Thursday, November 21, 2013

That's it folks - 45th And Last 2013 Session.

Click on below link for latest report from the Winter Board Room Blog.

http://winterslicesportsboardroom.blogspot.com

Thursday 11/21/2013
Day 45 of the 2013 season
Metro Beach Kite session

This could the last water session of the 2013 season. Future forecasts are predicting below freezing temperatures for the next week or so. An early welcoming to the 2013 snow season.
The season started in the OBX on April 8 and ended November 21.  Thirty three weeks of the water riding season equals out to 1.363 sessions per week and this was a lite wind year.
My favorite session of 2013 was "This is Windsurfing, Day 26 Windsurfing at Kettle Pointe".

Forecast for Thursday 11/21/13 not looking good but the weather talker reporting 15-17 mph from the South.
Time to head to the beach where I found a 19 meter rigging and 14 meter just in - "lite" the rider said.
Got my gear and rigged at the beach. To kite the windier, shallower and kinder rigging/launching area.
South winds to 22 mph, I kited very conservatively didn't want to take on a ice cream headache.
Worked hard at normal foot slide transitions remembering to look where you want to go - where the head goes the body goes.  That's key with the turns. Still mucho practice is needed.
Generally mowing the lawn taking short tacks with no major incidents.
Got done about 1:30, another kiter was rigging a 17, 19 and 14 were gone didn't see much of them on the water.
Positives: Highlight of the day  - very comfortable nicely powered in medium wind session.
Negative: Cold hands but came in and warmed them and was able to go out for another 45 minutes

Sail Time:  2 hours total between 11:00 - 1:30
Gear:  11 meter
Conditions: Normal conditions on shore S winds
Weather:  100% cloudy, dry suit/gloves, water 42 air 43. Hands cold
Wind: Medium wind day - 22 at peak
Schooled: Slide turns
Image: GPS results, Top speed of 19.8 mph, Total miles 12


 

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

A quickie cold MB session

Wednesday 11/20/2013
Day 44 of the 2013 season
Metro Beach Kite session

Not much to write about today's a quickie cold kite session.
Rare ESE winds to 22 mph kited very conservatively didn't want to take on a ice cream headache.
Generally mowing the lawn with no major incidents. Watching Keith excel, jumping, toe side all good stuff.
Launched from day sail launch area - not the best place for launching.
About 5 kiters with Larry and Harry windsurfing.
Positives: Highlight of the day  - very comfortable almost perfectly powered in medium wind.
Negative: Cold hands ended my session early.

Sail Time:  From 2:00 - 3:00
Gear:  11 meter
Conditions: Choppier the normal conditions  with the ESE winds
Weather:  Partly cloudy, dry suit/gloves, water 42 air 43. Hands 32 degrees
Wind: 22 at peak
Schooled: Slide turns, tried some jumping techniques - have look at the manual to stay safe on jumping.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Surprise Lite Wind Session

Friday 11/15/2013
Day 43 of the 2013 season
Metro Beach Kite session

After missing a kitable Wednesday and Thursday due to a lingering cold/cough and hanging around the house trying to get rid of this energy zapping ill feeling. I had enough of this nothingness and had to get on the water.
Although the wind forecast wasn't promising and Metro Beach was only reporting 8-10 mph SW at 2:00 down from earlier reports. Decided to head out and glad I did. I saw 2 other kiters with 17, 16  meter kites and what I thought was an 11 meter on the water. (turned out the 11 was actually a 17)
So I grab my gear and ran down to the beach, rigged and was on the water by 3:30. Almost perfect wind speed for me it took a few pumps of the kite but then I could park it and ride and relax.
I concentrated on working the edges of the board through the higher puffs instead of letting back on the bar. Rode along the shallow beach shoreline a perfect place for me, flat water and windier.

Pleasantly surprised when I realized I could kite when the Weathertalker was reporting 8-10 mph winds from the SW. And others were on a 16 and 17 meter kites, although they were heavyweights.

Positives: Highlight of the day  - very comfortable almost perfectly powered light wind session
although a quickie session with no major incidents to report.
Negative: Cold hands ended my session early.

Sail Time:  From 3:30 - 4:45
Gear:  11 meter
Conditions: Fairly smooth conditions on shore SSW winds
Weather:  Partly cloudy, comfortable with dry suit/gloves, water 42 air 43. Hands 32 degrees
Wind: 15 at peak
Schooled: Goofy foot ollies, turning the ollies in to slide turns with some deep carving.

 
 

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Spur of the moment decsion

Tuesday 11/6/2013
Day 42 of the 2013 season
Metro Beach Kite session

Forecast looked promising with 55 degrees a 10-20 SW wind forecasted and cloudy with 100% change of rain.
Got some text chatter from Keith at noon, he's on his 12 meter, weather talker saying 11 - 15 might be doable. It's not raining it's 55 degrees I think I'll go kiting.
Got to Metro Beach at 12:30 rigged my 11 meter at the beach and was on the water by 1:00.
Kited in steady SW winds which were slowly and steadily ramping upward. I was feeling comfortable kiting back and forth along the beach even took one tack down to official launch site.
Feeling good with goofy side slide turns even got up a few feet in the air with control.
About 2:00 winds picked to where I was completely depower feeling a little uncomfortable I made my way in, no need to be overpowered and ruin a perfectly good session.

Highlight of the day  - very comfortable although a quickie session with no major incidents to report.

Sail Time:  From 1:00 - 2:15
Gear:  11 meter
Conditions: Choppy Metro Beach water conditions
Weather:  Cloudy with heavy rain toward the end of the session, Water comfortable with dry suit/gloves, water 50 air 50s.
Wind: 30+ at peak
Schooled: Goofy foot slide on the verge carving some turns.
Images: MB Wind data for the day
 
 
 

Friday, November 1, 2013

A failed forecast - but still had a good day

Friday 11/1/2013
Day 41 of the 2013 season
Liquid Rush, Rodanthe, NC

Final day for this fall trip to OBX. 7 out of 13 days on the water.

Forecast looked to be a kick ass day with up to 35 mph SW winds all day long with temperatures in the 70s. No need to start early with this forecast.
Needless to say I saw Larry sneaking out movements after sunrise. I joined him about a half hour later with the 5.0 in a rain squall with strong steady 25 plus southwesterly winds. After a half hour winds ramped up 35 plus true to the forecast so I came in and rigged the 3.5 and hoped it would be used all day, but it was briefly used. Soon the winds died down to 5.5 conditions and that's where they remained for the rest of the day.
From 8:00 - 11:30 sailed the 5.0, 3.5 and finally settled on the 5.5 and 100 liter board for the rest of the day. Break at 11:30 went to Atlantic café with Larry for brunch and came back to 5.5 conditions from 1:30 - 5:00.
No chance of me kiting today with the squally/shifty conditions and forecast still promising winds up to 35.
Highlight of the day  - chasing and being chased by Lou.

Sail Time:  From 8:00 - 11:30 and 1:30-  5:00 - 7 hours total
Gear:  5.0, 3.5 85 liter and 5.5 sail  101 board
Conditions: Flat water conditions
Weather:  Rain Squally 70s, water 60s
Wind: 30+ at peak
Schooled: Hero Jibes
Images: Wind data for the day