Anyone headed to WBL for an 'after work, can't stand working in my cube, friday' session? I could make it there by 4:30pm.
-Matthew
WBL Today
Moderator: MK
WBL Sunday
anyone going to be at WBL on Sunday? I'll probably be there around 2pm.
-Matthew
-Matthew
J.N.9.5 paradise
After a long reach upwind from Ramsey to near the "gap", we managed to
satisfy the urge to plane just down-wind of the point. But big boards and sails were definitely the call. Met yet another kiter named Matt, who got moving on a Slingy 13...Are they cloning Matts somewhere with a genetic predisposition to kite?
J.N.
satisfy the urge to plane just down-wind of the point. But big boards and sails were definitely the call. Met yet another kiter named Matt, who got moving on a Slingy 13...Are they cloning Matts somewhere with a genetic predisposition to kite?
J.N.Wow, really? I got in the car this morning after church headed south for Cannon. By about Lakeville, I saw this wasn't a good idea, so I turned back. Later in the afternoon I jumped in the car again to head to Waconia, but just past the airport I turned back. Pretty frustrating. I had written off WBL today because of wind direction. I should have been there.
It was nice meeting you and sailing with you today Keven! We really had to work for the "planes" but we had some fun, in "the gap", didn't we?
Jim was a no-show in the gap (I think?) When you're out there with a pro like him...sometimes all I hear is his Techno Rocket streaming up behind me and...before I know it... all I can see is the Emblem on his seat harness on the horizon! It was good to chat again Jim it's been a long winter!
Phil, it was nice meeting you too. I hope you got a little water time with your new waist harness. :lol:Doug
Jim was a no-show in the gap (I think?) When you're out there with a pro like him...sometimes all I hear is his Techno Rocket streaming up behind me and...before I know it... all I can see is the Emblem on his seat harness on the horizon! It was good to chat again Jim it's been a long winter!
Phil, it was nice meeting you too. I hope you got a little water time with your new waist harness. :lol:Doug
DDD
WBL
Well got a little time on the water with my 13m. This was the first time in MN wind. I was down in Padre for a week (with Jon Stroh and Manolo) and got a bit spoiled. Can't wait to go ride on WBL again! Maybe next time I'll be able to stay upwind. Nice to meet you today Jim ... and yes I am one of the clones.
-Matthew
-Matthew
Matt.
It was nice talking to you on the beach Sunday. Sorry I didn't introduce myself (where are my manners?), I was the guy who didn't have big enough monofilm to get out there, even though I did get my sail half-rigged. It was interesting to hear your thoughts on Kiteboarding. You definitely got me thinking more about it, I guess I just need to give it a shot sometime. Hope to see you out there again.
Jacek.
It was nice talking to you on the beach Sunday. Sorry I didn't introduce myself (where are my manners?), I was the guy who didn't have big enough monofilm to get out there, even though I did get my sail half-rigged. It was interesting to hear your thoughts on Kiteboarding. You definitely got me thinking more about it, I guess I just need to give it a shot sometime. Hope to see you out there again.
Jacek.
WBL again
I'm heading to WBL for some kiting around 6pm ... winds look strong as the evening goes on. I'm sure there will be a few others to join me! Can't wait! My kites may be too big though. My smallest is 9m. I'll probably be a Ramsey.
Had my 17m up for the first time yesterday. Got blown down wind a bit when the wind died but still had a blast.
-Matthew
Had my 17m up for the first time yesterday. Got blown down wind a bit when the wind died but still had a blast.
-Matthew
WBL twice
Had a great time at WBL last night with my 13m. I waited a bit too long to go out and the wind started to die. Two sessions in one week! Can't wait to go out again. Anyone interested in doing a downwinder sometime at WBL?
-Matthew
-Matthew
Hi everyone. It was fun seeing the gang out yesterday in the big winds.
One thing I've been wondering about lately: I've been seeing a few "learning kiters" launching at WBL Ramsey. I don't know a lot about kiting, so maybe all of these kiters are really so strong that this just isn't an issue, but a few times it's looked to me like a kiter was having at least a little bit of a struggle staying upwind of the swimming area. I think it would be a disaster for all of us if something bad happened with a kite blowing through the swimming area. Most likely noone would get badly hurt, but I bet the powers that be would react, and the collateral damage might include windsurfers.
Can some of the more experienced kiters comment? How good do you have to be to safely launch at Ramsey during swimming season? (I've seen a few of the strong kiters launch there and look completely comfortable and under control.) Is there some sort of a skills checklist for kiters?
Thanks,
John
One thing I've been wondering about lately: I've been seeing a few "learning kiters" launching at WBL Ramsey. I don't know a lot about kiting, so maybe all of these kiters are really so strong that this just isn't an issue, but a few times it's looked to me like a kiter was having at least a little bit of a struggle staying upwind of the swimming area. I think it would be a disaster for all of us if something bad happened with a kite blowing through the swimming area. Most likely noone would get badly hurt, but I bet the powers that be would react, and the collateral damage might include windsurfers.
Can some of the more experienced kiters comment? How good do you have to be to safely launch at Ramsey during swimming season? (I've seen a few of the strong kiters launch there and look completely comfortable and under control.) Is there some sort of a skills checklist for kiters?
Thanks,
John
WBL
Well obviously this is directed at me. Let me first paraphrase your statement: the dude on the 13m didn’t stay upwind as well as the more ‘experienced kiters’ and I really hope someone like this wouldn’t ruin it for us.
I feel responsible to calm your fears a bit. There are really 4 factors I consider when riding - wind conditions, kite size, safety gear, and launches. Yesterday was a good example. Since the wind was extremely gusty, I chose to wait for an hour and make sure the wind had smoothed out a bit. I chose to use a smaller kite size and be more on the conservative side in case the wind started to gust again. I checked my safety gear and rehearsed what I needed to do if needed. I made sure my launch was at an appropriate distance from people and boats. I body-dragged upwind and away from any objects before actually riding. More ‘experienced riders please correct me if I’m wrong.
So enough of me defending my riding ... let’s get to the main point of this:
I am completely sensitive to the idea that if we had an incident at WBL, it could ruin it for everybody. Let me reassure you that I am committed to keeping a high level of safety @ WBL and making sure we can ride there for a long time to come. I am going to ride WBL as much as possible and I look forward to getting to know everyone there.
-Matthew
I feel responsible to calm your fears a bit. There are really 4 factors I consider when riding - wind conditions, kite size, safety gear, and launches. Yesterday was a good example. Since the wind was extremely gusty, I chose to wait for an hour and make sure the wind had smoothed out a bit. I chose to use a smaller kite size and be more on the conservative side in case the wind started to gust again. I checked my safety gear and rehearsed what I needed to do if needed. I made sure my launch was at an appropriate distance from people and boats. I body-dragged upwind and away from any objects before actually riding. More ‘experienced riders please correct me if I’m wrong.
So enough of me defending my riding ... let’s get to the main point of this:
I am completely sensitive to the idea that if we had an incident at WBL, it could ruin it for everybody. Let me reassure you that I am committed to keeping a high level of safety @ WBL and making sure we can ride there for a long time to come. I am going to ride WBL as much as possible and I look forward to getting to know everyone there.
-Matthew
Well, yesterday was a special case. The wind was really gusty and I was on a super high aspect ratio kite (read super finicky). I launched in a lull, so it took me a while to get on my board. I made sure I was past the swimming area before though.
The general advice is to body drag out until the space is clear downwind, then get on the board. Landing is more tricky, especially if there is no one to help you land. You have to work your way between the boats anchored at Ramsey, make sure no one is downwind for 2 length of kite lines, put the kite leading edge down in the water then pull the safety. If you can't make it back, you can land downwind of the boat launch, and walk back.
I tried to observe those rules yesterday, but I probably spooked some people out with my red and white monster. Next time you see me doing something unsafe feel free to catch a word with me right then and there on the beach.
Denis
The general advice is to body drag out until the space is clear downwind, then get on the board. Landing is more tricky, especially if there is no one to help you land. You have to work your way between the boats anchored at Ramsey, make sure no one is downwind for 2 length of kite lines, put the kite leading edge down in the water then pull the safety. If you can't make it back, you can land downwind of the boat launch, and walk back.
I tried to observe those rules yesterday, but I probably spooked some people out with my red and white monster. Next time you see me doing something unsafe feel free to catch a word with me right then and there on the beach.
Denis
WBL Sunday June 26
If the wind is up as predicted I am tenatively planning to be at WBL windsurfing this Sunday (June 26). Whooo ha. Anyone else?
Mike T. Nelson
Mike T. Nelson