10/17 11M Pineview (blown off)

[Marty Lowe]

Since clear back to the late '80s,
I've never been blown off the water at Pineview before.
Today was the day,
Never even thought about taking a kite smaller than 11M (or 6.5 Sail)
Never have I seen real swell on Pineview before today.
Around 3:30, I assume the thermal push that enhanced the wind that was already blowing,
forced me into a hesitant self landing, fully lit.
But I found a small hill for a wind shadow and made it happen,
Without having to go to the safety to land in the water.
Just me and Vern.
The photo is from the bluff by the shitter at the end of the road at Middle Inlet.
That's Vern down there packing up. About a 1/4 mile hike in from the Highway to the launch.
Stringtown launch is middle right of the photo, behind the island.

[Vern Stokes]

As Marty said, we have been going to Pineview for years and taunting the wind every time to blow us off the water.
I kept making one reach after another completely lit waiting for a lull so I could go in and self land but it just kept getting stonger.
Didn't think I could put the kite down and make it stay without landing in the water or punching out.
So thanks to Marty for landing his kite, catching mine and making my retreat more respectable.

[bordy]

Awe Pineview with texture, looks swell...