hulkiebear

I guess the pole squatters are the ones nearest to the rescue boat, as all they do is stand around with their arms folded, chatting!

No, the chaps name was Gerry. He has done an excellent job of capturing all the different shades of brown of the Bristol Channel! I wonder if he needed a specail lense for it? lol

The first two are of me, and the next I'm not sure, I think the guy has more Ks'ers photo'ed too! http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs182.ash2/44539_455285047153_776327153_6235715_791569_n.jpg http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs138.ash2/40237_455268807153_776327153_6235138_7382464_n.jpg http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs382.snc4/44539_455285042153_776327153_6235714_6720567_n.jpg

I went out for an excellent cross shore session at WSM on Friday(20th), one of the best sessions this year for me. Well, there was a guy taking photos of us kitesurfers, as there was about 6-8 of us out. As usual the camera(obviously a good one) acted like a magnet to KS'ers. Well, I spoke to the guy after and got his email address, he has sent me a few sample pic's of myself and others(trying to identify me), anyway they are reall good... If you were there that day and think he may have snapped you and want to see, send me a message. HB -Lee.

I live here in Weston, and all the comments are fairly spot on. The only thing I have to add, is that you can park on the beach at Brean/Berrow and WSM, which makes life loads easier for that quick fix/evening sess. And remember to mention to the car park attendant(during the day in the summer) that you are there to kitesurf, as they only charge you £1 rather than the £4-£5 they charge the Brummie day trippers!

Basically, it has been sitting in the shed for the last year or two and either, needs to be fixed and get on the run, or get binned! http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs070.snc4/34843_441995517153_776327153_5870717_128867_n.jpg http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs164.snc4/37549_441995957153_776327153_5870747_3513967_n.jpg http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs164.snc4/37549_441995962153_776327153_5870748_6468534_n.jpg

I bought a board from ebay and on the first outing, there was a crack and it had snapped in the middle. I don't want to discuss the whole"you should get your money back..." thing, just if and how I can mend the board. It looks as though the outer glass/mat has given up and the core is not to badly damaged. It was only a case that the board broke during normal use, not when landing a big jump or major trauma like that! I'm thinking, can I clean of the glass to the mat then add some more mat and re-glass? I will post some pictures when I can.

Not very detailed, but this is all I could find, Windfinder - Wind & weather statistic Tenerife Sur Boya I will be out the about the same time on a family holiday and wondered if the Shinn centre is still operating? I don't want to take any kit, but would rather hire it. So does anyone know of places to hire there? HB

Hi Kitegirl, I went to Cuba for my honeymoon 2004. Stayed in Havana for 4 days then onto veradera for 10 in a 5*. I went in late May and KS's 7 out of 10 days, wind turns up about mid day and ends about 3 ish if I remember correctly, you could set you watch by it! I used a 16m and was underpowered about 2 of those 7! The problem you will find with Veredera is that the 5* as good as own the beach aswell as their resorts, and the hotel security guards will move you on if you come above the water line on to the beach, we they do with the locals or if you don't have a hotel wrist band! There was guards 24/7 too! There are a few places that the locals are aloud to use the beachs, but, these will be packed if the sun is out, and it usually is! reckon the 5* own 70-80 % of the 20 km or so of continous beach that goes up Veradera. the water was so warm it was like being in a bath and was nice to go out deep for cooler water! From a tourist point of veiw, be careful in Havana, everyone is well freindly and will take you to see there freinds and you'll even be asked to their house for dinner! be warned, you'll be expected to pay for most of the things you drink and eat, even if you originally though they were just being freind and generous! You probably already now this as you sound ike you've done a bit of travelling. That was 4 years ago, and it may have changed, either way, its an amazing place there and I'd go back at the drop of a hat! Havana Club all the way, but to be fair even the cheap rum is good too! Cigars and Rum, wicked!!!!

I first started useing gloves, but they were thick and gave me forearm burn, I don't think it is anything to do with the cold, but the fact that your hand has to squeeze harder to compress the neoprene of the glove. I got a pair of these from ebay for £6, The photo, isn't very good as it should really show the palm of the hand. There is no neoprene from half the way down each finger to about half way across the palm. http://www.pro-limit.com/displayitemv6comp.php?item_id=4718 whilst they aren't as warm as a proper set of gloves, it means no wind chill factor for you hand and the open palm is fine as that part of your hand is holding the bar. They are a bit of a pain as you need to put all the fingers on separately and after pilling sand on for a self launch, they are a bit fiddly. But I think they are great! http://www.pro-limit.com/itemimages/4718

Does anyone know the lengths of the 5th line set up on a 16m Wipika Wip? (2004 -2005 I guess!)

Ed is right, the headland at the south of weston bay(brean down) does cause a shadow in the wind. If I remember correctly, the equation is 8 times the distance of the height of the headland, but even after this the wind seems to remain gusty and not easy going! Still good fun though. Brean and berrow beaches are great too, empty of people and obstructions it makes good riding, the waves I found to be alot less uniform and steep than weston(Always describe Weston as a skate park with lots of ramps and kickers!) I'm sure Ed will back me up on this! Look forward to seeing you down here, well, not if you look like your aviator!

I was thinking of a session locally in the morning, tide should be good until midday according to easytide. Got a new crimbo pressie, hooded rash vest to try out!

done.

I totally agree it should be the responsiblity of every kitesurfer to know exactly what to do in case of Emergency, not jut to save wasting the time of the emergency services, but also to help those that really need. But, as is proven in this case there are those out there that do not! It is obviously because people are taking to the sport with out the correct input on safety aspects. It seems simple to us that doing this sport is highly dangerous, because most of us have seen of know of the dangers involved! However, there are the weekend warriors or young uns(or people of low intelligence) whom don't have the same experience and knowledge and so therefore no real respect for safety as they are unaware of dangers in their actions. So, it's easy to say it's common sense, but it obviously isn't to all. Is it 100 percent their fault, or can a very small portion of blame go on the sport it's self for allowing this to happen? My example point being(this doesn't directly mean the Hayling guy), a kite needs to be bought from someone, then the person who bought the kite needs to be shown how to fly it(be it DVD, teacher or freind) and then he fly's the kite at a beach where there are other KS'ers. Now, if he was never told about what to do in an emergency and at each point the person he had contact with, just assumed he did and never brought it up, is he totally to blame. I was once told, ask a question and be a fool for 5 minutes, don't ask a question and be a fool for life! This is made hard sometimes when some peoples attitude stinks! You know the type of person, the tosser on the beach who is full of himself and looks down on everyone, thinks he knows it all and likes to make newbies look like idiots, simple because he can kitesurf at a damn good level! Who can blame the newbie for not asking about the dangers and advice! I was there once. So, I think it would help the sport if we are all a little more bit more approachable and helpful to all! Whoa, got caught up in a rant there! Sorry all! One last thing, this hayling guy, I hope he was told the errors of his ways via ebay on his lost kite situation!

I have to side with coca on this one! All of you are far too quick to critise and condemn this guy for his actions! It reminds me alot of the press especially the red top tabloids! example, the guy at poole whom his lost kite and it crashed on a car and the old boy got out to untangle the kite and got quite badly injured, the press didn't know the full story but were happy to condemn the kitesurfer, when it may have appeared that at the time the old boy didn't seem injured and the KS'er was more concerned about his kite/further injury to others, which seemed fair enough. Now this guy at Hayling, If he simple ditched his kite and went home for a cuppa then he is a fool that needs to be taught better! However, as I don't know the full circumstances, I can't see how I or any one else can rip him up for ass paper! Now, if I'm talking out my ass and you all know the full story other than the guy was found to be at home, then I stand to be corrected! But, if not, then don't expect the public(non kiters) to treat us with any respect or cut us slack when they don't have the full story or knowledge of really accidents or incidents! Come on guys wait til you have the full story til you start calling this guy a idiot or T**t. The story could be alot more complicated, (probably isn't), but don't be too pre-judging, slate him once it's known he is his an idiot, not earlier. Merry Christmas all!

s29 feb and high pockets, I'm liking the look of the C-skins poly pro, not sure if I should get a large or medium, I'm about a 42 inch chest, what sizes do you guys use? cheers Lee, (sorry to hijack the thread a bit!)

Ted, How you doing dude? I might be around tomorrow after 12, in weston area for a session, give me a shout if you are down this way! Lee.

I'm considering buying a Gath gedi helmet as my old Gecko Helmet is about done. I know my old gecko probably never provided the best protection, but, its come between me(well, my head) and my board many a time in the surf and no I don't use a board leash. Anyway, does anyone have an opinion on the gath Gedi, how well it protects, how good it looks when someone is wearing it? etc... See Link http://www.extremekiteshop.com/kites/gath-gedi-helmet-p-803.html[url=http://www.extremekiteshop.com/kites/gath-gedi-helmet-p-803.html][/url] cheers.

Hi Stix, The same thing happens to me at Weston, as the tide goes out it creates a reverse eddie type thing, so you board would have been pulled up past the pier and towards the RNLI launch island. I found mine there, it got snagged on a rock as the tide went out, I presume if it got out of the bay into the channel, then it could end up anywhere! Sorry. I do alot of running on the beachs(brean, weston and Sand bay) and I'll keep an eye out. Have you tried contacting the Council run beach wardens, as Weston is combed atleast once a day and as the council are quite windsports freindly, they would have pick it up and taken it back to the beach office! Hope this helps!

I heard recently that Wipika went out of business. It seems their website has not been up-dated for a while either. Does Anyone else know if this is true?

I've still got one of these in my garage for the light wind days too! I bought it for about £500:eek: :eek: about 5 years ago. Coopes is right, it is proably only worth £50 2nd hand and you will grow out of it, sooner or later depending on how quickly you pick the sport up. But I would also add this will help you pick it up alot faster than a 140 or 150, I have known people to take alot longer learning on a smaller board than a bigger one, it can be quite frustrating(I know as I take ages to pick stuff up!) and if you are only buying it for 50 quid, you'll easily get most of your money back! Then you will be in a better position to know what sort of board you want to get next!

Hi Tyler, Slightly off topic, I saw a picture of a Wipika Bow on your site. Do you have any info on it? Where did you get the pic from? Cheers Lee.

Here you go! get an aqua pac, cut a small hole and silicone the headphone jack from one of these in! It works great! http://www.iskins.co.uk/waterproofearphones.htm

Sorry Mate, There is nowhere in WSM that can be used in a NE. It's all West facing beach's over here! If there is anywhere, I'd be interested in knowing about it! There are usually a few good guys out at Weston, all pretty friendly! Not sure about Minehead? Cheers lee.