Backrolls...

I just remembered that I have not reported the FACT that I am pulling off backrolls now!  

I am hella stoked!!!

Stay tuned for a pic or video sometime this summer......

Oh, and here is a video from youtube explaining what a backroll is, and how to accomplish it.

NW Cabrinha Race Series

So, this last Saturday I decided to step up...I mean exactly 1 year ago I started to kiteboard, and so now is the time to show off my progression.  So, to show support for cool events happening locally, I changed my scheduled plans so that I could make it to the 1st ever NW Cabrinha Race Series...let me rephrase that...so that I could make it to the race in order to compete in the 1st ever NW Cabrinha Race Series.  That's right folks, I registered as a drop in and took my skills to the water.

Rider #12 in the NW Cabrinha Race Series

Wally aka Gator set up the race series with the help from Motion Board Shop, as well as the sponsors Cabrinha, Dakine, and Transcend Apparel.  Here is a pic of Wally laying out the rules to all the racers.

photo by Jim Stringfellow http://www.jimstringfellow.com/

Now I am not going to brag about how well I did...because I didn't do all that well.  But then again, neither did a bunch of people.  The wind barely came up with enough to get us on the water.  Only those on race boards or large Spleen or Glide "doors" could even make it up wind...and I wasn't one of them.  But I did have fun. 

Too bad I will be in Cabarete during the next series and therefore unable to attend, as I hear there are some wicked prizes....oh well, guess I will have to make do with kiting in paradise! mwuahahahahahah

kitebeach, Cabarete, Dominican Republic....where I'll be soon!!!

nuthin but butta

That's what the last two days have been....straight butta at Jetty Island.  My legs hurt, my stomach aches (from jumping) and with all that I think I am still going to head up after work for day 3 in a row.

Yesterday was pretty rad, and after a 2 1/2 hour session I waded out with the HD flip video camera and took some footage.  I got the usual suspects jumping, crashing, and just enjoying all that the Jetty has to offer.

Enjoy!


Jetty Island 6-23-2010 from thewindrocker on Vimeo.

Jetty Jam 2010 - recap

Jetty Jam 2010 was a huge success!!!

As you know from previous posts, the Jetty Jam, sponsored by Urban Surf and the Everett City Parks Dept was scheduled for this last weekend, June 19th -20th 2010.  And I was asked to provide the music as the DJ for the event....

I woke up early and was out of the house by 8am heading up I-5 to Everett.  Chuck was following me with the DJ coffin crammed into his car.  He spent the night so that we could both leave together to get to Jetty Island fairly early and set up the sound system and tent above the gear.  I had asked both Chuck and Josh to help DJ (aka Charles Sidious and Noisemaker) so that if windy, I could get some time on the water.  Also, my parents were going to come out, so I definitely wanted to be able to have some time off of the decks to hang with them as well.

Anyways, driving up to Jetty was somewhat disheartening due to the fact that the sky was super overcast...which is not a good omen for wind at Jetty since we normally rely on thermal winds in order to ride there. We arrive there and try to maintain hopefully optimistic thoughts that things would clear up and we would get an afternoon thermal push that Jetty Island is known for.

When we arrived the SUP races were just getting underway. Glen ended up winning the 1 1/2 times around the island race...also known as the "who the hell is crazy enough to try this?" race.  By the time they were done racing we had the sound system set up and were pumping out some tunes.  The booth looked great with a Naish popup tent and flags, as well as a kite, leading edge down, in front of us to deflect the wind and sand.

Dj booth under overcast skies - Jetty Jam - June 19th 2010

Here is a picture of both Chuck and Josh in the booth. Thanks for the help guys!

aka Charles Sidious and Noisemaker

Around 11am the wind started blowing, only it was a huge surprise because the winds were coming from the SW, which is absolutely rare conditions at the Jetty.  By 12pm the winds were more than ridable, my parents and Becky had just arrived with a few things I forgot for the DJ booth, so after taking care of loose ends I got Chuck and Josh to cover for me. I suited up to get out on the water ASAP.  I mean, who really knew how long these strange winds may hold up?

So I hit the water, while my dad gets pics and video.  My mom and Becky hang out and watch the action.

my mom at jetty island

Becky and mom hang out and try to stay warm

My dad even got video of me riding.  Check it out!

So yeah, we ended up riding for almost 3 hours straight, at which point most people stopped riding and a few heats of racing took place.  The directionals finished their heat, but then the wind died while the twin tips were racing. 

Regardless, everyone had a ton of fun.  I rode my new bird, the 13m Octane, for the entire time and was lit!  I had soo much fun and I love my new kite.  Super grunty, and yet very fast in the air.  A rad kite!

picture of the turn out

Newbies got a chance to participate in a trainer kite clinic.  Josh, Chuck, and Cameron all had fun taking part in that for an hour or two. 

After the Jetty Jam we all went over to Lombardi's restaurant where a band was playing.  Becky and I had dinner with my parents and celebrated Father's Day one day early.  After dinner my folks took off and Becky and I joined the rest of the kiteboarding crew hanging out on the deck.  Urban Surf then kicked down a bunch of free swag which everyone always appreciates and tears into with a fury.  Here is a picture taken by Jim Stringfellow of Becky and I after grabbing some new gear.  Becky is especially stoked!

picture taken by: Jim Stringfellow  http://www.jimstringfellow.com/

Anyways, I had a great time and can not wait for next year.  I will leave you with some more pictures of me riding that my dad took and I edited.

my new bird...which I love!!!

relaunch time

And my favorite shot of the day....(click for larger view)

stoked!!!!

Just a quick note...I am stoked today because in less than 30 minutes I am leaving work to head up to Jetty Island where I am going to get the chance to give my new Octane its first ride.

I will report back soon with the results and a review of the new ride.....

new rides....Oh yeah!!!!

So, as of yesterday I am ready to get back on the water, and I have officially become a part of the Slingshot family.  I now have a 2 kite quiver that is made up exclusivly of two Slingshot kites, and I am thinking this is going to help me progress like a mutha-f*cker this summer.  If you can't tell, I am super stoked!!!

As mentioned, on Saturday Belllingham Kiteboarding hooked me up with a 2009 10m Slingshot RPM. 

You can read about the kite here:
http://s2as.vox.com/library/post/2009-slingshot-rpm-10m-review.html

You can read customer reviews here:
http://www.kiteboardingreview.com/slingshot/92-slingshot-rpm-2009

picture of the 2009 10m Slingshot RPM (same color combo as mine)

If you have read the previous post, then you know that my 2007 14m Naish Raven II popped on Sunday, so I was looking for a replacement. Yesterday I ended up getting an incredible offer on a brand new 2010 13m Slingshot Octane that I just could not refuse.  So, I now have a new light wind Jetty Island kite, which I am hoping to get the chance to ride this weekend at the Jetty Jam.

Motion Board Shop really hooked me up with the deal on the Octane, and I am very grateful.  Straight up, MBS gave me the best deal on the kite, and literally sold it to me for $200 dollar less than the best offer from the other kiting outfits in the NW.  Thanks much Jason Clack!

I think the 13m Octane and 10 RPM will give me a perfectly rounded quiver, not to mention I am stoked on using the 2010 Slingshot Comp Stick (the new bar) which has been greatly improved and is raising the "bar"  (get it?) for other manufacturers to follow over the next year or two.  It is super rugged and feels great when riding.

2010 Slinshot Comp Stick

new swivel on the front lines

even the quick release was redone

You can read all the details of the 2010 Octane here:

http://www.slingshotoctane.com/

Also, here are some customer reviews of the 2010 Octane:

http://www.kiteboardingreview.com/slingshot/126-slingshot-octane-2010

2010 Slingshot Octane (almost the same color combo as mine)

I might also mention that I am really happy with the color combination...I know that might seem like a small thing, but I love the black, gray, green color combonation!!!  This week I am going to have to order a pair of boardshots or two that will match the kites.....just in time for Cabarete.

I will keep you posted on what I think of both rides, after hopefully getting time on the water with both this weekend.  Pray for good weather and wind at Jetty Island on the 19th and 20th of June.......

Kitemare...well sort of!

Back to report in for the weekend. 

Friday I had a pretty epic session at Jetty Island on my 14m Naish Raven II.   I did have one mishap when I accidently unhooked during a jump.  When I crash landed I didn't know to let go of the bar and grab the chicken loop...instead I just held on and eventually backstalled my kite.  I then proceeded to roll it over the 5th line, which means I was pretty much F'd in the A and had to float my way back in.  My buddy Kynan saw me in trouble and came to the rescue grabbing my board and following me in.  After fixing my lines on the beach, Kynan helped me relaunch.  I had drifted at least 3/4 of a mile downwind from the main kiting area.  So, the epic part is that we took off and after about 20 min I had rode all the way back upwind to everyone else.  Pretty stoked on that.

Saturday I went to Belllingham to DJ the new store opening of Bellingham Kiteboarding's new store in the B-ham marina.  I can not say enough about these guys!!!!!  The owner, Andy, is one of the most sincere guys in the kiting industry.  If you can, buy from them.  They will seriously go the extra mile to make you happy and do what is best for you and your riding level.
http://www.bellinghamkiteboarding.com/

Sunday Becky and I both headed back to Jetty Island....and here is where the kitemare begins. 

After arriving there with what had earlier been 10m conditions, the wind had died quite a bit.  So I pumped up my 14m to about 5-6 psi.  When I was walking back with the bar to rig up minutes later, and when I was still 30ft away....BANG...my leading edge blows out....roughly 3 + ft worth.

I was totaly bummed.  Maybe the kite was defective or maybe rolling it over the 5th line damaged the bladder.......regardless it totally blew...and not in a good way like the wind!

Had I not just got a new kite on Saturday from Andy at BKB , a new 2009 Slingshot 10m RPM, I would have been devistated.  Anyways, having a new kite to try out, because the wind did pick back up, made the day bearable.  And yes, I loved the feel of my 10m RPM.  I can not wait to tear it up on it in Cabarete!!!!

So yeah, completely sucks....and now I am in the market for a new 13m-14m kite......any ideas?

I finally have proof!!!

On Saturday, June 5th 2010, history was made, thanks to my buddy Alan Wilson.  You see, he came out to Jetty Island with Ross Moore and myself. And finally I have proof that I can jump because Alan took some pictures of me in the air.  They weren't by any means the largest jumps of the day...but they are the first images of me jumping, so regardless I am stoked.  Here is the first one....

And here is the second jump...notice that you can see where I took off from the water in the background.

Anyways, Saturday wasn't the best wind.  It was definitelt light out.  But fun none-the-less.  My buddy Ross, a old high school friend, is up and riding now.  In the below sequence of pictures he is riding, and then in the second pic he is telling Alan how stoked he is...even if he is doing the walk of shame.

Ross riding...and only his 4th time out.

"You see that?  I'm tearing it up today!" - Ross super stoked.

So yeah, it was a good day for all.   Even Alan who got a good hour or two on the 3m Best trainer kite.  Another hour or two and we may get him stoked enough to give body dragging a go.  We shall see.  At least he had such a good time that he is planning to hit up Jetty Jam for the two days with us.  Who knows, maybe by the end of summer we will have another old skool homie under a kite killing it on the H2O.......

I might also mention that at the end of the day I performed a self landing...successfully too I might add.  It was my second time doing so.  I had my co-worker Mark Ullrich there to assist in case something went wrong. 

Here is Mark and I after a good day on the water...and no, I am not sure what he is doing in the picture.

Jetty Jam flier and SUP race course pic

Here is the flier for the Jetty Jam.

And here is an birds-eye view of the island...and the outlined course is the full island SUP race.

I hope to see you there.

a new kite on the way...

 I am not sure if I mentioned it before, but one of the things that Becky and I needed to pick up before our trip to Cabarete is a mid sized kite that Becky will spend most of her time on while there.  An 8m or 9m would be ideal....

Well, yesterday I found a great kite for a great deal.   It's a 2009 8m Royal Era.  Here is a picture of it.

2009 Royal Era

A local kiter is a Royal sponsored team rider.  He said that he only had 3 sessions on the 8m, so it is basically a brand spanking new kite and bar.  Becky is stoked...I am stoked!

Every review I read that was written by non-affiliated kiters said that this kite kicks ass and was one of the best performing kites that they had rode from all manufacturers in their 2009 line-ups.

I can't wait to give a a go...maybe in Cabarete, but if not, in the Gorge this summer...fo shizzel!!!

Besides that, I am stoked that Becky will have a sick ass 8m to ride when in Cabarete.

If you want to check out more info on Royal kites, the Era or Solo...or their boards.  Head here:

http://www.royalkiteboarding.com/era_09.cfm?swf=era_09_2.swf