, I'm trying to end my days of dangling here.