Riding a bucking bronco at Brighton!

Session 144, Sunday 3 September 2011

Kite: Switchblade 10
Wind: 30-35- knots, N, NNE
Location: Brighton
Time: 10:30 to 12:00
Board: Naish Haize twin tip

GPS log
Max speed: 38.7 km/h
Time: 57m (moving)
Distance: 13.96

A dangerous session today - very difficult wind conditions.  It was very strong and very gusty. It was like riding a bucking bronco.

When I arrived a kite was in the water close to the shore.  The rider attempted a relaunch, which was a bit "hot" downwind and one of his lines broke, so that was the end of his session.

Slalom

Landed a jump

Coming in for a rest

Cranking in 35 knots.  Photo: Ian Currie, Heraldsun

Denholm Laufmann (jumping) and Peter Campbell  (background) kitesurfing at Brighton.  Photo: Ian Currie, Heraldsun

I got on the water at about 10:30 and kited for about 40 minutes in around 30 knots.  It was stronger further out and not so strong near the shore.  Stuart was out too.  We did the usual upwind tack out, then speed run back in with some slalom turns and jumps.   My kite was fully depowered, yet I still had to sheet out in response to the big gusts that were coming through.

Warning: these conditions are for advanced kiters only, and even then, only with the right size kite.

I came in to have a chat to my friend and Yoga teacher Tony Rothberg, who was watching from the beach.  While we were on the beach, a kite completely detached from a rider and flew for a while, then landed in the water.  It may have been one of the Cabrinha IDS velcro attachments ripping off, or he may have broken his leash (less likely).

There was no way we could catch the kite, and going out to get would have been riskly.  It then blew in toward Green Point, eventually coming into some reef where it flew again briefly then went down hard and stayed down, presumably with a burst bladder.    It was obviously damaged and may have been a write off.  The kiter (a Frenchman) took off in his car to get it.

While this was going on, Natalie Clarke was out having a good time.  A Channel 7 news photographer showed up "to get some photos of the wind".  He took some photos of Natalie and other kiters.  I worded him up about Natalie's great achievement kiting across Bass Strait last years.  The photos may make it in tomorrow's Sunday Heraldsun.

I headed out for another short session.  The wind was even stronger with bigger whitecaps evident.  I was powered up, and coming back on a tack decided it was getting a bit too strong, so I headed for the beach and a couple of guys grabbed my kite and said a major gust was coming through.  I was very happy to have the kite back on the beach.

Another rider commented as he came in that it was "dangerous conditions out there"; everyone agreed.

Here is my track log:


Photo slideshow

A perfect winter session - upwind at Brighton.

Session 143, Sunday 28 August 2011

Kite: Noise 12
Wind: 25-3- knots, N
Location: Brighton
Time: 3:30 to 5:00
Board: Naish Haize twin tip

GPS log
Max speed: 41.4 km/h
Time: 1h30m
Distance: 29.14

Great session today - one of the best.  Good wind at Brighton, consistent and strong.

After getting a few rigging photos for our Kitesurfing Handbook, Stuart and I headed upwind as it was a bit crowded off the beach.  It was fresh and invigorating.  We headed upwind past the Brighton Marina all the way up the Elwood.

I dropped the kite once while setting the depower.  It came overhead and fluttered to the water.  Thankfully I relaunched it without much hassle.

The downwind run back was superb.  Heaps of speed, powered up, and time for some good jumps, carved slalom turns and toeside riding.

I rigged the kitecam pointing to far back to get yours truly in the frame, but I got some good shots around Brighton and a few of Stuart in the distance.

Back on the beach I was chatting to Stuart and Franz when to kites got tangled just offshore.  Franz towed me out, I grabbed one and dragged it back to the shore.  It all ended well.

Tired but very content.

All photos

A perfect winter session - upwind at Brighton.

Session 143, Sunday 28 August 2011

Kite: Noise 12
Wind: 25-3- knots, N
Location: Brighton
Time: 3:30 to 5:00
Board: Naish Haize twin tip

GPS log
Max speed: 41.4 km/h
Time: 1h 30m
Distance: 29.14

Great session today - one of the best.  Good wind at Brighton, consistent and strong.

After getting a few rigging photos for our Kitesurfing Handbook, Stuart and I headed upwind as it was a bit crowded off the beach.  It was fresh and invigorating.  We headed upwind past the Brighton Marina all the way up the Elwood.

I dropped the kite once while setting the depower.  It came overhead and fluttered to the water.  Thankfully I relaunched it without much hassle.

The downwind run back was superb.  Heaps of speed, powered up, and time for some good jumps, carved slalom turns and toeside riding.

I rigged the kitecam pointing to far back to get yours truly in the frame, but I got some good shots around Brighton and a few of Stuart in the distance.

Back on the beach I was chatting to Stuart and Franz when to kites got tangled just offshore.  Franz towed me out, I grabbed one and dragged it back to the shore.  It all ended well.

Tired but very content.

All photos

Kitesurfing handbook

I have written this Kitesurfing Handbook with Stuart Webb as a coauthor, capturing a lot of the information on this blog in a handbook format so it can be easily found.  I have also provided links to additional information sources.

The focus is on equipment, tips, safety and travel.  Introductory and intermediate skills and techniques are also covered, along with suggested skills progression.

Feel free to leave any comments or suggestions about the Handbook below.

Grabbing a tiger by the tail at Brighton

Session 142, Monday 3 August 2011


Kite: Switchblade 10
Wind: 25-3- knots, N
Location: Brighton
Time: 2:pm to 3:30
Board: Naish Haize twin tip

Franz, and fellow kiter I have just met, called me today around noon to suggest a kiting session at Brighton in the good northerly that was blowing.  I checked Predictwind, and it looked like the northerly would be there for the afternoon, so I headed down after a hasty lunch and met Franz at Brighton beach.

It was blowing well.  Some whitecaps were visible and several kiters already on the water were zinging along.  I decided to take out my 10m kite as it looked like the wind would remain strong.  This was the right decision!

After recent "cool northerlies" of around 15-20 knots, this was a different beast.  It was like grabbing a tiger by the tail.  The bar was yanked hard, even with full depower on, and the kite was jerked and tugged all over the place.  Speed was the order of the day.  I kept a slow tack out into the bay swell, but come back in fast.  Going upwind was a cinch too.

This was the hottest 3rd of August day in Melbourne since 1834 with 23.2C at 3:06pm !  It was almost a touch of summer.

Franz was on the water for a lesser time as he had a commitment mid afternoon.  I made my way back up to the marina and even further up.  There was a curious small wind shadow (about 15knots) behind the marina, but every else it was going off.

I did a few small jumps, wary of getting hoiked towards the heavens, and actually succeeded in a couple of small jump transitions.  The key is to get the board oriented while in the air and fly the kite fairly hard in the new direction.  Its not perfected yet though.

Coming back downwind was a hoot.  Lots of speed and some nice slalom turns.  I did a bit of toeside riding but stacked once.  The kite was so powered I had some trouble getting the board back on my feet with one foot in it and getting dragged.

Back on the shore, another kiter landed my kite.  Self-landing would have been a real hassle today, so that was nice.

A great session, but a testing one.  20km total and a maximum speed of 41.3 km/h.

Looking across the bay towards Altona

Melbourne CBD on the right horizon

Brighton Baths and pier

Fanging

Fanging downwind

Woot Woot!

Photo Album

A new kiteboarding shop in Melbourne - The Zu

A new kitesurfing shop has opened in Melbourne - The Zu Boardsports in the West Beach Pavilion at St Kilda.   Ivan Salmon is running the shop - which was previously known as Katani, at the great beach location right next to Melbourne's most popular kitesurfing location.

Ivan really knows his kitesurfing.  He was a great help to me when I started kitesurfing.  He has an wealth of expert knowledge about kites, boards and accessories, as well as techniques.

Drop in to check out the shop.  You can even test ride a very zippy electric skateboard.  I had a ride - its heaps of fun.

They have a wide range of kites too so you can compare and get advice about several brands, unlike some shops that only tend to carry one or two brands.

Being right on the beach, testing out gear on demo runs will be a great option too.

Ivan on the fast cross country electric skateboard

Inside The Zu

A wide range of kites

The beast - test ride recommended!

Ivan riding the beast

Brighton again with cool wind

Session 141, Saturday 30 July 2011

Kite: Noise 12

Wind: 15-20 knots, N

Location: Brighton

Time: 4:00am to 4:45

Board: Naish Haize twin tip

Some good wind was forecast for today.  Stuart and I headed down to check out Keast  Park near Seaford.  Its a nice spot with a reasonable beach for launching, but there was not a breath of wind.

Yet Fawkner Beacon was reading 15 knots!  So we headed back to Brighton.  There was enough wind to get going so we headed out.

A lovely session.  Cool but not too cold.  Squalls were passing to the north.  Good consistent wind, again better about 300m out where the turbo kicked in.  We went upwind to gain ground in case the wind dropped.

After about 40 minutes of great kitesurfing, the wind did drop a little with us 800m or more offshore, so we headed back in.  I landed my kite just as a light shower arrived.  Stuart came in a short while later.

Another chilly winter session at Brighton

Session 140, Sunday 17 July 2011

Kite: Noise 12
Wind: 25 knots, N
Location: Brighton
Time: 10:30am to 12 noon
Board: Naish Haize twin tip

A nice crisp winters day in Melbourne, with a good northerly forecast by Predictwind.  Just as I arrived at Brighton to meet Stuart, the wind jumped from around 12 knots to 20+ knots.  Game on!

Given the possibility of the wind dropping out, and the wind shadow effect close to the beach, I decided to take out my Noise 12m.

Wetsuit, booties and vest on, kite pumped and rigged in feverish haste.  It was superb to get onto the water.  The wind was good, but definitely gusty.  It was around 15-20 knots leaving the shore, then at about 250 meters it jumped to 25+ knots.  I depowered my Noise kite once, then more, to keep control.  The depower below the bar is very had to set with any pull on the bar, so I stop, take the pressure off the depower line, pull it in and re-cleat it.  

There is a lot of depower adjustment with this kite, and just as well.  This would be the strongest wind I have been out in with it.  Going upwind was a cinch, and the kite was easy to control.   But the big variation in wind speed was challenging.  There was even an odd brief lull before the wind came surging back with a vengeance.

Stuart and I did an upwind tour past the Brighton Marina, then headed back doing some jumps, carved turns to toeside and some nice slalom moves.  I have the right turn to toeside nailed, but need to practice the left turn.

After 30 minutes some other kiters showed up and it almost got crowded.  My feet were cold even with booties on so it was good to come back in - just when the wind dropped too!

We got the wind window right today!  It was really great to get out on the winter water wonderland.

One guy's kite got blown onto some exposed reef and cut up a bit.  Just to reiterate, Brighton is no place for beginners in a northerly.

Fun but no sun, the You Yangs in the distance

Handy car parking, but watch out for cyclists on the road and the bike path

Brighton Beach vista

Check out the variation in wind speed, and our lucky window

Solo at Hampton in clean winter wind

Session 139, Saturday 18 June 2011

Kite: Noise 12
Wind: 20 knots, W
Location: Hampton
Time: 9:15am to 10:30am
Board: Naish Haize twin tip

I arrived early at Hampton at about 8:45 and dodged the cyclists on Beach Road to check out the beach.  Stuart was already rigging up and headed out in about 15 knots.  The wind looked a bit sketchy and I had missed my morning coffee so I was feeling a bit sluggish.  The wind picked up a bit though so I scooted back to my car parked up a side street near Hampton Beach (parking is prohibited from 6-10am).

It was great to be on the water again with some wind.  The wreck is now gone from the water which is nice.  I headed across to the breakwall and back for a couple of runs, working the kite to just stay upwind. Stuart came in and headed home early.

I stayed kiting to maximise my time on the water.  Just when I thought the wind was going to drop right out, whoosh - in came 20+ knots.  I even de-powered my Noise 12 for a while and did some good jumps.  By this time I was the only one on the water which was nice.

With more wind I was able to go upwind past the Sandringham marina rock wall for a view up to Black Rock, then all the back to Middle Brighton for some small waves.  There was some nasty reef popping up close to shore there though.

Having worked a good distance upwind, I then did some toe-side riding and powered "slalom turns" from heelside to toe-side and back again.  It was nice to get out of the "heel-side rut" for a while.

Jump transitions are still eluding me though.  I get some air, but when I try to send the kite in the new direction I just tea-bag under it.  I need to fly it more aggressively, but I am not sure where.  Perhaps into a kite loop or a down loop?  I have looked at a few videos but can't quite figure this out.  Its tricky.

I came right into near the marina then took a spill and lost my board.  There was not quite enough wind to body drag back to it.  I got very close so I put the kite down, swam a few strokes, grabbed it, then relaunched the kite. There was not enough wind to get back out though so I came into shore and landed the kite a bit awkwardly when the wind dropped right out.

It was a really good session .  Distance, speed, some jumps and nice wind.

I tried some new "wetsuit gloves" made for canoeing too.  The worked well and kept my hands warm.  They have a bit of a curve in the fingers so you don't have to fight the neoprene to hang on to the bar.

I had a nice toasted sandwich and coffee in the nearby Biskit cafe - which I can recommend for the food, coffee and bayside view.  I spoke to a guy in a wetsuit - who turned out to be a diver doing some rescue diver training with a group just off Middle Brighton beach.  He said there was not much on the bottom, but there are a lot of sea urchins 30m out and deeper.  Yikes!  So be careful at Hampton and Brighton.

View from Biskit Cafe

1.5 hours kitesurfing, coffee and toasted sandwich = happy

The right place at the right time for the wind

Ben Wilson kitesurfs 11m wave at Cloudbreak, Fiji

Ben Wilson recently rode an 11m wave at Cloudbreak, Fiji.  This is an amazing achievement.  Hats off to Ben!

Here is some video footage (its also a Jeep ad).



And two pictures worth a thousand words from Ben:

Boosting at Brighton

Session 138, Sunday 5 June 2011

Kite: Switchblade 10
Wind: 25 knots, N
Location: Brighton
Time: 9:00pm to 11:00am
Board: Naish Haize twin tip

Stuart and I arrived at Brighton at about 9:00. The northerly forecast was blowing so we headed out with haste.   I was testing out my "line ordering device" for the first time (more on this later).  Laying out the lines was much easier but I did get one outside line twisted to I had to re-rig it.

There was a gale warning for the day, but the peak wind was forecast for around noon, so we elected to go out earlier and avoid the peaks.

Glorious sunshine and a lovely day.  There was a climate-change rally on at 11am in the city, so the choice was "save the planet" or "be a funhog".  I was hoping to do both, but in the end I missed the rally.

Just off shore the wind picked up and we got in a few good runs, but then it backed off a little.  Not wanting to get stranded 500+m offshore I headed in, doing a few kiteloops close to shore to get in.  I landed the kite near the bathing boxes, the walked back to the launch site, waiting for the wind to improve.

It did.  A honking 25 knots sprang up, gusting to 30.  I was well powered on the 10m kite and getting some good speed.   I did a few nice jumps, but am still struggling with doing a jump transition (turning).  My homework is to learn the theory on what to do with the kite to get this sorted.  I think I need to fly it more aggressively in the new direction (of the turn).

I am getting a bit rusty riding toeside too.  More practice is needed.  The desire to avoid crashing at Brighton in a northerly is strong, so I find it limits my appetite for trying new tricks.

I did some very quick runs (no GPS though) and landed quite a few nice jumps.  There were a couple of other kiters out initially.  More arrived later.

Coming in, I was nice and warm but my hands were a bit chilled.  Stuart and I were on the beach with our kites up. I signalled to another kiter to land mine.  But when I brought it down, he walked past it towards Stuart's.  The he headed back to grab mine but a gust jetted it forward. I left it on the sand but before he got to it it relauched and zinged across he wind window.  Stuart kept his how then I jumped across his lines and all was good.

Walking back, someone's board bag was drifting along in the water, having been blown off the beach.  I headed down and retrieved it then walked it back to where the kites were.  The owner was trotting along looking for it and was happy to have it back.

In summary, great kitesurfing but quite tricky conditions ranging from not enough wind to almost too much and some quite big gusts.