Tasters' Choice

[windhorny]

thanks for the input. I plan doing some more coastal explring this season. When I rode Waddell I definatley noticed the sliding around from riding short fins. What are most people riding on twin tips? Hell, might be kinda fun to make a kite-surfboard like the rocketfish.

[Bulldog]

I have 2 1/2" fins on my heelside. My TT works okay in the waves. I just got a used directional and tried it out yesterday but I decided it wasn't the right day to be learning to ride it. On my first ride in, I scraped the fins on the sand (low tide) while I was turning to toeside to head back out, and wiped out.

The wierdest thing for me about kiting in the waves relates to what Scott talked about -- when you turn on the inside to head back out. The current going against you is so strong that I almost always feel underpowered. On a fluky day like yesterday it happened several times that I almost got plowed by a wave on my way back out because the wind dropped just at the very second I needed the power to accelerate and jump over the wave. When that happens, there's not much you can do other than try really hard to keep your kite from luffing and falling into the water when the wave hits you. Especially if it knocks you down and pushes you towards your lines. In that situation, you do crazy things to keep your kite powered, zipping it back and forth, up and down. Sometimes you can move it enough to actually drag you up and over the wave.

[Greg]

never turn your back on a ravid dog.. #-o

[fearlu]

I heard this morning from several riders that yesterday was pretty challenging at WC, and not that fun.

Today however was challenging but everyone is still grinning I'll guess. Big, windy, cold, fun. Rode the V7-12 LIT-- check the graph, it depowers with the best of them. Very fast thru the window and boosts with that nice snap off the water. If you want the traditional power-on-tap sensation and also like to wave-ride, the V7 is something you should try. I know one local rider has generously offered some demo time down there.

[OliverG]

Today brought another great session at OB. Ob is certainly different than most places with lots of whitewater and rogue waves popping up and breaking all over the place with no rhyme or reason. Kind of like a whole bunch of kids going wild in a small swimming pool. But there's often lots of butter and fun to be had on the inside also with no rocks or reefs to worry about.

It amazes me that so many people drive so far to Waddell to kite without the specific need to kite waves, but just to kite because there's wind there. If you aren't rabid about getting clean waves, and want to hone your skills in wild water, save your drive time and gas money and hit OB. The wind was great there the last two days, always is in a clearing NW'er, and both times I got there from the East Bay in no more than half an hour. Plenty of downwind room if things don't go ideally for you and there's most always others kiting, so if you need a hand launching or landing, it's not a problem. If everyone's already out, more than enough room to self-launch and self-land. But, if you want to go out and mow the lawn, OB is not the place, it requires your full attention as I was reminded yesterday. I was kiting in toward shore, and noticing something on the beach for just a moment, but just long enough for a wave to generate from out of nowhere behind my left shoulder and take me out. Be a good swimmer and able to keep your cool too, because if something goes wrong when you're out a little ways, you have the potential to make your way in while getting worked by several sets and you may feel some slightly alarming current action depending on tides as well. So no big risky tricks too far out. I've learned that one the hard way more than once. #-o

[Bulldog]

WHAT? Dave, are you on North now too? By the start of the season, there may not be anyone left on BAk who isn't....

OB is a blast the times I've been there, it definitely keeps you on your toes. It's just that it's farther for me than hitting the Marin beaches. And Ollie neglected to mention that drive time may vary depending on Bay Bridge traffic!

[OliverG]

Traffic into the City in the afternoon generally isn't bad... now the morning is another story...

[windhorny]

Nice run down on OB. gotta try it at least once. I know I am good enough to kite anywhere but I don't have experience with currents and waves like a lot of real surfers do. I always tip my hat to surfers because they know so much more about the water than most kiters do. We got it easy. Kinda like having a motor to get up the hill instead of trying to hitch a ride.

As far as North goes, they are really kicking ass the last few years. If they worked on their graphics a bit, I think the competition would have a hard time. Their new bar is perfect! They got a 2 pump. No bridles or pulleys for the Rhino. Got a kite for most styles of riding. Shazaam! When Jeff gets back in the shop I wanna be the first kid on my block with a R7!

[mike_s]

I'd second Ollie's call on OB....is my favorite playground and was a complete blast again today....although even more unpredictable than normal....a lot of fun though, 'specially when you do find that shoulder!!

Having said that...is kinda nice when there's only half a dozen kites out in all that water....hope it don't get too popular!!!

[OliverG]

I dont think it would get too crowded - some people like to kite upwind near the Cliff House, some in front of the Chalet, some a bit downwind, some inside, some outside, etc..