skim

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

Hi All ,
I did it yesterday , for the first time completed . On a Lake .
I was using my 15m waroo and a skim board that I made . I completed a jibe without losing momentum and skimmed away with a BIG smile on . It measures 24" x 60"and has a little rocker 1/2"at most. 90*edges to rounded corners deck side . Made of good one side ply 1/2", I weigh 190lbs and am 6'1" . stress pads for grip in Rasta colors , Ha , these are for kids playrooms but awesome grip in water .
It's taken me a bit but each time is more fun with this thing when the wind is not much . I was in about 1ft of water
There were two other kiters , both on 15m Flysurfer speed3's and 159 -164 Doors .
Now I know there are those out there that can do some serious moves at these low winds under a Flysurfer , these guys are not those . It's back and forth .
there are some shadows where we kite and some times they couldn't get upwind and had to walk out a ways and restart .
I also ended up there but with the skim I can sail , coast back into some wind even if I get so close to the edge it's only 1/2" or < of water . I have shot this through the cattails and weeds as long as there is a little water there too. I don't have to get off and walk out past the junk .
I had been trying to visualize the move and just let it happen . I brought the kite back nicely from appr 1 to 12 and as that was going I pushed and turned my rear foot and turned and pulled the front foot had them near side by side and the board facing front of me once the kite hit 12 and it carried on to 11 and so did my feet getting into stance and skimming away flat and smooth !
I can now jump on and ride off in shallow and from knee deep kinda one foot and jump on with the rear and go . Deeper water starts I do like I was shown On Padre to get on a surfboard .
I think we had 10 to 15+knt and at times I had to sine the kite but no drag from the skim is awesome to pick up some speed and edge upwind ever so slight .
All in the course of three hours I started with the skim , the wind increased and I used my 159 Door and then to a 140 Mako and some of the gusts were 25+knots .
In light winds a skim is a real bunch of fun . I'm having a blast learning .

JackZ

pauls · Since 20 Jun 2005 564 Posts Northern Portugal Addicted

Nice! Having fun is what its about eh? Too easy to forget. What did you use to glue the pads on?

GorgeKite.com · Since 17 Mar 2008 226 Posts Hood River Stoked

way to go jack. skim boarding is great, but i think you should sand the point off the front before it "gets you". just make the front more round and you are gold.

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed