LAKAWA

It was classic, capping off my fifth 4.2m windsurfing session in a couple of weeks . . . in Minnesota! Go figure. Mike, that was a blast riding together, kite and sail boards playing in the swell zone. I was hitting some pretty big floaters, even a ten-footer that went up-and-up-again. And then I wo...

I'll have my kite gear but if it's blowing 30+ I'm going windsurfing. This makes FIVE 4.0m sessions in less than two weeks! Wind Advisory for South Central: look for possible smoke-on-the-water nuclear conditions at Cannon today concurrent with peak heating, about 5:00 p.m. Unless you are fully dial...

SE 20-30+ are lined up perfectly at the point in Lake City this afternoon!

Bill

SE works fine at Cannon, but PLEASE if you are kiting respect the fisherman on the point on the east side of the lake. They are locals (I am, too) and some of the older fellows have been fishing there for decades. With the holiday tomorrow (and the walleyes biting) there may be some fisherman enjoyi...

I'm in!

Tighe, brother, I never thought I'd live to hear you express re-interest in pole boarding! While I've been kiting 95% of the time for a number of years now, I keep the wave board and 4.2/3.7 Ezzys on hand for "special occasions": e.g., those days when it would be silly (and dangerous) for ...

The lake was open and rocking today!

Bill

Tighe, excellent, thanks! The Deep Forest soundtrack brings back many good memories. . . .

With wind in the forecast I'm looking forward to my last H20 session of the year tomorrow in Hong Kong--your video stokes the fire!

Bill

We are in Thailand and I have been riding a 2010 12m Ozone Catalyst in 10-12 knots. Having only owned Slingshot products I don't have much experience with other manufacturers, but the Catalyst is without a doubt the sweetest and most versatile kite I've ever flown. I have been kiting for eight years...

There are many amazing-looking kite beaches and shops listed. We will be there in October and would welcome any and all suggestions for places to ride, sleep, eat, etc. Many thanks!

Bill

I kited Hurghada, Egypt on the Red Sea for a day this week in conditions the locals describe as typical: 110 deg. F, zero humidity, cloudless, blue-green water and reefs with visibility to 30' depths, fan steady 18 kts. A growing kite scene here with many Euros tearing it up. The winds are up at daw...

Water's fine, Z, and I say that having just returned from Caribbean clear Lake Mich. I'll have the kite and small windsurfing gear with me, too!

Bill

In the coming year my job will fortunately take me to several international destinations with great kite boarding. With weight limits on baggage I can't bring my gear with me and will need to rent. All of the rental centers I've contacted require an IKO card (level 1 or above), PASA card (level 2) ,...

Randy, so good to hear from you and know that all's well. I've been riding the same winds this week over here in Leelanau: an amazing three days-in-a-row culminating in last night's sunset session with NW clearing winds at 20-25 knots. At dusk on the beach we grilled salmon we caught earlier, built ...

Dude, I'm gonna miss hanging with you guys in da Gorge this year! Lake Michigan has been producing almost daily 15-25 kite sessions but no big days so far for windsurfing the waves. Make sure Pete gets appropriately lit at Tucker in the evenings. Hope you get lots of 3.7. . . .

Peace,

Matt and Keegan Meyers, of Broneah Kiteboarding, began with a similar business model in Traverse City, Michigan. Check it out, it works.

Bill

Hi Eric, the kite is 2009 SS T3. It does have the center-line safety system. Yeah, I was definitely surprised when I ejected from bar and nothing changed. Years ago Tighe told me "don't let the kite win." I tried, but this kite was clearly possessed.

Bill

I have been kiting for seven or eight years. There is a first time for everything. I share this as a tale of equipment working exactly like it should and to encourage mindfulness of risk. I leave work around 2:00 p.m., looking forward to a good session. The day is hot and the winds are SSE 15-25 mph...

Mike, totally envious. Last June I took a ski team I coach to the Beartooth for a race camp. While I didn't bring my kite gear we did some climbing and skiing in the area you're talking about. It truly is the Top of the World. The owners of the lifts on top of the pass decided the snow pack isn't de...

Hey Bryan, that's exactly what I meant by sand on the kite: basically a solo beach-start carried into the water. Only recommended if you've got nice soft "sugar sand," of course. I've also done the "dock start" you mention. When the wind is SE at Cannon, for instance, I sometimes...