spi christmas

[JimPat]

We had about a week and a half of no sun and cooler weather, glad to see that leave. The last two days were 75-77 degrees and very windy. Yesterday I figured out board grabs and back spins. I'm completing almost every spin in the one direction but can't get the kite to come around on spins in the other direction. It's blowing mid 20's today so plenty of wind to work on spinning the other way. My plan is to combine the board grab with the spin to make sure I get off the back hand and immediately get onto that front hand(I complete the spin in the other direction i just don't get the kite around to be powered up and ride away). Another trick I was told was to put my back hand close to the center rope but to move my front hand out away from the center 4 to 5 inches. The geat thing about kiting is that there is always something new to work on. Yesterday I had some big jumps that carried me pretty far down wind which created some pretty hard and fast moving landings. The impact is what concerns me. The landings were pretty hard on the knees. One of the guys said I need to get on a smaller board to decrease dthat impact. I have been riding my liquid force 144 mission( i love that board). What do you guys's think(i'm 200 lbs).
I see that you guys are getting lots of snow(that's awesome). I am going to miss winter kiting and my friends back home. Patty and I want to wish you all a snowy and windy merry christmas. Oh Tighe- I did get a new 11m T3 here on the island at XL kites for christmas! It's one sweet kite, quick and responsive just like my 9m(wow). I still want to demo an RPM one of these days.
MERRY CHRIST-MAS!
Jim and Patty















.

[steveb]

Jim. Happy xmas.
A smaller board would help a little...maybe. A flexy board maybe more. LF's are not famous for flex and give. If the board doesn't absorb much impact it tends to be felt in the knees.
Maybe ,I think you'll find most of it may be kite flying. If you're coming down fast move the kite in the other direction a little and it'll slow the descent. The bigger the jump the more you have to steer to keep the kite over your head for longer.
As an official " protect the joints " rider I pull the default landing style of the " Butt" plant out of the tricks quiver if I'm coming in too hot. Just lift your feet up. Saves the knees and flushes the bowels wonderfully.

[djmadmike]

Merry Christmas to both of you also!

It was a pleasure to meet both of you down there for Turkey day---great times! Hope to see you both again in the future. Jodie says hello too.

Rock on
Mike T Nelson

[GeorgeV]

Tim and Patty,

Four of us are driving to SPI next week from Rochester MN. We plan to arrive on Wednesday evening and head back on Sunday. It would be good to meet you guys.

We are looking for a condo with a kitchen. If you know of a good and not too expensive place, let me know. My cell: 507 269 1129.

Thanks,
George

[JRN]

JIMBO: U R an inspiriation: Living the dream, board-offs, spins, riding like a pro, not to mention having Patty as a traveling companion! Enjoy the Holidays, & your Journeys until we see you again. Your SARCASTIC amigo, Jim P.S: I guess I'm really the pale imitation now.

[JimPat]

Thank's for the tips and the fyi's. Steve, you are right it was my choking the kite. Now that I am letting go of the bar(board grabs-back hand) I am hanging by the chicken loop and now I'm not hanging by pulling down on the bar-that is forcing better front hand control and the landings are sweet! Tuesday was 11m, wed. was 9m and today was 7m (and I got off around 4pm because 7m was getting super overpowered-smoke on the water in Padre)WOW! I rented a smaller board-db 134, very nice.

Hello Rochesterite's! I'll check around on a few condo's. FYI the motel-6 is 23.99 per night and some of the other hotels are cheap because the Island is fairly empty.

[tom_latcham]

Seasons Greetings from the snow belt Jim and Patty. Congrats on your progress. I can't wait to see you ride next year. Have fun and be safe
Tom

[Tighe]

Merry Xmas Jim. Exciting progress.

The lower the kite is at the start of your jump (before you send it) typically the hotter and more horizontal the landing. So if you want to control how hot you come in you could start with the kite higher.

It is a gas though, maximizing the glide ratio and cruisin horizontal as long as you can. What I do is to flare the kite as I'm about to land, not dissimilar to paraglider coming in. Too much and you'll stall the kite, just the right amount and touch down like butter.

I assume you're landing with the board parallel to the direction of you travel...downwind.

size of board helps, as well as construction, but not as much as technique. Feather soft landings save the knees on any board.

Can't wait to ride with you in the spring.