Greg's first session on a Fliteboard

My friend was keen to have a go on my Fliteboard. We headed down to Aspendale for an early start before a breeze kicked in. 

Greg is a keen skier and has good balance. He was standing on the board quite soon enjoying the flat water. He got some good speed up with the board low to the water. He rose on the foil a few times but lost control fairly quickly.

The micro forward and back adjustments are very tricky when learning. 

Riding the board flat on the water helps getting used to the speed.

"Micro flights" - getting on the foil and quickly bringing the board back down - helps you learn the small weights shifts needed to rise on the foil and descend back to a plane.

A very impressive first session - well done Greg!

Kitesurfing the Flinders reef break

I took this video of the crew kitesurfing the reef break at Flinders on Sat 18 December.  I have tennis elbow so was unable to kite this time.

Flinders is a great place to kitesurf when the wind gets in there but its for experienced kitesurfers only. It is a long swim back to the beach if you tangle your kite or have an equipment failure.

Kitesurfing off RAAFS beach at Ocean Grove #528

Session 528. On our way home we drove past 13th beach, there was some wind there but not quite enough to kite. When we got to RAAFS beach at Ocean Grove the wind was stronger so we scored a great session kiting across the Barwon River mouth to some good waves off Barwon Bluff.

The best wave I caught was close to the bluff but I forgot about my kite and crashed it. I wasn't looking forward to swimming in onto the rocky shoreline but thankfully I was able to relaunch it.

This was a great session and a perfect way to cap off another cracking kitesurfing long weekend.

Kitesurfing downwinder Aspendale to Port Melbourne #522

Session 522. Headed to Aspendale with a nice southerly over 20 knots coming down the bay.  I headed off on my Union 8m kite and North Cross board.  The surf at Aspendale and down towards the Mordialloc pier was great.

I tacked past the end of the pier and headed towards Ricketts Point.  The aquatic farm that was off Ricketts Point doesn't seem to be operating any more.  Coming into Beaumaris there was a few other kites out.

Good wind past the wreck of the Cerberus, its nearly submerged now.  

I noticed a disturbance in the water off Red Bluff lookout - there were two swimmers in the water some distance off shore. They were not easy to see in the swell but I was able to keep well clear.

There were a couple of guys on a wind wings and foils off  Sandringham. 

I tacked into Hampton then caught some nice rollers along to reef break and Green Point.

There were some kiters out at Brighton. The wind stayed good past Elwood with some good rolling swell and a few reef breaks to St Kilda Marina, then a tack past St Kilda Breakwater and a nice finish across to Port Melbourne. 

Caught the tram back to Southern Cross station, walked across Spencer Street, then caught the train back to Aspendale.  I got a few of the usual curious glances on the tram and train  and walking through the city with my wetsuit on and board under my arm. 

This is an epic downwinder in 25 knots!

Kitesurfing the inlet at Inverloch - flat water #517

Session 517. I got a small piece of vegetation in my eye when we got up to see the first sunrise of 2021 at Walkerville. I couldn't get it out so went to Foster Hospital where a doctor was able to remove the small piece that was stuck to my eyeball. We were late getting to Inverloch where Stu, Tarren and James were out kiting.  

I got on the water about the time they were finishing up and had a nice flat water session on the inlet. The tide was going out so it was getting shallower. I didn't bother going across to the surf as I was the water might be too shallow in places.

Lots of kiters and people about having a good time in the sun. A fun session but I prefer some waves.