PM me if you saved a 2008 Airush Flow in black, yellow and red today at Pinnaroo around Lunchtime, saved me a hell of a lot of hassle mate. I think I heard your name was Mike...
Not me, but thanks to the French fella that made a couple of runs out and back getting me and my gear back in at Lancelin this afternoon.
The self-rescue was all in hand but he saved me a loooong walk back up the beach.
Ughhh,
Bar throw (I assume thats what its called-the distance from my harness to bar) on my kite is really far out of reach, I was out about 500m from shore and having trouble bodydragging upwind-- Without a life jacket on it's a bit harder. Basically kite inverted once I got my board back, bridle lines wrapped around trailing edge somehow, I Went to self rescue by deconnecting the Chickenloop, my leash was wrapped around my loop and stayed powered up, I had to disconnect leash entirely as I was getting pulled out to sea quickly and losing my board. Then swam with board in one hand the looooong distance back to shore.
The Euro guy who saved my kite also checked me out at about the 200m mark to see if I was ok, I was really quite glad to see him, although talking to him was hard as i was rooted from the swim. Turns out he's a beginner also, loving the mateship in this sport, no one gives a toss out in the surf.
Good to see someone lent you a hand............i think you'll find body dragging without a life jacket is actually easier as there is less bulk so you can cut upwind through the water easier. Just remember to extend you legs out behind you so your body is straight & streamlined ............of course some bodies are more streamlined than others 
how were you getting dragged out to sea ?
shouldn't you be kiting with cross onshore winds ?
) Infi, but winds like yesterdee, are not really the go if you are a noob (even if your kite is correct size) and/or haven't been on board for a l o n g time. 
Best sesh i've had in donkies!!! 
Sure was, I was at Penguin Island on my 10m Torch (I weigh 100+ Kgs) and it was insane 
D
) Infi, but winds like yesterdee, are not really the go if you are a noob (even if your kite is correct size) and/or haven't been on board for a l o n g time. Best sesh i've had in donkies!!!
like a christmas tree.
Mike is the AKS instructor. Think that's the fella.
I was lit up on a 6m catalyst yesterday at Pinnas.. 25-28knots consistent.
There are some great guys at Pinnas now. Thanks Herve for bringing my boards in Yesterday after I converted my Rebel into a giant bow tie.
Looks pretty full-on out there again today chaps n chapettes
If you have never flowin over 25 kts before (hey everybody has to try it eventually sometime) then use a bit extra caution and take it easy.
If you are a noob it is likely you will be on your only kite and at the upper top end of it's range also.
If you get spanked in these conditions it happens waaaayyy quicker and leaves a bigger welt.
EDIT:
2 days kiting in a row for me.. it MUST be Xmas!
2 choices, 10m or pack it in. Glad I went for the first one
Wasn't an AKS instructor thats for sure, although he did have a Javelin life preserver on, he was a euro (I think Dutch or Belgian from the accent) but he was still a beginner, flying a red LF kite (10m I think).
It was rather windy yesterday, but for me (any port in a storm), I had to go out, 7m kite is my biggest in my quiver at the mo, 6 being my smallest.... very limited wind range.
The kite was inverted and tangled in lines and I was getting tired trying to get it back up in the air as it was at about 10 on the clock face in the water, not getting back into the air, but gradually dragging me past those rocks/ reef downwind of the point. So I made the decision to attempt a self rescue, then made the even harder decision to abandon all my kite and swim for my life. But locals said it's happened before and will happen again, all just part of the game, like getting line twists or deflated end cells in skydiving.
it was michael dos santos. had borrowed a life jacket and was riding a red white LF envy. He's a frenchman I think. one of AKS's students. 0416 142487 his number
Yeah that's a wonderful attitude to have, Either buy every single piece of safety gear available, kite only in perfect conditions and with a support crew in a boat watching you... or dont kite at all. If I did that, I might be lucky to get 2 days of kiting a year. =D
