Best sessions with friends!

Loneski · Since 18 Dec 2010 103 Posts Washington Stoked

I would like to read a new thread about your best session. Mine was last summer picking up a repaired kite from Airtime in Hood River. The owner Jeff said he had just been invited to boat up to Anderson Island for some uncrouded kiting across from the Hatchery and there was room for one more. 1 hour later 4 of us are launching off the back side of the island into perfect 9 meter conditions. Giant swells and 3 new friends cheering each other on as we jumped higher and slashed harder than ever before! That was best day yet and I can't wait to see what happens this year. What was your best session? F.Y.I. This site rocks!!

tonyb · Mon Apr 25, 11 5:26 am

Got three to relate:

Sunset sessions with my wife Carol where we're the last ones to the beach and the last two off the water. Pretty nice to have the water to ourselves and unwind at the end of the day. We get this pretty often in both Stevenson and SPI during the week when we're working.

SPI wave side downwinders with the family and friends. Doesn't matter if it's 3' waves or 10' waves we always have a blast with 4 to 10 of us on the water tearing up the waves and wiping out in front of each other.

Most memorable session:

This past December in SPI there was a northerly blowing with wind speed averaging 28mph and the waves were running head high and fairly clean. Carol, our friend Jason and myself got a late start and went for a sunset session down winder. Turned out to be a bit later than we had planned by the time we got moving on the water. Sometimes sunset in SPI is over in 15 minutes due to the haze over the mainland but sometimes the sky will light up and glow for about 30 minutes as the sun sinks and disappears. This was one of those nights. In SPI when out in the gulf riding the waves the sun sets over the island.

When we first started out the sun was still a couple of hand widths above the horizon and the sky was just turning orange. Soon the sand dunes in the back ground were glowing, the clouds were glowing and as we were tacking out the waves were looking darker and darker and pretty gnarly but as soon as you hit one and turned back towards shore the white water and wave face would be reflecting the colors of the sky. At about two miles in to the 7 mile down winder the sky had gone from blue, to orange, to bright pink and the waves were reflecting all this for us.

At about the three mile mark the sky was turning purple and the evening planets were shining. Going out the waves were getting harder to judge as the faces and swell were nearly black with the white water standing out in contrast. We went another half mile or so tacking way out and riding the waves in to watch the sky show but then it was getting so dark that when going out you couldn't see the waves coming and were starting to get bucked around and I nearly took a 5' wall in the face because I didn't see it coming until the last second.

We still had a little over three miles to go but it was so dark now that we could only see the white water and the lights of the town below us. This is when the fun really began. While it was awesome watching the light show most of the kiting had been fairly mild to make sure not to eat it in the dark and to be able to spend time with our heads up watching the scenery.

We gave the signal to get our asses in gear and bolt for home before it was pitch black and started a high speed slalom run down the shoreline in between first and second break. Once we stopped watching the sky and started the speed run we had an absolute blast making high speed carving S turns in 6" of glassy water, laid out nearly horizontal, downlooping the kite and going as fast as we could. Normally we stay out of this zone except for a quick turn to head back out to the waves but for this ride it became our three mile long race course.

When we hit the edge of town by the Hilton and La Quinta there were quite a few people out on the beach and all of a sudden flash bulbs are going off as they tried to take our pictures as we slalomed by and there were even a few cheers. A few minutes later we were at the end and all three of us came in grinning ear to ear and high fiveing even before we landed our kites. We still get pumped talking about this ride.

Tony

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Loneski · Since 18 Dec 2010 103 Posts Washington Stoked

Maybe it wa Giligans Island? My bad:( it was indeed Wells Island.

lykaneagle · Since 14 Apr 2011 76 Posts Oregon City

I'm grinning ear to ear just reading all this. Can't wait to get good at this sport. ROCK ON!!

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-5273.html&highlight=

Hot day July, 7th, '07. . .usual suspects, Barfly, Wind Slither, Onad, kitetele, Gman and PacificHigh. Did about a 3 hour point sail. Stayed right where we launched at the lower access of Manzo (by the path of the beach cam). Point sailed right there where there a great rip current and break. 8 meter C wind, steady as could be, small waves about shoulder high max, temps in the high 70's/low 80's. Beach sand in the dunes was actually HOT on the feet.

A few more memories to follow when I have time. . .

Onad · Mon Apr 25, 11 2:57 pm

Slither wasn't too psyched when he chicken-tacked and I was taking a crap in the white wash!

edit: spelling correction

My Best 2:

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

beech · Since 21 Aug 2010 485 Posts Longview, WA Obsessed

Ha! That little dude's KILLIN IT!! Unhooked even. (I can't do that yet!!)

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 901 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

Too many to list, but last Friday, 4/22 was right up there.

Riding crispy new 8m RPM in strong and steady side/offshore winds, my all time favorite 5'-8" strapped quad directional, surf was head to ceiling high perfect rights with long period SW swell and location was right here at home. Myself and PJ were only ones on it at north end of the beach. Rode dozens of killer waves till close to sunset. Came home to beautiful wife cooking a 5 star dinner, drank numerous beers, then crashed hard...

Life is good (sometimes)...

melokitegirl · Since 28 Oct 2008 396 Posts Where the wind blows Obsessed

SPI. SPI. SPI. OMG, SPI! Ohhh and the place we don't talk about....Loved the post. Tony B - Great session! Wish I was there! That little kid picture...awesome! Saw two little boys today flying trainers on the beach & hucking air. Couldn't be more than 5 & 7 years old. Pretty cool next gen.