Everything But The Surf with Ventura Kiteboarding

Since the wind has gone on pause for a day or two, we have a bit of time to publish some pictures from our Ventura Kiteboarding Team photographer.
All photos Courtesy & Stoke of  Billy "Sweet" Street

Everything but the Surf

Grabbit

Mark-Ride-All, did he stick the landing with the board?

"It's all about the edge" you'll hear throughout your Ventura Kiteboarding lesson

It's all about the "bottom turn" you'll hear on our Down-Wind Supervised Ride-A-Longs

This was a fun day, wind was steady upper teens. Good friends, Ventura Kiteboarding Team Photographer Bill "Sweet" Street and Ventura Kiteboarding 10 plus year rider Mark Ride-All,
beautiful day..........everything but the surf. Can't have it all, all the time, right?
Once again, HUGE PROPS and Kahoona bunch of thanks to Billy "Sweet" Street Photog.

Warm winds,
                     Tom and the Ventura Kiteboarding Crew

Ventura Kiteboarding Lessons and Kitesurfing Surfkiting Training

 A lot has been happening at Ventura Kiteboarding since July 3rd's post.

We have been really busy with teaching/training students and doing "some"  promotional riding.
Ventura Kiteboarding was ecstatic that a former student, Billy S. and graduate of the Ventura Kiteboarding System had contacted us.

One of our top students, we remember when Billy, with a few extra pounds was sweating bullets on the beach, while we were doing our sand training. Wondering silently if Billy had the "fuel" to body-surf with the kite. Once in the water, he had it wired. Body-surfing with the kite is simple with proper instruction and technique applied. To this day we joke, that to Billy the sand is Kryptonite.

He followed thru with Ventura Kiteboarding for graduation and gear. We did a supervised-ride-along at the Po!nt and Billy was on it here and in Malibu whenever it's windy. One of our top-students, and to this day he will claim, "kiteboarding changed my life" Amen, braddah you're not alone!

Billy has been thru a couple shoulder surgeries, (non-kite related) chasing a deer or the deer was
chasing him.....................long story. What's important, his doctor has approved "light" usage of the arm. Billy's been meeting up with us during lessons and promotional riding, training on his 7m in light winds.

My Daddy always says, "bring something to the party" Billy has shown up with a big lens digital camera and an "elephant" memory card. Shooting lessons, dogs, scenery and some Kiting too!

All Photos courtesy & stoke of Billy "Sweet" Street:


























Morgan, Cedar and our Master Instructor at VenturaKiteboarding.com
Photos, show a typical sand lesson. Set up and fly with supervision. We inform our students at this
stage, we could go "snowkiting". Middle of July with Ventura Kiteboarding we stick to kitesurfing.
Be sure to check in with us for our Snowkite trips this Winter.

"Sand Sliding" with the kite

5 minute set-up of the kite                                         

Are you ready to start Kiteboarding? Contact us.
www.Venturakiteboarding.com

Ventura Kiteboarding "No Place Like Home" (AGAIN) Kitesurfing

July 1 at the Po!nt, meet up with the usual cast of characters and a few Ventura Kiteboarding
Core Crew members.
MarcoPolo, Mark Ride-All, Jamie, JoeMcDammit, Grumpster, TonyG among others. Word
started to filter from up-wind, Emma is rideable. MarcoPolo went to Malibu and most went
to Emma.

We decided, with a King's Low Tide to walk up-wind to the turrets. The wind was cooperating,
starting to ramp up. Easy upper teens to low twenty and STEADY.

Mark-RideAll was using his landboard (think big skateboard with large rubber wheels) and 12.5
Flexi. He rode non-stop for 30 plus minutes. Zig-zagging on the compacted wet sand. He tossed
the landboard aside and exchanged for his surfboard. Mark went out topless with only his shoes
and socks. The water temperature is rising, but it's not that warm. A certain Seinfeld episode comes
to mind, about George screaming to his date that saw his full frontal "picture" "It's THE WATER
It's THE WATER.........the water. (Insert maniacal laughter here) I digress, off topic.
We interviewed Mark the next day, (no not about the water) in regards to riding with shoes on.
He actually enjoyed it and possibly may be his new thing going strapless. No strap riding on the
surfboard and wake-skate. Walking on the rocks with shoes on will be an obvious advantage.

I set up my 12.5 Rasta Flexi. Say hello to Andrew, Jamie and McDammit who hiked up-wind
to Emma and did down-winders to the Turrets.

Self-launch and well powered. The first ramp of a wave I hit, sending the kite and launch into
the air. Extending the tail of the board down and the nose up, reaching and holding the nose grab.
Floating down-wind, holding the grab and position until the very last second for extra style points.
Landing softly, carving up-wind I notice 10 plus kites at Emma. 3 kites including me at The Turrets.
Another 3 straddling the cove.

This was kiting 1999 style, we started a few years later, but we know of stories from the Kite Pioneers.
Major Holiday weekend underway and 5 guys out at The Po!nt! "Are you kidding me with this" I
shouted to a seal that seemed to be frolicking on his back staring at my colorful Rasta kite. Red, yellow
and green, one of the better design formats from Flexi.

The surf was maybe chest to shoulder high with a few slightly overhead sets. Riding from The Turrets past the "old spot" to the cove was the order of the day. Not sure of the distance but 400 to 500 yard rides may be conservative.

The swell and wind angle was custom made for wave riding. Drop in bottom turn and straight back up
the face to bash the lip and repeat. I could actually hear the spray, as buckets of water came cascading
down in deluge form.

Best wave of the day, I had to pick pocket Dumont. Going starboard (out to sea) I am in a toeside stance on the ready to face up on any wave downwind (rights). Dumont is in a regular foot stance (left foot forward) coming in heel side. I slightly head down-wind, thinking he will take the first wave, he doesn't the next wave he passes on also. The third wave is best of all, 2 or 3ft. overhead. Not sure what Dumont was doing. He let 2 previous waves go by without an attempt to ride. I pointed at this wave which was forming and jacking in front of me and cackled. Simultaneously throwing my kite down-wind and immediately on "wave of the day". Dumont attempted to switch to goofy foot to ride down-wind but had to go up-wind first during the transition. He should've gone left -Karma peak style- I left nothing but trails and an avalanche of broken wave behind.

Most goofy footers ride the Po!nt way too slow. Ventura Kiteboarding keeps a virtual file on every rider. Think scouting report used in other sports. Some prefer rights to lefts, some Goofy's will
let a right go to favor their left. Some riders will mow the lawn and push the shopping cart. The Po!nt is a wave riding first, kite location. Twin tip and jumping is done but not in the wave-riding arena.
Triangle right of way, head out to the horizon, turn and come back up-wind. Get on a wave down-wind and when completed clear out of the riding area and repeat.

Most obey this protocol, what may appear to others as chaos is flow of traffic and taking turns. There is a form of priority. If a rider is clueless, a place like the Po!nt will sort the rider out real quick. Wrapping kites with someone should never happen, but will if a rule is broken.

I rode for three hours straight and caught more waves than I could in 3 days of surfing.
Felt good to be out in epic and empty conditions.

We at Ventura Kiteboarding are keeping busy with new students. Now if this Thermal Heat bubble
causing fog would let up a bit. We could instruct and ride.

Ventura Kiteboarding wishes all a Happy & Safe 4th of July. Catherine and I will be indoors, due to
the residents tradition of gunfire on the 4th. All good in the hood.

Warm winds,
                    Tom and the Ventura Kiteboarding Crew

June Gloom and S.U.P. (Stand Up Paddleboard) Ventura Kiteboarding / Kitesurfing

Claim It! with Ventura Kiteboarding / Kitesurfing and SUP

June Gloom has arrived and we just can not seem to get an early clearing.
The Eddy, (counter clockwise cathedral spin of clouds) hangs over us daily.
Plenty of Phase 1 and Phase 2 lesson opportunities. Phase 3 requires a bit
more power from the wind. Next week we will be booked with our Phase 3
lessons. So contact us right away to reserve your day with Ventura Kiteboarding /
and Kite Surfing.

Ventura Kiteboarding contacted Mark "Ride-All" our 6'5 215Lb Team Rider
and decided to dedicate some low to non-wind days to SUPing.

We went to a locally well known beginner spot and had a blast. We stayed down-current
from the main break, about 10 surfers out. Our board of choice was a 10'6 Customcostco.
These boards are 20 plus lbs. and could "mow down" another water user. Until our SUP
game is tight, we will stay clear from others.

Standing above the water and paddling is super fun, and a good work-out. Tony G. a kiter and
SUP stand out (pun intended) states: "a total work-out from the tip of your toes to your chin".

We were working on standing on the board in a parallel stance paddling to catch waves and turn
to our stance to ride. With some effort and skill these boards can catch un-broken waves and the
rides can be much longer than a "crawler" (prone paddler).

We decided to start bringing SUP boards on the low wind days and eventually go SUKing,
pronounced like the U in sushi. Stand Up Kiting. This will put those "tweener" days into
play. Stay tuned...............

SUPing Mark Ride-All Ventura Kiteboarding Team 

 SUP Full Moon with Ventura Kiteboarding 

Ventura Kiteboarding goes SUPing

Ventura Kiteboarding Happy Father's Day Kitesurfing Art Card

Ventura Kiteboarding wishes you a
Happy Father's Day and many more happy Kitesurfing Days.

The Po!nt and a solo dream session.

Warm winds,
                Tom and the Ventura
                  Kiteboarding Crew






Artist: Jared

Cut Off Low Captured On Satellite Image Ventura Kiteboarding

West Coast featuring California,
Stunning Cut Off Low, broken off from a Low pressure system
to the North. Note the eye and the tail in this well formed counter-
clockwise cyclical event.

On the East Coast, would this appear to be a
hurricane?  Contrary to looks, this piece of
weather typically brings a "tease breeze" of
8-12 knots. Ventura Kiteboarding will do
miles of big kite and big board down-winders
with the Ventura Kiteboarding "Shuttle" and "Sherpa" pick up service.

To find Ventura Kiteboarding: the bottom quarter of this image shows Point Conception protruding and just a half inch below you will see the Channel Islands. We are located directly on the Main Land inside of the islands.

Please remember Ventura Kiteboarding conducts:
lessons, supervised ride-a-longs, kite/wind consulting and Baja Wave-Riding Camps throughout the year. Contact us anytime @



http://www.venturakiteboarding.com/Ventura_Kiteboarding/Home.html


Warm winds,
                Tom and the Ventura Kiteboarding Crew
                   

"No Place Like Home" & Kitesurfing the Po!nt Ventura Kiteboarding

The Ventura Kiteboarding Crew, were held in place by a solid "Tease Breeze" for most of the day.

Mark T. our "elegant big fella" 6'5 215lb. light wind specialist core crew member had just gorged on
Taco Wednesday. He was calling and reporting from on site, after his obligatory drive by's. "Just 5 more knots". Like any other sporting event, might as well be a mile, an extra time-out, put 30 seconds back on the clock, one more round, a fifth quarter, etc........... The local sensor was reading high, 13-16mph. We subtract 5 for accuracy.
Other similar calls were coming in around 3:00 pm, "just a few more knots". Tease Breeze was the pattern. Not wanting to miss out, we head over to the Po!nt.

Tom J was pumping up a new Italian kite, powder blue and white trim. The color of my junior prom tuxedo. Dr Yo put up his GINORMOUS Fly'ser and barn door board concoction. Earl the pearl, dad of Pro local phenomenon Ian, showed, Big Sean, Kirk or is it Kurt, Tip, Mark T. and Kiting Jesus.

This Crew viewing with arms folded and watching Tom J. stroke his kite and Dr Yo starting to stay up-wind had little to no interest to go out in bare minimums. Mark T. had pumped his new Flexi, but was not budging from his cozy saddle of the truck in the car lot. His allowed time to ride was elapsing.

Suit up or not, rig or not, I see Kiting Jesus, who has Ventura Kiteboarding on retainer. I say let's go, he agrees. The wind miraculously picks up to 15 to 20. Tom J. is parked on his 10.5m "chick kite" and Dr. Yo is looking wound-up on his "German wing". I launch KitingJ on his 12m Cabbie and self launch the 12.5 Flexi Rasta well powered and smiling, knowing we have 2 plus hours before dark.

Grumpy, Young Gun and JJ add Tom J, Paul F with Dr. Yo, Kiting Jesus and myself. "No place like home" with everyone spread out from the Turrets to the "old spot". The wind direction was a little too westerly, allowing "one hit wonders" then zip left up wind on the same wave finding open face to backside snap. I ride down to the "old spot", Grumpy, Paul F and Tom J have a Triangle offense and defense going. I score two waves of way less quality then the Turrets and horizon tack back up.

I continue to ride until most of the Ventura Kiteboarding Crew have left. Young Gun and OG (me)
had weathered the lighter wind and now the sunset thermal dump has bumped the wind back up.

YG has freakish skills, been riding maybe 2 years. He is surf-kiting, performing strapless aerials and doing on-shore transitional jibes, with 360 degree shove it's. College may have to be put on hold. YG needs to hook up with Ian A. Ben Wilson Pro Team Rider and get pushed into the next level. YG is respectful of his "OG"s, smart, no attitude or ego and would be an asset for the Noise Kites from Ben Wilson Surf. The Noise is designed as a wave dedicated kite. Surf-Kiting, to use the same board one would surf on with a kite. Good Luck Young Gun, Ventura Kiteboarding will sign off on your resume.
Remember after Uncle L. Ventura Kiteboarding helped in the Kite Schooling.

Starting to get late, hungry, tired, thirsty and a few more unmentionables, I call it for the eve.
Young Gun, tells me "just like the old days", referring to the other Ventura Kiteboarding crew members not to be found. I burst out in maniacal laughter, his "old days" of riding are a year ago?

EasyEric, a Ventura Kiteboarding student shows up to say hi. He is eager to help roll up and "sherpa" the kite gear back to the Ventura Kiteboarding Truck. "EasyE" is taking lessons and purchased gear.
Hunting-haunting-stalking us is a sure sign, kite school graduation will be in Eric's future. He has finally submitted to us that Utube is for entertainment purposes only.
We have recommended the perfect board and EasyEric has submitted to more lessons. We remind him to practice more body-surfing with the kite and that he will need this skill to not lose his new board purchase.

We have a supervised ride-a-long with an Alaskan visitor, scheduled today and tomorrow,
stay tuned, could be good story.

Warm winds,
                    Tom and the Ventura Kiteboarding Crew

Toad Needs A Ride From Ventura Kiteboarding

We were teaching at Port H. two twenty-somethings from the U.K. Kate and Kat, as an instructor try to keep that straight during a lesson.

We tossed up a trainer kite, worked the power zones and power strokes. Worked in some walk-a-longs with the kite on the edge of the wind window. Had just enough time to work on down-loops. When their boss's text came thru calling them back to work. That was a very short "day off". We schedule another day and check the forecast.

 Ventura Kiteboarding has the rest of the day off. Now 2:00 PM and the only wind in 20 miles in both directions is at Port H. We survey the water and a 5 knot current is running in the direction of the wind. Our 10-15 knots of wind is crippled by this current that just won't quit for the last 5 years. Basically subtract 5 knots from you portside tack. No worries if your doing a down-winder.

A former student Strat showed up. I suggested other locations. He wanted to ride solo after not being out in a "while". Watched Strat do real well on his big kite and twin tip combo. Plenty of wind, the current just took him down-wind as predicted.

Finally the Leo sensor comes alive. Now reading 15 to 20. We hold our position and check the Po!nt which is reading a dismal 10 and then drop to 8. The next Leo reading was 16. Time to re-locate, 19 miles away we arrive to 18-25 mph. "Rather be lucky than good" with some chest to forehead surf running and NO ONE OUT!

We zip past County as a few surfers are packing up. Fun, but blown out mush dribble. Slow and sloppy. We check the overhead at North Beach and Heavens is serving up very kiteable point waves. The outside kelp is keeping the inside glassed. The wind is deceiving because of the lack of texture on the inside surface. A head high set wave makes it's way thru the kelp bed. Just before the wave pitches a stream of "liquid smoke" (atomized sea spray particles) from the waves lip, gets obliterated in the down-wind direction.  "It's ON" I say in a high pitched voice, to replace an excited scream. Nobody around but did not want to wake the Chumash Spirit.

We ride down to North Beach, immediately suit up. Check the wind meter upper teens to tickling twenty. Check the paid sensor site 18-25. Santa Barbara Buoy East is averaging 30. What to rig? Can't go big, don't want to go small. Process of elimination presents me with rigging medium, my PL Venom equal to a 10m SLE.

Self launched and very well powered. Take off from the Northern end of the car lot and wondering but not caring where are the other kiters. You know the routine, out to the Horizon and up-wind to Staircase. Then down-wind thru the surf and take advantage of the butter glass. Got some really good waves, just on the inside of the reef and kelp. Repeat, complete with perm-a-grin.

The County line kites started to trickle out and eventually grew to around 10 strong. Suddenly after an hour of riding. "Toad" down-winded from County, waved and went to the "Slot". Wind lightened up and he barely made it back to North Beach.

(Normally we would not blog such trivial dialogue, but I simply can not resist) What's up Toad? (not real name, but real similar) Toad: "The wind took a crap, I was going to Zuma". "Down at the Slot it shut off and I barely made it back to you" "I need a ride back to County". Toad self lands his kite arrogantly or was it ignorantly(?) in front of a man reading a book on the beach. Not 10 ft away, rude to block the man's view as well. Toad is a "piece of work".
Ventura Kiteboarding tip: Always self land your kite down-wind of people and other living things.
I decide to save the lecture and walk away.

I walk back up-wind,  to go "surf-kiting". Wait for a set wave in waist high water. Hop on your board, power stroke the kite and get a few hits in on paddle free waves. Walk back up-wind and do it again. Wind go to light for my Medium sized kite. Self-land and walk back to the Ventura Kiteboarding truck.
(More blog boredom, but can't resist)
Toad is sitting on the tailgate of the Ventura Kiteboarding truck, and kite gear is in the bed.
More Toad dialogue: "It took a crap". "It's over" "yeah it's 6:00" "it's done this before" "only a localized wind"............"we're done" blah Blah blah. "where's your kite?" On the beach, I reply.
Toad has been riding for 2 and a 1/2 years. He must forget or ignore, I learned at this location 10 years ago from the Malibu Godfather of Kiteboarding, Traig. I gently remind Toad of this again and he goes silent. I tell Toad the wind is coming back on, "liquid smoke" is spraying the lips again.

Toad rambles over to the man book reader. Bums a ride back to County.

I self launch again and ride another hour. One surfer joins the line up with me. I give him a wide berth
and any and every wave he wants.  Once I get on a set wave(s) from Heavens, the lone surfer is smiling and hooting as I hit some top speeds faster than the wind. I manage to get a few slashes, hits and carves in down the line. My surf friend seems to be analyzing the kite and board set up. We easily co-exist then the wind got light again, I am back to walking the beach and "surf-kiting".

Getting late, quarter to eight. Roll up, and watch the surfer get his best wave of the evening. I signal a fist pump, he returned the same. Walking up the beach he stopped by for a quick chat. I gave him a Ventura kiteboarding card. Telling him, I was the surfer 10 years ago, at this very spot. After watching Traig kite as I surfed..................... Poetry in there somewhere. Dontcha think? Definitely a thoughtful reflection, of how far we have come and not done yet.

Ventura Kiteboarding tip: Ride like it's not going to blow tomorrow.
Ventura Kiteboarding tip: When Toad shows up, deal with him on your own terms.

Warm winds,
                    Tom and the Ventura Kiteboarding Crew.

'BU and PO!NT Ventura Kiteboarding 8 DAZE(sic) to remember.

About 2 weeks ago, the crew from 'Bu, down south were calling and telling us we were over due for a visit.

The wind sensor at the Po!nt has been reading generous, so The Ventura Kiteboarding crew has been skeptical and in need of a location change.

MarcoPolo calls and the Po!nt is showing 15 to 20 mph. We check the surf and see whitecaps. We load up and head over. In the cove we are wind sheltered and decide to rig big and ride alone.
Pump up, hook up and launch, Marco cannot get off the shoreline. No hesitation we pack up and leave for 'BU.

On our departure, non-crew visitors asked where we were going, "run errands, we'll be back" was our coy response. 'BU readings were 18-24 mph and confirmed by a graduate of the Ventura Kiteboarding system.
When a friend calls and saids "IT's ON", he will never call again if you show up with a "Wolf Pack".

The Twins, happened to be in the right place on our exit. A short discussion and they followed us. I was not concerned with a party of four, the twins leave a very light footprint when and where they kite.

We paid the $12.00 dollar parking fee, ouch! We should purchase the annual pass, penny wise and dollar foolish, as usual. The annual pass is $125.00, 12 and a fraction trips, it's paid for.

We rig up 9 meter kites. The wind is showing 19 to 25 mph on the meter. This is in the "wheel house" of the 185 Lb. club. Dave the big twin is on a 10.5 m Flexi. and a twin tip. Jamie the other twin is 160 Lb. on an 8.5m Flexi. kite, twin tip combo.

Very gusty on the beach, once out on the water 50ft or so, real smooth water due to kelp beds on the outside. I am very well powered on a surfboard, Big Dave is doing well and Jamie seems to be harnessing the power and spilling what he doesn't need. Marco, being a 10 year veteran is totally comfortable.

The usual kelp bed that grows over a foot a day is on the outside. I find an opening and do a horizon tack, come back into Staircase/Heavens and crank a bottom turn in the flats and head straight out to any wave face for a slash and bash, come back down-wind near the LG tower and repeat over and over.

Somewhere or was it somehow? Jamie became disconnected from his board. He was downwind of me and about 75 yards away, doing the body drag back and forth. I thought to have spotted his board, since his tack was towards me, I assumed he had it. A few tacks later, Jamie does not have his board. I go back to the area of allegedly seeing it. False sighting, the black and yellow buoy for the lobster traps was still there.

Ventura Kiteboarding tip 1: always use a brightly colored board. The lost board was bamboo and black. Easy camoflauge among the vast kelp beds out to sea in this area.

Ventura Kiteboarding tip 2: wear polarized eye protection. Looking up-wind, where 99% of the time your board will be, is blinding. The afternoon sun is a swath of blazing glare.

Ventura Kiteboarding tip 3: after a few passes, come into shore and run up-wind and then body drag down-wind to your board.

Ventura Kiteboarding tip 4: alert your friends (other riders also) to your loss. Jumping up and down on the beach waving your arms, will truly get attention. Place a 12 pack bounty of a premium adult beverage for the safe return of your board.

Ventura Kiteboarding tip 5: put up a smaller kite up when over-powered.

Ventura Kiteboarding tip 6: hire your instructor for a supervised, paid ride-a-long.

Ventura Kiteboarding tip 7: always place your name and number on, boards, kites, bar/lines and pumps with the word -reward- in multiple languages.

Marco went and checked on Jamie, not sure of the boards location. Time to call off the search and he sent Jamie in before "the coffin corner". Coffin corner is where the down-wind point meets the south swell and the downwind current collide. Not a good place to be with a kite in the air or in the water. If you miss this last stop you are out to sea. Your next safe entry to the beach is San Nicholas Canyon beach, after "The Rock". Wind can be very gusty and also turn off-shore.

Ventura Kiteboarding tip 8: Do Not Ever, go out further than you can swim in. Obviously have your self rescue scenario dialed.

Ventura Kiteboarding tip 9: Re-read Ventura Kiteboarding tip 6.

The unfortunate loss of a crew members board, put a damper on the session.

We have been in a great wind cycle, it's open season!

Warm winds,
                    Tom and The Ventura Kiteboarding Crew

Ventura Kiteboarding Visits Malibu Leo & County

I woke up to Catherine's coffee, sports page and ikitesurf on line in front of me on "my side" of the couch.
This is a morning tradition. How fortunate am I? Rhetorical don't answer.

Knowing we had a change of weather and warming trend, I was pleased to see the very positive forecast from
the meteorologist on the pay subscription website for our region.

Walking Catherine to her car, she departs with a calm command of "may it blow". She places both palms together and fingertips towards sky in prayer fashion. Catherine had not a clue what she wished for.

Spent the morning returning calls and e-mails to current, former and potential Ventura Kiteboarding students.
Checking on the sensors, buoys, graphs and satellite/radar maps frequently. I notice the Pt. Conception to North Long beach area 200 plus miles of coast is being awakened by wind. The Po!nt is surprisingly not showing. I check the camera and no wind confirmed. Repeat this process until 1:00pm. The Leo sensor is showing 18-22 mph and the Po!nt is showing 6.

20 miles and 40 minutes later, (traffic lights and speed traps) I pull up to County. Tide is low and two kiters out on 9 or 10m kites. I call Mike with Wainman kites to let him know. I decide to check Leo from above on PCH, absolute desolation. Same surf and I know "Heavens" and "Staircase" can get good with the incoming tide. Shocked at the $12.00 for a day pass, I pay it for the solitude. Call back Mike and warn him of the fee, we decide to do a downwind/upwind plan that sounds good on the phone.

Park at the North end of the car lot, put a wind meter up and get solid 15-18 mph. I pump up a Flexi Rasta 12.5m kite donated to Ventura Kiteboarding by Mark T. Once again Huge Mahalos and props for the kite. Mark is on our lifetime subscription plan of  3 W's, Wind, When & Where.

Suit up and ready to launch the wind is increasing, sand blowing down the beach, I realize the kite will be too big. I rig a PL Venom, equal in size to a 10m flat kite. Self-launch and feel perfectly powered. Head out  to Heavens and the kelp beds make their presence known. I find the labrynth maze of a gauntlet to be challenging until I see the pattern unlocking the puzzle.

For the next hour, ride from the North end of the car-lot to above Heavens and sometimes up to Staircase then downwind thru the surf. This formula keeps the kelp bed on the outside and "glossy glass" surface on the inside. There are very few set ups that can have such a smooth wave riding area. All elements must "synch" up and it's a "sometimes" kind of thing.

What about Mike? I see a smallish black kite up-wind. I was thinking to head up wind to County (1 mile) to  have a hello and check the conditions. I would get to staircase, then on the outbound tack, well formed and a bit overhead surf would set up. I had to take the wave and sometimes waves, hopping out the back to grab a new one. Easy 100 yards to 150 yards rides.

The wind increased until any attempt to go upwind was all edge and kite low. Trying to "ride the wind out" was worthless and tiring. Fully de-powered kite and full weight on an edge. I found myself using the glutimus maximus, (spell check, whatever) sort of Latin for "Butt Brakes". One uses their arse to have a seat and drag in the water.

I saw Tripper Dave fully wound on a downwinder from County. He saw my kite, and was thinking a kite catch and a ride in the Ventura Kiteboarding truck back up-wind. I throw a hand gesture, turned "shaka" to coincide with a long drawn out bottom turn back to my landing zone. Try to ride some nicely formed waves, but over powered, just manage to cruise on the face of walls. Time to pull the plug.

The small point of Heavens has a small wind shadow and a sandy area I want to self-land at. I remove the donkey, stay hooked in the chicken loop and certain my length and downwind clearance is appropriate.
Once confirmed, I unhook, toss the bar and yank on the kite leash. The control bar slides towards the kite and de-powers the kite "flagging it out". I hold on to the kite leash attached to one line as the kite settles down-wind. Detach the leash from my harness and pull the leash line hand over hand (think tug of war) trotting towards the kite and secure it with sand.

Take the obligatory stance, hands on hips viewing what I was riding. Tripper Dave is wound up on his 10.5 Helix, Cult, Park, Bolt, Charger. Those Naish kites look like quintuplets, not sure what he's riding.  Kite straight up overhead and his waist harness is a chin harness. Dave stays out another 10 minutes in punishing conditions.

Load up the Ventura Kiteboarding Truck and head home. Driving West into the setting sun, reflecting on
the day.............thoughts of tomorrow and wind.

Tom

Ventura Kiteboarding Driving Under The Influence of Wind

On a Saturday, my phone rings and I hear that 20 miles South the wind is 15 to 20 mph and has been
blowing for over two hours. I am hesitant to go because I have my son with me and Catherine will be
back later for dinner. Jared is making beats and Cathy is dancing- I convince myself to go, when Mark T.
throws the, "I'm going and will pick you up in 20 minutes. Done deal!

Grab 2 kites, 1 board and accessories. Mark T. arrives on time. We are on a mission and can easily
score a 2 plus hour session before sunset.

We take surface streets, not wanting to argue with my professional driver, the better route to take.
After the third or fourth red light in a row, the smell of an engine under duress begins to permeate
the interior. I glance over at the instrument panel and notice the temperature gauge is pinned at the
top of the thermometer icon and RED! I said, "are we running hot"? In my newly learned passive aggressive stance. Mark T. responds with, "yeah it's been doing that lately, then drops off". Sounds
acceptable to me and we are on a mission.

More red lights, we flip the heater on in an attempt to draw heat from the engine. Another red light and
we shimmer and shudder, with steam being pointed out to us by pedestrians and motorists. We purchase
water at a nearby CircleK and continue the mission.

The vehicle that brought Mark so many mamories(sic) of X's and kiting had become a memory.
We stalled pushed and started stalled and pushed...............we were F.O.R.D. (Found On Roadside Dead)
Mission cancelled!

We called our friend Mike, who supplied rescue and retrieval. Big shout out and huge mahalos and props for the save. Thanks again Mike. Title of this post lifted from one of Mike's Social Networks.
I think I mentioned To Mark a couple times,  Mike likes Firestone tires and beverage.

For 2 plus years, I never understood why Mark did
not lay the front seat down and place his board(s) tail on the floor and nose to the back window.
It was never a size thing.
Certainly won't miss dodging his board in the car-lot, under tight parking situations.



                                                                                    

Photo and sundown was appropriate for the quick ceremony, R.I.P.

We found out later the wind died, when Mark's car died.............believe it or not.

Tom and The Ventura Kiteboarding Crew

Part Thermal, Part Santa Ana Switch, Add Prevailing Wind And..........

The title combines the concoction for a perfect wind at the Point. 19 -24.

Pulled up to the car-park, say hello to Grace and exchange pleasantries. Grace has been trained
by the Ventura Kiteboarding Crew in Wind Science. She knows when the wind is on, this day
is no different. Grace starts to tell me it's been "on" for an hour plus, easily. Where have I been?
"Working", I reply. Actually I was sitting on the edge of the couch, waiting for a student to return
my call from a 12 noon phone appointment that they missed. "Paralysis Analysis" equals a comatose
state...................

Luckily I get a front row parking place. I count 28 kites up and out at 2:00 pm mid-week. A lot of
new faces, this sport is growing fast. Hope they all get appropriate training.

What to rig is the question? I notice guys my size 185lbs. are well powered on 12's. The 9m guys are working their kites. Decision made, 12m it will be.

Suit up and head up to the "old spot". I notice the debris consisting of bamboo and tree limbs scattered about with erosion fro high tide and wave action. Heading to the turrets, I see familiar friends riding. Bear's dad, Iron Mike, Young Gun, MarcoX, Crazy Dave, and recent Ventura Kiteboarding Graduate, Sherm, AKA, Kiting Jesus.

I find the smooth self launch area below the erosion hidden to most. Not a stick or stone in a 40 yard radius. A Ventura Kiteboarding lesson was taught here the day before. I had to snicker as others dealt with
debris in the lines, launching next to and UP-WIND of impaling tree limbs.

Pumped up, laid out and attached lines, the wind turned hot and then cut in half. About 15 plus kites scurried to get back to land. AAAAAhhhhhhh Shucks, gosh darnit, I said to no one. I continued to rig.
About 15 minutes later, the cool ocean wind kicks back in. I self launch Iron Mike's, Lou Wainman Hawaiian kite which we are demonstrating, testing, and is available for qualified riders to demo. any time.

Now only 10 kites out and spread from the turrets to the cove, I quietly think, good timing. Wind is still mid to upper teens and barely above 20 at times. I rigged perfect with the 12m and the 9's went in due to lack of power. The surf is waist to shoulder high with a few sneaker sets of a couple feet overhead.

Young Gun has his HD Camera on a tripod waving to me. I wave back, the signal is, do something if you want to get on the reel. I Head on out and without a warm up, launch off a 4ft ramp, I hear a hoot behind me and from the beach as maybe my head pierces the 20 ft mark. Not used to the kites quick response and not warmed up my timing is a bit off and land a little hot. Big ghetto bootie splash with instant recovery standing up and riding away. Happy not to yard sale on film, I ride towards the islands and think surfing with a kite.
In bound tack, I am back at the turrets and line up a wave with a few turns and slashes off the top. Over the back and grab another larger wave getting to Young Guns camera shot. A lot of  S turns a hit or three and went for one more floater hit. The water was drained for my reentry and off balance I blew the bottom
turn. I had to jump off the board lay flat out and allow my kite to body drag me to deeper water. I banged my right knee on a rock in the process. In retrieving the board, my right thigh glanced off a rock. Grab my board sit down for 5 minutes, EFF the camera, I think out loud.

Out bound tack back to the turrets, ride waves, jump with various tail and nose grabs. Connecting 50 to 70 yard combination flat and wave riding down the line. On one wave, I went for a hit where the wave, biotch slapped me, took me to my knees and then the wave forced a face plant on me. Recovering, thinking that should've been filmed. 10 minutes later, I was wondering why it was so bright out. I had my glasses raked off my face and did not realize it.

to be cont. wind is on and Ventura Kiteboarding has a lesson.
Cont.....
The Ventura Kiteboarding Crew spread out from the cove to the turrets. Everyone knew this was
the harmonious convergence of conditions event, we all desire everyday.
Ventura Kiteboarding Tip: "Ride like it will not blow tomorrow". (and it did not)

I was walking around asking any "qualified" rider if they wanted to "demo" Iron Mike's LouWainman Hawaii kite. Echoing the Ventura Kiteboarding Tip: "Ride like it's not going to blow tomorrow" Who wants to take this kite for a spin? No takers, suddenly riders that "frolicked" all day had to be somewhere. Just coincidence, right?

I noticed our Ventura Kiteboarding Core Crew member, the elegant 6'5, 215lb. Mark "Tailor" Made was doing his usual "garden variety" toe side to heel side turns on the wave face. On a closer exam. Mark was on his wake-skate. Think strapless on a twin tip.  His scoreboard went "tilt", after I watched this. How does he stay attached on the tack out over the whitewater? Shoes? Velcro? Glue?-No, just Skills!
Catching up after with the "big feller",  I learned Mark had completed the Trifecta of boarding. 3 boards
used in the same session, Directional, Twin-tip, and Wake-Skate.
Mark, we have a request. Directional ride out and transfer to your waiting Wake-Skate and ride away. Is a transfer back switch a double request? Worth the highlight reel on Young Gun's camera.

I heard Mark mention, if he would've stuck with Basketball, he could've taken a full ride thru the University.
I wonder if Mark was 5'5 150Lbs. he would have a full ride thru the University of Kiteboarding.
Good to see him wearing polarized eye protection against the glare off the water. Lowers the kite hangover.

Ventura Kiteboarding Tip: Protect your eyes! Would you snow-kite without Sun glasses? 'nuf said.

The Ventura Kiteboarding Core Crew rode thru a gorgeous sunset. Colors that do not have names and
changing hues by the minute. Moments like this you reflect on how fortunate we are  and thank God we have what we have and are able to do what we do.

For the record, there was No Wind the next day. Most of us could use the recuperating time.

Warm Winds,
Tom and The Ventura Kiteboarding Crew.

Ventura Kiteboarding Photo Shoot

Not sure of this particular day. A gentleman named Jack approached "Young Gun" and myself in the car-park, asking if we windsurf or kitesurf.  Then gave us a promo to his photog. website.

Must be a clearing wind day, and blowing mid to upper 20's. I am using a 13VII donated by Eric
"Frisky" to our kite school. Thank-You Eric and Kim too!

Shot from the car-park of the cove. I love the clam shell spray from the "gouge snap".
http://jackeo.zenfolio.com/p791617848/h519d175#h519d175  click this to see more impressive photogs.

Big props and a shout out to Jack Keo Zen Photography.

My birthday is coming up in July, a 1 hour photo sesh. with Jack is on the wish list.

Warm winds,
Tom and the Ventura Kiteboarding Crew.

Ventura Kiteboarding goes to Kauai, Hawaii Continued

Upon Catherine's and my arrival to Kauai, Hawaii, the coconut telegraph (today's cell phone) was lit with welcome

Alohas and "The Trades are back", "it's really good", "we have a swell"...... "go directly
to "Moues", then check in at your place". 

Stoked to be greeted with enthusiasm, but with 2 hours of daylight left, Moues was a no go.
We heard from the bell-hop, kiting was on today. Palms still bent, feeling the 18ish to low 20s
out of the Northeast. 

We pick up our "Island Style" rent a car. Highly recommend if you want to hide in plain site. The Jeep, 
PT Cruiser, Hummer, any convertible SCREAM " I am tourist rip me off. We had a 2003ish Toyota Corolla
with split fold rear seats. The residents never noticed us. Once in a while a "shakah" from a random act of
kindness on the road would be thrown our way and returned with big smiles. 

Albatross Mark, tells me the west side will be or is going now. We arrive to meet and greet. Mark is out
15 Syn and 6'8 surf board with David riding a 10m inflato on a twin tip. I catch them and we head up to
"Kingdoms" to do a 4 mile downwinder. On the way, I am getting the...Do This....but Don't do that..........
and if this happens your EFFED.....be sure to, well you'll be fine.........oh and see that black volcanic sea 
wall there, voodoo wind and razor sharp- as I see waves, shore-pound exploding 12ft in the air off this hazard.

Mark rigs his 15M Syn and I rig my 16 Venom, he gives me a 6'8 directional thruster, with fire hose straps
bolted thru the board. He runs them loose to find many "sweet spots" also to stand on to go strapless. 
It's actually "Backyard-Brilliance" strapped and unstrapped on the fly. I see the surf leash attached to the
board. After my tour of dry reef and board breaking hazards, I use it. 

Upper teens and a few low 20 gusts side on from the Northeast. The surf is overhead and a half to double overhead
on the outer reef. A lot of head high surf in the middle. Being regular foot, I am able to drop in going right up-wind facing the wave, then straighten out and carve a bottom turn, ride a bit downwind until that reef looked hungry. I was able to head back out heel side, easy 10-15 waves, to jump, snap off a backside hit and ride the left down-wind or back out beyond the reef and set up another right to ride up-wind. "Pono-Kai" Hawaiian term for active sea.
Pono-Tom and Pono-Mark were busy. This was not mowing the lawn and pushing the shopping cart kiting.
Borrowed board, loose straps, opposite tack then accustomed to, 6-8 ft plus un-filterd Hawaiian Juice, lefts turning to rights, close-outs, a hungry reef, heckling, snickering, and taunting your every pass. (you could hear it) After this
down winder and well overhead shore pound on a brown sugar sand beach below "Pavilions". I shouted out. "I feel alive"! This was not a garden variety stroll down the coast.

Now remember, Mark is a self-taught, West side Kauai Boy. Most of you have read his posts, some of you have spoke to him on the phone. Forum/e-mail and phone impressions can be misleading. Albatross Mark is a very
proficient rider, big enthusiasm and Aloha spirit oozing. Put this locale on your world tour.

Ventura Kiteboarding goes to Kauai, Hawaii

MoueP's

To be cont.