Session #3, 2012

Session Date – March 27, 2012

Session Time –  12:30 – 1:30 – 1 Hour (This is a min time that will qualify as a session

Location – Home Launch, Lake Butte des Morts

2012 Season Days to Date – 3

2012 Season Hours to date – 5.25

Wind and Weather Observations -I Watched the wind all morning have a baseline of about 20 and gusting to 30. I rig here to the baseline and hold on through the gusts. You can not really do it the other way around and expect to be powered. Get on the water at 12:30 and BOOM the wind goes nuts on me. Rigged a 10m and was beyond Lit. I rode for an hour fighting the gusty conditions and getting taken for rides before I finally just decided I made the wrong choice and should have been on my 8. Packed up and went back to work. BLECH

Session Notes – Way over powered with wrong kite choice. Had some fun but the wind was very gusty and I progressed at nothing.

Session #2 2012

Session Date – March 21, 2010

Session Time –  2:15 – 4:30 – 2 Hours and 15 Mins

Location – Home Launch, Lake Butte des Morts

2012 Season Days to Date – 2

2012 Season Hours to date – 4.25

Wind and Weather Observations – Wind was full of holes which is typical on a S or SW here on our inland lakes. It never really got cranking. I was powered on my 12 with a twintip to start but I was never really lit. The air and water temps are amazing, it is going to be a good year. Wore my Assassin and was reminded I have a broken zipper that needs repair from the end of last season.

Session Notes – It was a nice session I started on my twin tip and quickly got bored of just cruising along waiting for gusts so that I could boost and pop. So I switched out to my surfboard. The surfboard is without question where I wish to improve the most this year. Yesterday I had the rear strap on but I am going to take the plunge and just go strapless forcing myself to learn. I have a long long way to go with jibes. I feel very uncomfortable jibing on the surfboard. I completed a total of 2 yesterday, not real impressive. Today my core is very sore, all the workouts in the winter did not seem to replicate kitesurfing. Wind is gone now for a few days so time to recover and get ready for the next round. This starts with taking my wetsuit in to have the zipper repaired.

Session #1 2012

Well my first session of 2012, I have been thinking about creating a log book for quite some time, and finally I am getting down to it. These logs will take on a standard format over time as I hope to document information I can draw on going forward with my kiting.

Session Date – March 20, 2012

Session Time – 3:30pm – 5:30pm – 2 Hours

Location – Home Launch, Lake Butte des Morts

2012 Season Days to Date – 1

2012 Season Hours to date – 2

Location – Lake Butte Des Morts WI

Wind/Weather Observations – As usual for BDM the wind was somewhat gusty but it was good until about 5:15 until is dropped off quickly. The temps were beyond amazing for mid March in Wisconsin, no gloves, no hood or hat, looking forward to a long season.

Gear and Session information – Rigged my 12m Rally, early I could have rigged the 10m but I know this lake and I know the wind likes to tail off after 5ish also I know the wind has many holes when coming from the S or SW so I rigged the 12. It was a good choice as I was well powered throughout the session. Started on my 135 FLX and just did some free riding knocking off the rust. Boosted and worked on pops. Rode a bit on my 134  BroKite freeride when the wind felt really full. Love how smooth this board feels through the chop. It’s traits have me thinking hard about replacing the FLX this year.  I installed heel straps on both my boards over the winter and I will say I enjoyed using then this session, jury is still out however.

Progression – None to speak of I just enjoyed the day and rode, boosted well landing most. My pops are getting better, more sudden and forceful. I started to work on back rolls at the end of last season and plan on continuing with that. I also am feeling like I can pop to a 180 switch, need to try that, sort of an ollie to toeside. I also plan to work on Ralleys hopefully progressing to unhooked.

Kiteboarding Wisconsin

Hello to anyone that stumbles across this blog. I am a Wisconsin based Kiteboarder that got into the sport in 2010 when I was just turning 40 years old. Thus I am entering my third full season of kiteboarding or kitesurfing whicever you prefer.

I have been kicking around the idea of keeping a log book of my sessions. I looked around for a tool that had what I needed to keep the wind stats, and session data I wanted and decided a blog was the best solution.

Most of my posts will be just that, session logs. But on occassion I will take the time to review equipment I have used, spots I have been to or visited and just anything that is on my mind.  I toyed with keeping the site private, but if any of the information I post can help anyone learn to be a better, more informed or safer kiter I am all for allowing access to the masses.

Enjoy and thanks for visiting if you have a question you can always contact me through the site.