funkyllama

Glad to hear the 7m is looking after you. Am thinking of grabbing a 4m flow or something similar to play around with on the land etc. Could even be interested in hitting up some of the spots down your way, just to try it on. I'll get on google earth and have a look around... I have a crazier idea for launching that i'm not sure has been done yet, will talk it over in person wit you next time.

Yep we're a bit different down here... Catching up with Ben this weekend hopefully smash some waves too, yes he is the Ozone man in Tassie developing a Catalyst addiction from what I hear

THROTH!!!

Hey Blackant, sorry I didn't see your post sooner - not been on xk for a while... huge thread too! Even though it sounds like you've got it dialed, am happy to lend a hand next time down on the beach with the launching methods - have got it sussed for all the spots we kite at. There's a couple spots to do a tethered launch, and I actually used to have carabiners on clips there to launch with. Samio uses the towball of his car sometimes!!! Other popular methods we've used are: Pal dogfood bags on wingtips - slides v well off the canopy folding wingtip with sand - can easily go wrong if not enough sand used Samio's towball method Wombats or screw into the sand type thingi's drift launch (use this one a bit personally) There's a few tips on self-landing the Trixes that will keep you out of trouble too. Might see you at the Ducks this weekend?! JK

5 of us on the water down south today for crappy wind, 2 guys in 4/3's hoods boots 0.5mm titanium undershirts etc, 1 girl with 4/3 wettie and 2mm smoothskin jacket on top (6mm total on top), and 2 guys in drysuits. Thats about average for tassie beaches.... enjoy your new wettie Blackant! JK

sorry mate just saw your post here - haven't been on the forums much lately! Most of us here just grab some 3mm spectra from the sailing shop to replace broken bridles, or parts from old snapped lines that we've kept for things like replacing bridles. Interested to hear how you went with lubricating the pulleys etc, i've always used silicone spray but always looking for a smarter way to do things... Can't have you sitting out of kite sessions cos of busted gear - we've all been there, and it sux. Anything we can do to help you here just sing out mate JK

Hey Dude, next time a bridle goes grab a hold of us - Lisa is a gun with knots and I've also had my fair share of fixing GK bridles - got it down fairly pat now. A bit of spectra from Peter Johnsons Marine and your away! I'm sure Mike will understand if we keep the kite a little longer till you can try it out on the water too flies real nice! JK

Cool Steve. Blackant, i forgot to say that with the W wind this weekend we're prob looking at Mortimer bay for some flat action if you can get out.

Hey Blackant, didn't realise you were looking at these kites too! We're calling the C4 the Attack Helicopter, and I'm thinking about swapping out the GK Trix's for a squadron of them. FYI i'm about 73kg and riding a LF 135 x 41 with medium rocker. We've just had one down for a Demo, supplied by Kitethrills in Currimundi, if your about this weekend we'll chuck you up on one for a ride. I can tell you that compared to the 11m Sonic your riding now, this is a waaaay different kite. FYI I had the 07 8m, 08 11m, and still flying an 08 14m - all sonics. The bar pressure is probably about the same C4 vs Sonic. Have also chucked some of my best F-16's on it yet, this kite is wicked to loop. Compared to how the Sonic loops, this is a more constant pull throughout the loop, smoother, whereas the sonics tend to more want to rip your arms off halfway through. Have been concerned about how they would handle gusts too. The 12m demo seems to be coping very well with the gusts, soaking them up like the Trix does (I found the sonic tends to fly fowards more in a gust, creating more apparent wind and thus yanking you like a ****er). I think to get the most out of it its going to be essential to have good board control and edging. I'd be looking at a 13/10/7 combo for tassie conditions. So maybe you could get away with a 12/9 or 11/7 squadron. Its just tough getting that wind spread to be nicely powered from 12-40 knots! Grab us on the beach for a chat and a fly before you lock into anything, have got some other suggestions for you too. JK

check it out. Shoulda gotten one of these bad boys Gadget!! Wonder if they do trade ins... http://www.oceanrodeo.com/drysuits/predator

Cant rate my drysuit enough but you'd get away with a good 4/3 + hotskin or 5mm wettie with boots hood etc What was really cold was the apparent wind chill doing 110km/h with pete being towed on the back.... Bugger all wind about, usual situation for winter, moreimagination i'd go the 5mm there's no way your gonna be able to swim in a self rescue with a 7mm wetsuit!

Thinking about it now dude I was adjusting some new lines a while back and forgot to get them even at the bar end - ie depower strap still pulled in. The kite wasn't flying too well at all when my front lines were suddenly heaps shorter than the rear. I'd also give it a go with the bar from your 12/13m but you've prob already done that one! Crap wind again today...

Hi Katie your not gonna be too happy about the cold! For Hobart the seabreezes (12-25knots) in summer is the best time to be here, we would usually get between 12-40knot winds most the time (thats worth kiting). For winter it can be so gusty no one goes out, or 40+ and insane, but you usually have small windows of opportunity to hit it up. Wow. I am 75kg and use a 14m in 10-18knots. I guess it depends how powerful the kite is. Theres a gun chick here that uses a 12m in about 10knots pretty happily and is about 10kg less than me. Most people have the 12m & 9m combo happening or a 10m and a 7m. They say the cold wind is more dense, can use smaller kite sizes. Depending how cold you get, 4/3mm wettie or 5/3mm will get you out most the time, some of us are even looking into drysuits atm. And the surf pumps through winter just about everywhere... Keep an eye on here the girls are goign to be pumped theres another chick in town! JK

Hi Aalsal, unfortunately no, I do not have the certification to teach kitesurfing. We usually recommend people to check out kiterepublic (on the web) and book into one of their devonport weekend courses, or fly up to a guy in sunny queensland for lessons there. Once you are sorted with gear and happy flying it there's enough of a crew here to help out with the little things and places to go to kite sustainably and safely. JK

Hi Team, had found this on the net somewhere and lost the addy for it, some chiro guy gives some basic info about preventative things you can do to look after the body when kiting - and keep kiting forever. Worth a read, for both young bulls and old bulls JK exerciseguide.pdf