Day 21 of the 2016 season: Classic OBX - Kite endurance sessions to close out the fabulous 2 weeks of watersports

My Birthday wish came true and we all had a great day in the wind and on the water.




Gear: 13M Z and 11M Z kites
TOW: 12:00-4:30 13M and 5:00-6:30 11M
Wind: Classic OBX south winds
Water: Slight chop on outside and nearly slicks on the insides
Weather: Warmest day of the trip, mid-70s and sunny
Highlights: The 13M is one hell of a boosting machine. I think I'm ready for the boost contests.

Day 20 of the 2016 season: Marginal winds most of the time but good enough for 13M Z to work.

The day started out with slowly building south winds. Paul got out on his 17M Turbine around 10. I waited until it picked up a bit more. So by 2 o'clock I was on the water with my 13M in marginal conditions. It remained marginal most of the day. I took a break at 5:0 as it got lighter. It appeared to pick up later so I went back out for some sunset riding. This time it was steadier above marginal conditions.

Gear: 13M Z kite and 140 TT
TOW: 2:00-5:00 and 7:00-8:30
Wind: Mostly marginally SE to S backing to SE. Picked up at 5 to overpowered conditions.
Water: Flat in the near shore slicks and typical chop further out
Weather: Sunny hazy lower 70s
Highlights: Boosting in light winds with the 13M Z kite

Day 19 of the 2016 season: 2 days off and back to the el Norte winds, Windsurfing and Kiting

Another excellent morning session riding the 5.7 and 100 liter board, flat water, easy powered up conditions, was able to pull off a few full planning outside jibes and inside duck jibes.
Afternoon kite session with 11M kite continued on flat water. Trying some new stuff, opposite toeside and still working on opposite toeside to heelside ollies.

Wind Data 4-20-16

Gear: 5.7, 100 liter board and 11M Z kite
TOW: WS 9:00-10:30, KB 12:00-2:30
Wind: NNE to 25 mph
Water: basically flat all day
Weather: Sunny, 60s
Highlights: Classic morning NNE flat water WS session.
Afternoon 11M session: attempting several opposite toeside riding and pulling off one good toeside to heel side Ollie.

Day 18 of the 2015 season: Windest day of the week played the wait game exchanging kite/windsurf sessions with Craig

Most of today was out of control conditions for me whether it be kiting or WS.
Took some brief runs with the 3.5 Windsurfing and 6.5 Kite.
Craig had better success then I did on both activities.

Gear: 3.5M sail, 85 liter board and 6.5M Solo kite with 140 TT
TOW: KS 10:00-11:00 oped very gust conditions, WS 4:00-5:00 oped very gusty conditions,  KS 5:00-6:00 winds finally lightening up but still gusty,
Wind: 20-35 plus
Water: flat to choppy
Weather: mostly sunny, mid to lower 50s
Highlights: All sessions today were extremely challenging and a good workout

Day 17 of the 2016 season: An Epic early morning flat water 4.5 WS session, followed by 9.0M and a 6.5M session (Liquid Rush)

WS Speed data

Wind forecast holding true, Identical to yesterday.


Gear:  Morning session WS 4.5 and 100 liter board, Mid-afternoon  9.0M session and 6.5M evening kite session
TOW: WS 9:00-10:00, KS 11:00-12-00 and KS 5:00-6:30
Wind: 20-35 plus
Water: flat to choppy
Weather: mostly sunny, mid to lower 50s
Highlights: Another Epic WS morning session with 4.5 and 100 liter board - I love these WS sessions

Day 16 of the 2016 season: Relentless north winds keep on blowing (Liquid Rush)

An epic morning WS session with the 5.0 and 100 liter board. Flat water with the side off NE morning winds. Got a 1.5 hour session with Larry before the wind direction changed and the chop formed.
Got back to  kite boarding by 2:00 for a 1.5 hour 6.5M session.


Gear: WS 5.0 and 100 liter board (WS 10:30-12:00), KS 6.5   (KS 2:00-3:30)
TOW: WS 10:30-12:00, KS 2:00-3:30
Wind: NNE 20-35 plus gusty
Water: flat to choppy
Weather: mostly sunny cooler mid to lower 50s
Highlights: epic WS session on flat water and steady early winds.

Day 15 of the 2016 season: Raging winds continue (Liquid Rush)

The raging winds soften up a bit for a brief morning session on the 9M along with the most of the crew. Eventually rigging down to the 6.5 for the afternoon and sunset riding sessions.
Enjoyed the sunset session with the waterman legend Paul Goodwin.

Gear: 6.5 Solo 140 TT
Weather: Sunny near 60
TOW: 10:00-12:00, 2:00-4:00 and sunset ride 7:00-8:30
Wind: N 25-35
Water: choppy to flat
Highlights: Got a good feel for the 6.5 in lighter conditions

Day 14 of the 2016 season: EPIC day Windsurfing and Kiteboarding (Liquid Rush)

Today marks the start of a 5 day forecast of N-NNE winds in the 20-30 mph range.
Started out WS in the slightly side off winds - rigged too big and finally got it right with the 3.5 sail.
Eventually changing over to the small kite when the chop got bigger and made the WS difficult heading out thru the chop. Although the rides in were fun...
Most of the crew had a double header WS then KB all with small gear.
Did a downwinder to Salvo with Dan, Chris, Craig and John...whew what a work out today.

Gear: 4.5, 4.0, 3.5 84 liter then 6.5 Solo kite and 140 TT
TOW:   1030 - 5:00
Water Conditions:  flat to choppy
Weather: 50s Sunny
Wind:  25-40 NNE
Highlights: Downwinder to Salvo

Day 13 of the 2015 season: Marathon non-stop OBX Kite session

Gear: 11M Z kite and140 TT
TOW:   3:00 - 6:00
Water Conditions:  Classic south wind OBX sound side day
Weather:   mostly sunny with lower 60s as the temperature
Wind:  S 12-20
Highlights: Fun non-stop powered up session kiting with the kite crew

Day 12 of the 2016 season: Early morning 1.5 hour 13M session as forecasted (Liquid Rush)

The whole kite crew made it out despite the cold 42 degree morning start.
Rick, 14M, Craig, Chris, Dan on 12s and even Paul made it out on his 17M.
John on 7M WS kit and Chris on 6.5 Ezzy doing some good runs. And eventually Mick made out WS on the big gear later in the day.

Gear:  13M Z kite and TT
TOW:   10:00- 11:30
Water Conditions:   Flat and shallow - nice and buttery smooth
Weather:   Cold - mid-40s but sunny
Wind:  N-NNE- NNW to 20 - Lighter winds but shifty direction
Highlights: Not much - trying to stay upwind

Day 11 of the 2016 season: OBX First Day - Gale Force Winds (Sounds Fabulous)

Craig, Jerry on 4.0 to 3.5s, Chris on 3.7 and me on 6.5 kite.

Very gusty conditions not a good test for new kite - it felt good

during the kitable moments when locked in a park position.

Other then that it was mere survival kiting for me.

Gear:   First use of LF Solo 6.5
TOW:   11:00 - 1:00
Water Conditions:  Gnarly as it gets
Weather:   Mid-50s mostly sunny
Wind:  Gusty W to 50
Highlights: Survival kiting with new 6.5 LF Solo kite