This is an online blog journal of all my kitesurfing activities. I blog and log every kitesurfing session and provide information on skills progression, gear, weather and locations. I am based in Melbourne, Australia where we are blessed with good winds and some wonderful kitesurfing. I also take kitecam photos and video. I also record many sessions with a GPS.
Session 466. I am determined to get up and going on my foil board. Headed to St Kilda hoping for a 15 knot sea breeze but less than 10 knots came in. No inflatable kites could get going, but Natalia and Ivan were going well on their foil kites (13m) and foil boards.
Foil kites are expensive though - around $3,000 + bar!
I stayed for a while hoping for the wind to build but it didn't. Sea breezes have not been very consistent so far this year.
I got my Union 10m kite flying but couldn't get enough power to get going on the Double Agent foil.
Someone left a wetsuit on the stone wall near the kite caravans - contact me if its yours.
Session 465. Five of us converged on Frankston after setting up a car shuffle at Mordialloc. There was wind when we arrived, Stuart and I did a couple of runs, then it died completely when a small rain shower came through.
The steady 15+ knots that was forecast had disappeared. We waited for a while, thinking that the southerly at South Channel was not getting into Frankston. Immediately after I deflated my kite the wind sprang up.
Stu W was on the water and off downwind, I got going soon after and was pleased to get some nice fast downwind cruising then some small bay surf closer to the beach. The water was clear and the sun was shining.
Near Gnotuk I headed out towards Ricketts Point until I was off Mordialloc Pier than tacked backed and finished with a run down the surf to the beach just south of the Mordialloc Creek.
James and Stu S were on the beach and said they got less wind, while Stu W and I lucky to ride a good patch of wind all the way down.
A kitesurfer was injured on 19 December at Marlo. Reports indicate his leg was impaled on a large piece of wood that was in the water while he was travelling at speed and possibly jumping.
Session 464. A promising sea breeze looked good at Hampton. Headed out on my Union 10m kite and tried a few small kiteloops and a long run out towards the channel.
The wind dropped out though with kiters returning to the beach, except for the guys on foil board who kept going. Greg said the did a run up to Black Rock and back.
The water wasn't too bad after the recent very heavy rains and water quality warnings.
The first ever GKA World Kitesurfing Tour event in Australia was held at Point Danger, Torquay in Victoria from 12 to 16 December.
Mens Final - Jan Marcos Riveras (front) & Keahi De Aboitiz (rear)
The world's best kitesurfers waited patiently for the right combination of wind and waves. A tropical cyclone in the Gulf of Carpentaria disrupted weather conditions right down Australia's eastern seaboard, resulting in several days of very heavy rain, storms and no sea breezes.
However, it all came together late on Saturday afternoon when the wind picked up at around 4:30pm and the sun shone with big swells rolling in.
I arrived at 4 pm on Day 4 with not much going on. Keahi De Aboitiz was playing table tennis.
I spoke to Mike Walker of Kitethrills from the Sunshine Coast who we met on our recent kitesurfing trip there. Mike got 4th place in the Australian Kitesurfing Wave Championships that were held at Torquay just before the World Tour event, with James Carew getting 1st place.
Point Danger, Torquay
Keahi De Aboitiz
Point Danger, Torquay
Keahi headed out on a 15m Contra at when cross offshore wind picked up at 4:30 and caught some big waves. Matchu Lopes followed him out and they both were going well.
The mens final event between Keahi Aboitiz (Australia) and Sebastien Ribeiroo (Brazil) then started. They were both catching big waves, smashing lips, getting good rides in and making it look easy.
The mens mini-final between between Mitu Monteiro and Matchu Lopes (both from Cabo Verde) for 3rd and 4th place was equally dramatic.
Further womens events started after these but they were called off when wind conditions changed.
Presentations were held for the following places:
Mens singles finals results:
Keahi De Aboitiz
Sebastian Ribeiroo
Matchu Lopes
Mitu Monteiro
Sebastian Ribeiroo (2nd) Keahi De Aboitiz (1st) Matchu Lopes (3rd) Mitu Monteiro (4th)
Jennie Milton (4th), J - Catharina Edin (3rd), Jalou Langeree (1st) Carla Herrera Ori (2nd)
This event will be held in Australia for the next 2 years. The skills are superb, the vibe is great and competitors are very friendly. Its well worth attending.
