Intro and a ?

Unimog Bob · Post by **Unimog Bob** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:42 pm

I wanted to say hi and introduce myself before you see me showing up at your spots next season. Iíve been living in Florida for the last 10 years or so, though I was born in Berkeley. Iíve been kitebording for the last 2 ? years and am a solid intermediate rider starting to work on some more advanced stuff. You can check out our local forum here, http://fksa.org/forumdisplay.php?f=10 Sometimes it gets a bit juvenile when there is no wind, but we have a great group of riders and excellent spots when it does blow.

Iíve wanted to move back to the bay area for a long time and to get it happening my wife accepted a job in S F and got a condo in the city. Weíll be living on both coasts going back and forth for a while, because I just canít give up my job(yachting industry) and our home here. Iíve been reading your board for a while and trying to learn as much as possible about your launches and the scene in general. Iíve got to say Iím a bit blown away by the good wind you get during your season. I must be spoiled from riding in Florida though. Here we would never consider launching from a small rocky muddy beach in side off conditions with a strong out going tide and cold water. Sounds hard core, and I canít wait to give it a shot. Iíll be out there early Feb for a week to visit and check things out. I probably wonít bring my gear on that trip unless the forecast looks very good.

Iím sure Iíll kill you all with questions, but to get it started, I hate being cold and Iím skinny. My heavy for Florida 2/3 isnít going to cut it and Iím trying to make up my mind between a dry suit and something like a 5/3 steamer. I was thinking about an OR pyro pro, but a FL shop owner who I was going to order it from said sure Iíll take your money, but are you sure you want to kite in what feels like a big cordura/Kevlar bag? He suggested something like the Mystic virus. Iíd appreciate some feed back from some riders that have to wear this kind of thing more than once or twice a year. Thanks for your views and Iím looking forward to meeting all of you.

Bob

OliverG · Post by **OliverG** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:45 pm

3/2 suits work for most of the year here and many of us use them for off and on winter kiting with the addition of possibly gloves and/or booties...

mayhem · Post by **mayhem** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:08 pm

Hello Bob, welcome back! During summer a 3/2 fullsuit should be fine in most places around the bay unless you go to Crissy (5/4) or Sherman Island (3/2 shorty) or to the coast (5/4 or 4/3).

Mayhem.

reyrivera · Post by **reyrivera** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:23 pm

Here's a link discussing different wetsuit setup:
https://www.bayareakiteboarding.com/about5063.html

Unimog Bob · Post by **Unimog Bob** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:40 am

Thanks guys! since no one had high marks on the drysuit idea, I'll look into a 4/3 or 5/3 wetsuit. The hood and bootie recomendation is good too. I'm going to have to work at getting over the cold water wuss thing. I usually go Boardies and a rash guard but then the water is usually in the 80s. During a winter cold frontlike we're getting Sunday, Monday, if the water goes below 65 and the air is in the 50s I either sit it out or wear my shortie and the 3/2.

Bob

greg d · Post by **greg d** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:58 am

dry suits rock!
I would try to demo one, you might be surprised how comfortable they are. especially if you are coming in from FL.....I know I would freeze in a 3/2 wetsuit during the winter. if you decide to buy a drysuit, make sure it is breathable or you will be soaked in sweat.
-g

wjb · Post by **wjb** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:06 am

A friend of mine just got rid off his drysuit because he was drenched in sweat at the end of his session. I can't remember the brand though.

mayhem · Post by **mayhem** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:16 am

Be careful with the bag style drysuits and kitesurfing, if you breakdown a ways away from shore and have to self rescue and body drag back to shore, getting a tear in your drysuit would be a really bad thang... Hypothermia would set in really fast.

EvanOR · Post by **EvanOR** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:33 pm

Bob, are you bringing the Unimog?

I moved to the Bay at the end of the last summer. I've worn everything from trunks and a rash guard at Sherman and 3rd to the Pyro Surf drysuit at Crissy. Most of the time I'm in a 3/2 or 4/3 Amp. I spend a lot of time travelling in the winter months so I don't kite much around here when it's cold, but I would strongly recommend a good 5mm westsuit or a drysuit if you plan to ride a in the winter.....it's cold, and you are going to feel it bigtime coming from Florida...

There are pages and pages of threads regarding drysuits/wetsuits on Kiteforum. Essentially, it boils down to preference and budget but for ultimate warmth, comfort and mobility, nothing beats a good drysuit. If you don't like the bag style, don't use one.....check out the
Pyro Surf. This suit conforms to your body like a wetsuit so you can swim, paddle and duck dive in it! Depending on what you wear underneath, it will work in 3/2 temperatures to.....well, check out the photo.

http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... hilit=Pyro

http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... hilit=Pyro

In response to Mayhem's concern, you should know this. We have cut a 6" gash in the leg of our suits and jumped in the water. Remember that before riding the user of a drysuit will "burp" excess air out of the suit. This is not something you need to remember to do, it is a natural instinct as otherwise you feel like the Michelin Man! With a properly burped suit the water pushes the suit against your body when you are submerged. It is actually a very weird feeling initially, kind of like being shrink wrapped.
Given that the suit is tight up against your body in the event of a large cut to the suit you will end up with only minor seeping of water in around the cut and not a rush of water. In fact, in order to fill even partially one leg of a torn suit you need to do a lot of work to hold the cut open and pull the suit (now sucked up against your leg) away from you and allow the water to come in.

Our Pyro Lite, Classic and Pro model suits are made with a super tough 200 denier PU coated nylon. This material is very tough and is unlikely to gash in the event of contact with the suit. The Pyro Surf suit uses different materials, including an ultra durable Lycra outer layer and a very flexible and accommodating under layer. The most likely time you will tear your suit is on the beach if you snag it on a sharp point of some sort or another (stick, nail, sharp corner of your vehicle, tarp tie down, etc). For example, a fin impact is too spread out to be of much concern.

Our partner company Whites makes diving drysuits for recreational, commericial and US Military applications and we use the same technology and materials in our kiteboarding and surfing suits.....if these guys are safe doing the crazy stuff they do below the surface, rest assured you are good to go above it!

Cheers,

Evan

Ocean Rodeo

Converting the World one rider at a time.

Hyperflex wetsuits: http://www.hyperflexusa.com/hyperflex_amp.html

Unimog Bob · Post by **Unimog Bob** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:18 am

Hi Evan!
The Mog will stay in Florida for the time being. I met you In St Pete and demoed the Rise venturi, nice kite! I'd own one now if I hadn't just re-quivered. Do you remember the night ride at Lassing park with the lightening across the bay? I think you guys thought we were nuts. Iím going to see if our local OR rep Bryan can let me demo a suit, or at least try one on. Looking at your web site, do you guys still make the pyro or lite models or is it all Pro and Surf now? Is there a lead time on the suits or do you keep them in stock?

Thanks, Bob

BayAreaKiteboarding.com

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