Floras Lake- a kiters progression

[lesvierra]

Its a long ways there, but if you're there you should stop by. Before you fall asleep to my post, check this video out. floras lake is cool for begineers and also you seasoned guys. its one of the only places you'll ride with winds offshore with a sideshore safety net. you can ride high winds with no waves and very little chop. and you can stand up in water depths similar to rush.

http://www.floraslake.com/kitevids.htm

First day 15-20 mph, winds. took out the 16m waroo. someone helped me launch, then went for a killer kite loop ride. round and a round. tried pulling the release, no luck the first couple of times. the kite semi crashed on the water long enough for me to pull the release. i had no idea what went wrong and still am not sure. but I think it was my right bar line that my leash attaches too came loose and slack line got snagged on something causing the loop. With the fear of god instilled into me, I ran back with my tail between my leggs looking for my 12m. after getting back to the beach, couldnt justify the 12m and went with the 16m.

Conditions were perfect, rode for 4 hours straight. It was the first time I could stay upwind, for alittle while anyway. then I would walk the kite back up the beach and have another go, until I simple could not walk any longer. Going back and forth eventually got boring, so I tried my first couple of baby jumps. after a few attempts I was going full speed sending the kite back and jumping huge (so I thought, later questionable reports of 5 feet began to surface, but thats about 11 feet from eye level to water, huge). It was an amazing feeling, to float up and back down with no bad side effects or crashes. i'm addicted.

Next day, 25-30mph winds. I took out the 9m waroo. Fully powered. Now, staying upwind was easy. In fact, I had to keep going downwind so that I could cruise comfortably before having to go downwind again. First couple of jumps were not like the day before. I went up pretty good, but coming down was different resulting in yard sales. board over there, helmet over this way, and helmet pads, in another direction. I think it was do to the smaller kite being very sensitive to bar movement requiring a better hand or technique. Do to the shallow water and my rentries, I kept the jumps to a minimum.

next couple of days, where small windows of 10-15mph wind. I got my wife and freind out for a lesson and some dragging, but didnt manage to catch anymore rides. longs ways to go to floras lake, maybe worth it, but I'm very excited about the new experiences gained in those two days. cant wait for the next progression.

[Kenny]

Les,

Floras Lake looks like a great spot!

As far as jumping with a 9M Waroo. It is a blast once you have it dialed in. Here is a step by step for you.

1. You want to be riding at a decent speed. Too slow and you will tend to go straight up and land stalled. Too fast and you will not go as high and come in hot on the landing. Inbetween and you will get high floaty jumps with butter soft landings.
2. If you are edging upwind wait until you feel a gust hit then turn the board so that you are going downwind to gather a bit of speed, we are talking maybe a second here and then edge upwind and sink your butt towards the water. Send the kite from about 10:30 to 12:30. When the kite is at 12 you are going to spring up and pop off the water.
3. You are going to swing your legs back and then bend them and bring them close up to your body. Not only does this make you look like you are going higher. It keeps your body from dangling in the air.
3. Hold the kite at 12:30 as you go up and hit the apex and begin to descend.
4. When you are close to landing (around 5-8 feet above the water). You are going to pull your forward hand agressively so that the kite comes forward and you land softly instead of a big splash. You also want to point the board downwind and wait until you are in control before edging upwind again. Your yard sale probably occurred because you were steering the kite forward too early in your jump. So you were coming in super hot from up high. You have to keep in mind that the timing is different between doing 5 foot jumps on a 16 and 15-20 footers on a 9. On a 16M when you are doing small jumps you have to start pulling your hand forward almost as soon as you leave the water or you will land with the kite stalled. On a 9M you have to wait to pull the kite forward or you will get creamed. Don't try any tricks until you get the timing dialed in. You may want to only send the kite to noon at first as the farther back you send the kite the more likely you are to have a whip effect that may throw you off balance for your landing.

Hope that helps!

I wish this no wind spell would end. I want to go boost on my 9M Waroo!!!

Kenny

[lesvierra]

Thanks for the takeoff instructions. I'll read this a handfull of times and do the mental imagery. Since I dont know when be able to use the 9m again on water, I'm also imaging the crater I'm going to leave in the snow when I attempt this again.