PB off to Maui!!

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I was out with Dano once when I was lit on a 11m C kite and he was still holding down his 2004 17m Fuel (actual kite size more like a 19.) Very Happy

Onad · Mon Dec 11, 06 11:06 am

Hey Gang, dragging our butts out of bed this morning. Partied in Kihei last night with Light Wave Dave, Flying Nion (Maui rider), Rollo & Mystery Girl. Not many new kite pics as all the action was out at the reefs edge where the waves were breaking.

Wind was slow to come up yesterday, so Tonski, PB & I went snorkeling at La Perouse Bay in the morning and got to kite beach early afternoon. Wind was a bit east (slightly offshore) which makes it tough to launch and land. Early part of the day saw 75% of kite launches ended in crashes and drift re-launches. Once ya got on the outside the wind was much better and the waves were sick. The local riders are primarily on surfboards (some strapped, some not). These guys and gals were dropping in on some big waves and ripping them up. I was really impressed with the riding.

The 12m LINK performed awesome. I was able to get off the beach and ride away without the kite going down. I think I just got Linky… While riding on the far outside (into the blue water) I was just turning back in and setting up a huge wave, I look toward the trough and see an 8-10 foot SHARK cruising just below the surface. Hard to tell what type and I didn’t hang around long to find out... Shocked

Saturday, the wind was much stronger. I took out the 12m LINK to find the top end. I found it!! Being primarily a C kite rider, I was really impressed with the LINKs performance, depower, relaunch, etc. SS did a really good job designing and tuning this kite. Came back in as the wind started gusting to high 30’s and grabbed the 9m LINK. This is a great kite! Tons of range, really fast and quick turning. Nice bar pressure. Sweet kite! I’m sure glad Tonski will be getting a couple of these… Wink

Hey Amery, haven’t needed the 7m yet, but the girls would have enjoyed it. The 9m has plenty of range for me at 210lbs. Thanks again for the demo. The LINKs have gotten a lot of attention on the beach. Hoping the wind keeps blowing so others can demo he LINKs a bit more.
PS send some more pix from OZ Land!!

Hey Grimperua, come grab a LINK to Demo if you’re still on island or just to say hi.

Mr. Sasquatch, Lou seems to be primarily focused on wave riding with his C kite with hand sketched eyeball and short lines. Though he did throw a move I’ve never seen before (see picture below).

Well, were off to do a hike in the west Maui Mts. And then were going sailing on the America’s Cup II 12m boat. Can’t wait…

Lat, Onad & Tonski

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

Greetings from Maui. Today was a blast, Rollo, Jodi, Janet and I went out on a zipline tour in the morning, and then hit kitebeach in the afternoon. The zipline was awesome Smile

They start you off with 4 "smallish" ziplines and a little bridge, and then the last zipline is pretty huge. It's like 650 feet with a rather substantial drop. The pictures are from that last one, jus thte last one alone was worth the money Shocked

The wind came up in the afternoon and we managed to get a few hours of kiting in. So far it has blown every day, I went out on my 9m on Saturday pretty much lit, then yesterday and today on the 12m. The surf on the outside was pretty huge today with most of the waves well over my head.

Janet is going to take a lesson tomorrow, so it will be her first trip out. The wind is quite sketchy on the launch and landing, but once you get to the outside it's really sweet. It's also cool seeing all the sea turtles out there when you're riding by Laughing

I will post some more pictures later, but here is a taste.

Rollo Tomasi · Since 17 Mar 2005 983 Posts Attractive

Thanks for the pix Jim and Janet.

So far the 9m Boxer is the sweet kite for me out here. Thumb's Up

Super range and dropping into the wave it depowers quickly plus its pivot turn get's you cutting back up the face ASAP. Naish really got it right with this kite.

Yesterday I enjoyed the best session so far. The conditions at the break were awesome. Kodiak was getting huge air off the waves! Mystery Girl was ripping it up too! Thanks to Lightwave Dave for the board demo. Thumb's Up

Sweet 130cm.

PS - I don't remember seeing this many huge sea turtles off kitebeach in the past..

Bettyboarder · Tue Dec 12, 06 2:15 pm

All the pictures are great. That zip line looks fun, not so sure if I could of done the 650 feet one but cant wait to hear about when you guys all get back.

Kodiak looks like you are enjoying your surprise trip. Janet gets the wife of the year award.

Onad & Tonski - how was the sailing?

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

That looks like fun.

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

Yeah Betty I think I owe Janet big for this one. Today she finally got out on the water. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of her riding, jsut some body dragging. Today was a crazy day on the launch. I felt like I was watching one of those old Warren Miller movies of beginner skiiers getting off the chair lift Embarassed

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Got any pics of the beach you are at? When I was there I would launch at the beach just downwind from the pro beach, but the wind was really f-ed up there and Rollo says this other beach is a lot better.

Looks like you guys are having tons of fun...

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

I think we are at the same spot. If you launch from kite-beach just down from pro beach the wind is really squirrelly. You can walk downwind about a hundred yards though, and the wind gets better, but it's still really weird on the inside. I was pretty impressed with Janet yesterday keeping the kite in the air and relaunching, since she is mostly on the inside. Once you are on the outside the wind is pretty consistent and the wavers are nice.

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

Shit, I definitely live on the wrong Island here...good to see you have a nice time. Oahu will get some wind tomorrow..thats when it almost gets too windy on Maui...earlier this week we've had nothing.

a.

Rollo Tomasi · Since 17 Mar 2005 983 Posts Attractive

random stuff.. Cool

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Way to go Rollo!

Onad · Thu Dec 14, 06 10:59 am

Hey Tautologies, wish we could have hooked up with you. Would like to meet you & do some kiting sometime.

Rollo Tomasi · Since 17 Mar 2005 983 Posts Attractive

Conditions were sweet yesterday. A little more NE and wind was steady..

Onad · Thu Dec 14, 06 7:59 pm

Yes indeed Rollo! Another sick day!!

Demoed a Jimmy Lewis 5.8 & Mahalo to Action Dave letting me try his ’07 Thorn!!

Many mahalo's to Tonski for all the killer shots - it's a bummer for her she's on injury reserve and couldn't kite this week.

Tomorrow looks down right psycho (but PB says I better not wimp out) !!! Shocked

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM HST FRIDAY
Friday...Mostly sunny. Isolated showers in the morning. Windy. Highs 77 to 82. Northeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Aloha, Onad & Tonski Cool

Rollo Tomasi · Since 17 Mar 2005 983 Posts Attractive

Purple Bear chased this one off.. Confused

doh!!