Hope to se a huge turn-out.
The Short Downwinder - the long & the short of it!
We have decided that, having cancelled the scheduled & back-up dates for the long downwinder, we should try to cover both long & short downwinders in the one day. We know a lot of you look forward to 'the big one' so we really don't want to disappoint. The short downwinder is designed specifically to allow kiters at almost all levels expertise to join in. By covering both we hope to see everyone there. Arrangement will be to meet at Brighton at 1:00pm for registration.

The event is free but you must be a paid up member OR you can register on the day (we prefer you do it on line). The first bus will leave for Leighton at 1:30. On its return it will take remaining kiters to either Leighton or Floreat or both. If necessary the bus will return for a third transfer to Floreat. All kiters then kite the return leg back to Brighton for the traditional WAKSA hunger buster BBQ. (Snags never taste better than after a session). Cars will be covered by security volunteers while you are away - just to ensure your session is totally stress free.

At the close of this event WAKSA will be hosting the member and Seabreeze forum initiated meeting re Scarborough Beach Kiters. See below.

Stop Press- Update:
Forecast is all over the place for Sunday - hopeless last night; very positive this morning ??? At least now we have a bus service which allows us to leave the call till the very last moment before cancelling - at no cost - so we will hold off on a decision until Saturday afternoon. Because of the meeting, which must go ahead, we will have to be even more certain of a no wind day to call it off.

Fingers crossed and check www.waksa.org.au/events/ or Seabreeze forum on Saturday afternoon for final details.

Sunday Update.
May come in later than we would like but looks like it will work.
Rego still at 1:00pm - the grass area south of the Brighton Beach Car Park.
For newies to the area - drive to the very end of Brighton Rd. just one block south of Scarborough Beach Rd. Look for the WAKSA banners.
New member rego & re-registrations will be coverd at the sign-in tent.

Remember the first bus to Leighton - the long downwinder for experienced riders - will be leaving at 1:30.
The short downwinder is an easier and safer 4k's with sandy beach all the way.
The first transfer to Floreat will be from Brighton as soon as the bus returns from Leighton.

We have had lots of offers of help but most still want to kite. We would really like to have at least one driver to cover from the road; and especially one or two security staffers to watch the cars at Brighton. So if you can bring your kids, partner or granny that would be really appreciated by everyone.

Anyone
Im one board short of a full deck at the moment
If anyone has a spare twinny thats great for waves and chop (like a 144 Hammer praps ) I sure would appreciate a loaner for the day.

CU all there.

i have work

Thanks WAKSA people.
That was (eventually) a blast.

Even though i broke fins and had to rush home.....still had fun.

Wah! I'm so jealous.
I had to work at 4pm. I would have been too rushed getting there on time.

Hope you had lots of fun.
How many Kites were there?
POST PHOTOS!

If anyone is missing a sort of blue and white with patterns towel and/or a blue wet bag with Ikea straps, I found them in the back of my ute when I got home.

It was a nice day, I'm thoroughly exhausted now.

Yes it was a classic day,

First we all took the party bus to Leighton but upon arrival it looked ugly and uninspiring, so the call was made to head to Swanbourne. We made it down wind easily in the bus and upon arrival saw improving conditions which had everyone amped to bust out on to the beach and set up.

Initially looking good the keener members of the troop where left strewn down the beach for 500m or so as the wind died out.
We hung out on the sand for the next hour or talking about unusual weather patterns and places we had travelled and kited before.

The natives where getting restless and the call were almost made to “no don’t do it” call the bus back. – “no wait till 4pm” was the wise decision.
Then a gnarly black cloud appeared, and to hell with it – I put my kite up and all of a sudden I was lit like a Christmas tree and firing down wind – Yee haa

Will was there as well and we where hooting and hollering S turning North up the coast. Then the rain started and it was kind of surreal, the water went smooth and the water looked like it was coming back up out of the ocean. – Way cool.

At the exact same spot where there where two other dishevelled kiters in the middle of nowhere - the wind dropped off, both Will and I dropped our kites in the surf, I was a bit closer and made it in with just tangled lines, Will however had his kite rolled popping the leading valve and losing a lot of pressure in His Rev. (he still managed to limp home)

By the time we sorted this small inconvenience out the wind kicked back in – stoked I was back out there in a flash, fanging down wind was such a joy with our new found partner in crime the wind !
Everyone made it back to spot X and with the wind continuing to pick up to 25knts or so - all enjoyed a classic free ride session to finish off the event.

Thanks for coming Huey!

ME!MEME1

Pix as promised- long editing session but thanks airhead, Picassa helped!
On the bus-



Dry circles on the sand


Everyone kites in the air and hoping for wind


Discussing what to do


Just about to call it off- kites all parked up on the beach



On the water (and overpowered!)


Coming in at Brighton

Great day, thanks WAKSA

Was knacked, ate 2 great dogs with great company. Great seeing all the Ian's and a whole bunch of new faces was the highlight. The kite at the end was pretty darn good, but had no energy left once the conditions cranked.

Thanks again for the fun day.

NIck

waveslave said...

Knickers said...
On the bus-

Now this is what WAKSA is really good at. ^^^
They are good at driving buses full of crew upwind....
so riders can kite downwind.
No seriously, this is WAKSA's forte.
It does look like a hoot.

But don't expect WAKSA to be the guardian angel of kitesurfing when it comes to maintaining access on public beaches.
That mission statement that they took on is a heavy burden for them.
How can they prevent riders kooking-out massively on public beaches ?
How can they defend it ?
It's an impossible ask.

waveslave,leave this thread positive!!!!!!

I must say awesome work with the oh so convenient setting up of beach shelters for me to put my shirt under when I went for a swim, wouldn't have wanted that getting wet now!