Experiencing an Epiphany in Kiting
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 9:14 pm
e?piph?a?ny †† †P†††Pronunciation Key††(-pf-n)
Epiphany
1. A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something.
2. A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization: ìI experienced an epiphany, a spiritual flash that would change the way I viewed myselfî (Frank Maier).
[hr]
I've been holding off on sharing my stoke for a little while just to be sure, to realize the subtle nuances and extent of my experience, but I'm pretty sure, for me anyway, and realize I'm only talking about myself here, that I've assembled my perfect quiver.
This last Saturday confirmed my stoke, although one key element was missing, which I'll get to. After spending my morning doing some errands and taking care of a little bit of business, the usual stuff really, I headed up to Sherman Island to kite with friends, have a good time and show my support for the Naish Demo that LMG had worked hard to schedule and re-schedule for some time.
The conditions were perfect, the tides were negligible and then perfect, and there were lots of familiar, friendly faces there - lots of guys and gals to kite with, all sharing a common interest.
I wanted to head out to Rio and do a two-stage session. The first was on the Windwing Outrage 12, which is to date, honestly the most powerful, biggest air and hangtime kite I've flown. The 10 is really the keystone in this line, but the 12 is quite a sick handful also. Ideally, I would have been on my trusty LMG stick, which is so complementary to this kite, but it was in for a minor repair, so I rode my new Underground FLX 132 Undergate Edition, which I had recently picked up and had been starting to get pretty stoked on, too. The UG FLX is a sick board. I rode the 2004 and wasn't overly impressed with it, but the 2005 was quite a bit different in my mind, so after a demo I bought it as I needed to have a two-board quiver really. With that said, know that I demoed the 2005 somewhat jaded, as the 2004 didn't really do it for me. The particular shape of LMG I have is awesome for sheer speed and upwind powers, but as with everything in kiting, by having serious advantages in one area, you often give a little up in others. In this case, the UG FLX delivers an all-around plush, mad-pop ride that doesn't sacrifice much, if anything in speed and upwindaility. The pop you can get from this board from the smallest chop is impressive.
Anyway, the first session was everything I wanted it to be - the Outrage delivered brute-force power with the kite flying way forward in the window delivering speed and upwind prowess, and when loaded and sent, major air and hangtime. These kites have been doing this for me for a while now, and it's a blast and I don't want to trade them for anything.
But, not long ago I had a chance to demo an RRD Type Wave. I was initially impressed by it's speed, but slightly put off by it's perceived lack of power and hangtime. I felt that meter per meter, my kites were much more powerful. I thought about it a bit realized how stupid that was because by design, it's not supposed to be! The Type Wave is a kite that has been designed specifically for wave riding. What requirements would a good wave kite have? It would be mid-aspect for smooth, stable flight, generate consitent power throughout and would turn on a dime and you'd be able to dump the power at will. Sounds awesome, but not just for waveriding, that sounds pretty good for freestlye too.
So I picked up a Type Wave 12 and 10. I used the 12 for my second session on Saturday, and that's where the epiphany occurred. In my first session, I got everything I wanted from that style of kite, but then in the second it was multiplied to the power of 2 - I got everything I could want from that style of kite! The Type Wave turns so fast and generates such even power, the confidence it inspires is pretty darn cool. In the ebb tide and steady wind, I threw probably 20 kiteloops and my mind wanted more, but my body needed a rest. Hearing the soft roar and flap of it speeding through the window is addicting. Waves, kiteloops and freestyle is what this kite is about. It's not the basis for a one or two kite quiver, and it won't give you monumental upwindability or hangtime. But keep in mind it's not meant to. What this kite does, it does very well, and as good or better than anything else out there. It can be scary-fast and not a beginner kite, but for the experienced kiter an awesome addition to one's quiver. It's opened my eyes and changed my level of kiting.
Just thought I'd share my stoke and impressions.
If anyone's interested in any more info, post your questions.
The RRD Type Waves and Underground FLX line of boards are available from Evan at www.live2kite.com
The Windwing Outrages are available and shipping upwind or downwind, depending on where you are from www.windexpress.com
Epiphany
1. A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something.
2. A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization: ìI experienced an epiphany, a spiritual flash that would change the way I viewed myselfî (Frank Maier).
[hr]
I've been holding off on sharing my stoke for a little while just to be sure, to realize the subtle nuances and extent of my experience, but I'm pretty sure, for me anyway, and realize I'm only talking about myself here, that I've assembled my perfect quiver.
This last Saturday confirmed my stoke, although one key element was missing, which I'll get to. After spending my morning doing some errands and taking care of a little bit of business, the usual stuff really, I headed up to Sherman Island to kite with friends, have a good time and show my support for the Naish Demo that LMG had worked hard to schedule and re-schedule for some time.
The conditions were perfect, the tides were negligible and then perfect, and there were lots of familiar, friendly faces there - lots of guys and gals to kite with, all sharing a common interest.
I wanted to head out to Rio and do a two-stage session. The first was on the Windwing Outrage 12, which is to date, honestly the most powerful, biggest air and hangtime kite I've flown. The 10 is really the keystone in this line, but the 12 is quite a sick handful also. Ideally, I would have been on my trusty LMG stick, which is so complementary to this kite, but it was in for a minor repair, so I rode my new Underground FLX 132 Undergate Edition, which I had recently picked up and had been starting to get pretty stoked on, too. The UG FLX is a sick board. I rode the 2004 and wasn't overly impressed with it, but the 2005 was quite a bit different in my mind, so after a demo I bought it as I needed to have a two-board quiver really. With that said, know that I demoed the 2005 somewhat jaded, as the 2004 didn't really do it for me. The particular shape of LMG I have is awesome for sheer speed and upwind powers, but as with everything in kiting, by having serious advantages in one area, you often give a little up in others. In this case, the UG FLX delivers an all-around plush, mad-pop ride that doesn't sacrifice much, if anything in speed and upwindaility. The pop you can get from this board from the smallest chop is impressive.
Anyway, the first session was everything I wanted it to be - the Outrage delivered brute-force power with the kite flying way forward in the window delivering speed and upwind prowess, and when loaded and sent, major air and hangtime. These kites have been doing this for me for a while now, and it's a blast and I don't want to trade them for anything.
But, not long ago I had a chance to demo an RRD Type Wave. I was initially impressed by it's speed, but slightly put off by it's perceived lack of power and hangtime. I felt that meter per meter, my kites were much more powerful. I thought about it a bit realized how stupid that was because by design, it's not supposed to be! The Type Wave is a kite that has been designed specifically for wave riding. What requirements would a good wave kite have? It would be mid-aspect for smooth, stable flight, generate consitent power throughout and would turn on a dime and you'd be able to dump the power at will. Sounds awesome, but not just for waveriding, that sounds pretty good for freestlye too.
So I picked up a Type Wave 12 and 10. I used the 12 for my second session on Saturday, and that's where the epiphany occurred. In my first session, I got everything I wanted from that style of kite, but then in the second it was multiplied to the power of 2 - I got everything I could want from that style of kite! The Type Wave turns so fast and generates such even power, the confidence it inspires is pretty darn cool. In the ebb tide and steady wind, I threw probably 20 kiteloops and my mind wanted more, but my body needed a rest. Hearing the soft roar and flap of it speeding through the window is addicting. Waves, kiteloops and freestyle is what this kite is about. It's not the basis for a one or two kite quiver, and it won't give you monumental upwindability or hangtime. But keep in mind it's not meant to. What this kite does, it does very well, and as good or better than anything else out there. It can be scary-fast and not a beginner kite, but for the experienced kiter an awesome addition to one's quiver. It's opened my eyes and changed my level of kiting.
Just thought I'd share my stoke and impressions.
If anyone's interested in any more info, post your questions.
The RRD Type Waves and Underground FLX line of boards are available from Evan at www.live2kite.com
The Windwing Outrages are available and shipping upwind or downwind, depending on where you are from www.windexpress.com