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X-Bow review

After all, I could do my own review, others have done it. Why not me? And maybe, this is a way to get more sponsors

You have noticed if you indulge in my off beat ‘literature’ that I like to use icons or smileys to emphasize a point.

So I looked for some to illustrate how I feel about the 12m Crossbow II or X-Bow.

I am sorry to report that I could not really find the right one to express my feelings, so instead I used a picture.

And this is how I feel about this great kite.

Wind (pause) “missing”

 Who stole the wind?  “missing” was the answer from the automated voice generated recording from SFO.

Right away I called service.  The best person I know to know wind is Jerry B, so forget SFO; I took his advice and went on site to witness the scene.

Waiting for the wind repair Toyota to show up I took the first shift on a 5.0 and found the wind.  Actually Jerry had probably fixed it good because it felt 4.5.

The channel must have felt way better as it was fiesta time; long high clean swells following each others.  It was such a delight to surf unhooked again more than a few in a row.

To make sure the wind fix had taken Jerry made an on site appearance just to make sure.

As you see in the graph, the missing wing was fixed by 2pm.  Thanks Jerry, that's SERVICE!

Lolita, I love you

 

Thank you for suggesting taking you out to lunch.

What a ride this was; so unusual under the ever changing sky.  It was strange to go back and forth North South for a change with very westerly winds.

The apotheosis was the last run, mostly ‘Déhooké' as the French like to say this days _parlant kitesurfing_  we were waltzing the swells eyes on the bridge having the time of our life.

Knowing your dirty side   I rewarded you with a mud bath for dessert.

 Let’s do it again soon. 

Ibuprofen shortage

 

I never imagine that I would welcome the rain in April !

It’s a know fact that San Mateo County could be in shortage of Pale Ale after a windy weekend, but apparently Ibuprofen is hard to find this days.  Too many 4.0 days in a row is leaving some residuum.  The old body is aching and a rainy day is a good excuse to rest and ice.  Talking about ice, this coming storm must have made a detour by the artic.

Lifting to a new level…

    A bit of stretching does not hurt.  

Was it windy?  Look at this shot (in wind shadow too!!!)

   A single sail size for the whole day   4.0  

I caught a bug !!

It’s getting worse.  I am afraid I got it 2 days ago in the channel; I do not think it is from the water run off from the rain we just got.   The water quality is not so bad.  I suspect I contracted it from a red pester that came close.  Every time I see rolling white caps I feel the urge, I get itchy, and when it swells, I got to let go my back hand, I am hooked.  In fact not, I am unhooked, out of the harness surfing one handed, it feels so good   Oh darn I feel the addiction.

The word must have gone out, because, the press was out with telephoto trying to document my decease.

 What do I do next?

I jinxed it, fixed it, and paid for it.

 

Whoaaa, am I sore!!

According to the weather, and following what happened Saturday, I was ready early with my 4.0, almost rigged, (mounted but not tuned) expecting the wind to keep climbing (it was 23). Instead, it dropped, and dropped even more while I was on the 4.5. So after a couple short planning, mostly pumping moments, I schlogged back to shore. It was decent cardio work keeping the 73L on a slow plane, pumping vigorously arms and legs in unison. I was near exhaustion from not sailing climbing the ramp. My arms sore quickly yesterday from OP on 4.0 were sore again today from Under Powered. I was getting really POed

I did not rigged the 5.0, but every thing in my collection. I came close to pump the kite but there was no room on the carpet as everyone was back waiting for better things. I got the mylar old cracked up 5.5 rigged up like a 6.0, took the bigger wave board and launched like a mad man with nothing to lose. I went flying out of the gate like Alonso on his 2006 Renault. The first part of the channel was flat so I was enjoying the speed that I really missed from the previous sailing session. What was my surprised when at mid channel; it got really choppy and windy. I did not anticipate this at that time, and I felt it too because the sail was barely downloaded and set to be baggy. I flatted it a little but not enough. Never mind, compare to Saturday, this was nothing. So even well powered, I barreled down every swell and had a lot of fun. I even surprised myself surfing one handed. Then I hear a scream, scared the sh.t out of me as I did not see it coming. It was Bob coming out of hibernation and of his well timed nap .

We qualified....!!

And that’s good enough looking at the conditions 

 

 

 Here I am speaking Italian about the aerodynamic package needing some trimming for the mud.

A la Schumi !! for F1 aficionados..,

Like Michael Schumacher handicapped by a wrong choice of tires during qualifying, in our case a 4.5 sail, another Red speedster started way back at the end of the grid, in our case, FredStem was drifting toward the San Mateo Bridge   I actually happened to know what he experienced as I was on more or less on the same gear, even a tad smaller volume and fin, but feeling equally the flood.  The difference; I counted my losses, and ‘put put’ back to shore in first or second gear, leaving my ego in the sinking and stinking mud.  After climbing the rocks and derigging, I grabbed my binoculars to see how far down the. red Neil Pryde had gone.  He was on his way to his ‘favorite _Inktomi sponsored_ beach   but like Schumi, he was not going to give up and crash tack after crash tack, he fought the flood and came to life with his vehicle, picking up speed, planning, hoping chop like they were Super Agurris or Red bulls and actually gaining ground.  His efforts were rewarded by a little wind resurgence and he made it back to the ramp   No,,,  he did not win, that was not a glorious session, that was a tuning one.  But bravo nerveless, I am impressed, we could say “he podium” or can’t we?

Launching pad

Tuesday before the flood became a factor, I was zooming along with a 5.0 in the channel.  The wind was present but no swells whatsoever the one foot chop was consistent but not helping much as a launch pad.   So I was scanning around to find some action when suddenly it came   I saw it well above the rest, its bold head dominating the grey horizon.  A full six inches above the rest, made this one and a half foot TALL piece of chop the one not to miss.  Locked in, I engaged the six gear and went for it….Up and up and up I climbed feeling really good about the efficiency of the jump.  Unfortunately after this jettison there was not another ramp in site for a long while.  So I built my upwind capital and spend it almost in 2 shots when I found a few rollers way out on the other side.   I had no more credit when I got back to the ramp barely making it with now a strong flood.  I even had to beg for a beer from Jane and Ron who smoked me during the return with his flood gear.

It's a community.

 

Tough conditions today. I was perfect on 4.5m, 73L in a flood. It got stronger. When Jerry came to rest he alerted me of a down kiter he talked to that was rescuing him. His kite bladder was deflating. My other windsurfer friend was looking for binoculars. I got mine out and found the red helmet kiter drifting nicely toward the San Mateo Bridge. He was doing the C shape rescue and then disappeared right behind the last post, just when the road reaches the bridge. So he made it to ground but must have been exhausted and had a long hike ahead of him I would have liked to go pick him up but I have no open seat in my windmobile. The binocular fellow offered to go along since he could create space for a passenger. So we went to find the ‘drifter’. I barely made it in time around the bridge as he just started to walk back toward 3^rd Av. I started to run and shouted against the 35 MpH wind; yes it was even windier there Fat chance for him to hear me. Finally, out of breath, (me), he turned and recognize me with a most surprised look. Marco was very thankful.

So, don’t let anyone tell you there is bad vibes between kiters and windsurfers, we take care of each other.

After all it our legacy… Right Jay

It's all about sponsorship.

In spite of ‘so-so’ condition, we had to go out. Besides, we had to get ready for a very hot photo shoot.

Get the bag, the pump and “make it work” as one of my friend would say.

Also, it does not matter if you know the CEO, you still have to get the correct bag or….

BTW where is my Genetrix travel bag? I think Hawaii is ready for it.

Wild fire = wind shift?

 

With a strong southerly orientation it was unlikely that the wind will switch to decent sailing direction (NW), unless something unpredictable or awesome would occur.  Now what about an out of control gigantic rubber fire in Redwood city that you could smell all the way to San Jose, would that change the pressure differential near Third Av.?  It looks like it did.  And is this a coincidence than FredStem was one of the early rigger as soon as the wind shifted?  And is it an other coincidence that while he was doing a lot of hand waving to a lovely lady for a long time, probably doing some  explaining  that the web cam server went down.  I think not!

I managed to record this picture of him helping someone; guilty conscience 

What a weird day !

 

Look great a first, actually debating between 4.5 or 5.0 for windsurfing with a small board, then slowly choosing 5.0, and after being dressed downgrading to a bigger board. Finally, no!, not quite yet, de-rigging and pumping a kite since it looked so bad; then, even stopping before walking up as it looked so bad.

By the ramp, it felt cooler, it was coming back slowly, but good enough to decide to go on kiting. Successful launch and going upwind along Robin then SNAP! during a turn, the kite acted like I broke a leader line. So time to wrap up the ordeal and being worried about what failed on this new bar As I was walking back, it looked great in the water for everyone, downgraded windsurfers were coming back to rig again smaller and switch to smaller board. I wished I had left my sail rigged up; a lesson to remember Such a weird day. At home I unwound my bar to do failure analysis and did not notice anything obvious, weird, no broken lines.   I unrolled the kite to inspect the bridal webbing: fine! So It’s got to be a cockpit error; one of the line was not securely tighten enough. Weird I tell you

Oh I forgot to mention, my mentor himself FredStem felt weird after smacking himself on the ear during a botched landing.

"Won't Get Fooled Again"

 

After April fool’s debacle on Sunday, Monday looked like a reverse repeat. Schlogg all the way to the marker on 4.5 as the channel was reading 21 while rigging. Fortunately I took the 82L for insurance as the high level clouds were looming above.  For 20 minutes maybe, it was marginal and I kept dropping heading in order to stay planing.  Found out that this 4.5 does not have much low end

 Finally we hit the jackpot as it turned on big time and it became a terrific long session satisfying every need: speed, jumps, and swells

Fouls... April fool's

 

You did not see it coming?  It was the perfect setup with early wind, the best direction, perfect tide, and then.... what?

It became a kite graveyard inside and a marathon swimming later for windsurfers.

Looking back, I am glad that the conditions deteriorated before I rigged. Otherwise I would have been caught with less volume and 4.5 instead of  5.0, which would have translated in a way longer swim and more schlogging. I was SO proud to still be dry after trying a little harder at every jibe or swell riding for 35 minutes.  Heuh ! little did I know I was going to be constantly in the water for quite a LONG time

No controversy today,

.......but a crowded channel with too many kiters

What a surprise to the conservative forecast with this early strong wind in synch with the ebb. My 4.5 was flat and still my arms were killing me in the surf. Maybe 6 in a row is pushing the limit.

Anyway, I am ready for the next step: Flashy Style !!!   After all, I’ve got to satisfy my sponsors