2008 MI Kiting Fall Climax, 26 October 2008

As bright blazing autumn foliage colors of golds, reds, and purples illuminate the shoreline with that unique glowing afternoon light, the watermen of Lake Michigan watch and wait eagerly for the winds and waves that arrive this time of year. The water is clear and cold, the waves are packing more power, the surfboards and the small kites emerge on the beaches like some primordial annual ritual. Rounding the last bend in the road to the beach hearts start to beat faster as the sand blows like smoke down the road, the snow fences and front-end loaders engaged in a futile battle against nature - one property owner posts a sign inviting people to take some "free sand" and in neighborly competition at few houses down "free-er sand" is advertised... This is my favorite time of the year here in West Michigan, and before heading South for the winter, I love riding here - as long as I can keep my fingers warm!

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Gorge & NW Pacific Coast Float Plane and Kite Expedition , 28 September 2008.

September winds on Lake Michigan had been somewhat of a disappointment so an impromptu trip to the Pacific NW and Gorge seemed like an excellent idea. Although the forecasts for the Gorge and coast areas were not much more encouraging, this would be a great opportunity to explore, test logistics and Cam's new float plane for future kite trips, and enjoy some new scenery in the process.

Our sailing & kitesurfing trip thru the Sea of Abaco (NE Bahamas) was nothing short of a “trip of a lifetime”.

Day 1: We arrived in Marsh Harbor and ferried over to Hopetown to board “Kathleen D.”, the Maine Cat 41 from Abaco Multihull. After a day of provisioning and dinner ashore and roaming the quaint streets of Hopetown , we relaxed on board this incredibly roomy boat for the first night. Early the next day we went for a check-ride with the charter operator and then headed North toward Great Guana Cay.

Hi So, the end of summer has come and it is that time of year again when the winds head to other places and so do we…….this year Brazil again!! Cumbuco, Taíba, Paracurú, Preá!!! Yes, after the awesome 2008 season at El Paraiso Beach Club in Tulum, Extreme Control will be following the wind to the northern coast of Brazil. Here the wind blows daily 18-25+ knots  and at some places along the coast it blows even a bit harder. This coastline is a dream for experienced riders as well as a perfect place to learn as the wind is always there for you to practice.

Read more.......

Hola

Extreme Control is happy to have had another successful season in Tulum!
We would like to thank everyone for allowing us to have such a great year and to invite past clients back to join us for our new kiteboarding adventures.  We would like to take this opportunity to share with all of you the happenings of this year and tell you about all of our fun and exciting future project! 
So, the end of summer has come and it is that time of year again when the winds head to other places and so do we…….this year Brazil again!!  Yes, after the awesome 2008 season at El Paraiso, Extreme Control has now expanded and will be following the wind to the northern coast of Brazil.  Here the wind blows daily 20-25+ knots of wind and at some places along the coast it blows even a bit harder.  This coastline is a dream for experienced  riders as well as a perfect place to learn as the wind is always there for you to practice.

Are you in search of the ultimate kiteboarding adventure? Well, we at Extreme Control are always looking for new places to ride and new adventures. We found just that, a little piece of kiter’s heaven, here on the Yucatan Peninsula. Like you, we are always searching for endless beaches with fun kicking waves, flat water lagoons, kick ass down-winders and crystal clear Caribbean waters. Here’s how it all started… Are you up for the adventure? Having been living and kiting endlessly in Tulum for the 2008 season, the “banda” as we like to call ourselves were getting the itch to travel and discover for ourselves how the conditions were in our own backyard. Having traveled to Brazil at the end of 2007, the memories of the experiences and the thought of new possibilities always around the corner were enough to get us packing and on the road again. How could we resist the adventure? We gathered the troops, the equipment and the essentials… Chips,Gatorade and some quality tunes and were ready to hit the road. Everyone was psyched to go discover new spots and new worlds.

Muskegon to Harbor Springs and Back, 20-31 July 2008:

Early the morning of 20 July 2008 I began final preparation of “Crusader” (a Cal 39) for a solo cruise north, and at around 0900 I slipped the dock lines and headed west toward the Muskegon entrance channel. My plan was to intercept the Chicago-Mackinaw Race fleet as they sailed north - and then to meet Mike (racing in the Mac) and Meagan at a harbor somewhere along the way. The purpose of this sail was to get to know the boat as a solo sailor and do a bit of a “shake down” of all the rigging and systems.

Part of the “mission” was also to explore the potential of a sailing/kiting experience in the waters I was sailing thru. If I had more time and other crew it would have been awesome to ride at several spots along the way including the Sables, Frankfort, Little Manitou Island, East (Grand Traverse) Bay among others. Next time, next year, I will for sure make this happen!

The kiting since I returned here on May 12 has been spectacular. July 15 marked the 50th session since I got back 75 days earlier. That works out to 68% of days kiteable, or roughly 5 days/week! And total kiteable days 12 May thru 11 August: 63 days!

The big lake water did not warm up much until mid-June, and there were many days when water temps were in the high 40's!! but for some reason it didn't seem to bother me at all – I guess all the good kiting kept me warm...plus an Ocean Rodeo Pyro Pro drysuit with lots of fleece layers, a hood and booties.

• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day 3
• Day 4
• Day 5
• Final results

• Slideshow of the event

Here's the full report of the 2008 World Kitesurf Tour held in Cabarete (Bozo beach, 25-29 June):

• Day 1: Trials
• Day 2: Single Elimination
• Day 3: Single Elimination Finals and first round Double Elimination
• Day 4: Double Elimination Final Results Freestyle
• Day 5: King and Queen of BoardOff

• Slideshow of the event

The international competition - Kitesurfing Open Cup of Russia - O`NEILL KITE CUP 2008 - held in Egypt from 26th to 30th of May has been finished.
It is hot in Egypt in the end of May and the wind statistics traditionally attracts professional kiters from all over the world. This time Hurghada has gathered strongest Russian riders who have just returned from Venezuela lap of PKRA. Among them were Evgeny Novozheev from Moscow Russian champion in 2006 and 2007, bronze winner of the Black Sea Cup 2007 Sergey Belmesov
from Solnechnogorsk and winners of Russian Cup brothers Ogar from St.Petersburg.

Russian Open Cup O`Neill Kite Cup 2008 which was supported by Tez Tour company had two disciplines: freestyle and long distance. Perfect wind conditions has allowed to perform both two disciplines in three days.

Watch the photogallery of the event.

It began as a strange winter here in the Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg, FL area. The weather had been very difficult to forecast, especially for lesson scheduling.

December was very unusual with difficult wind conditions, many lessons lost over the holidays as a result. It was either too cold, too windy or not windy at all. Rideable days: only 6 or 7! Most used kite: 10m.

January was an improvement, however there were many very cold days when lessons had to be cancelled. Rideable days: 19 out of 31 Most used kite: 10m

I’ve been riding some of the new 2008 Spleene Boards: 34 Rip, 38 Rip, 54 Door, 39 Session. The construction is very different from last year and the feel of the boards is different as well. At first I was not sure if I liked them as much as the 2007 boards (which were a little more flexible throughout the length of the board) but I am now really liking the new feel, which is mostly due to the dampening effect of a thin wood core. They feel so solid! I think the boards are even better with respect to early planing and upwind performance. And the finish is beautiful…very simple and clean looking. Improved pads and straps also allow for really good adjustment for all foot sizes, and super secure grip. If you want to purchase or demo a board please track me down.

I had meant to post this a long time ago…and it is close to the time of my migration North again but I thought I would contribute this now anyway

(Written mid-November 2007)

As the kiting season here on Lake Michigan soon draws to a close for me I look back on this 2007 season with some great memories and lasting impressions. The 2nd of November marked the 100th day of legitimate kiting here for me, since May 18th when I returned to MI from my winter migration, and that day was another session to remember among so many others.

Iles de la Madelaine, Chapter 3

Kiting Day 7 – Day 11

Tuesday: Gusty 25-35 kts out of the West. Big clean head high plus waves at Plage de l’Hopital Fatima. Not many kites out there today but a few dozen sailboarders were shredding with 4m-4.7m sails.
Dany and a few others ripping on 9m & 7m kites when I arrived, I flew the 7m Hypertype and did multiple sessions on the ZONE and 28 Rip, plenty powered up. It was nice to ride another new spot and to see another area of the islands. The wind was a lot cleaner further offshore and away from the lee of the point. My best day of riding here yet – possibly one of my best wave riding days ever, except the session was cut short by a slow leak in my leading edge (I unintentionally set the kite down on some dune grass – doh! )