Kitesurfing Hampton, some wind at last!

Session 412.  After a long period with almost no wind, some wind at last!  Hampton was great once again.  I first did a short tour to have a look around and enjoy the scenery.  I went to Green Point first and peered down to Brighton, then I got a nice tack past the Sandringham Yacht Club up to Black Rock.

I like cruising, getting the kite set nicely, then enjoying the scenery and the solitude.  Some speed runs back add variety too.

After a short rest the wind picked up again so I went out again for a few nice runs up to the SYC breakwater.

GPS logs

Kitesurfing downwinder Chelsea to Frankston

Session 411.  We arrived at Frankston at 7am but there was no wind - the northerly was not coming in there.  Stopped for a coffee and chat at Cafe Moto, then I had a look at Paterson River.  The wind was picking up.  I drove to Aspendale and could see wind action on the waves but it was a bit offshore so I drove down the Chelsea where the wind was cross-shore.  It was good so I rigged up and set off.

No other kites were out but there were some windsurfers.  I took my waterproof backpack hoping to do a downwinder.  I did a long run out then back to check out the wind.  There was a lot of wind further out and less close to shore.

I alternated between surfing the swell with my kite lightly powered with speed runs and big jumps.  Its really nice trying out different techniques and mixing up the styles.

I saw some kites on the beach next to Seaford pier and went in for a look. The wind was light so a I tacked out again then surfed the swell into Frankston with some download turns as the wind strength dropped.

Every downwinder is a good one!  I packed my gear away then walked to the Frankston train station through the central area.  A quick train ride took me back to Chelsea.

Here is the movie!

GPS log

Kitesurfing at Hampton, some good wind at last

Session 408. Some welcome wind made for a good session at Hampton. There was a good bay swell and some nice rollers to ride in.  I did some longer tacks out and some nice jumps to get upwind then surfed the big swell back to the beach.

There was about 8 kiters out so it wasn't crowded.  Paul and Greg appeared on their foil boards coming back from a tour up towards Black Rock.  Its easy and apparently effortless to cover huge distances on them.

I was a bit rusty after a couple of weeks of the water but my gybes are now almost effortless. I can switch my feet together now without the one-two motion.  Just thinking about a Duck Tack still does my head in though.  

Its getting colder so it was my first session in a full length wetsuit for a while.  Daylight saving ends tonight so some Dawn Patrol sessions could be coming and possible even a Kite to Work!

Its a lean time of year for wind as the sea breezes are dropping out.

GPS log

Trouble in the Kiddies Pool at St Kilda followed by kitesurfing

Session 407. I headed down to St Kilda with the family for an outing and some kitesurfing.  My daughter Chloe was keen for a splash/paddle and our dog Pixie loves a swim.

We entered the shallow water close the beach near the Kiddies Pool (kitesurfing spot), but about 5 kiters were doing the wrong thing and kitesurfing very close to several swimmers, including my daughter.  I was next her yelling at them to stay away and kite further out

They either don't know about the 5 knots within 50m of a swimmer sailing vessel regulation or they don't care about it.

The motive seemed to be "look cool and buzz around close to shore and other users". It was NOT cool.  This behaviour posed serious safety risks to others.

Several dog walkers were angry with them too.

One kiter very nearly crashed his kite on sunbathers when he stuffed up a trick.

If this keeps up it will attract attention from authorities and kiting could be banned.  Here are some photos of the culprits.  Note other kitesurfers further out doing the right thing . . .

I then headed out for as session and did some tacks out past the breakwater and surfed some rollers back in.  I did a short run up the Kiddies Pool well away from the shore.

St Kilda is a nice spot but the fools showing off in the Kiddies Pool took the shine off my day.

GPS Log

Fawkner Beacon crosswinder and first good session on the foil board (at last)

Session 406.  Got down to Hampton in the late afternoon chasing the sea breeze.  I rigged feverishly and headed out. Stu Styles came in soon after I started.  I was keen for an adventure and could see a large cruise ship heading out from Port Melbourne along the shipping channel so I headed out for a look.  

I was nicely powered and making good progress on a tack towards Fawkner Beacon with the big ship making fast progress along the channel.  The wind softened a bit and my tack veered to the north a bit.  The ship was disappearing in the distance, I didn't get close to it, but it was a buzz being out there.  

The return tack was good and the wind held up as I returned then it dropped after a couple of runs close to the shore.  I landed my kite and started packing up then Stuart Webb arrived and headed out. 

I decided to have a go on the Cabrinha Double Agent foil board in the lighter wind so I set it up and walked out next to the southern groyn.  I was again having difficulty controlling the board while drying to board/body drag out.  It spins and twists.  I was then concerned about the reefs in the middle of the windsports section but avoided them.

Then I finally had some deep water and was able to power up the kite and keep the board under my feet but pushed out with the foil and mast almost horizontal.  It was great to get that amount of control. Then I had a go and standing up.  Its a really weird feeling when the board you stand on is not the "main board" - the foil is!  I got going a little but without much control.  

I think I should have been leaning forward more to keep the foil under, but at least I had no big stacks and kept control of the kite.

Tacking back in to the right I repeated the same technique with similar control, standing up a few times but feeling very tentative about the foil lurking under the water.  

I got back to the beach very happy to have succeeded in short session without a big stack or crashing my kite hard.   I was also able to sail the board back in flat on the water with one hand on it.

Don't let anyone tell you foil board are easy - learning is like being a rank beginner again!

Some tips:

• Don't power the kite up too much - keep good control
• Watch out you don't get pulled over your toes - the foil can act like a sea anchor under the board
• Practice controlling the board when body dragging - its harder than it looks
• Keep weight forward on the front foot when you are up.

The wind picked up a lot to around 25 knots which didn't make it any easier.

I took the Nugget out for some more runs and bigger jumps, relishing the surplus power.

GPS log

Kitesurfing the bay surf at Mentone and a wedding on the beach

Session 410 (out of sequence).  I drove to Mentone and was on the water a bit late at 6:30.  The wind had dropped but I was able to get going on my 10m Union.  Getting out was a bit tricky but the wind was better a bit further out.  I did some tacks up close to the Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron then back.  The bay surf was good and the water nice and warm.

A large crowd was on the beach at the end of my session - it was a wedding. I landed my kite well away from them, packed it up then skirted around the group to get back to my car.

Kitesurfing at Brighton, first session after Japan

Session 409 (number out of sequence). Just back from Japan ski trip. SO GOOD to get on the water. A good northerly at Brighton provided some nice kitesurfing on fairly flat water.  A race of big yachts was in progress further out.

Great to be kitesurfing again. Yeeha!

Summited Shiribetsu then a superb ski run down in deep snow

Japan ski trip 2017 ski day 10.  Mt. Shiribetsu!  Our last day in Japan and we scored a great run.  The bus was leaving Rusutsu around 4pm so Dave and I packed our gear then headed of for the summit of Mt Shiribetsu, a big volcano close to Rusutsu.  We skinned up from Pension Sky Be in overcast weather towards the mountain up a wide open valley, then more steeply up the valley side to gain the ridge.  It was icy - skinning without ski crampons was dicey, so I started walking in the boot trail.

There was nobody else around as we climbed steadily towards the summit.  The top was broad and quite flat. The visibility was poor but a few breaks in the clouds revealed tree clad scopes to the north and brief glimpses of distant views.  On a clear day you could see back to Yotei and Niseko.

It was chilly so we didn't waste time and traversed of the summit looking for the best snow.  The slopes and gully we came up were mixed quality snow so we were in search of nicer snow, and we found it!

The westerly aspect had really nice powder and only two snowboard tracks so we skied it and loved it.  Dave took some video of me descending.

This was one of best runs.  We earned our turns, bagged a peak and scored some fantastic snow.

We came out at the main road and started walking.  Hitch hiking didn't work but after a brisk walk we were back to the Pension, got our gear then boarded our bus back to Sapporo Chitose airport.

It was snowing all the way back and felt like the depths of winter again.

Dave and I said farewell then it was time to board our planes.

I was put on an early flight as they said the runways might close if it kept snowing.

Overall, we had a great trip and really enjoyed the skiing.  We shall return!

Skiing up the valley towards Shiribetsu

Looking back towards Rusutsu

Climbing the ridge

Looking towards Rusutsu

Dave on the summit of Shiribetsu

Dave on the summit of Shiribetsu

GPS Log