Scotts Video from 10/20

[Blackbird]

I figure you have two options when you get nailed by a large wave:
1. keep your kite flying and try to get it to rip you out of the chaos. This is possible if you are able to have solid pull on the kite and sense where it is pulling from. Sounds crazy, and it sure feels that way when you're getting white washed, but it has worked a majority of the time for me. Try flying your kite with your eyes closed sometime. Works great with a trainer on the beach, on your back. Then try it on the water. Good skill to have.
2. Punch out immediately, especially if your kite went slack or you are tumbling. Priority #1, keep yourself in one piece. That means dump the potential noose. In most cases, it'll wash ashore. That may mean a double punch out on most systems today. Kite attachment and leash. It gets real scary when you feel ANY lines brushing ANY part of your body when you're down in the belly of the beast...

This is apparently reason #1 why some fly unhooked in waves...

[gideonlow]

I figure you have two options when you get nailed by a large wave:
1. keep your kite flying and try to get it to rip you out of the chaos. This is possible if you are able to have solid pull on the kite and sense where it is pulling from. Sounds crazy, and it sure feels that way when you're getting white washed, but it has worked a majority of the time for me. Try flying your kite with your eyes closed sometime. Works great with a trainer on the beach, on your back. Then try it on the water. Good skill to have.
2. Punch out immediately, especially if your kite went slack or you are tumbling. Priority #1, keep yourself in one piece. That means dump the potential noose. In most cases, it'll wash ashore. That may mean a double punch out on most systems today. Kite attachment and leash. It gets real scary when you feel ANY lines brushing ANY part of your body when you're down in the belly of the beast...

This is apparently reason #1 why some fly unhooked in waves...

I generally go for #1 . . . . and usually pay close attention to keeping my kite lines tensioned at all times. If I see I'm about to go over-the-falls or get swallowed by the teeth of a wave, I start powering the kite before I turn into a rag doll. As I enter rag-doll status, I make myself very small (sit on the board) and this gives me the maximum chance of recovering via kite flying and avoiding line tangles. BTW, I also use heel straps to keep the board on, which increases the probability of success that much more.

Finally, since I fly PL Arc kites, in the worst case scenario I just let go of the bar completely. This depowers the kite to maximum and sends it up to zenith to await the results of my yard sale. Even when I get twisted around a few times, the kite is usually waiting for me airborne when I'm ready. If I sense the kite hit the water, I pull the release immediately.

Cheers,

Gideon

[Greg]

Bottom line: Thinking about big wave surfing? Get your affairs in order first..

Enjoy,G.

[fearlu]

WC delivered nicely today. Medium waves + 9-meter Rebel = pure bliss. I saw J-GAR, Bulldog, windsurfer-resurrection and more. Worth the drive wouldn't you say?

[J-GAR]

Definitely worth the drive for Waddell today. Very powered 9m kiting, could have been on a 7m at times. Good size waves (many overhead). Took me 3 hours to get there, 3 hours of kiting, and 4 hours to get back :)

[OliverG]

WC delivered nicely today. Medium waves + 9-meter Rebel = pure bliss. I saw J-GAR, Bulldog, windsurfer-resurrection and more. Worth the drive wouldn't you say?

After waking up and making coffee on the Hamilton Beach coffee maker I checked wind on my Apple MacBook computer and saw good signs for Kanaha. So I packed up my Slingshot Link kite and Slingshot Misfit board and threw all my other crap into my NSI bag for the sake of simplicity and got into the Pontiac rental and stopped at Starbucks along the way. Just to make sure the wind was still good I checked again on my Sprint by Sanyo wireless phone. It was still good so I could tell I was headed for pure bliss. I looked over my shoulder to make sure my Slingshot gear was still in the car, it was. I got to the beach and took off my Ray-Bans, Ultranectar shorts and Skecher sandals, suited up and rigged up and had a great time. It was sick.

[Bob]

Ollie
Are you riding for all those companies?
Hamilton Beach (It thought that was near Hatteras) Apple, Slingshot,
NSI, Pontiac, Starbucks, Sprint, Sanyo, Ray-Bans, Ultranecter, Skecher.
You sound like Tiger Woods.
Glad to hear you are getting some.
Sounds like you may need a sunblock sponsor soon!
Enjoy.

[Bulldog]

Best wave day ever. Until the next one... =D>

Didn't notice the drive home; I was too busy replaying mental videos of the session.

[Greg]

Sloffing out of bed at the crack of mid-day I attacked the remander of the work day armed only with a pocket protector, grease pen and clip board.. #-o G..