The 1000 Day Holiday

Hanging out on the Gold Coast for a week. Chasing wind and discovering how I dont have my kitesurfing muscles any more!

Just booked my flight back into Asia. $439 one way to Phuket! Cheap and tasty.

An experienced kiter in Victoria was killed this week after being lofted onto rocks and sustaining head injuries.

Condolences and thoughts go to Damians family.

A harsh reminder that it is a very dangerous sport.

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News Article

A kitesurfer gets lofted for 37 seconds.. Very lucky to come out of this with just bruises.

oh, and some funky snow kiting clips! the first one is amazing.

I had 5 hours out kiting at brighton today. the wind was north east, so I decided to do a run to Kurnell. I guess around 10kms 1 way. got back to brighton le sands and decided to do it again.

The second time on the way back, about 2 kms from the beach my chicken loop snapped/exploded (this holds the front two lines of the kite to my harness). This resulted in the kite being fully powered up, and all tension on my arms without any warning, so it basically ripped the bar from my hands.

so I’m dead in the water knowing something of my gear has failed and now I have to self rescue. I retrieve my bar & wind up my lines. A jetskier comes out and checks Im Ok, he takes my board back to shore.

The coast guard boat also cruised past, didnt offer help, just checking I was breathing. Boat rescues are a biartch anyway..

So I got the kite acting as a sail and eventually made it to the beach. What an adventure. only 1 or 2 of the kiters saw it happen. but said it was pretty impressive.

Really should get around to putting my contact details on my board, and fixing my leash

I had my fisrt day back kitesurfing in Sydney on sunday. Consistent 15-20 knots SE winds.

A little chilly with only a spring suit. But it was sooo good to get out on the water for a few hours, and catch up with all the local crew.

Finally I have broken my drought!

Got out for a good 4 hours at Brighton in very light winds. ~10 knots. But it was ride-able.

And gave a healthy kick up the bum to my progressing lack of kitesurfing depression that was starting to get to epedemic proportions.

It was a bit chilly in the spring suit, but I mastered standing in shallow starts.
Its pretty nice being the only one out in Sydney too

Well,

Went out today, first on my Yarga 13m. Was probably 19knots gusting 25 and climbing.
Was ok for a while, then I broke my Board leash. seriously big gusts coming through at this stage. So I then came in and put up my 9mYarga.

Wind ended up being 25+ knots gusting 35+ bad bad bad!

Anyway, Managed to do a back roll. (And i think a kiteloop, cant confirm that tho)

Landed it too hehehehe

The weekend just been has begun my progression into boosting jumps & transitions (using the kite to lift you off the water, a transition being a change of riding direction on landing). Anyone that saw me at the beach and in fact for the entire weekend found the size of my permanent grin quite disturbing.

I was managing to land 50% of the jumps, not bad considering the wind was really gusty 20+knots and I was out on my 13m Yarga.

I also finally got some kiting sunnies. Absolutely love them, they stop the spray 95% of the time and its great I didn’t even have inflamed eyes after 2 full days at the beach.
Talked to another kiter, whos had multiple ‘insert here – name for growth on eye from excess sun’ removed. He can still see which is positive for me.

Dropped into Port MacQuarie for lunch, didn’t see anything enticing to stay so moved on to the great lakes. I can see why the KitePower roadtrip spent many days at lake wallis. It is HUGE! I would love for some wind tomorrow. Either there on in the surf I dont care.

Went for a swim at Boomerang Bay. Was going to go to the spit @ Smiths but was running low on petrol and put of on the long gravel road access. Maybe good in a Southerly…

Will head to Jimmys/ Hawks Nest if no luck. Not far to go now to be back in Sydney, but no rush.

Cant believe my holiday is coming to an end. Looks like a new job offer is coming my way. Very interesting.

Finally had some wind on Wednesday. 20knots with 30knot gusts. Defiantely not ideal to be out in, let alone being the first time kiting in surf. Defiantely adds another major element to kiting. The 9m Yarga is so fast turning when youre used to the 13 or 17.