Good wind yesterday so after work I headed down one of the few rideable places within 100km It's a park, kind of in a riverbed with stop banks on either side and space for a baseball & soccer field on the south side bank. Any wind from the north is rideable over 3m/s and you can static fly over the river in a good southerly.

There was a nice nor-wester whipping through - 5m/s on my gizmo so it should be kickin' on the 4.5 Bullet, thinks I. Stake the lines, unpack the kite and set it sitting in the breeze. Bullet is nicely behaved on the ground too, BTW.

Check my gear and lines, all good so I strap on the killers. Pick up the lines, check where my board is (couple of meters up-wind) and a last check of the lines and I send the kite up.

Yoink! The bars go flying straight out of my hands :o whoa dude WTF? Gather it up again, sort the tangle out and send it up again ... this time I'm ready and I go scudding down the field. Well ... bit more wind than I thought. Thank god I didn't unpack the Rebble! Have a bit of a play with the wind but I'm way over-powered for my taste, for the location, for my ability ... I do a few jumps but I'm old and lazy and soon get knackered. I decide to pack up the kite. What a hassle getting a kite into the bag in high winds!

Out comes the KiteWing and for the first time ever, I get rolling with the 'Wing on a board! It needs a massive blow to get cracking, over 8m/s so usually I'm on my skates in the carpark - this is a new experience :tumble: bit different feeling to both the 'Wing with skates and a kite with board but I'm having fun for a good hour till the wind dies off ... head home tired and sweaty but satisfied :singing:

So despite the surprise I had a good afternoon. Weather forecast was for the same conditions today, and despite the sore muscles I thought I'd go out again ... until the thunderstorm rolled over like 5 minutes ago :ticking:

Ow ... my flying muscles hurt

Oof ... Blade 6.6 - what grunt in wind that won't keep a 5m flying! I think I got a toy to scare myself with when the bike gets boring :o

Spent a frustrating hour keeping the 6.6 in the air (or trying to!) last night in light winds ... it really doesn't want to turn or fly up until it's over about 45 degrees to the ground then it hauls on the lines like a Mac truck :o Also has a nasty habit of collapsing, folding in half and rolling itself between the lines ... nice mess that makes.
Was rewarded for my patience (ha!) about 30 minutes before sundown with a front moving in, giving about 3-4 m/s steady and got a little boarding in. Not fabulous but enough to send me home in a good mood

Oh wow my own blog thread

Weather is forecasting 8m/s this afternoon ... :cool2::cool2:
I went to the park at lunch time to risk irritating the nazi caretaker and put the Rev up ... and put it down pretty quick - got out the wind meter, I had 3m/s gusting up to 10 with an average of 7 ...! The gusts on the Rev were yanking me forward

So an hour left of 'worS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K- before I'm free to head down there ... trying to decide if I should bother un-packing my Bullet 4.5 or just go straight for the Kitewing ...? Maybe I better grab that Bullet 3.5 ...

There you go, Kamikuza. Someone is listening, just from the other side of the Pacific. That's kind of cool by itself.:bigok: I still have one more day before the weekend fun begins.:wee: OK so maybe I'm playing with smilies now. Have fun out there.

What's the opposite of 'skunked'

Good cranking wind, 6m/s up to about 9m/s fairly steady. Too much for the baby Bullet I think, so I unpack the 'Wing ... but the dirt field is damp and after 30 minutes or so, the wind gusts off too much and I can't keep it moving ...
So out comes the 4.5 Bullet ...

Cranking!
Tried out the Progression '4-leaf' starting off figure, works a treat! Get the wee B moving and it hauls pretty good - even got to just park it a few times and rail along with it just sitting in the sky! Had a play with a few jumps, good hang time and nice soft landings ... doubt I'm that high up though ;-)
Then suddently ...
Wow look at the pretty clouds coming over the mountain range, all going around in a circle ... hey what the?!? The Bullet is pulling me up on tippee-toes when it's at the zenith and I got the brakes on fly the kite down the edge of the window, jam the brakes on and stuff it into the bag.

So a good 2 hours messing around! Seriously wondering if a 3- 3.5 would have kept me flying ...

Quote:

Originally posted by Kamikuza What's the opposite of 'skunked'

chew'd up
and possibly spit out
depends on how badly you got beat :roll:

Not at all ...!
I'm fairly cautious cos there's nobody around to help except people who hate me
I had too much wind though, could barely get the kite away from the zenith and I was hauling ass - remember, my little area is only baseball field and a small one at that :eek I'll add a google map link when I get to work and have free time

Well the weather hates me ... yet again, moments before I'm due to leave work and head to my flying site, the weather has packed in. The skies have opened and it's hosing down ...
If it's not pouring down, then the wind shifts or dies just as I get there ... and I was
happy too cos the southerly had turned into a northerly!

Finally, some wind. Blowing from the south west at 6m/s though ... ah well, I've have a look at my little area even though there's a stop-bank close to the field on the western side - maybe it'll be ok?

Well surprise again :D had a great time with the 4.5 although it gave me a few scares when it powered up as I was trying to stop running into a sight-screen thing

So it seems so long as there's good wind at that site, it doesn't matter which way it's blowing - so long as you can put up with the gusts ...

Wow 9 out of 11 posts are Kamikuza's - Truly his own thread! :wow:

I've got no kiting fiends here and I have to tell someone - if I tell the wife then she'll think that she should share how her day went with me ... I'd rather chew my own foot off and run away :bouncing:

Friends even ...

when i first started on the PKF my wife was amazed. time for kiting and time for posting. and all the other distractions i have....i have tested the limits.
diamonds, vacations,blah,blah... my advice, you better ask how her day was on a regular basis, saves a ton of money and you'll kite more... plus !!!they'll want to come and!!! can work the camera! and always, always compliment there GREAT camera skills!

the madness continues ...kinda the same just different days.

most of my friends scare my wife and i scare most of her friends anyway.

My wife is into horses. The great four-legged equalizers...I could buy and fly kites all day long and wouldn't touch her commitment. Have you ever heard the old joke, "How do you make a small fortune in the horses?" The answer, sadly, is start with a large one!

Actually, there are a lot of parallels between the kites and the horses. We both get dragged around. There are lines, harnesses, bridles and they're both super powerful - powerful enough to kill or maim! Anything that goes fast and requires a helmet is pretty cool.

The big difference, of course, is that the horses don't need the ever elusive wind to make them go and I like that! I'm not sure how my wife will feel about a fairweather (no wind) driving or riding partner. Maybe she won't catch on.

Greg

Quote:

Originally posted by PHREERIDER when i first started on the PKF my wife was amazed. time for kiting and time for posting. and all the other distractions i have....i have tested the limits. diamonds, vacations,blah,blah... my advice, you better ask how her day was on a regular basis, saves a ton of money and you'll kite more... plus !!!they'll want to come and!!! can work the camera! and always, always compliment there GREAT camera skills! the madness continues ...kinda the same just different days. most of my friends scare my wife and i scare most of her friends anyway.

This sounds like my house. I was amazed at first with the cooperation and acceptance of time and commitment to the kiting. Then it wore thin. Now I have to balance things when on vacation. I was perfectly happy to have a kite in my hand daylight to dark and then some. I have to give her some time to do her stuff without a smirk or look of disappointment on my face. We'll find that balance point. Diamonds huh? Did that work? Phree, does your wife have a reading on your Sofka buddies yet? I wonder if we are scary as well.

Quote:

Originally posted by BeamerBob Quote: Originally posted by PHREERIDER when i first started on the PKF my wife was amazed. time for kiting and time for posting. and all the other distractions i have....i have tested the limits. diamonds, vacations,blah,blah... my advice, you better ask how her day was on a regular basis, saves a ton of money and you'll kite more... plus !!!they'll want to come and!!! can work the camera! and always, always compliment there GREAT camera skills! the madness continues ...kinda the same just different days. most of my friends scare my wife and i scare most of her friends anyway. This sounds like my house. I was amazed at first with the cooperation and acceptance of time and commitment to the kiting. Then it wore thin. Now I have to balance things when on vacation. I was perfectly happy to have a kite in my hand daylight to dark and then some. I have to give her some time to do her stuff without a smirk or look of disappointment on my face. We'll find that balance point. Diamonds huh? Did that work? Phree, does your wife have a reading on your Sofka buddies yet? I wonder if we are scary as well.

ditto... I've just crossed into the wearing thin phase. although when we are on the beach at least the kids love to run around and play by themselves for good stretches. I get my maybe once a month all day (well afternoon) session.

"The big difference, of course, is that the horses don't need the ever elusive wind to make them go..."

But kites don't need oats or pooper scoopers, and attract less flies! :smug:

I bought the big, glossy Kiteboarding magazine from the newsstands. A little big on ads, maybe a little skimpy on content (mostly beginners stuff).

But they had a goofy article about guys and their strategies to hide their purchases from from their wives! (hey, maybe that too was a veiled advertisment).

THE SOFKA CROWD IS ALL GOOD FREE TO HANG AT A MOMENTS NOTICE. AS LONG AS I DON'T FALL INTO THE "I FEEL LIKE A MAID/NANNY WHEN YOU NOT HERE WHICH HAS BEEN ALOT LATELY" CONVERSATION.

BUT WE ALL HAVE OUR PASSIONS .. ..AND THEY TOO HAVE PEAKS AND VALLEYS, ENDURE THE CLIMBS TOGETHER AND SAVOR THE FREE RIDE ON THE OTHER SIDE!


ADDENDUM : CONCEALED PURCHASES... ALREADY BEEN BUSTED ...HAD TO PULL THE SHOES OR BAG COMPARISON FOR THE "YOU DON'T TELL ME EVERTIME EITHER" KINDA WORKED I THINK.

My wife is all good with the Sofka crowd too. She has never rolled her eyes when I say I'm getting together with the guys or someone is coming to play on the beach. I guess since we are all married, and passionate about the kite stuff, she knows we aren't bad influences on each other. I definitely have to avoid the "nanny/maid" discussion with my actions.

Edit: We established a toy budget (on which I'm constantly a few months in the red) that is equal for both of us, so I don't feel guilty or get the questions when a check gets written. She notices kite colors and brands so too smart to pull that. I've had mild success with the "pass the kite" explanation. I sell and ship enough kites that my quiver is hard to take a bead on. It is settling down now with only 2 kites (Phantom II won't be out for 9-12 months though) on the wish list, well and a kiteboard.

"She notices kite colors and brands so too smart to pull that."

If the smart kite makers are reading this, they will be busy with designing special "Wife Variants" of their kites. These will all have the same generic designs and colors for all sizes and models.

Thanks for the kiting diary Kamikuza and the wifey stories from the gang. LOL

Is there anyone out there that has got their wife interested in our addiction, like actually flying kites?

We have to be strategists. My wife wanted to go to Vegas with her friend earlier this year and I said no problem. Now when I just recently told her I was planning a trip to 2010 NABX, she said don't count on her going. Damn.

I bought her a kite (the Vibe) for her birthday ... she's going to NZ for a month without me and asked if she could take it with her! I have a convert :D She works the camera too but isn't very reliable ... I'll post some movies of her filming my mad skillz (LOL) when I get home ...

The problem with me is that I don't have a wish list ... it's more of a "Hey wow that deal is too great to pass up" list and missing out on deals like that Flysurfer really make me feel bad ... must be my Scottish ancestral genes!

Horses are great! When the shiatsu hits the fan and society falls apart, you can always have a nice BBQ. Always good to keep a few cats and dogs too ...

Together 3 years this September, we still have not ever had an argument or fuss. We do everything together including kites.

Oh there's been times when biting our tongue was the only thing to do but it's getting easy to not have to do that. I guess its her and not me because I've done some things that should have required a lashing, but get an understanding instead.

All I can say is it's been a rare 3 years with this lady. I've been married three times, so I know a thing or two now about a good woman.

She does it all, right now she wants me to fix the lawn mower so she can finish cutting the grass. Then wants to help get the manifold gasket on the boat so we can get it started. Changes oil in the vehicles and washes them. Has super ready everyday when I get home. Cloths, dishes and house always taken care of. Can pack a kite like nobody’s business and still a sweet little lady, not a tomboy at all.

Raised her three kids by herself mostly. Pure country family. Takes walks together, eats, shops and everything together. Two boys and one girl. 16, 18 and 21, and all still that tight. Her youngest lives with us the other two have their own separate place. They all get together and still do the things all families should do as above. She is 41 and is taken me through the school of life in our short time.

We kite, backpack, camp, kayak, boat with the power boat, fish, target shoot w/ compound bows and I'm sure I left a few things out. Most of these trips require overnight stays and mountain climbing. She loves it as much as I do.

I am too lucky and when I've had a few too many to drive after a long day, guess what? I don't have to.

I should upload a video of her doing these things as it is almost unbelievable.

As the great philosopher Al Power said, "I've found that diamonds work very well."
Al, do you read this forum?

Oh I do envy your wives ... went for a drive today and stopped by the river. Spent a few minutes companionably with the wife skimming stones - till she threw one right at me smacked in the kidneys which was lucky cos I was bending down to pick a new stone ...! Then we went to a Vietnamese restaurant and she farted audibly while we were waiting for menu :o THEN she knocked the tomato dip off the table and all over the floor ... never a dull moment :ticking:
When she does film me, she gets the wrong setting so it's the lowest quality then gets all creative with camera angles and - laughs when I fall over

Who is the man who can ride toe-side now? Oh yes that would indeed be I

Enough wind tonight to ride but not enough to scare me sensible and it was, for a change, clean and smooth ... ish ... so I thought I'd try a toe-side turn on the board. Well that was easy, lets keep riding ... ok not too hard, lets try a toe- to heel-side turn ... well that was even easier
Bit too far down-wind, the kite is getting a bit close to the porta-potty and random bamboo poles, better keep it tighter next time ... done!

Zoom zoom zoom! :cool2: ow my feet hurt, time for a break

Had to wave my arms around, like I was doing semaphore on crack, to keep the kite in the sky just the once when I muffed the co-ordination cos I was too busy being Mr. Stylish in the turn and not paying attention :D

w00t! another Zen kiting moment ...!

... funny thing is - I still can't slide without heading right upwind and coming to a complete stop :puzzled:

I'll be hitting you up for advice...

first time on this thread, good stuff, I'll be back....

i'm single, my girls know not to expect calls back when the wind is blowing...:evil:

furb,

your girls (plural) know not to expect calls back when the wind is blowing...

bragger