Fredstem

It was a very good day again with nice swells and strong wing. I had the blast of the season so far surfing a huge long glassy swell with my "trainee" Claude right behind me, but unfortunately I managed to both break my long time friend in half (aka Tabou Wave 250) and myself (torn severely my oblixs and hit seriously my left hip crest).

So I am off for a while, and besides the pain I have only one thing in my mind and it's in French: "Putain de merde!".

It was Gorge-like conditions yesterday at 3rd. Blowing like hell (where was my 3.0?). It reminded me the Gorge and Hatchery in particular. The swell was huge and I had more success surfing one handed than throwing my usual backloops...It was very rough but so much fun...

So I am posting this for my friends back in the gorge, just in case you wonder how I look. Here are some recent pictures of me and my daughter Fiona, surfing at Waddell...

I have done this behind a boat, a car and a kite...I would like to try surfing behind a horse...Amazing pictures!

Source: http://www.harold-quinquis.com/0506-horse-riding-labaule.html

Today the wind is southwest again bringing some rain over the bay area...What a bad season so far...I am dying to get to the water. This week I had a nice 4.7 session even on a floody day. It reminded Maui at Sprecks last November...So I am posting a picture...

A red Tabou Wave 250 and a Neilpryde Zone 4.0.

A JPK Carbon Wave and Neilpryde Zone 5.0.

Thanks to Kiyong, some pictures of me working on my Frontloop Downloop transition.

Seen on Flytest.net: Nice review on the Hydra 9. I agree with most of the comments. (French)

Seen on Kitex.ru: Nice Genetrix Hydra 9 RED. Martial, I want one like this! (Russian)

Le dicton du jour:

Quand dans le parking, le "BOW" fait le beau...
C'est dans le chenal, que l"HYDRA envoie gras!

Ou encore

While the BOW is selling
The Hydra is flying... (No offense Steve, that was for the rhyme...:-)

More seriously, I attached the back bridle of my 12 closer to the struts...It makes a huge difference...More power, more responsiveness, turn quicker. I had a lot of fun alone in the chanel with only 16 knots...

J'ecris ce post en Francais car il est dedie aux riders francais qui ont la possibilite de trouver une Genetrix Hydra dans leur shop prefere et se demande ce qu'elle vaut...Ne cherchez pas plus loin. Cette aile, c'est du vrai bonheur...Elle dechire tout en saut, vole super propre et tout ca en etant mega safe. Un vrai bonheur de kiter dans du vent fort ou dans les vagues avec une aile pareille. Elle tourne vite et procure enormement de plaisir...Bravo Martial! Voila comme il n'y a pas beaucoup d'info dessus ni de post, je sais qu'il est difficile de se faire une idee, mais n'hesitez pas a essayer ou acheter une hydra 9, vous en serez bien bluffe.

What a nice session on my Hydra 12 on a strong and gusty wind day... Thanks Claude for helping me adjusting my lines on my new bar...This baby flies like a airplane.

It finally felt like summer this week end. Nice session at Waddell with my Hydra 12. I was very pleased to play with the waves again and trust me the flat kite is the ultimate weapon. Then on Sunday I relaxed at 3rd playing with my old Swell 14 to cruise and throw some back-loop kiteloop. It was very warm... Even the water was warm. Life is very tough! :-)