Last Sat found us with good conditions, wind steady at 22 Mph with gusts over 30 on the Grand Mesa Colorado. Highs and lows, well more lows than highs. Went to my trusty 7m Waroo which thrashed and burned at IBX. Our repair did not hold and she would not hold air . So up went my 9m Nemisis. Got some runs in but the gusts made things difficult. Bow tying and eventually flipping the kite inside out. Trying to fix it, actually ended up totally releasing it.!!!! :o Some luck was with me, she stopped in the ditch just on the other side of the road. Another low was my board. The dusty snow had removed most if no all of my wax and it was a struggle to even move. So much for Sat.
Sun dawned a beautiful breezy day. Cleaned up the Nemesis, patched a few small holes, switched the steering lines because of some confusion attaching, and put fresh coat of wax on my board. Let's go.!! Today it was Zach, Todd, and my self. Zack on his 7m frenzy had a good day burning it up, Todd also made lots of fresh tracks having a great day on his 5m Apex. I on the other hand almost didn't survive the day. All ready and excited, winds howling, I attached an anchor rope to a tree something I've never used before. Most of our winds are on the calm side. Kite inflated, check, lines attached correctly, check, board waxed and ready, check. Let's go so I started pulling the kite out of its parking spot exposing the wing tip to the wind. Wait something's wrong oh #@%$#! :o Oh #@%$#!!!!
Flash back to IBX 2 years ago, tangled a steering line around an axle, cut it in two, emergency repair tied a knot. Worked rest of the week. Flash forward to last fall. Gee I should fix that line, oh this old bar here I can use a line off it. Darn it's three feet shorter than the original. No problem I'll just add a short length at the handle. All good. Flash forward to Sunday morning remember Sunday morning (switched some steering lines) Flash back to present, kite inches away from powering up and lines switched creating a 4' difference in the steering lines. Repeat OH #@%$#!, anchor line 4' away slowly reaching for rope, got it, tying to chicken loop" Yeh forgot a Beener", thank God knot tied. Whoosh kite powers up into full death spiral!!! I get ripped 5' to the right and just stare with awe at the incredible amount of force that kite is generating and thanking God I made it to the anchor and nobody was in the way of the kite!!! Well every :smug: story should have a happy ending (thanks Dimitri Maramenides for showing us what to do in this emergency) I pulled the slack steering line tight bringing the kite back under control, switched the lines back!! And proceeded to have my best day ever on the Grand Mesa. My previous speed record was 22 MPH, that day I averaged 12 MPH, put in 13.5 miles in two and a half hours and hit a new personal record of 27.6 MPH and the adventures continue :cool2:

Had an awesome day right here in Colorado Springs yesterday after the recent storm dump. Only about 6-8 inches, but it was so heavy that it made an amazing base - actually some of the best local conditions I've had all year. Was able to score a real nice lightwind Zeekai session in the morning and then hit it again after work or a really fun 9m session.

Love this sport - stay safe over there Anthony! It looks like we'll have to wait till next year to meet up. Although I am taking the family up to Lake McConaughy for Memorial Day weekend - and will have all my kites along. Should be fun.

Ok, not kite related but I did have chance to make my first trip to CO on May 8th. I drove from the airport to the hotel in Denver through a wicked hail storm. It was a work trip, but I was able to take Thursday off and head up to the mountains. I skied A Basin. OMG, once I was able to catch my breath from the 13000 elevation I had an amazing day. Skiing in May....wow. I heard they had a foot of snow over the last few days....bet they stay open until July. Between the mountains, skiing and the crazy number of micro-brew pubs in the area I almost didn't go home. If you haven't been there before, you should go.....

Quote: Originally posted by aronma

Ok, not kite related but I did have chance to make my first trip to CO on May 8th. I drove from the airport to the hotel in Denver through a wicked hail storm. It was a work trip, but I was able to take Thursday off and head up to the mountains. I skied A Basin. OMG, once I was able to catch my breath from the 13000 elevation I had an amazing day. Skiing in May....wow. I heard they had a foot of snow over the last few days....bet they stay open until July. Between the mountains, skiing and the crazy number of micro-brew pubs in the area I almost didn't go home. If you haven't been there before, you should go.....

Made it out there once for a ski trip. Rockies are beautiful! The altitude kicked my a** My city is only 500ft elevation in comparison. Wasn't enough time to adapt.