Being Overpowered

Hi folks,

Last summer while we were having drinks after a nice kiting day at Pantano del Ebro, one of the guys that was learning stated; "I know that I´m overpowered when I drive the kite at 12 pull the bar and I can´t hold the kite, because it pulls me". After imagining what he said I´d answered, "no, you know that you are overpowered in the very first second the person who is holding the kite releases it for launching and you see that you can not hold the kite at 3 or 9 with the bar completely depowered".

I think that this is a good explanation (I may explain myself better in Spanish), on when you know when you are overpowered.

What I would advice to a newbie? If you see that this is happening to you, land the kite and rig a smaller one.

I´m saying that being overpowered is bad? No, you just have to know what you can/can´t do and adapt your riding style. You also must be aware that it´s less confortable riding overpowered than with the proper kite for that wind speed. But there is a nice thing about it, you can really boost high!!!

What you can´t/should not do:

• Being overpowered while learning the sport can be dangerous, and more for learners as they may not control the kite. Any sharp movement of the kite will create a huge amount of power, and if you are not "prepared" it will make you fly vertically, horizontally or both.
• I also underline that if you are an experienced rider you should not get overconfident (I´m sure that you already have heard more than a couple of horror stories about people being draged, so be careful). 
• Do not trust blindly the wind range proposed by the marketing dept of the kite you are riding. These wind range charts should be used as a guidance only. As I red somewhere, there are 7m days, as there are 9 meters or 5 meters days. 
• If you are new into one spot and the wind speed is on the top limit of your kite range, first ask to the locals, and then wait patiently and see how the wind performs (if its blowing hard, the odds of suddenly drop of wind are rare anyway).
• Do not stay on the beach flying the kite any longer than necessary as you may do in normal conditions. Any gust can put you in a critical situation.
• Do not leave your kite at 12 or you risk that a gust can make you fly (did have my own experience with my Takoon Scoop 2 11.5 flying 5 meters over the beach for that reason in SA).
• Watch out with C kites as they do not have much depower as other types of kites.
• Ride at normal speeds (the ones you are used with "normal" wind conditions) as it will be much harder to hold the edge, therefore less control.

What you can/should do:

• If you are riding in the top limit of you kite, you must accept the fact that if something goes wrong you must release the kite (better to lose the kite than the the life, right?).
• Try always to launch with the kite pointing to the water, as if it does drag you it will drag you in it (if you do launch with the kite facing the beach that´s where you will go in case something goes wrong).
• When launching/ landing always have a hand in your release system in case anything goes wrong. (all can happen in a blink).
• When riding, steer the kite between low and medium height, this allow you counteract the pull of the kite by hedging, if you park your kite higher you will feel the lift all the time complicating the ride.
• A good tip to hold the kite in huge gusts is to edge harder by trying to go more upwind and also by going slower (both things at the same time). You will be surprised how you can hold big gusts by doing this technique.
• What about landing? if somebody can grab your kite while you are still in the water is perfect. If not, try to make yourself noticed by the people on the beach that your attempting to land. What you dont want to do is to be on the beach waiting for somebody to appear to grab your kite. If no one is there, keep kiting till you see somebody. Self landing? well, I would not do it in this kind of situations unless you can flag completely your kite (depends on the safety system of your kite).

Hope these tips are useful.

Take care and buenos vientos.

A summary of my kite boards

Hello All,

During the years I´d being kiting I´ve used not so many boards, not because I didn´t have the chance to test them, just because at the beginning I´d thought my level was low so I could barely notice the differences, and then because I didnt want to get excited about any board to a level to have to buy it.
This approach has it´s ups and downs, but at least has given me the opportunity by riding them so long to really understand how they performed.

What I want to state here are the differences between the stuff I´d being riding during this years, the evolution of the sport during these years and I also hope to give an overall idea to the people entering the sport as I see them quite lost.

Impact Kiteboarding 128x38 (displayed bellow with nobile 666)
My first board, this was spring 2006 and was purchased to a friend who was self taught into the sport. The agreement was to purchase the full quiver (board+ takoon Skoop 2 11.5  2003+ North Vegas 18 2005 + harness)+ his lessons. To let you know this was the first time I´ve approached kiteboarding apart from  seing something in TV, so if my friend told me that this was good, I trusted him. (regret now... you should thank Google now!!!).
The problem (I realized much, much later) was that this board was small for me (weighted 80kgs then), so I needed to go really overpowered with my kites to be able to "float" over water. If you add my non existing level + the easiness of C shape kites, you have a cocktail that certifies how badly I wanted to learn to kite.

The DOOR unknown dimensions

Desperate about not being able to ride upwind I trusted some advice in a forum that said "big boards are much bettter to learn". After some researching I found one of the guys of that forum that was selling a huge board, bought it for 100€ and when it arrived to my house I´d though that it was a joke, it´s dimensions were something line 150x50 all white, looked like a door.
First ride on it, I could not believe it!!!! these people were right; I was riding upwind, effortless, cruising long distances, not walking on the beach. It was a kind of miracle for me!!!
The only drawback of this board was when wind was blowing hard so I had difficulties to edge as it had so much surface. I still keep this board, it´s in Mallorca as my low wind tool, can kite with my kahoona 13 with thermic 10 knots winds (now weighting 90kgs).

Nobile 666 2007 132x41

I was lucky to get a 3 month internship placement in Port Elisabeth (South Africa), so as my kite travel bag could not fit the bigger board, I took the 128. My first experiences with mushy waves (didnt have the balls and experience to ride on big waves) let me completely hopeless. As with this board I had to work hard the kites I was going fast but uncontrolled (nor upwind), so my experience was not really enjoyable. One day talking to a guy on the beach about my concerns he let me had one of his boards for the session. I dont remember the brand or length, just know that it had more width (around 40cm). I was happy again, I could not believe that 2 cms could feel so different. The mushy waves now were a joy park and I could go upwind without working hard the kite.
The weekend later I had my Nobile.
I just have good words about this board, I´ve being riding it for 6 years, and has allowed me to learn everything I know now, it´s confortable, suits all levels and all conditions. Just changed the pads & straps for an air cam liquid force, because the OEM were really uncomfortable. This board in now in hands of a friend that I´ve taught (Obviously, I´ve made him to start with a door).

Clash reincarnation 2012 138x40,5

I bought this board due a mix of things, to try something new that had the wow factor, the design and also the promotional offer (buy 5 for 400€/each).
I must admit that at the beginning I´d hated this board and I though I´d made a huge mistake.
The problem was not the board, it was me as I was so used to the Nobile.
This one needs more wind to work that the Nobile (-0,5cms, and some more rocker), and the mistake I did at the beginning by placing the pads in the widest position (I´m 192 tall but realized at the end that I didnt like to ride so split). After some more sessions I adore it, it goes much better in choppy, the pop is amazing and landings softer. the only drawback is that this board is all over Spain, I had to "personalize" a bit because last time @ Tarifa I was scared that someone could take my board thinking it was theirs. Gonna have board for a while.

North FSF 5,3" 2009
My first attempt to go strapless.
I bought it second hand as I red reviews that it was aimed to mushy waves to 1,5 meters, the kind of stuff you find in Spain. (the day I feel confident of going strapless in bigger waves I will switch it).
Just had a couple of sessions with it, and what surprises me is that it´s more difficult for me to do the waterstart than to ride it. I´m now in the process of building confidence before entering waves, so I can´t report anything else but that it´s a nightmare to travel in car with it (will need to buy a top roof rack for the car).

Wrapping:
A big board will allow you to ride with less kite, so that´s good learning. (Focus on width rather than length EG: if you can take a 133x42 or a 138x40 go for the 133x42).
Do not under stimate a second hand board when looking for your first quiver. (remember that pro´s could do stuff back then that you may not achieve in your lifetime).
A board last forever (unless you are a pro or if you dont know how to do bodydrag...).
A small board is only good for big kites and high wind conditions.
Try boards before buying, a board that someone might love may not be perfect to you.

Buenos vientos.

Accessories for rough conditions

Today, as promised (Here), I´m going to give you some tips for preserve your kite against the elements that you can find in spots as La Loteta. These tips may also proof useful for many other kite locations that you will encounter anywhere.
This system will do serve for 3 purposes:

• Protect your kite mainly against mud, punctures, or other types of hazards. 
• Avoid that wind fly away your kite while you´re not paying attention. (Eg: high winds)
• The attaching system will help you out to pump and roll up your kite in heavy wind conditions (+30knots).

You will need the following:
a) Plastic canvas, mine 5 x 3,5 meters, 10€ (size will depend on the kite you will use.)
b) Camping stakes, a handful 6€ (Minimum 1 unit is required)
c) Climbing carabiner, mine is a bit oversized (had it at my home), between 4-5€.
d) Rope, 50 cms should be enough, 1€?

The camping stakes should be at least on the side that faces the wind (minimum), if you don´t have enough camping nails, stones will do.

Make 2 knots on each side of the rope, one for attaching the rope to the stake and the other attaching the carabiner. Then, insert a nail in the middle of the canvas (side that faces wind), and assemble.

Just one picture showing where do I attach the carabiner. It´s the loop where you attach the pumper leash.

More in detail

This one showing the final result.
Note that the kite is too big for this canvas. I just took advantage that I was taking some pictures of the kite (for selling it) to make the tutorial. The canvas is big enough for my smaller kites. ;-)

Hope this system proofs useful for you all.

Buenos vientos

Congratsturbating

Hi all,

The definition of this word is the following: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Congratsturbating&defid=7036776


Yesterday (4/May/2013) , the Andalusian Government  has announced that no one is allowed to kite in Tarifa´s lagoon. To make sure this new norm is obeyed they plan to drive 2000 wood sticks across the lagoon.

I´m expecting that this new word that I´ve learned today can be applied to the politicians that have come with this idea (by removing it). 

For the ones that do not have a clue about the economic situation in Andalusia, this area counts with +30% unemployment. A measure like this is like to shoot oneself in the foot as Tarifa main income comes from water sports tourism.

I Hope that in the following days I can give you the good news that this norm has being removed.

6/May/2013 update, some pictures of the outrage:

Buenos vientos.

Neurokitesurf

Hello everyone,
Today I´m going to post something that I found in my recent trip to the UK. It mixes 2 subjects that covers areas of my interest; kitesurf (obvious) and neuroscience. It discovers an amazing side of the human brain.  The article was written by Jason Gallate and it has being published by kiteword magazine. I´ve scanned it and pasted the best I could. Enjoy.

Loteta Spot Sur Access

Where exactly is the lake:
type this on Google maps: Embalse de la Loteta, Zaragoza, Aragón, España

How to get to "Spot sur".

The entrance of the "Spot Sur" is marked with flags (see picture)

If you are coming from Zaragoza, N-232 (which is the same as if you are coming from Madrid or Barcelona), once you reach km 276,2 you will see a hotel called “La Imperial”. You continue a bit further till km 278 (278,8 aprox) you will see that there are some flags in the left side of the road, you must take that path. For safety take the path infront (right) for manouvering. Be careful and slow down in advance and turn the indicator as there is much traffic in this road. Make a 90º turn to the left and after looking both sides of the road go into the path marked with the flags.

If you are coming from Navarra or Soria, after you pass km 279 you will see cypress trees row on both sides of the road. The entrance is right hand just after so start slowing down when approaching to those trees (again indicate your turn).

                                   

Once in the path, you will need to go over a bridge that crosses the highway (AP-68), then you just go straight till (1-1,5kms) till you find several signals 

 by the time of the second signal the road will end and you will find a path.
Just follow to the cars.

Remember:
Do not go off the trail by any means!!!! as there can be ditches.
Park were the rest of the people is, do not park your car 1m from the water.

Buenos vientos