LAKAWA

Wow, Cannon really delivered today! Just what the doctor ordered. I was getting some white-knuckle rides on my smallest gear. Great to see the local crew. Bill S. was looking buttery smooth on his sailboard as we played in a few swells together. I launched my kite from the spot where the fisherman u...

I think I might shoot down there for a kite session in the early afternoon. The "launch" on the NW side of the lake, W of the bridge should work well today with the wind direction.

Rob, nylon tape on both sides would probably be just fine. Barry P. and I have done some experimenting with Kitefix vs. Aquaseal. We have discovered that the mesh sold with the Kitefix pack is the same stuff you can get in a roll at Home Depot for sheetrock repairs-- it is a fiberglass mesh. Kitefix...

I found a pair of gloves and a baggy top at Ramsey this evening. Send me an email if either one is yours.

winter.mike at ymail.com

Lee, Aquaseal will take care of that easily. The stuff works miracles.

Max, with the T3 and the Wing you will get out plenty early. I am using a big Crazyfly with my 17 this season. That kite has so much power that you can get away with a bit smaller light air board. You want something that you can edge in the gusts to keep things under control.

Warm it up for me you guys. I plan to come in the afternoon when the temps rise a bit and the wind cranks up a notch.

Kevin and I were out there after lunch. Sorry we missed you. Fun WBL opener!

Rumor has it that WBL is open. Tomorrow early afternoon looks like a good Bellaire opener.

Clear Lake is looking like it might deliver a nice water session tomorrow morning before the winds shift around and lighten up. Keep an eye on it. Very tempting....

http://www.clearlakeiowa.com/clear_lake ... mera.shtml

I agree, Dean. One of the big advantages of kiting over windsurfing on local lakes is that the fins on kiteboards are tiny. As cool as it would be to try those raceboards, the thought of catching weeds and hitting rocks makes me cringe.

Kurt and I had a decent session W of Bellaire. There are some slushy here and there, but mostly snowy terrain with good ice underneath. After tonight the surface should firm up even better.

Thanks for the update, Jon. Let us know when the bay is ready for action. Looks tempting from the camera. I have been replacing drysuit seals myself. Some good youtube videos can help guide you along.

Great information. Thanks, Bob! I may head down there Wednesday. Anyone else up for it?

Rob, thanks for the report. I saw that open section on the camera. Do you think that launch would work on SE for Sunday? I may head down if it is not a washout.

Can Pete or anyone else give a status report on Pepin? Is it open enough for a Sunday session?

It looks like Saylorville Lake just outside of Des Moines is nearly open. http://www.schoolnet8.com/camera/viewer.phtml#KCCI-018

Does anyone know what wind directions work for kiting down there? I would like to get a session in next week if conditions permit.

Speaking of that, here is some footage of 90lb. kid on a 21m foil kiting in lightest of breezes. Notice that the inflatables on the beach are not even moving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v1gwr7Y ... r_embedded

Great video! Fun to watch Chris pick off the big inflatables one at a time.

Good one, Geoff :wink: Nice to see more attention focused on the bigger kites. The Turbine looks like a big Rally. I expect it to be very light, which is a big deal in a 17m kite. Relaunch should be easy too. If the 14 Rally is any indication, the limitation of the 17 will be its top end. The 17 T3 ...