I 've always wanted to write:

" when its 00:00 AM on New Year and you are replying to a Seabreeze post "You know you are addicted when..."

but i missed the opportunity this year (because unfortunately I have another life...) and it's now 3:00 hours after new years!!! So I missed the opportunity this year... Maybe next year!

Fred

The wind died on me after on 2 jumps on Tues night. Bizarre conditions.

Later that night I found myself reading a Thomas the tank book to my 4 yr old and in the coastal background behind Oliver (the great western engine) I noticed a couple of sailboats and couldn't help but think mmmm they're arent keeled over too much so maybe get the 15.5 Flow out...

My young lad just doesn't understand why I drift off mid story with a far away look in my eyes

When he's 12 ish and hanging onto a trainer kite all will become clear I'm sure!

you go out 7 days a week 3 hrs a day 5 on weekends and you have still wish your chick would stop asking for lessons.

when ya read sea breeze every morning an night an think about kite surfing way to much....dreaming about a magic downwinder an smacking some waves when my busted up foot is finally strong enough again.

I feel your pain mate, BDO or 30 knots?

WEEEE

when a 2 yr old post is still going strong - guys everythings been said and we all know this sport is addictive

.....you are a newbie with a 12m still trying to get up planing and have just ordered a new 20m kite for the "light" wind days, and figure that reports of great whites off the coast are not seen as warnings but motivation tools!

...when all you can do at work is watch the forecast update... having those bloody green arrows teasing you while you try self persuasion thinking "hold on, only 2 more hours to go...And I'm sure it's crap any way!"...and keep on checking if the water is still capping.... and keep on checking your clock wondering what time is a decent time to leave early (again... ).... to finally see the arrows go red when you're about to ask your boss if you can possibly take off now.....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life is not fair!!!! And right now, I really think this sport SUCKS big time!!!!
(what's happening wind God? We usually have this very intimate relationship in which we so dearly understand each other, where you nicely pick up as I walk out the door and die off when I'm done.... and we live in perfect harmony.....Did I surf too much lately and got you upset or something???? What went wrong????)

When an inventory of the bedside shelves counts:

• One trim rope and chicken loop for an 03 fuel, unused
• Two pigtails of indeterminite type


• Two slingshot leader lines


• One waterproof ipod casing


• One big pile of kite magazines


• One waterproof carry bag


• One old kiteboard handle


• One big pile of kiteboarding DVDs


• Seven kiteboard fins from three different manufacturers


• One pair of aquashades

I can see an old bar and lines at the back of my wardrobe from here, but I couldn't be bothered inventory in there. There is also the back shed, the garage and the cupboards in the hallway to check, I know they all contain masses of kiting gear, but in a house of three kiteboarders, who knows...

Lets see, between the three of us there are:

• Six boards, plus a mountainboard


• Six inflatable kites and two trainers


• ...stuff counting the harnesses, pumps, board bags... You get the picture

Good , and bad .

The story goes like this: I bought it in South Africa from the guy who imports them there. It's absolutely fantastic out on the water listening to music, really adds a lot to the experience for me, but after a few wipeouts the copper for the left earphone started to part at the plug and the music started to get lopsided. I tracked down the Australian importers to see if I could buy headphones only but they wouldn't have a bar of it, even though when I spoke to the parent company in the US said they could do it if I wanted to ship them from there. The Aussie importers, despite my impeccable politeness and praise of the product, suggested I buy a whole new unit. I was so peeved at the suggestion I gave up, and it's been on the shelf ever since. Imagine, replacing the whole thing on account of

It also worked up a leak in the seal. Nothing that worried me much, there would just always be a droplet or two of water inside the casing at the end of a session.

I also got the casing before the ipod, so excited about the idea I thought I'd just go and get an ipod to suit later. So I got the one for the mini, only to find they had stopped making them. Hence why I have a pink ipod, the last one left in the third shop I went to. It's almost poked too now, so what I reckon I'll do next is go get a cheaper waterproof mp3 player with less storage space and just put a couple of my favourite albums on it and rotate them every so often.

Hey back to the original topic!!!!!

You know you are addicted when you start selling off surfboards to buy kites, you stop buying Tracks mag after twenty five years and buy any kiting mag you see and then buy a $1000 ute, unseen, on Ebay as a kitemobile.

You come home after dark grinning from ear to ear after a session and a few beers to a less than happy missus which results in a great idea for an avatar.

you know your addicted when you buy a plane ticket to come to Oz instead of buying a 5 mm full wetsuit beccause the water is too cold and there is not enough wind in europe.

When you teach your whole immediate family to kitesurf, so that on xmas day you are not the bad guy for wanting to go out and kite in all the wind santa has provided.

When youve just fractured/dislocated your shoulder kiting and your wife and two kids are at the emergency ward bedside as you try to conceal the pain and gloss over the gravity of the only income for your family lost when the doctor tries to settle you down with some polite banter and asks if you will continue to kite. Your family are all ears, your wife chuckles indicating the obsurdness of such a seemingly obvious question. You realise the implications of your answer only too late "I just can't"