Where the warm wind blows and the brown water flows.

[kitenaked]

It all started in August 2006Ö

I got the idea that I was going to give this Kiteboarding thing a shot.
I started taking the land lessons with KWS and bought a trainer kite which I spent a lot of time on before getting in the water with them. Everyone says it and I think it is the best advice to get a lot of time with the trainer before going further.

Water lessons followed with KWS where I was not feeling like things were working so well. What better to do when not so sure? Go buy a super stylish yellow 12m switchblade and all the gear. (Walt will give you design lessons on how NOT to spray paint the old Cabrinhas).

I ended up going to Corpus Christi and taking some lessons with Ryan Riccatelliís school. South Coast Kite Boarding I think. A little more later on his editorialsÖ. My girlfriend was also taking lessons with me at KWS in Alameda. She also went to Corpus with me and took some lessons with them as well. Mine went pretty damn good. I ended up being able to stay up wind on the 2nd day. Her lessons were not so good. She ended up getting yarded onto the sand bar with a few good scraps and a lot of sore muscles. I will give her kudos thoughÖshe went out the second day and finally got up. She took lessons with Neil Hutchisons brother.

I think my success in Corpus vs what I was doing in Alameda with KWS was not due to the instructors, however the wind. It was blowing pretty hard in Texas.

Following Corpus, I didnít kite any more until February of 2007. I ended up going to Hawaii for some business and spent a couple of extra days with my buddy Kevin who lives in Maui. We did a couple of decent down winders off of Lahaina, still hadnít perfected staying upwind. The wind wasnít super strong, though I had a great time with my 12m. Being out in the channel with whales breaching was pretty cool.

After Maui in February, I went back to Alameda in mid April. I had a few good sessions with my 12m, but not able to stay upwind. One of the days was blowing pretty hard, so I decided to demo a 10m switchblade 2 from KWS. It was a good choice, I had a good session for about an hour. I was pretty tired though I continued to kiteÖ.

Somehow at the end of my session, my board reel leash got wrapped around one side of my bar. This ended up causing the kite to pinwheel down Alameda Beach fully powered. I released my chicken loop and safety leach, however the reel leash kept the kite fully powered in its spins. For some reason I remembered that the Dakine seat harness had a knife built in. I used it to cut the reel leash. Ollie and one of the instructors from KWS saw my little ordeal and helped me out following cutting away.

Again, Thanks to both of you.

Despite the above ordeal, I was sold on the 10m switchblade 2 and ended up buying one. This was also the last time I kited at Alameda.

I went ahead and directed my attention toward Sherman. Though with an elevated level of butterflys in my stomach. I knew it was very windy there.

With a little searching on the internet, I got in touch with Nat at Edge Kiteboarding. I was going to attempt the downwind trip from Kitopia. I made the journey from Benicia and while waiting for the boat checked out the beach and helped a couple of people launch. Impatience kicked in and I decided I was going to launch off the beach and not wait for the boat. I am not sure what happened, but I changed my mind again and ended up waiting for the boat. I was like a lost puppy dog out there. No friends, unfamiliar territory and a lot more wind.

I got my gear together and ended up down on the dock ready to load up. I put my sites on the first person that looked like they would help out and decided upon myself that they were going to be my new best friend. That person most people know him as Mike (killer BBqís..). I think he would prefer to be known as the ìGuamanian Brad Pittî. He helped me out that first day and has become a close friend.

Following that first day and many more down winders mostly good mixed in with a few learning experiences I ending up getting invited to Maui for a week by Mike and Walt in the first week of July. I made the commitment and booked the flights.

Right before the Maui trip on one of the weekends, I decided to sleep in my car at Sherman. In a Lagunitas IPA induced sleep I was awaked early the next morning to the sweet sound of a someone tuning their jet ski. I begged a cup of coffee from Nat and ended up having a good morning session.

Three days later, my Subaru outback with my kites, boards and gear was stolen in front of my house.

I put a new kit of gear together and was off to Maui. It proved to be a phenomenal time with multiple daily sessions at Kanaha everyday and one evening session off of our condo in Kihe. It changed my life. It may sound silly, but it is true. Kiting with turtles, hot dog eating contest off the condo in Kihe and getting my car locked over nite in the Iao Valley.
Went to Germany and Hiinderlupen in Holland in July following Maui, but not a lot of wind..but a lot of ...

August upon my return was really good. My season ended up at Sherman for the best Labor Day weekend of my live.

Lots of people, great weather, a crazy truck driver camping at ShermanÖ.he was flying a Peter Lynn foil kite that was huge. He seemed to be a pretty deep and spiritual person. I think his name was Dave. Columbian via Canada. You just had to tell him to shut up once and awhile and he was fun to be around. Nat even tried driving his big rig in the parking lot following some excessive alcohol intake. Anyone remember his name? His mother wrote a book on some deep stuff. I never got a chance to get the title.

He first came up to us at the start of the weekend and explained that he was the guy that Ryan Ricatelli complained about in one of his editorialsÖ.I gotta say the kite school of RRís was not that great in terms of safety and gear, so RR should not through too many rocks or his glass house will fall.
Well Dave, if it is up to me, you are always welcome at Sherman with your big funky foil kite, you non stop talking. Shut up DAVE!

I am looking forward to another great summer kiting and enjoying the vibe that Sherman and all the great people offered.

Thanks and See you soon.

Chris
PS, I will be joined this summer by new my wife and new son ìFinnî (due on April 15th) and son Nicolas.

"Finn" is a product of Holland...

[dakine1]

Amen!!!! Now lets kite...

ED/DEB OUT AT THE RIVER 8)