This afternoon at Neale Park the wind seemed to arrive on cue for the monthly Nelson Kite Club Day. There were buggies galore and PL Phantoms ruled the sky (except for one unruly c-quad piloted by yours truly). After recent spring rains there were a few large puddles on the ground but because the grass was long they were hard to see. Great fun if you don't mind cold water blasting up yours shorts leg, and everywhere else besides. I hit one such puddle at about 45kph (I say about because my speedo seems to stop working after being drowned) and got absolutely soaked. Really lets you know you're alive! Later in the afternoon someone suggested we adjourn to Rabbit Island Beach where the low tide was due at 6pm. The gates were open till sunset 7.45pm so it was a great time for a beach run.
Every sport has its peaks. Those days when things just come together, and you get a perfect performance. Today was like that for us. Everyone seemed to choose the right kite for them and the wind played nicely too. We raced to the top of the beach and back, beginners and experienced, buggies and mountain boards, young and old, friends and relative strangers all enjoying kiting and nature at its finest. To the NKC members to decided to skip this one... you missed a beauty.
The ground was pretty wet in places. As you can see these guys just went through a big puddle a second before this shot.
A phantom from underneath.
I had the only c-quad flying among this lot. Just call me the phanotm hunter :)
Before...
...after. Much better.
11:12:07 PM 
|
