Achill - IKSA gathering...

... didn't really happen.

First it supposed to be a comp, then due to some insurance trouble it was turned into gathering and all together nobody really bothered to do anything.

Derek, Gavin and I plus Scrappy hit the road on Fri evening, it was long 4 hours on pretty bad roads but we made it on time for a quick drink in a local pub, followed by many more in the camper. Julie and Nailer joined us after 1 am! ;-)
On Sat morning wind was blowing like mad and from North so we drove to Doogart. Very pretty beach! 32 knots plus isn't my favourite weather but I pumped my 6m Rebel and went out for a blast, wind suddenly started to drop off and there was no more worries of being overpowered.
By the evening wind was gone all together to completely change direction and come back very strong on Sunday morning. This time we went on the lake and I'm kind of proud I survived ;-)
Started almost crashing into the camper - launching on the wet grass can be tricky!!!
I would say guys had a good laugh watching me struggling to hang on to my kite for 2 hours... When I got too tired and too cold, thy decided to got out and the wind dropped right off - big kites weather! I got to admit I was a bit jealous watching them going on the slider...

It was fun weekend but rather cold and now I'm paying the price for freezing on the beach doing Gavin's line and kite - chest infection and dose of antibiotics! ;-(

No Booties No More!!! :-)

Flying High 4, originally uploaded by Sin Light.

The weather last weekend was gorgeous - warm and sunny, of course the most important element was missing - wind!
But we got very lucky yesterday afternoon, a sea breeze (?) kicked in around 3pm. It was all very light winds but I had a blast on my lovely 12m North Rebel for 4 hours!
I'm wrecked and sun burnt today!

Thanks for the photos "Sin Light"!

Easter on Dolly - Photos from Slawek

Above toeside to my right, below toeside my my left - finally riding toeside both directions! ;-) Why I never tried before? No idea!!!

Kiteloops....

What a great day! Again wind and sunshine on Dolly! Perfect 9m weather ;-)
As expected raleys didn't came to me as a natural progression from unhooking.... hmmmm.... there was a lot of crashing and loosing the board and probably freaking out everyone else around.

After a while I just settled for a nice session doing the stuff I know I can do and just enjoying it.

Towards the end when only Oscar and I were left on the water I decided to go for it and try my very first kiteloop....
Now I know these things:
- It hurts like hell when you chicken out half way trough
- the impact vest is a must have
- adrenaline rush is enormous

Well, I just say first time I tried I was well above my kite and got so scared I stop pulling, kite hit the water and I dropped like a stone hitting very hard... Would never do it again!
I made only 3 attempts and I didn't land any, but it was fun trying.

Unhooked

Finally sorted out that unhooking business!
Now it's time to start popping the raleys...
Why do I feel it won't be as easy as it sounds and definitely very entertaining to any bystanders ;-)

Dolly was great this evening - tide out, 12m weather, sunny and only 5 people out on the water!!! UNREAL
Got a heel to toeside downloop transition very first time I tried, made me smile for the rest of the day.

Hope we will get some wind tomorrow and on Monday.

Going to bed now, so tired!

Pop!

Great conditions on Dollymount yesterday - tide out, shallow water, big flat sections, kickers in the back and steady 20 knots - perfect 9m weather!
Dedicated my session to POP, I'm so bad at it I decided to get it sorted before attempting a raley... I think I got better! ;-) Felt like flying hooked in raleys and landing almost every time.
Unfortunately my board decided not to cooperate and I lost my right toeside fin resulting in a spectacular faceplant during downloop toeside turn....
I love my board but I think this fin is becoming permanent and impossible to solve problem... :-(((
Got a loan on Nika's Fone Trax - Dziekuje Ci Dominika!!!!
It's a very nice board, light, fast and easy to ride but I still prefer my Nobile 666. Nobile rocks!