74--15M Willard

It shouldn't be a counter,
but all the effort putting on cold water gear,
Makes the 2 reaches out and back count.

73--11M PV

Pineview every day for a full week,
not for me, but someone was there every day.
Today was a little earlier than we predicted,
but a good thing we were there the whole time.
The highlights for me today was getting worked by the Pickle.
At 5'4" it is just a monster because of the width.
I rely have a hard time getting back on the board if i fall off.
I can not sink the edge into the water to edge when starting.
I like the way the big thing rides,
but I may have to look into a Slingshots 5' kite model, space pickle.
7 kiters there today, what a zoo, ha.

72--15M PV

I have found the best cure for jet lag ever.
Kiting the afternoon, after a red eye flight works wonders.
After the 2 days on 10M in the waves in Maui,
The wind switched away from trade winds to lighter thermal.
There were days I could have kited if I wanted to chase it and wait.
We did other fun stuff, Zipline was fun.
We stayed very close to the start of the road to Hana (0 mile marker)
Lots of hikes to waterfalls and tropical forests.
Lots of wave watching at hidden beaches.
And after all these trips, we finally made it to Hana
and after time on that side, we drove around the back side, to get back.
Then home to possibly the last Pineview day of the year.

71--10M Maui

First things first,
NOAA special candy made for a trippy experience.
So much fun on good waves that gave up 3 to 4 turns each.
Hours of tearing it up, didn't want to come in,
(And have to relate to people)
So I stayed out until it wore off, wow man!
Now kitequla, alone, wish you were here.

70--10M (Cat) Maui

At the last second I packed my 15m because of the forecast.
I thought I was gona be using it today.
I rented a 5'6" 2014 Naish Fish, which is so much more like my fish,
than the big fat Fish they designed for a few years, tri fin though.
I liked it, I know what to do if my fish dies now.
When I got to the beach it was stronger than forecast.
I hauled the 12M over to inflate but it felt stong enough to go 10M.
Always nice to get to ride a new kite the first time it get to the beach.
I like the 10M Catalyst much more than the 10M C4 that I had been using.
I was a little under powered, so I shortened the back lines at the bar,
and gained more low end to help pull me in front of the waves.
Not big waves, about 3 foot faces,
and they only gave up a quick carve or two before they flattened out.
Bigger waves are in the forecast, but lighter winds.
I hope they are wrong.

Were staying in Haiku, just a short distance from Jaws.
http://www.mauivacationhideaway.com/vacation_rental_apartment.htm

69--15M PV

Another good day at PV.
As was expected, not as strong as yesterday.
Warmer also, Jim joined Me, Vern, and Doug today, on his Zephyr.

68-- 15M 11M PV

Classic Pineview setup.
Started lighter but came in strong.
Vern and Kyle on 10M, powered.
I rode up by Windsurf point, and if sucked up there, rip then schlog.
So much better in the middle by Stringtown.
Even some carve able swell.
Gonna try again tomorrow.

67--11M Willard

Early session was nice,
crazy that there was no wind in the valley until right at Willard.
Second session lasted until 1.
As the wind died, I rode my strapless pickle for a while.
Then as a third wave of kiters showed up, the wind quit.

66--8M, 9M Willard

Quite a later start than the last 2 Willard days.
They tell me that it came in over 40 mph right off.
When I got there it had calmed down some.
Big dark shadowy dust cloud from the GSL dry lake bed.
Fun day, and Best swell of the Willard season.

65-- 9M 8M Willard

A lot like tuesday, but it just didn't start as early.
Hours of fun shared with Doug and Vern,
Matt and Jim, and a few others.

64--9M, 8M, 10M Willard

Different style of kites sure do different things, as do different board shapes.
Interesting day to fly and ride gear that is pretty close, but so different.
9M Edge has so much power but looses it so fast when surfing down wind.
The Global 5'8"x18" is so slashy and quick, but hard to get to rip upwind.
It felt very comfortable to jibe on.
Feeling overpowered I rigged down to the 8M C4, but it was mostly not powerful enough,
but it did keep more power in it when surfing down wind, than the Edge.
The global is not really good in under powered riding.
The Fish at 5'8" 18 1/4" is so much bigger than the the 1/4 difference in the measurement.
Much easier to rip up wind and feels good in underpowered riding. but looses some slashyness to the Global.
After working the 8M so much, it was time for the 10M C4.
I don't think it has the power that the 9M Edge has.
It is much quicker to turn from side to side and better to follow in the swell, than the Edge.
A big mushroom looking cloud scared us all off the water around 2, but we had been out long enough any way.
As always Willard is best early and gustier as the day went on.
Good day, especially riding the smoothest swell early on.

63-- 11M PV

Any time Craig posts no wind here,
And then Billy posted on Facebook, that DC looked "Shitty"
I know where I'm heading.
Don't ask me why there was overpowering 11M wind at Pineview, I don't get it.
Haven't figured it out and I've been chasing the wind there since '87.
Now I just know I'll go to PV when Craig and Billy say not much chance for wind.

I got to fly Jim M's 12M 2013 Catalyst. Can you say 4 line Instinct! Great all arounder.
The new design is what was need in the Ozone lineup.
I'd like a 10M, please...

62--11M Rufus

Not much of a forcast,
but it slowly increased as the session progressed
into a pretty good one.
We stayed out as long as we could,
just in case we do not get any more wind on this trip.
Thai food in the Dalles. In the rain.
Pretty sure Ray was behind us as we left the resturant.
We camped at the rock pile last night.
The sunset was wild.

61--10M Rufus

2 nice sessions at Rufus.
A little light to make good swell,
but we searched all over the river,
and occasionaly found the goods.
Rode my new Global for the seccond session.
It's slashy, quick and fun. KItequila!
The forecast is not looking promising.
Low pressure in the NW looks to be on the same schedule as us.
Coast? not much better, Sherman? on, but long drive, Home?

60--8M Rufus

We got the early session before it turned to crap.
It's a good warm up session for the week (weak)
Fronts are passing by, cloudy and gusty winds.
We drove to town to pick up my new Naish at Kyle's
and leave a few things at his place.
Doug said he and Kenny got strong wind at Willard.
Cassie called, her firefighter friend is the missing person at Willard, bummer.

59--15M PV

It was a top day at Pineview today,
Very good winds, no lulls and even overpowered at times,
Mainly because I was on my new Slingshot SP Wakesurf board.
Straps are not an option with this big fat pickle.
Easy to ride strapless, except for the voodoo chop from the boats all day.
Just Board shorts and a rash guard added to the top day rating.
11M or even the 10M would have been better today.
Sure wish I could forecast these kind of days every time.
I don't get it? Just a breeze in weber canyon all day.

58--11M DC

Patience was the key today.
I waited at the beach for almost an hour watching kites rip(wind) and drop.
As most were giving up and getting off the water,
It finally filled in and I got the best of it.
Still some super gusts that came through,
but good for a session that was satisfying.

57--10M Rufus

The End
Of a most successful gorge trip.
9 days in a row kiting.
Almost totally on the surfboard.
Today was a little gusty, but fun.
Good times with Vern Kyle Doug and family
Mark, Cheech and Chong and Matt for the end of the trip.
Saw Ray and many other gorge friends during the stay.

56--10M, 7M Rufus

We arrived to Matt and Doug launching
We quickly joined them for the smoother wind of the day.
Then the smaller kites came out.
I ended up on my old "06 Instinct that Matt was using.
Still a great kite but the lines are to long.
With Matt, Vern and Kyle in tow, we went sight seeing at the Wall.
Then rode the swell home.
Lots of shots in the campground finished the day.

55--10M Shipwreck

We stopped at cleanline surf shop and chatted with Josh.
He recommended that the best waves were between lot B and A.
So I kited there more than just rushing downwind.
I found lots more fun stuff to play on and had one of the best days yet in the waves.
A little light on power forced me to actually surf the wave more than just get pulled off of them.
the waves were not big, but I learned a lot. Can't wait to come back, maybe next month.
We're heading back to the gorge in the morning.