Day 70 of the 3017 season: Day two of a two day blow: HI on Fire

Today started out with some falling snowflakes as I loaded up the van and it ended up as a near epic day, identical to yesterday's HI session.
October of 2017 has been a record month for sessions, 16 for the month. Lucky for me that I didn't take that trip to the OBX.

                                               

TOB:  12:30-2:30
Gear:   9M Z Kite and TT
Water conditions:   Typical HI
Wind:  generally SW 15-30 mph
Weather:  cloudy, 41-42 degrees
Highlights: Identical to yesterday
Relive.cc

Day 69 of the 2017 season: Day one of a two day blow: HI on fire

Treated to a full rainbow

First day this season with full gear, drysuit, gloves and hood, staying toasty warm all day long.
Consistently strong 9M conditions, winds generally from the SW.
Near epic conditions with the exception of the wind direction, no legitimate middle channel slick. Rode up to the middle channel, and beyond to check it out. The other side of the channel had some slick areas in the weed beds. I found a little cove that was shallow and flat which I played in for before heading back to the launch. Which resulted in an epic downwind run back to the launch.

Slicing and dicing

TOB:  12:30-5:00
Gear:  9M and TT
Water conditions:  typical small chop with small waves to slash
Wind: SW-WSW 15-35 mph
Weather: 42-44 degrees, cloudy with rain squalls
Highlights: near epic HI day, consistent strong top of the 9M range winds, good chop for ollie, great boosts and slashing

Day 68 of the 2017 season: Decent 13M day at Tawas Pointe

TOB: 1:00-3:30
Gear:  13M Z and TT
Water conditions:  wavetts on open water side and decent slicks at the pointe
Wind: SW 12-25 mph
Weather: 44 degrees, cloudy
Highlights: decent day, rode to the slick, played there for awhile and then did the downwinder back in small well organized, easily manageable waves. Fun day!
Relive.cc

Action in the slick

Wavetts to slash

WA data

Day 67 of the 2017 season: Quick and basic - Metrobeach 13M sesssion.

TOB: 11:15-12:30
Gear:  13M Z kite and TT
Water conditions:  small chop with nice wavetts inside at the beach area
Wind: 12-25 SSW
Weather: mostly sunny and mid-50s
Highlights: some nice wavetts near shore at the beach, I was able to slash a few toeside and heelside.
Relive.cc

Day 66 of the 2017 season: Blown off the water at Metrobeach with 40 plus gusty gale force winds

Blown off the water at Metrobeach with 40 plus gusty gale force winds. The first hour was mostly kitable, some fun carving in the 2-3 footers that were well spaced after that it was off the charts for this Kitesurfer. It ended up as too much for me with the gusty windy conditions.


TOB: 12:30-2:30
Gear:  6.5 and TT
Water conditions:  some 3-4 foot organize swell could be found, other than that it was mayhem with coffee colored water and vegetation flotsams in large pods.
Wind: 20-40+ mph rodeo style
Weather: mostly cloudy mid 50s
Highlights:  the first hour was mostly kitable, some fun carving in the 2-3 footers that were well spaced after that it was off the charts for this Kitesurfer


Relive.cc

WA wind data from Metrobeach 

Day 65 0f the 2017 season: New Venue,North Bar Lake, and finally some decent kite action

Craig and decided to check out a new venue. With the winds slightly offshore at Empire we decided to head up the coast a few miles where the coastline geography looked better for the wind direction.
With another partly cloudy and warm mid-60s October morning we hiked the half mile to the North Bar lake outlet beach. Once there we rigged our 9Ms.  Launched and headed out, it was gusty and lite on the inside, but out further it was steadier with stronger gusts. We stayed on the outside with mundane wave conditions for the first hour, then the wind direction seemed to shift a bit and the inside was kitable.  The breaking waves were small but some good clean ones could be found, after doing the circuit for 45 minutes it clouded up and rain was heading our way.
Overall not a bad session.

North Bar Lake launch 

TOB: 11:30-1:30
Gear:  9M Z kite and TT Board
Water conditions:  some waves. 2-5 footers, clean on the inside but also spotty winds. Further out the wind was steadier.
Wind: South 12-30 mph
Weather: partly sunny, cloudy, rainy, mid-60s
Highlights: New venue at North Bar lake, nice beach to launch from, although quite the hike from the parking lot.

Day 64 of the 2017 season: Two days worth of medicore, minimal sessions at Frankfort

Day one at Frankfort Beach, Friday 10/20:
Craig and I met at Frankfort beach for a day of kiteboarding, conditions looked good so we rigged our 9s and went out. Rode for less than an hour before the wind lightened up.
We hung around, waiting, but the wind never came back up.

TOW:  1 hour 1:30-2:30
Gear:  9M Z kite and TT Board
Water conditions:  some waves, 2-4 footers, clean on the inside but also spotty winds. Further out the wind was steadier.
Wind: South 12-25 mph
Weather: Bluebird day, another mid-60s October day
Highlights: Played on the inside for awhile, not crowded but the wind was sketchy, still managed to get some rides on the clean inside swell.



Relive this session 

Day two at Frankfort Beach, Saturday 10/21: 
Identical to day one, Craig and I went with the forecast which was decent. But again the wind blew for an hour before dying off.

TOW:  1 hour  2:30-3:30
Gear:  9M Z kite and TT Board
Water conditions:  some waves, 2-4 footers, clean on the inside but also spotty winds. The harbor had stronger winds with slick conditions
Wind: South 12-25 mph
Weather: Bluebird day, another mid-60s October day
Highlights: spent most of the time riding in the harbor where it was windier

Day 63 of the 2017 season: Bad day for launches and Platte River with confused conditions

A failed launch attempt at Empire beach, with dead on shore wind and crushing on shore waves.
I should know better. I tried to body drag out but the waves pushed me right back in. So I then tried to put the board on my feet and wait for a wave to crash on the beach and then launch in the receding water. HA! the receding water is to shallow, the board stuck in the sand I got turned around 180 degrees and crashed the kite. Lucky no one around and no damage, (that'll come later). Embarrassed by my stupidity I cleared out of there fast and headed to the Platte River launch.

Launch gone bad type of day. Now I'm at Platte River Beach rigging my 11M. I set it up to an anchor and placed the kite in the wind window toward land on my right. Launched it, got the kite in the air, suddenly it lost the wind and it drifted down to hot launch position. Not good, I ran forward to slacken the line tension, but it was too late the kite caught the next gust and cartwheeled, slid 180 degrees to the left side wind window. Through rocks, branches and other beach barbs debris. A few holes must of been sliced through the canopy as it slide and rolled the 180 degrees. So now it was on the water side of the wind window in perfect launch position. So I launched and didn't think to check the kite out. I didn't noticed the destruction until an hour into the session when I saw sun sunlight through the holes. So I called it quits then, although the wind was good, the waves were confused and holes in my canopy made me come in after one hour.

So my 11M Z1 virgin kite is not flyable until I can get some sail clothe tape and patch the holes up.

Relive Platte River session



TOW:  1 hour 12:00-1:00
Gear:  11M Z1 kite and TT Board
Water conditions:  Gnarly, side shore west winds, strong currents around the point made for all kinds of weird wave conditions.
Wind: West 12-25 mph
Weather: Bluebird day, another mid-60s October day
Highlights: Not much, probably the launch mishaps were the highlight  

Day 62 of the 2017 season: EPIC Tawas...October is making up for lost winds in September.

I never thought Tawas could be this good. It took a perfect combination of wind, surf and slicks to make this an epic day. Slightly side on SSW winds to 30 mpg, nice breaking swell over the shallow sand bars, slicks as smooth as butter and lofty winds above.
A small sized crowd keep the slick fun. About 8 kiters enjoying the day with mostly 9 M kites.

TOW:  2:00-4:00
Gear:  9M Z kite and TT
Water conditions:  As good as I've ever seen Tawas, Nice 2-5 clean waves with slightly side shore winds. The slick was butter
Wind: SSW a solid 20-30 mph
Weather: Sunny mid-60s
Highlights: Monster boosts in the slick and perfectly spaced 2-5 foot  clean breaking waves inside


Relive.cc data

Day 61 of the 2017 season: I would say it was a nearly perfect day of winds, sun and kiting

TOW: 11:00-2:00 and 3:30 - 6:00
Gear:  11M Z1, and kite and TT
Water conditions: Unusually good, nicely formed small swell and perfect angled ramps for jumping
Wind: SSW
Weather: Sunny mid-60s
Highlights: some monster boosts with the lofty air. A perfect easy pleasy day, a type of day where you wanted to try everything that is on your trick list.

2 session WA data from Metrobeach on Tuesday Oct 17

Day 60 of the 2017 season: A 2 venue rodeo day HI and Metrobeach

Gales at Harsens Islands

Started early at Metrobeach with the 9M and eventually the 6.5M. Chris already had an hour on his 9M by then. With pre-frontal winds ramping up and getting ready to explode. At 1pm the explosion came, a quickie storm came in and the wind peaked at near 40 with rain and a quick switch to the west.
Time to head to HI catch the post frontal winds.
Arriving at HI with consistent 30 to near 50 mph SW winds. I waited it out for a few until others launched with their smallest kites. Craig on a 6M and Mark on a 7M. Once they looked comfortable with the conditions I rigged my 6.5M LF. I headed out and had a non-stop 2 hour session with rodeo style winds and also some steady winds in the open waters. Made a trip to the shallow water slick across the bay and played there for awhile. Then did a nice slow paced downwinder back near the launch, probably the highlight of the day. Kited near the launch in continuing 30-50 mph relentless winds.
Several others kiting with 6Ms to 9Ms. Windsurfer Jerry on a 4M did good while Ben had a 5M that was to much for him to handle.

TOB: Metrobeach 9:45-11:00 9M, 11:45-1:00 6.5M and then on to HI 3:00-5:00 with 6.5
Gear:  9M Z and 6.5 LF with TT
Water conditions: Not bad for nearly gale winds, Metro organized small swell same at HI
Wind: 30-50 SSW-W-WNW
Weather: mostly cloudy pre-frontal with rain and post-frontal partly cloudy with some sprinkles
Highlights: No complaints about the wind today, well maybe gusty at times but plenty of it.
(NOTE: used small, short lines bar with the 6.5, need to explore this some more)

Metrobeach WA data

HI Club Island WA data

Metrobeach 1:15 hour session on 9M

Day 59 of the 2017 season: Platte River - Fun session and it went according th the WA forecast

My first time with successful results here at Plate River. Directly on-shore winds and waves made riding a little difficult. The inside shore break was in very shallow water made it interesting. It was fun with the on-shore winds to play in the shore break but after to or three carves you were on the beach.
Did several of these circuits, run the breakers and head back up wind to do it again. It was a fun, fast, speed wise session, jumping, olling all was good.

 Click here to relive this session

TOB: 3:00-5:00
Gear:  13M Z kite and TT Mako board
Water conditions: small breakers and small semi-organized swell
Wind: Directly on-shore, 10-25 from the NE-NNE
Weather: Sunny to cloudy, mid-50s
Highlights: My first time with successful kiting here at Plate River. I've been here before but it never amounted to much of a session.

Platte River Beach

Beautiful spacious sandy beach, Sleeping Bear Dunes in the background

Day 58 of the 2017 season: Chill out session from yesterday's frantic water rodeo

TOB: 3:00-4:45
Gear: 13M Z kite and TT
Water conditions: Open water 1-5 footers, Harbor was a slick
Wind: 15-25 SSW with a session ending lull at 4:45
Weather:  Bluebird 70 degrees plus
Highlights: Playing in the slick, nice jumps, nice ollies, getting nearer to pulling the trigger for a rotational move.
About 5-6 kiters and the same amount of surfers

Day 57 of the 2017 season: BIG DAY at Frankfort

The absolute biggest wave day I have seen here. The massive 10-15 footers on the inside were widely spaced and clean.  

I must admit heading out through the swell sure got the intimidation factor, (scared) going.
I got crushed by one I was riding in, crash on top of me from behind, I couldn’t out run it on the inside where the wind was fluky. Didn’t know how I would recover from that, but it all happen so quick, no tumbling, no rag dolling no harm was done. It just went over me and I made sure the kite stayed in the air and I came out the back side, no problem. I could only image what would of happen if I was on my windsurf rig.
The Harbor was a wild rodeo, 1-4 foot swell in the harbor. Spray from jetty going 20-40 feet up and blowing 50 yards into the harbor. 
Many surfers were on the best waves closer to the inside and they were hard to spot. I avoided their area and stayed out of their way. You come up on them so fast and they are hard to see in the wave troughs.
Surfers probably outnumbered the kiters, about a dozed kiters at the peak time, kite sizes ranged from 7M to 12M.
An excellent day but a little bit intimidating at times 


TOB: 1:30-3:30
Gear: 9M Z 100% depowered and TT board
Water conditions: Biggest waves I've ever seen here
Wind: 30-40 mph
Weather:  warm, cloudy 70ish, still using my 3/4 wetsuit comfortable
Highlights: The absolute biggest wave day I have seen here, massive 10-15 footers. Some fantastic wave surfing in the surf and excellent jumping in the harbor

FF wind data from WA

Day 56 of the 2017 season: Leland's Van's beach follows the WA forecast, spot on

I was following the wind forecast all day. Small craft warnings were up from Sleeping Bear point  
northward.
With the south westerly winds forecasted I thought Leland might be doable and my first chance ever to sample this venue.
Arrived at 1:30 and saw plenty of capping from Van's beach located just south of the harbor.
It looked and felt like 11M so I rigged my 13M.
Self launched by 2:00, rode mostly 75% depowered for the entire session, could have used my 11M. The boosted jumps were magical with the 13, long floaters with soft landings.
Rode downwind to the leeside of the harbor for a few short slick rides and found some clean waves off the jetty point. Rode back to launch area and played there for awhile boosting and carving.
Decided to head up wind to a treed point well south of the launch. It took several tacks with carving and jumping at the opportune times. Once near the pointe it was time for a downwinder in the shore break. The run upwind to the point must of taken 30 minutes, the downwinder back to the launch took 10 minutes, but well worth it, to play in clean shore break is my favorite.
Once back to the launch the wind lulled, perfect timing. Came in and called it a day.
Note: wind came back up soon after I derigged.
Overall an excellent session, jumping, carving, short slicks, and carving downwinder.

WA sensor a few yards away, perfectly located

TOB: 90 minutes
Gear: 13M Z kite, TT
Water conditions: up to 5 foot swell
Wind: WSW 15-25 mpg
Weather:  mostly overcast near 60 degrees
Highlights: New venue, worked for me. They say its better on a NW as the waves wrap around the south jetty.

Tracks from Leland Harbor's session 

The WA sensor is located a few yards from the launch site