Kai Lenny visits The Zu Boardsports

I met Kai Lenny when he visited Melbourne and stopped by at The Zu Boardsports in St Kilda.  Kai is the 2012 SUP racing world champion at the age of 20, which is a remarkable achievement.

It was great to hear him talk about his water sports, including Stand Up Paddleboard surfing (SUP), windsurfing, kitesurfing and big wave surfing.  Kai said the doesn't really have a favourite, he just loves to be on the water.

He is also involved is SUP board development with his relationship with Naish, who also sponsor him.

Kai talking at The Zu Boardsports

Kai was certainly popular with the many local Melbourne SUPers, kitesurfers and windsurfers who came to meet him, including some youngsters getting into windsurfing.

Kai is based in Maui, but travels with world to compete and do the watersports he loves.

Here are some inspiring video of Kai in action.

Kitesurfing Off of Icebergs and SUPing Tidal Waves in Alaska

Kai Lenny's 4 in 1: surf, stand up, windsurf, kitesurf in one day !

See also

• Kai Lenny - Kitesurfing Handbook 

Kitesurfing Hurricane Sandy

The world now knows all about the fury of Hurricane Sandy and the damage it caused.  However, some bold kitesurfers took advantage of the (very strong) wind!

Note that the location for this video was Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts so the wind would not have been at full strength.

Also note that kitesurfing in any storm front can be very dangerous!

Late afternoon kitesurfing at Inverloch

Session 194.

After a fine sunny and calm day it looked like there would be no kitesurfing. However, later in the afternoon a light breeze arrived so Stuart and I headed to the inlet.

I pumped up my new Airush Lithium 12 and got it flying. I was immediately impressed by how well it flew in around 10 knots. It turned fast without a hint of back stall and was generating good power. It looks and feels more like a 10m kite and is surprisingly compact. 

I was able to hold ground on the Sector 60 and get some good speed!  Stuart had a go and was ripping too. One other kiter had a go on his twin tip but ended up downwind.

The wind picked up a bit and I was really hooting, and able to gybe in both directions on the run across the channel. It was too shallow upwind as the main channel for the inlet has now shifted to the east shore, so I stayed in front of the sailing club. We kited until sunset, very happy to sneak in this unexpected session.

A learner ditched his kite just as we finished and was drifting towards the pier so we swam out and helped him to shore.

Kitesurfing tour from Hampton to Port Melbourne and return

Session 193. Hampton to Port Melbourne and return

A sea breeze - or at least some consistent wind - at last!  The forecast westerly came in on schedule during the late morning.  I headed down to Hampton after lunch and rigged up my Switchblade 10 and the Sector 60 board.  I put some clothes, money, phone and sandals in my waterproof backpack as I planned to go for a tour.

Good wind on the water.  I took off immediately heading north along the bay.  The Sector 60 cruises well. I was able to get all the way to Port Melbourne, right up to the Spirit of Tasmania, on a single tack.  The rolling swell was fun to ride but I was mostly travelling across it.  I left the other kiters at Hampton "moving the lawn" (going back and forth) and reveled in solitude about 700m offshore.

It was a long way on a single tack. I was conscious to rest my rear leg and straighten it, and I stopped twice briefly en route.

There were quite a few kiters at Brighton too, but less at St Kilda.  I de-powered the kite for the last 1km coming to Port Melbourne. The wind dropped a bit on the way back the wind so I toggled on full power.    I did one run into Brighton among the madding crowd, then back out, past Green Point and on to Hampton.

The wind strength increased again at Hampton and I was rather tired so I came in.  There were lots of kiters on the beach - the season is getting into full swing now.

GPS Log

Kitesurfing Port Melbourne in a late sea breeze

Session 192. Friday 20 October 2012

Stuart, Tarren and I had our gear ready for a kitesurfing session after work as Predictwind forecast showed a sea breeze during the afternoon.

We met at Port Melbourne in balmy conditions with no wind.  Tarren eventually left as he was going out. After thinking nothing would happen, the wind picked up, so Stuart and I headed out.  

I was flying on the Sector 60 with my 12m Noise kite, I made it to St Kilda on a single tack (!) then returned. I even depowered the kite.  I had plenty of power and speed, but doing a pre-turn gybe on the Sector 60 proved tricky.  Its been a while since I have been on this board.  No problems gybing left to right though.  

I came close to the Spirit of Tasmania a couple of times and could see people on the deck watching, as well as cars loading via the bow.

It was great to get this session in after work.  The advantages of the Sector 60 board are clear - I had a fast upwind session when Stuart was having trouble going upwind at all on his twin tip.

Kitesurfing Hampton in just enough wind

Session 191. Saturday 13 October 2012

A westerly came through on Saturday morning after an amazing cold snap of weather.  I suited up in my Ocean Rodeo Soul drysuit again.  Tarren and Stuart were first on the water and having a nice time.  Tarren came in and helped me launch my kite as I was having a bit of trouble self launching.

There was "just enough" wind to hold a line, but Stuart was going better upwind with his new Cabrinha Switchblade 12.  Kites just keep on getting better.

Its an amazing feeling kiting and staying dry. Well almost - I did get a little bit of water up one leg toward the end of the session.  

Here are some shots (linemount and kitecam) of me kiting with the drysuit. 

The wind was about 20 knots but dropped to 15 or less when we stopped.

Here is a gybe turn sequence

 

 

GPS log

Kitesurfing at Brighton before work

Session 190. Thursday 4 October 2012

What better way to is there to start the day than a kitesurfing session before work?

Stuart, Tarren and I met at Brighton at 7am and had a great session in the northerly.  The sun was shining, the wind consistent and the water relatively warm.

I used the surfboard and was able to make most of my gybes.

A quick change back at the car then we caught the train to work. 

Slideshow