So I'm sure it really wasn't that exciting to anyone watching but....

winds were 18 gusting to 21mph this afternoon, so I made my way to the park for some awesome fun. Setup was pretty easy, and I can't believe how much less filled the syn needs to be filled than the scorpion. Launched at about 80-85% full and up she went. Played for about ten minutes to feel out the gusts and on the board I went. Winds were NW which meant that I had to ride the short way instead of the long way, so no real park and ride event. This was the first time I was able to hold my own when I got going enough for speed wobble, which also meant that I had enough juice to try some jumps.

I have always had to walk back upwind the 150yards across the park, but not today. I went downwind fast and then cut across and soon tacked upwind. Eventually I made my way back up to where I started from. Had a couple OH #@%$#! moments but nothing too serious. I got tired of slowing down to ride the other way so I did many downwind to toeside turns and rode till I got momentum to jump and spin to heelside.

Then came the nerve to jump. I started out riding regular foot (my left forward) and tried to transition to goofy. Worked out alright so I really commited the next time and ended up jumping 4 feet and landing blind only to fall on my ass. Practiced doing jumps from both left and right foot and learned that I was more refined to jumping while riding goofy and landing regular. My best successful jump/ transition was about 4-5 feet up with about 3 seconds of hang time. (more concerned about proper kite positioning and float than height right at this moment)

So yeah with successful upwind riding and the progression with jumping; I can say, that even though I probably didn't look that great from a bystanders point of view, that today was the best Kite ATB day I've had yet. Now if I can find a bigger place to really open things up. Sorry for the long post just had to share.

Thanks
Shaggs

Sweet Shaggs! Always inspiring to hear other's stoke. Keep it up (and keep us posted)!

Wow, I'm impressed you were getting that out of the 10 in those winds. I haven't flown mine yet but figured it would just be starting to work in those winds. I'll be inclined to break it out in less than that given your experiences.

Nice! Sounds like you're kickin' arse!

:bigok::bigok:
Remember, every landing you walk away from is a good landing.

Thanks Guys!! I appreciate the support maybe one day I can get a tripod for the camera so I can take some video.

Quote:

Originally posted by BeamerBob Wow, I'm impressed you were getting that out of the 10 in those winds. I haven't flown mine yet but figured it would just be starting to work in those winds. I'll be inclined to break it out in less than that given your experiences.

Yeah I have been surprised with the 10m synergy. I think that it was a big combo of getting myself going as quick as I can handle (was a bit hairy for me below about 60 degrees in powerzone) and sending the kite fast the other way when I was trying to jump. Really giving it all I could to get slingshot effect out of it. When I was just static flying I couldn't get airborne unless I flew the kite across window and cranked it straight up hard and quick, then it was more like a kiteloop yank instead of a nice floaty jump. Either way I could not have gotten that out of my 6 meter access and the syn is suppose to be the same size in theory anyway.

I have to correct myself. Just watching some Carl the Bullet videos and judging by what I was seeing from his jumps, mine may have only been one or two seconds of hang time. But they felt like a long time when I was doing them.

a well powered kite just makes a huge difference, way to go.

kite loop yank, nice!

ah the sweet taste,

just wait til your taking out your 16 in the same breeze!

Y'know, I had my Scorp 16 out the other day ... I was well impressed with it - more stable and less of a PITA than the Synergy I put up right after that in more wind ... :confused: