Kite: Noise 12
Wind: 15 knots, SSW
Location: Gnotuk Avenue, Aspendale
Time: 2:00 to 4:00 (1.5h)
Board: Naish Haize twin tip
Did a nice bike ride to Arthurs Seat and back - training for the cycle leg of next weekend's Marysville to Melbourne Multisport Challenge.
I headed to Gnotuk after the ride. There was some wind and a few kiters out, but I needed some food so I had lunch at the seaside cafe at Edithvale Lifesaving Club.
When I returned to Gnotuk and rigged up the wind dropped. I waited for a while, and eventually it came in. I did a few tacks, enjoying the coolness of the water after my bike ride.
The wind was coming and going, so a few more waits were required. Then Stuart showed up, and the wind came in stronger. I was going well and enjoying the small surf along with tours along the beach.
I did a back roll and things went pear-shaped. I got around the roll but I think I kept going. The kite downlooped and I got yanked hard and smacked into the water. The kite inverted and I couldn't relaunch it, so I drifted in, deployed the safety release and secured my kite on the beach. Trying tricks does entail the risk of big prangs, but all was OK.
Tip: Put your hand in the middle of the bar when doing a backroll. This reduces the likelihood of turning the kite.
I relaunched after checking my rigging, but the wind dropped and was onshore, so I flailed about in the surf for a while without getting out behind it. Eventually I gave up, satisfied that I had had enough thrills and exercise for the day.
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