I am having today off. After 11 straight days of kiting, most of it really good, its time to rest. Sessions averaged over three hours, some days were five, others only two when I had other things to do. This has been a great summer for wind and waves.
The coolest thing I have seen was two days ago was when I pulled up to my local and see a 60 someodd year old women checking out the back of my van and seeing my kites and boards. She asks if I am going out and what I am going to rig. I was slightly taken back when she said she was going to kite.She then asks about any dangers, what to look out for here. All very good questions. I ask her what her level is, and if I have to look out for her, (there was only myself and a friend kiting.) She says she is pretty good. A squall comes through and I head out to get the most of it while she decides to wait out the squall. I come in after the wind drops and I put up a bigger kite. She then rigs up, I launch her and she is off. After about ten minutes I head out and I start watching her as I tack out, and she completely blows my mind. She sends the kite and starts boosting some pretty decent air. I am stunned. This shows me how great this sport really is. A lone traveler in her sixties pulls up to an unfamiliar spot, learns what she can, and then starts carving. Too good. Who ever she is, my hat is off to her! Totally stoked to see this!
Now, bit of rest to heal the worn body, the rash from my harness, the swollen ankle, and dodgey knee and to finally drain the saltwater that has been swirling in my head for months....

That is sweet to hear exspecially when she boosted . I have a guest that stays in our caravan park on his way north for the winter . His wife bought him a kite for 70 birth day . He is a mad windsurfer i was amazed at him as he got to kite for 10 days straight while up north ,on way back home (vic) he drop back here and was cutting upwind and was very comfortable on it . So hope i can still kite when iam that age . Just got to stop hurting one self .

Does anybody know this woman? Had Victoria plates on a mustard forerunner. She is a dead set legend.

Ya, you guys are pretty spoiled. Hope to get over there for a road trip next year! After two long La Nina years this year has been sensational. Loads of southerlies with swell to break up the noreaster small mush. I like the variation that this season has offered.
Now back to work :(

dafish said...
Does anybody know this woman? Had Victoria plates on a mustard forerunner. She is a dead set legend.

I don't know her personally, but I think that I met her down this way during January. I was kiting at Kent reserve in Victor Harbour and after talking to her while setting up, I noticed that she had an American accent. She said that she was just travelling around Australia. A week later, I had a classic day at my local, Seaclff, and she turned up there, and we both had a two hour session on the point in the waves.She was absolutely ripping and as I'm not alot younger than her, she gave me absolute inspiration! She was from Southern California and had kited many of the big wave spots there.

This was the last day of that 11 day run. Back to noreasters again now...should be right for tomorrow!