High Flying Kiter

SteveJ · Post by **SteveJ** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:04 am

Who was out kiting on White Bear late on Saturday? You had some great airtime. I don't think you can really call it jumping, it was more like flying and gliding. Was there something special with the wind to allow you to cruise along 3-5 feet above the water for a long ways and then rise up 15 - 20 more, drop 10, and then go back up to what looked like 30 or more?

At least twice I saw a splash below and thought your board dropped but it didn't. Were you dropping weights out there to let you climb higher?

Looked like fun,

What a great warm and windy weekend. Hope everyone got some kiting or sailing in.

Steve J.

Mike W · Post by **Mike W** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 8:33 am

Steve, it might have been me. Joe L. may have been out too. You could get a taste too. Winter time is the best time to learn.

Coach · Post by **Coach** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 10:53 am

Hey, Mike - don't forget me!

What color was the kite? heh.

Where were you guys yesterday? Right about 4pm it started cranking and I was massively overpowered on a 16.

Started the day out at Cedar in some lightwind but got to see the whole Blain clan, which was cool... Made it back to the Bear in time to sneak in another killer session. I was shocked, because I was the only kiter out.

-Coach

Mike W · Post by **Mike W** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 11:18 am

I didn't forget you. I saw a Slingshot kite out when I left Saturday, and I know your standards are too high for that

I had a quick early afternoon session on the 15m on Sunday. It looked better later.

Coach · Post by **Coach** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 11:41 am

It WAS better - I should have had my 12m out. I ended up crash-landing my kite downwind of Ordway point. I had to swim in with my kite, and then swim back out and in a couple hundred yards to retrieve my board. I got some stupid-crazy overpowered kiting in for 1.5 hours up until then...

Should be good at Ramsey this afternoon, as well. The wind still has some East in it.

-Coach

SteveJ · Post by **SteveJ** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 11:51 am

Can't recall the exact color but it was a fairly dark color. Maybe orange. I'm sure it was the last kiter on the water since we were derigging in the dark. It also looked like there was a chase boat following the guy or gal around.

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:44 pm

Coach, it got up after you left, gusts to 30. Chris and I hung onto our 16's ridiclously overpowered,it pays to be fat.
Like Denis my session ended when I lost my board in the waves, I was lucky that some locals in a pontoon brought the board to me while i was ditching my kite at the north end of the lake.
Had my biggest and floatiest jump yet

, the words " holy shit" came out of my mouth before I realized it

it just kept going up, and up.I'm pleased to report that even though it took it's time gravity did remember to assert itself in the end.

Coach · Post by **Coach** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 2:14 pm

SteveB - I wish I had been a little fatter! It definitely became too much for the 16m at WBL... Glad you had an 'oh shit' jump - be prepared for many more.

I got lofted by some gusts on WBL that put me at altitudes near the top of the highest I've ever been.

SteveJ - That was Joe L. Not sure what's up with the retro orange colors of his new kite. It's very 70's looking. I had carpeting that same color decades ago... Joe?

-Coach

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 2:35 pm

Well the truth of the matter is it wasn't either of you. It was Alex and Joe doing some new R&D work for Slingshot. I hear they've figured a way to go 80ft....no lie. 4 huge kiteloops on the way down.

Mike W · Post by **Mike W** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 5:20 pm

80 ft. high? That is hard to believe. If SS designs a kite that will go twice as high as anything else, they will have no trouble selling them, even if they are ugly.

SteveJ · Post by **SteveJ** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 1:19 am

I am not a kiter yet but what I saw on Saturday was some major big air- time and very high up. No question 80 feet was in their reach and it was only 8.4 windsurfing condition for me.

Mike W · Post by **Mike W** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 9:21 am

Wow! Can't wait to see that.

John · Post by **John** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 10:37 am

Steve,

You probably didn't see the boat headed into the wind and AP holding onto a 200ft tow line. I'd say 80 ft under estimates the reality on some of the flights

John · Post by **John** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 12:05 pm

http://www.friendsofwolsfeldwoods.com/sshot/wbl4.wmv

kite loops

Mike W · Post by **Mike W** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 12:53 pm

Pretty wild indeed! Kitesurfing mixed with tow up paragrliding. Very creative. Now 80 ft. makes a lot more sense. Somewhere online there is a video of a guy getting badly injured when a line breaks while he is being pulled by a boat while kiting. Be careful!

SteveJ · Post by **SteveJ** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 2:59 pm

Thanks, now it all comes together. There was something special about the wind and the splash I saw was from dropping the towrope.

rudeboysaude · Post by **rudeboysaude** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 5:52 pm

Huh.

Maybe it's just me, but that seems kinda pointless! I guess he gets wicked hieght, but yeah, why with a kite? Does look kinda dangerous.

Coach · Post by **Coach** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 8:23 am

That's (crazy) Alex for you - I suppose the paragliding experience helps a lot...

When you said 80ft, I thought you were exaggerating to a large degree. I guess not...

-COach