It was a Nelson Kite Club meet day at Rabbit Island beach yesterday afternoon. I was to tired to write about it when I got home. I showered, ate, and went to bed. It was a great afternoon.
Ted and I shared a ride out there and were pleased to be met with the first decent Northerly of the season. Unlike last club day, when it was raining, a few other club members dusted of the kites and joined us. Roy was there with his buggy, board, and kite catamaran. Bill and Marty were making the most of it too. Although the wind was strong, for a change, it was also a little gusty and unpredictable. The kind of conditions that makes it hard to choose the right kite.
I started out with a nice run in the 5-wheel buggy, to the West end of the beach (about 4 kilometres away) and back again, with the Snot-rag (an old, green 6.3m2 Arc kite). Just as I returned from that run the wind began to die a little so I got out the 8.5m2 C-Quad for a spin. After about ten minutes of fun with that kite, the wind began to gust strongly from the west and the 8.5 was threatening to lift the 5-wheel buggy and me right off the ground. So I stopped and dragged my 6.3m2 c-quad, but as I was unpacking it Ted suggested I try his 19m2 Venom...
...that's right, 19 square meters of terror, in a gusty wind. How could I say no? The venom is a monster of a kite with incredible power on demand. Unlike the C-Quads, the Venom has the ability to de-power when you need to; a feature that comes in very handy indeed. I was having no problems popping huge jumps with ease. Just pull back on the bar and hang on baby! This beast will just rocket you skyward like a bungy cord. When required altitude is reached just ease the bar forward and it will place you back on the beach like an elevator.
I still haven't flown the second hand 15m2 F-Arc I bought at the end of summer yet. Ted tells me it will be a lot like the Venom... but with out the brakes, and good manners. Real reassuring.
By the time we packed up and left the wind had turned Easterly and cold, and it was threatening to rain. I took this shot right before we left.
I love this place...
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12:59:10 PM 
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