Yes, But you'll be a kook whom more likely has your board and not like a kook looking for a board. It don't matter what anyone else thinks, if it helps you use it. For high current days it is a good tool to have until you perfect your body dragging. Obviously make sure you have a name and number on the board. I think most lost boards find there way home it labeled.
Anyway, sounds like you did great and learned.
Practice your body dragging. See how aggressive you can be.
Blazeheliski
Since 30 Mar 2011
659 Posts
Mosier
Addicted
Wed May 25, 11 11:12 am
Good tips Mark. The point you made about not making the transition with your kite powered is something I need to work on. All these tips will help and I will be working on them the next couple of months.
It is not like I am a complete newb. Since I learned to kiteboard last July - I have successfully body dragged upwind to my board at many times in the Columbia - at Jones Beach, Rooster rock, Stevenson, Event Site, and Doug's Beach. Many times with strong current and big swells. The day I lost my board - I successfully body dragged to my board upwind twice in the channel on the Oregon side of the island. I do know that I have lots of room for improvement though. So I will work on my efficiency.
One question - are there times or conditions where no matter what you do - you will not get back to your board? When I was at the Stevenson beach clean up a few weeks ago. I was on shore watching Nak head out. He fell in the fastest part of the current, and his board took off. He looked like a pretty good body dragger to me - but his board was getting further and further away from him. Luckily - there were other kiters around to help him get his board. I noticed on the lost and found page several people have lost their boards this last month at Rooster rock, Rufus, Stevenson. Does this fast spring runoff make it impossible in certain situations to get your board back? Like board in fastest part of river - wind starting to die - etc?
Blazeheliski
Since 30 Mar 2011
659 Posts
Mosier
Addicted
Wed May 25, 11 11:16 am
Diggy - where are you kiting now if you are not at Jones?
Sasquatch
Since 09 Mar 2005
2102 Posts
PNW
Bigfoot
Wed May 25, 11 2:30 pm
Blazeheliski wrote:
One question - are there times or conditions where no matter what you do - you will not get back to your board?
Of course there are and it is always situational. . . I suspect many boards are lost this time of year just due to the temp of the river water--it sucks the energy from your bones; better to live another day then to get hypothermia.
Blazeheliski
Since 30 Mar 2011
659 Posts
Mosier
Addicted
Wed May 25, 11 2:55 pm
So if you know you are in a spot where it is really going to suck if you get separated from your board - do you whip out a leash? Put on a GoJoe? wear a wakeboard with boots? Just really, really make sure you don't fall? Use the hook your toe in the binding trick if you are falling? Or just make sure that you are kiting with buddies that will grab your board if it gets going away from you too fast? Last edited by Blazeheliski on Thu May 26, 11 11:29 am; edited 1 time in total
backtoCaLi
Since 15 Mar 2008
74 Posts
Nor-Cal
Wed May 25, 11 4:34 pm
just a thought...body dragging is way more effective without a PFD
Nak
Since 19 May 2005
4302 Posts
Camas
Site Lackey
I was on shore watching Nak head out. He fell in the fastest part of the current, and his board took off. He looked like a pretty good body dragger to me - but his board was getting further and further away from him.
I think the mistake I made was after losing sight of the board I spent too much time looking for it rather than continuing to body drag. I plan on painting the bottom of my boards to help with that. I've helped at a lot of the events with my jetski, and it's amazing how difficult boards are to spot even from a higher vantage point.
It's funny, the threads I've read before on this where people insist that current makes no difference. (Mostly on Kiteforum. ) Theoretically, the current should affect both board and rider equally. Of course, most everyone here in the Gorge know that's horse crap. I got separated from my board in Kailua the other day; almost no effort was required to bodydrag back to it. Hell, it's like taking a break, getting a board back in a zero current situation.
One thing I've been wondering about, Do you really need the large size of a Go Jo or innertube to help with board retrieval? If a board is strap side up, getting to it is markedly easier than if it's strap side down. Anything the wind can grab would help. What about a piece of foam, say 2" thick? No goofy profile, and yet it should raise the board enough to both be more visible and more affected by the wind? Obviously not as good as a strap side up board, but I'm thinking it would make a difference. Enough to be worth it?
Blazeheliski
Since 30 Mar 2011
659 Posts
Mosier
Addicted
Wed May 25, 11 8:50 pm
Yeah - when I was kiting in Florida and Maui - body dragging to the board was almost no effort at all.
That is a good point Nak. Anytime I have been separated from my board with the straps up - it was a lot faster to get back to the board. It is easier to see the board, and the straps seem to catch the wind a bit. When the straps are down - it seems to catch the current more. It might be time to experiment with some foam! It wouldn't need to be very high as you suggest. Just enough to lift one edge up making it easier to see and allowing the wind to affect it just a bit. There obviously is a market for a lower profile version of the GoJoe. Check out their prototype.........
Although their version will be about $200. Nak's version - 50 cents........ LOL
MarkWorth
Since 02 May 2011
149 Posts
Hood River
Stoked
Thu May 26, 11 8:09 am
I have always been able to move upwind on the water to get my board, but I am tall, thin, and without a flotation vest. By keeping the kite low with one hand while holding the other hand palm forward on my hip I can create a large planing surface. I literally bodysurf on my chest when I come off the board and carve up wind of the board before the first transition.
I have taught all of my students to bodysurf up wind.
I always insist that they use my zippered flotation vest instead of their own because most flotation vests are open at the neck and scoop water. You need a smooth, flat surface to carve though the water, the vest must have a zipper and the neck opening must by fairly high. The only students that were truly difficult to teach were women with large chests. Because of their cleavage they scooped water and could not go upwind with a flotation vest on. (They were good at going up wind without vests)
There is a huge difference between one vest and the next, when shopping for vests for the school last year I found that the only vests in Hood River that were zippered with a good neck line were the top of the line water-ski vests at Gorge Surf Shop. If you are going to wear a vest, invest in one that allows you to get back to your board.( tell Scotty that I sent you) _________________ Have More Fun!
Mark
Gorge Kiteboard School
http://gorgekiteboardschool.com
Blazeheliski
Since 30 Mar 2011
659 Posts
Mosier
Addicted
Thu May 26, 11 8:46 am
Thanks for the tips Mark. My vest is pretty snug - but I will evaluate it in the water when I go out to practice body dragging upwind. I will do some dragging with and without it to see how much efficiency I am losing.
Hand on your hip palm forward? Now that is something totally different than what I am doing. I normally just have my arm straight out ahead keeping it stiff so that I can create an edge against the kite. So with your palm forward and on your hip you are creating a "chickenwing keel?" Or am I picturing this wrong. I currently drag pretty much like the guy in this video........
MarkWorth
Since 02 May 2011
149 Posts
Hood River
Stoked
Thu May 26, 11 9:57 am
Bodysurfing upwind
Step 1
Park the kite low with one hand and control the roll of your body by deflecting the bar left and right. Start flat on your belly balancing above the bar, then roll left or right by allowing the bar to move to one side of your body’s centerline. Stop the roll of your body by pushing the bar back beneath your centerline. You will no longer need to use your free hand to keep from rolling belly up.
Step 2
Put the other hand on your hip, palm forward, and close the gap between elbow and ribs. This creates a large mostly flat spot from your centerline to the edge made by your shoulder, arm and hand. When you set your shoulder in the water, by rolling 20 degrees away from flat on your belly, your body will generate lift and will carve up wind.
You course will be 5 to 10 degrees to windward of your course with your hand out in the outrigger position.. _________________ Have More Fun!
Mark
Gorge Kiteboard School
http://gorgekiteboardschool.com
Blazeheliski
Since 30 Mar 2011
659 Posts
Mosier
Addicted
Thu May 26, 11 10:20 am
I am totally trying that the next time I am out on the water! Thanks for the tip Mark!
Blazeheliski
Since 30 Mar 2011
659 Posts
Mosier
Addicted
Fri Jul 08, 11 11:20 am
OK - here is my answer to the lost boards and strong currents in the Columbia. I know that I don't need it that much anymore, but I have come to really like it as a handle for putting my board my board back on in the water. I hardly have to bend over now which is great for old guys like me! It is a modification of the "No Joe" via Wylie. And it can be used as a handle without tearing unlike the "Go Joe." Introducing the - "Go Blaze!" Wheel barrow innertube with flame duct tape to bring in the outer edges so they don't drag in the water if you are edging really hard - and to make it look way cool! Now all I need it a pic of a pro doing a trick like an "Inverted Blaze Grab."
Reaper356
Since 10 Dec 2006
781 Posts
Salem / LC Oregon
Opinionated
Fri Jul 08, 11 12:45 pm
What can I say - it's flaming ! ...
beej
Since 16 Jul 2010
180 Posts
Stoked
Fri Jul 08, 11 1:43 pmI don't know you
I don't know you Blaze, but I do know your board from Sauvies this week!
BigR
Since 05 Jul 2005
372 Posts
White Salmon
Obsessed
Fri Jul 08, 11 2:08 pm
Blaze
That thing has gotta just hurt some type of appendage.........just sayin'.......
Blazeheliski
Since 30 Mar 2011
659 Posts
Mosier
Addicted
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You can attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
Now all I need it a pic of a pro doing a trick like an "Inverted Blaze Grab."
