Day 27 of the 2017 season: Last day of the OBX trip with a surprise ending

Didn't think it was gonna happen today but by 2 it looked surprising doable. So I rigged my 13 Z and took out the Duke board and had some fun. Then it picked up so I got the TT out and for the rest of the day, up until sunset I was on the TT carving, jumping, doing 180 ollies.  As the sun was low on the horizon I jumped over it. So if you were standing on the land it appeared that I jump over the setting sun....LoL...
14 out of 19 days on the water  - not a bad OBX trip for 2017.
Year after year the OBX produces the best bang for the buck.

TOB:  2:00 - 3:00 13M and Duke directional board. 3:00 - 4:30 TT. 5:30 - 8:00 13M and TT
Gear: 13M Z Kite, Duke directional and TT boards
Water Conditions: flat to SW small swell
Weather:  mid-70s, sunny
Wind:  15-25 SSW
Highlights: Fun boosts, direction board fun and hard carving with the TT board on the overpowered 13M.

Day 26 of the 2017 season: Near Epic NE slick action

At two o'clock I tried to windsurf with my 4.5M sail and found it uncomfortably overpowered. Harry sailed his 5.0 and did well. Waited for the wind to slack off a bit and maybe get more north in it.
But that didn't happen. So time to kite, I walked out to the wind line to set an anchor. Lots of sandbar areas exposed due to the strong winds. Set an anchor and rigged the 6.5M kite. After launching I still had to walk nearly another 100 yards to find deep enough water to launch.
Once underway I easily worked my way upwind to the shallow slicks and enjoyed the butter for almost 2 hours. Up to 6 other kiters were also at the slicks.

Low water in the sound with a northeast wind of 20-30 mph

 

TOB:  5:00 - 6:30
Gear: 6.5 M LF kite and TT
Water Conditions: sound side slicks
Weather:  mid-60s, sunny
Wind:  20-35 NE
Highlights: Hard carving, boosting, jumping with board grabs and 180 ollies toeside and heelside.

Day 25 of the 2017 season: EPIC nearly a CC of Easter Sunday's EPIC day

The headliner says it all,"EPIC CC of Easter Sunday's EPIC day"
Only thing better was I had the 6.5 kite working for few hours.

TOB:  8:00 - 9:30 morning, 12:00 - 3:30 afternoon, 6:00 - 7:30 evening downwinder
Gear: 9M Z kite TT and  6.5 M LF kite with Directional and TT, 9M used in the downwinder
Water Conditions:  Typical sound side with a classic warm southwester
Weather:  Sunny, mid-70s all day
Wind:  SW 20 - 35 SW all day
Highlights: Big boosts, big ollies,  heelside to toeside getting it done.

Doesn't look like 20-30 mph but it is.  Practically one giant slick on the inside at LQ

Session 24 of the 2017 season: Happy Easter Sunday with EPIC conditions

EPIC three session day, pre-breakfast, afternoon post lunch and evening downwinder from Salvo. With EPIC 9M conditions all day.

TOB:  8:00 - 9:00 mourning, 12:00 - 2:00 afternoon, 5:00 - 7:00 evening downwinder
Gear: 9M Z kite TT
Water Conditions:  Typical sound side with a classic warm southwester
Weather:  Sunny, mid-70s all day
Wind:  20 - 30 SW and then the evening downwind session up to 40 mph
Highlights: Big boosts, big ollies,  heelside to toeside practice is going good.

Session 23 of the 2017 season: Side off SE winds 20-30 made it a bad launch day

Todays Highlights: Bad launch with side off SE winds 20-30 mph and gusty.
Two hours of this wasn't much fun, although boosting at times was good especially during a gust. 

TOB:  2:30 - 4:30
Gear: 11M Z1 and TT
Water Conditions:  SE swell on the outside
Weather:  Sunny near 70 degrees
Wind: SE side off and gusty 20-30 mph
Highlights: Nothing much to say except a horrible launch on the inside. Kites were dropping like bombs trying to launch.

Session 22 of the 2017 season: EPIC sound side marathon session Windsurfing and Kiteboarding

Epic all around side off conditions on the sound in Waves/Rodanthe area. Basically one big shallow slick for miles with some nice organized small swell in the deeper sections.
Everyone had a good time kiting and windsurfing.


TOB: Windsurf from 12:00-1:00 kited 2:00-6:00 included downwinder         
Gear:  5.7M sail with 100 liter and 9M Z kite with TT
Water Conditions:  side off NNE, basically one big slick
Weather:  60ish, 100% sunny
Wind:  NNE to 30 mph
Highlights:  WS, Some full planning jibes and fast tacks with Harry and Larry. KB, Toeside 180 ollies to heelside, a ton of practice with several good landings,
At 5:00 did a downwinder to Salvo with Chris, Bob, Craig and I

Dinner, drinks and BS

Session 21 of the 2017 season: A steady marginal session on the directional board

Not much of a session, just enough to make the 13M work with the bigger directional board.
Lot of mowing and a hard fought trip up to the harbor slick for a few turns there in the smooth water.
That's it not much else happen.

KHK wind data April 12

TOB: 3:30-5:30
Gear:  13M Z kite and Mako Duke directional board
Water Conditions:  lite wind chop
Weather:  lower 70s, sunny
Wind:  SSW under 20 mph
Highlights: A steady marginal session, fought my way upwind and played in the harbor slick.

Session 20 of the 2017 season: Field Trip to Jockey's Ridge, Didn't want to miss this day

A near epic day at Jockey's Ridge. After missing out of yesterday's suggested Jockey's Ridge session I wanted to make sure I hit this one. With winds in the 20-30 mph range my 9 M was at the high end of it's range.
Fantastic swells on the outside and crowded flats on the inside - today had it all.

TOB: 2:30-4:30
Gear:  9M Z kite on TT
Water Conditions:  from flat at inside shallows to nice carving swells outside
Weather:  gorgeous mid-70s, bluebird
Wind:  20-30 from the south
Highlights:  Near epic conditions, with Chris, Craig, Bob, Dan, Larry, Debbie and a few more from Michigan. Kite sizes ranged from 7 to 12 M. Loftiness, carving, ollies, all moves were working excellent with the easy conditions.

Session 19 of the 2017 season: First day at Liquid Rush, early morning kite session

Bluebird cold morning starting out near 50 degrees with marginal winds.
Rigged the 13Z and rode in marginal winds and flat water until noon.
A change of pace from the last 2 days of high wind 6.5 conditions.
Chris, Bob, Craig and I launched from their rental

TOB: 10:00 - 12:00
Gear: 13 Z with TT and directional board
Water Conditions: Typical OBX in lite wind conditions
Weather: Bluebird, cold lower to mid-50s
Wind: WNW 10-20
Highlights: Surprised to get out

Session 18 of the 2017 season: Waiting for a lull to kite with the 6.5

TOB: 12:00 - 2:00
Gear:  6.5 LF solo kite and TT board
Water Conditions:  onshore chop
Weather:  mostly cloudy mid-50s
Wind:  20-30 mph generally west

Highlights:  Air time, ollies, slick carving and toe to heel ollies

Session 17 of the 2017 season: Cold, chilly day with relentless westery winds - slicks are howling

TOB: 12:00 - 2:00
Gear: 6.5 LF with TT
Water Conditions: On shore choppy conditions
Weather: Mostly cloudy, mid-50s
Wind: WNW - WSW-WNW 20-30 mph
Highlights: Action in the slicks


Another onshore 20-40 mph day, waited for a lull, a 20-30 mph lull that is.
Rigged the 6.5 for the second day in a rowmand headed straight for the slick.
Enjoyed boosting, carving, olliling, and slashing in flat water.

Session 16 of the 2017 season: Early windsurfing session to real slick, afternoon on 9M kite session at the slick

First time ever windsurfing on a glassy slick...with easy carving and full planning jibes.
Early sesh with the WS to the slick, took a break and then 9M kiting to the slick
TOB:   9:00 - 10:30 WS with 5.0M and 100 liter, 12:30 - 2:00 KB with 9M and TT. 2:00 - 3:00 kited with directional board.
Gear:    5.0M/100 liter and 9M/TT and strapped directional board
Water Conditions:  typical  sound side
Weather:    Blue bird mid-60s all day
Wind:   WSW to SW  20-30 mph
Highlights: Slick action with the windsurfer

Session 15 of the 2017 season:Cloudy evening to last light session

Calm all day with the wind forecasted to pick up in the late afternoon.
Harry braved it and went out WS,  ripping it up out at the wind line, a few other kiters were soon out.
Finally rigged my 11M Z1 and bee lined it up to the slick for a few quick runs, flukier winds there due to wind direction, but workable. We rode beyond last light.
Craig, Mr. I'll never ride in the dark, and I enjoyed the session. Beers in the hot tub to finished the night.


TOB:   6:30-8:00
Gear:    11M/TT 
Water Conditions:  Typical sound side
Weather:    cloudy evening with mid-50s temperatures
Wind:   SSE to 30 mph, side off
Highlights: Dark session with early darkness due to a cloudy sunset

Session 14 of the 2017 season: Opening Day in OBX a combo day of Kiting and Windsurfing

Sunday 4/2/10 - First day out on our first day in OBX
Morning session on the 9M with side off winds. Sketching launching on the inside at our rental "Water Lily" in Waves. We made it work and kited for an hour and a half in somewhat gusty conditions. Later in the afternoon rigged up the 5.0 Ezzy and windsurfed with the 100 liter board.
Good day overall, windsurfing is hard

TOB:   10:30 - 12:00 kite and 2:30-3:30 5.0 WS
Gear:    9M/TT and 5M 100 liter
Water Conditions:  Typical
Weather:    Bluebird, chilly day with mid-50s temperatures
Wind:   NNE 10-30, side off
Highlights: First day of our OBX trip with Craig, Larry, and Harry