Awesome session after the lessons yesterday. I used a 9m Liquid Force Hifi comp, its awesome, soooo much pop, put it on the wakestyle setting and the lines become too slack, loads of power when you unhook, best wakestyle kite ive tried by far. Did a couple of loops as well, comes up so fast, keeps pulling all the way through.

We use Liquid Force in the school as well. I have been very pleased with the havoc and session, both great for lessons and hire. Really stable, loads of depower and very easy relaunch which are all great for the students. I love the simple bar and the build quality is fantastic, loads of re-enforcement and no breakages yet this year.....unlike last year when I used North!

Check out my kitesurfing school in the South East UK:
Kitesurfing school & kitesurf Lessons Camber Sands South East England UK

Striking Gold in the OBX- May 2009 - a 10 day “Windferno”...plus Kitefix.com!!!

As my 5 month winter/spring teaching season was over I departed Florida on the 30th of April bound for the OBX/Cape Hatteras, my annual stopover there – and based on the latest forecasts the wind gods were clearly answering all of our prayers. The forecast for the following week was almost too good to be true – wind (and lots of it) every day for the entire week. I arrived in Nags Head on the 1st of May to a relative calm, which was to break into an all-out “windferno” beginning the next morning and lasting for the next 10 straight days, offering warm water and air temperatures the entire time!

A tour in HANOI is to steep yourself in history, tradition, and legend in a capital that has been inhabited continuously for almost a millenium. Visitors often note that the city is quieter, greener, and "cooler" than other big cities of Vietnam. Indeed, Hanoi itself, and the Northern Vietnam, have quite clear four seasons, and October to March are lovely pretty cool months whilst other towns southward just have dry and rainy times. It probably influences in the mentality of the inhabitants and the city seems attract more intellectuals and artists, while Saigon is great for entrepreneurs and hustlers.

(or..the Season of the Down Winder...or Year of East Coast Mission for Waves):

OK, now we're talking!!! March and April '09 have been off the hook, making up nicely for the the early winter here! These two months really carried the season here...yielding 45 good kiting days in 2 months. Warm weather and warm water finally arriving with great winds, great kiting, great sailing...I almost need a vacation from this...(alright maybe NOT). March and April have delivered over 70% of good rideable days. The total for the season, from December 1st 2008 thru April 30th 2009: 76 legitimate riding days, or around 50%. In addition to that I was able to enjoy 30 days of sailing on the catamaran - which, together, put me on the water, powered by the wind, almost 5 days/week for 6 months! Can't complain!

We are a group of artists and kiters. We are working on a project using old kites rather than seeing them thrown away.

Please contact us if you have an old or torn kite that you are no longer using – help us give it a new life!
Federico
used.kiteproject@gmail.com

Florida Winter 2009
& The Worldwide Crisis

As the worldwide economic crisis began sinking its teeth in earnest during the late fall of 2008 I pondered what the winter season would turn out like in Florida. Sadly, as expected, the kiting industry has been hit hard – gear sales are way off hurting all manufacturers; lesson traffic is way down hurting all the instructors; travel and vacation budget have been all but eliminated for many people worried about their finances. My own lesson traffic has been down 60%! and very few kites and boards sold.

The winter here (December thru February) was colder than I ever remember it from past years– and to make matters worse – much less reliable wind. I remember 2 years ago when we had 17 consecutive weekends of great wind – and this year we have had maybe 2 or 3! Could there be some strange connection between the global economy and lack of wind?! It certainly feels that way.

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?

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.

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