80--PV 17M

Hard up to kite,
Doug and I went to Pineview for some light wind.
With only an inch of fluff on top of ice,
it wasn't much fun for the snowboards.
I left my gloves in my sled pack,
so we took turns on the Zephyr.

79--13M Bald Mtn

Bald Mtn is at the top of Strawberry River,
South of Lake Creek area, small area but,
The winds were out of the South today.
We unloaded sleds at Noblets and rode to the spot
Matt rode yesterday, no wind.
we hit the trail and headed to Lake Creek area,
no wind, so we started looling for south wind spots.
Not a great spot, but we know it happens on a south.
Great to be on bot the kite and the sled.

78--PV 17M

True thermal PV day.
Thinking that the Zephyr is gonna give me extra kiting days,
expecially at PV.
Vern's 13M was doing fine,
but 17 is just that much more fun in light conditions.
Nice fall, sunny day.

77-- 13M DC

My mental kiting switch had been turned off,
until the snow got deep enough for fun,
but I guess I need to turn it back on while the weather is still pretty nice.

After to much Tequila at Windzup,
and SPI 9M and boardshorts still fresh on my mind,
it was kinda hard to get motivated
to dawn full cold battle gear, and rig a big kite.
It was worth it, although the tequila last night gave me the "slows"
Lots of kiters out for the weekend sessions.

76--9M SPI

The last day here gave up the goods in strong, warm fashion.
It looked strong enough for 7M today, but I rigged my old 9 Instinct and was lit!! It made for some of the biggest airs ever.
SPI in Oct., Great feel to the island in the dead season.
Great food, friends and kiting.
I could use a few more days of this.

75--9ME SPI

Today is on of those days that is what it is all about when in SPI.
We started with a downwinder from southflats to northflats,
for Steve to finally get up and get some great rides.
Big airs for me and Matt,
and finally rideling and getting some jibes on the surfboard.
Later Matt and I did the gulf side downwinder from jetty to our condo at the very north end of town.
Landed our kites at the condo and rolled them up on the grass,,,cool beans!!!
Some pretty big waves out there also.
The wind looks like we may get to do it all over again tomorrow.

74--17M SPI

When we went to bed last night, we thought for sure, 9M.
We hit it fairly early, and rigged biggest kites for a couple of hours only.
The last 2 days are like sex when the phone rings, Just not satisfting.
Forecast is looking good for the last 2 days here.

73--13M SPI

Tequila post....
Overinfklated my 11M amd it exploded.
So I rigged my 13M, kinda overpowering and slammed it down hard doing fronts and it tore a panel. Then it rained so hard, we couldn't see out the windows.
So we ate shrimp and drank tequila.

72--SPI 13M 11M

Second day in town, Sat. was a transition day with no wind. But we found good tequiila and shrimp.
We arrived to rain storms, and rigged when it was still drizzeling.
Pretty gust winds, probably cause we were at south flats.
We should have been at north flats for south winds.
It was good for Steve to drag around with no crowds.
We really want to get in a downwinder in the gulf.

71--Willard 11M,

I didn't think any one was gonna be at Willard today,
I called Doug at 7:30 and he couldn't go.
Off to work I went, but after seeing kites on the lake cam,
I jamed out of work and flew up to Wilard.
3 kiters there, Jake and Tyler, and finally Vern.
Pretty good day, only rigging one kite is always good.
Rode Jon's SS celeritas surf, The best epoxy surf I've been on, very slashy.
Like it, but don't love it, but I'm still a rookie.

70--PV 17M

Flew my new Zephyr 17M at Pineview today,, yahoooo.....
Very shifty, crappy winds.
Some light wind gave me the feeling of how good it's gonna do,,
and how it absorbs the gusts very nicely.
As always for me, the timing on new kites for jumps,
will take some time.
I didn't even start out with my big board,
jumped right on my Recoil 133, which worked great.
I'm not a big fan of the "through the bar" safety line,
it seems kinda sticky to me, just personal preference.
I'm gonna switch it out to the "oh shit" safety,
like all my other Ozones.
I should have taken a photo, it's so good looking.

69--Willard 13M 9ME 11M,

Watched the lake camera
and left home when we saw whitecaps.
Doug and I got there around 10:00
Some kiters already there waiting for the wind.
Big kites and big boards till around 1:00
We left and went to get lunch,
when we got back, we rigged 9M.
We rode clear to th other side of the bay,
probably only a couple of miles.
Then lightened up for 11M,
and was still 13M when we left around 6.

68--PV 13M

Ditto,,,yesterday, just lighter.
Rode surfboard without back strap.
Undecided...

67--PV 13M

Great day at PV.
Rode small twintip when powered,
rode surfboard when it was lighter,
then back to twintip.
Best power of the day was later
when Jim and Tracy were close by in thier boat.
Fun to jump and look down on them.
Took th rear strap off surfboard for tomorrow(optomisim)

66--ULSSB 13M

Rode down with Matt.
Wind steadily built until sunset.
The sandy bottom was great, but the swell was off.
Needed to rig 11M later, but i was cold and had enough
of the blinding, setting, in your eyes, sun.
I need to start dressing warmer.

65--American Falls 9M

Jason sent a tex that the Jackson guys were headed to AF reservoir.
Forecast was looking strong, all day.
I decided on my old 9M, and was happy I had lots of range,
Lots were out on 7M, Lots out on 9M.
The swell in the middle was fun stuff to ride,
but funner to launch off of, some very big airs all around.
The water/mud at the shore, was stinky as could be, gaggy.
Two long session, were the call, after a 2+ hour drive.
I thought I was at the Ozone factory.
Every kiter (10+) had Ozone, except one old Turbo Diesel.

64--Willard 11M, 13M 9ME

Doug and I were just about to pull away to go to Sulphur
when I got a wind alert text from Willard.
Jumped on the PC to check the camera,
and trees shuffling and caps galore.
Lousy looking forecast for Willard,
but it's so much closer.
I arrived just in time to see Doug launch his 11M.
Great 11M session,
then good 13M session, that ended way overpowered,
so I rigged down to 9M for the final LIT session.
Full day, left before noon, got home after 6.

63--ULLB 13M

Word out is that it was a very good call to go to Lincoln.
We were headed to South Sandy, changed out minds at the last second.
It turned out to NOT be windy enough to kite at SSB.

It was pretty average power, with some kite dropping lulls.
But still enough to kite till dark.

Jump, grab, downloop to toeside landing, transitions,
I like it...

62--Willard Bay 11M

Had a windalert text on my phone when I got up,
checked the camera.
http://www.livelakeview.com/lakes/willardbay/
And called Doug before 9

As soon as we got on the water, it filled in very nice 11M.
Smooth SE winds are so nice here.
Powered jumps and spins, with some time spent on surfboard,
but my sore toe didn't allow me to spend much time on it.
the bent foot , riding it toeside hurt to much,
and I dont know how to jibe it yet.
I'm gonna wait until my toe is healed to learn.

John Lotak got in a hour or so, we joined him for second session,
but it started coming more SW, instead of the favored SE,
and slowly backed off to not enough, by 1:00

Sure wish Willard would do this more often.

61--Sulphur Creek 13M

Got home from gorge yesterday, and no one was home today, so I rode up with Doug.
Not very good forecast, but I saw some wind at 3:00.
At 3:07 we were on the water.
Extra gusty, and had me wishing for 11M.
Rufus devil winds would have seemed tame in comparison.
But still rode it out for an hour or so.

60--Rufus 9M 8/28

We've been playing tourist for 2 days. Hanging around Hood River, waiting for afternoon winds. We went to Bonniville Dam, Jon has never seen the fish ladders. Partys/dinners with Ray, Sophie and friends.

Wind came up late and storm type gusty.
Tried Jons new celerytoss Slingshots small directional. (Funny Doyle is the one that calles it "celery toss")
Only made coulple tacks, from sore toe, but the board felt like it had a feel I may like.
Rode my Jimmy Lewis for little over an hour, stiil just kept feeling sore foot.
Guess it's time to go home,unless we cam get a quicky in the AM.

59-- Rufus 9ME, 11M

We got on site wind report from Doug that the wind was on the water.
We hit the water with expextations of good wind later.
I came in after a little back and forth action to get a bigger kite.
Very good choice that let me have a long fun session.
Best part was when Sophie and I rode the barge swell up the river.
We visited Dougs after Rufus, then Mexican dinner and shared blueberry shakes and a movie with Ray and Sophie.
What a wonderful place they have shared with us this week, such a comfortable and homey feeling.

58-- Rufus 9M

I had another fun surfboard session.

Here's what Jon said...
10:00 and all ready 8M and BIG SWELL. almost 3hr session on 143 SX and 8M perfectly powered, in fact a TOTAL Applebees. Maybe best day of the season for the Gorge! Had fun riding downhill all morning. Started pm session again on 8M and this time a strapped surfboard, lots of work and little fun in return, switched to a strapless set up, maybe a little better, but still can't compare to twin tip. Looks like most surfboard riders are frustrated windsurfers, just going back and forth, hey these swells were made for turning, IMHO. After I paid my dues on SB got rewarded with nice sesh on SX. Gotta love it baby. Whole rock pile crew in attendance.-

57--Event Site 13M,9M

We hedaded to Hood River for breakfast cause, no wind out east.
It was either kite event site or drink around Ray's pool, tough decision ;)
Got overpowered and came in and changed to 9M and surfboard.
So much fun, I can't jibe em yet, but toeside turn is so fun in the swell.
Hope for more surf board practice.

56--Rufus 9E

Early morning departure got Jon and I to Rufus by 1:00.
Looking lighter,I rigged 9M edge, and it was great, even after the wind got overpowering, the edge held steady.
Finally gave in and came in to rig down, and the wind started to back off.
Great to get the first session in on any trip.
Staying in Ray, Sophie's RV.

55--Sulphur 11M

Gusty, punchy, but fun.
Cold enough, that cold hands was the reason we quit.
Drysuit and gloves next trip there.

54--Sulphur 13M

We didn't really expect much,
just wanted to get out of the heat.
Even took the Glide out,
to make sure I got back in.
All we did was "mow the lawn"
but at least we didn't drift down wind in the lulls.
We made it back to where we started.

53--ULLB 11M

After the heatwave forced me home from the Gorge,
kiting after work at ULLB was just the ticket.
Shoulda rigged bigger,
just didn't quite have any lift on the 11M.
Got a surfboard to learn on, from Jason.

52-- ES 13M

Two days of afternoon thermal.
Good for working on forwards,bigger backrolls,
And working on old stuff on badside.
Nice wind and smooth water batween wells and hatch.
Saw Utah Surfrats at Hatch.
Would have b een better off camping coser to Hood River this trip.
Coast is light enough of forecast to discourage the long drive.

51-- ES 13M

Wrote lots of good things,
But it wouldn't post.
Basically,
Very fun bday
With good kiting.

50--Event Site 9ME

Who woulda thought we would ever be kiting from the event site?
We waited around for the wind to get to Rufus,
We gave up late in the afternoon,
But still got a very nice session in the corridor.

49-- Rufus 9M

Wind was up early and strong and gusty. Went shopping in HR, returned to Rufus in pm and got in a good session on some big swell. Holes seemed to be gitting bigger, came in. Too short of a day.-

48-- Rufus 11M 9ME

Did the 4AM drive thing,
At Rufus by 1PM local time.
Rigged 11M a little op'ed and tired.
The 9 Edge was fun for hours, riding my Jimmy Lewis.
Forecast looks good the next few days.

47--SC 13M (7.5)

Windsurfed for the first hour.
First time in 2 years, probalbly last time for 2 more years.
Then rigged kite for gusty, up and down Sulphur BS.
Never light enough to float downwind,
Never full enough to get consistant jumps.
I'm really thinking a surfboard will be fun at Sulphur.

46--ULLB 9M,13M

Had to wait until after work to go,but well worth the drive.
8s 9s 10s out when we arrived, but quickly litened up.
It reminded me of windsurfing today.
I never quite had the perfect combo of board and kite.
9M,Jimmy - 13M,jimmy - 13M, misfit - 9M, misfit.
probably should have just rigged 11M and used my Recoil.
Still very fun night kiting, with some big airs when lit on my 13M.
Just a little hard to stick fast landings with the big Misfit.
Jon, thanks for being my kite/board bitch....

45--Sulphur 9ME, 11M

Sulphur gave up what it owed us.
Doug, Matt, Vern all on 9M 4 differnent colors.
Enjoyed the power of the Edge in Sulphur winds.
Great test for gusty shitty wind, good gust eater.
Also really like the new Misfit 146, great chop eater, for a big board.

Matt popped the plug on his main bladder, all the way out there.
I went in and rigged bigger kite to drag him back.
I drug in his kite (waterlogged pig), Doug drug Matt in.
The 11 was powerfull and fun in the gusts. Great day

44--ULLB 13M

Typical Utah Lake summer light wind.
The Edge seems to be the master of upwind,
in light wind conditions.
The mosquitos were horible.

43-ULLB 13M

Another gread evening session.
I actually started getting bored after first hour out.
Then started working on jumping on my bad side.
That get rid of bordom fast.
Got in a word war with a fisherman for hitting his lines.
Went over in the smoothies only a couple of times,
compared to most of the "glass hogs"

42-- ULLB 11M

Good wind at UL finally.
Lots of kites out.
Rode my Jimmy L board, really smooth ride in the chop between the swell.So surfy in the swell, I'm ready for a surf board.
Heather dropped Brian off after their weekend in Boise.
We rode in the swell upwind of the zoo.
Working south tomorrow, so drove Brian home and staying overnight.
Hope for wind again tomorrow on the way home.

41--Alexander 13M

After years of checking on this spot when I go north working,
it finally gave up some rides.
Great friendly, shallow spot.
Rode clear up to the golf course,
around an island, htat made for some glassy water
while Irv was on the shore practicing with the trainer.
After it got to light to stay up wind
we saw another kite on the other side.
When we went around to check it out,
he was already in the middle of the lake.
His wife said he can't stay upwind and just does downwinders,
with her going to the spot I kited to pick him up.
Fun spot, hope for more windy days in the future.

40--DC 13M

Pretty darn gusty,
I'd call it ripo and schlog.
Lucky to get back in before it shut off.
I WANT MORE.....

39--Sherman Island 9M,11M

We stayed at Matt's parents house,
only 40 min from Sherman,
what a special treat.
Sunday seemed even less crowded.
I demoed a Litewave 5'8" surfboad, with no straps,
It was way to hard for me to get up wind,
so I didn't get any feel for how good the board may be.
We did a long early session,
basicaly until we were cold.

Then we had a long rest watching the crazies launch,
and waiting for the wind to get even better.
around 5 we started our second, and best session.
I was lit on my 11M, but wanted to get some big jumps.
The swell up bu the 3rd island turned into ramp heaven.
We were launching, and spinning until the sun started to go down.
Then we surfed it back to the launch to end our killer kite trip.
Monday we took BART to the airport for the quick flight home.

38--Sherman Island 13M

Pretty crazy trip with Matt.
6:00 friday and we decide to get a flight out.
7:30 Saturday and we're on the plane.
Stopped at Matt's parents in Lafayete to get the car,
and then on the water by 1:00.
2 fun sessions, not crowded out past the zoo.
I demoed a Slingshot SST but at 6'2, it felt huge.
It was cold, only geting into the low 60'S

37--DC 13M

Good day on the water
Launched in a grassy field
had to hop a fence with kite in hand,
and walk through the wierd stuff to the water.
fair to moderate power,
enough to hitail it up to where the windsurfers were,
then downwinder back, fun day.

36--Skyline 13M

Wind was light, but got up to Bosco
Nice corn snow on the hill.
Fun time at Windzup base camp.
Great fun, great friends, and tequila.

35--Maui 11M 13M

Last day on Maui.
Best trip ever.
Started light on 13M, and started getting overpowered
Jumps were fun and big,
but the 11M was blown up on the beach waiting for me
for may last rides in the warm, clear blue water.
Sad to leave again.
Sux to leave on a bad note,
the ass holes at United charged me $250 to get my gear home.

Maui Surfing

Fun family trip, less kiteboarding, more family fun. Taking a lesson with Terry was priceless. Crete got to ride on the surfboards with us later.

34-Maui 9M

Trade winds finally made an apperance.
Little late start, quite gusty, holey.
rigged my 9M Edge and rode for a little while,
not a killer gust buster kite.
When my foot strap came un screwed,
I stopped to fix it and thought I'd rig my old 9M.
got it ready, but it had aleak in it.
Rerigged my Edee, with 11 lbs and it flew better than before.
Not as much wave action as previous days, but a fun day,
with Jon and Jeff out also.
Hope to get another day before the trip is over.
What a great place to kite.....

33-Maui 13M

Got a later start, but still got the goods.
3:00-5:00
Smaller waves, but got the best ones,
not having to stay out of the way of "big guys"
Jon and Jeff finally got it today.

32--Maui 11M

Got up a sunrise and took out the rental SUP board.
very easy, on glassy water,
Followed Manta Rays around for a while, cool.
Took the board back before 10, wind was NNW on north shore,
figured no wind.
AS soon as I got back to the condo, I got a page.
turned around and kited the afternoon away on my 11M.
Side by side with Pete Cabrinha, in the waves.
The waves were smaller than yesterday.
First rotation on bad knee side, all went well.
Picking up Terry, Megan and Crete at a airport tonight
.

31--Maui 13M 11M

Not a lick of wind in the forecast.
We rented SUP boards and headed to Kanaha.
The wind was blowing enough so we headed to Naish beach.
I felt like I could kite, but needed a bigger board.
I took the SUP back and traded for a Airush 144 fat board.
The Surf report calling for 4-6 swell had surfers out all around.
Rigged the 13M and was the second out, just behind dude on big kite and surf board.
The board was very nice, but quickly went to my Jimmy Lewis 133.
The best true swell I've had on Maui. WOW
Rode 2 hours then rigged down to 11M fo another hour/half.




Later we met Jon, Julie and jeff at Paia Fish Market,
for Mahi fish burgers (second tme already)
Then Gelato for desert.
One of the top maui days....

30--S H 11M 13M

We started kiting around 11am.
Nice warm day, nice sandy beach and North flow.
around 1;30, it died off and we put everything away.
around 2:30, it came back up.
Jeff and I went out very powered up on 13M
Jon and Vern ended up on 11M
We kited till almost 6,
saw a windsurfer (Leo) rip and slog across the lake.
Once before we left.

29--Sand Hollow 9M

Matt posted, we had planned all week to sledkite into Lake Creek friday to get the good north wind and fresh snow.
Well Jon and Jeff were heading to Mojave but got side tracked in SandHollow, We opted out of one good snow day, hoping for 3 good water days.
We got a good one, friday afternoon.
Me, Vern, Jon, Jeff, Brian, Heather, Thomas, getting very powered, gusty rides, in nice clean water. With very fun swell.

28--Skyline 13M

Rob called and invited us to kite Skyline before he leaves town.
Matt and I headed down at 9.
What a great call, good wind, good snow,
great crowd to kite with.

Rob put a line fix on my 9M Edge RX.
I flew 13M Edge RX. I like it.

27--LC 13M

Jon and Matt joined,and we all went up late in the day.
We had to wait until the skys cleared a little,
then had great time covering all the area again,
the north direction opened up lots of area,
The snow was a little crusty on the top layer,
grabby but still fun.
We kited till the wind died and drove home in the dark.

26-- Rush 9ME

Gusty and strong.
Wish I would have had smaller kite.

25--Strawbs SR 13M

Shouldn't even be a counter,
but rode a little after sledding,
before the wind died.

15--Mud Creek sed

What Jon said,
"What a day, it really got fun when Marty and Matt joined us and we went up to Strawberry ridge. Pow was easy 18". Great learning day for me. Got stuck 4 times, maybe a record. Needed help from everyone and a few strangers to get out, learned a lot of getting unstuck techniques, but really need to work on the techniques not to get stuck in the first place. Many thanks to Marty, (Mr. Bungee) and Matt and Craig for all their help, advise, patience and encouragement. Starting to learn 'The Throttle Is Your Best Friend'. Got worked but worth almost every minute of it. "

14-- Currant Creek sled

Matt talked me into sledding the storm.
The idea was sled in the trees,
problem was to much snow in the trees,
it was to hard to keep rmp's up in the narrow spaces.
And easy to loose each other, cause once moving,
stopping and looking back could end with getting stuck.
We had to keep moving, and try to always park down hill.
Snow would pile up to the windshield going down some spots.
Matt and I both got stuck at he same time.
We wanted to head lower, or just to find less snow.
As we got a little lower,
it cleared enough to have some fantastic boul runs.
Face shots galore.
We went to far south east, got a little disorentated in the whiteroom,
and ended up in what google calls Currant Creek.
We had to sled our butts off to get back up to Lake Creek kite area.
Wind was good, snow was great for kiting,
but to bad of visibility,
We coulda got a counter out of it, but not quality.
I know know what Bob means by "MAN RIDE"

24--Lake Creek 9M

Matt and I got a late start,
but we were waiting for the storm to clear out.
We left Lake Creek parking lot around 2
and rode our sleds the 8 miles to the top.
We both took 2 kites, not knowing what to expect.
As the storm clouds moved out with the strong clearing winds,
we were left with a fresh layer of creamy powder to play in.
The strong winds gave us the first opportunity to go places we have only dreamed of kiting.
We easily went the whole distance from Heber Mtn clear to lower Bald Mtn.
Lower in the draw than ever before. Easily the Best day this year.

23--Lake Creek 11M

11m was to small,
I had to work the kite almost all the time.
Still fun cause of the good snow conditions.
I just kept making laps around the bottom wave,
to the top draws, to the pine trees, and back again.

What Jon said..

Hot Damn, My first on my own sled in kiting. Kiting was OK on 10M Manta. Bigger would have been better. Great area to kite at top of Lake Creek. The real fun started once we went up Strawberry river to Lake Creek. Coming up small side hill, I fell off and sled went on autopilot into the aspens. Needed to cut down 1/2 dozen small dia trees and Marty was able to drive it out. Next I got on the wrong trail coming back and almost ended up at Coop creek, again Marty to the rescue.

13--Daniels Loop

What Jon Said..

Hot Damn, My first on my own sled. Marty was my mentor/baby sitter and did he ever have to work at it. First, I fell off on Daniels Trail, no help needed there. Almost got stuck in the powder but pulled it off. Nice to have knowledgeable and helpfuul friends around. Getting better at sledding, still afraid of the throttle. But starting to bet braver. Got passed by a dad and son on the trail, or well, ages added up, I was older than both of them. GREAT FUN, shoulda got one sooner. Wait till next year

22--Skyline 13M

Rob emailed and said "we better get together soon, he's leaving town Tues"
I didn't really want to do the long drive,
but very glad I did,
Best day by far for Skyline, in a couple of years.
Super soft creamy snow on top of 99% of the area.
Hardly any wind crust to be found.
Rode Bosco first, then later went to West ridge
Excelent day. Tons of fun to kite with Rob and Alisha.

12 Sled Mill Creek Road

Virgin ride for Jon
on his new sled.
trail riding from Noblets,
to top of Lake Creek.

21-- Rush 9M

Here is what Jon said:
"Yahoo, first day on the water. Normally a very happy occasion, but today was different. Wind was usual Rush gust fest 15-25-35 mph. BAD NEWS was that at the usual kite launch spot the water is only 3-6 inches deep. Moved down the shore line to the North for a second session, launched near where the dirt road comes down from the main road, a little deeper here maybe 6-8 inches. Rode the 9M Sport+ in winds 18-30+ mph. First day was OK but Rush is bordering on being unsafe to kite. May not go back. Hate to lose this spot for our spring kiting. South winds at Rush are usually the best of all our sites. Will need to explore other locations. Figured UL and Willard still had ice. Shared the joy with Marty, Vern, and Jason. Nice warm day, but Rush is too shallow to be much fun, boo hoo."