Cold Weather Update

While much of the country is freezing or below zero, here in Miami we're getting 70* days and 55* degree nights.. Burrrrhh... So cold. The wind has been on, but from the NW which is pretty crappy to ride my local kite spot. Skating has been awesome, in fact below you can see pictures of my most recent addition to the longboard quiver. Next Thursday I'll be skating with Scoot Smith, winner of the Maryhill festival of speed! Stay warm and stay wet.

Wind is ON.

I've gotten to kite the past 4 out of 6 days, I didn't go Saturday or Sunday due to the large crowds on any weekend, it blows. On Friday I was offered to fly a friends 12m Bow kite, now I know as much as any other kiter that my C kites are dinosaurs, but not having flown a bow in over six months I had begun to forget what I was missing out on. Well, the long and short of my Bow Kite experience was that it was suuupppperrr easy! I was up and riding rather quickly, I brought it to twelve to fall in and start back the other way when somehow I managed to loos my board and get lofted once, twice, make it three times. Body drag, body drag, body drag, and I've got my board back. I should note that I was really powered up, I think I would have been happy flying a 9m. Well, I got up back over to the middle of the sand bar where Ken was waiting for me to return his kite. More fun tomorrow, back to my C-kites, and saving some loot for my first bow.
be well, ride charged!

Just to post.

Haven't done much but work skate and work for some time now. So I'm posting just for sake of it.

Here's a picture that makes me smile...






hehe, lil' Bounce wasn't thrilled I woke him from a nap...

Got Wind?

Of course on my first day at a new job, it's 9 meter wind. Bahh Humbug...

Got wind!

And was laid out, again, and again, and again..then I chilled out, and caught some decent rides, set an edge, and even made it upwind a bit. I remember learning the basics of windsurfing, that came much more naturally to me than kiting(so far)... If I had video/pictures of some of my face-plants(was low tide, and the seaweed had some funky algea on it) I would have a more popular blog.. ie: My kiteboarding session often led me to having a great resemblance to swamp thing... Oh, and the fun is just starting as the next week brings much wind!

Got bored! So bored, I found myself making a board!

Last night I became a happy lil' wood-shop elf and made myself a drop-through carve board. An old pair of Randal II's and some very old street G's keep this puppy planted! The construction is about as basic as it gets, a 3/4" x 3" spine, with a 6 3/4" wide deck, overall length is 30" reinforced the platform with epoxy and a denim/epoxy layer. (yes, a lil' redneck engineering). Pros: steers well, short wheel base is great for pumping and tight turns, did I mention I made it in 5 hours? drawbacks: the deck flexes on the rails, absorbing much of the weight input for steering, this sucks, as I don't want to add to the board to get it carving more easily but it seems I'll have to. The cure: 1. Adding a sheet of fiberglass/epoxy to the top of the deck then re-applying grip tape 2. Replacing the yellow(medium/hard) bushings with some Khiro whites, oranges or blues, but more more than likely a combination of white and orange will get it carving nice and loose! Going to have to do both... This is going to make a nice garage racer when I buy some good bearings and bigger wheels, and knock out the other mods previously mentioned..Next deck is going to be an experiment in lamination, so I'll be building a steam box, a jig, and setting up a vacuum bag for more efficient epoxy work....Some pics of the quiver..

Scotch, lean pockets, and all topics of conversation...

Have to say, this was one of the funniest evenings I've experienced in some time. Started at Starbucks(as so many great evenings do), then the pool table was put to use, as bottles were tapped and spirits poured. I quickly dispelled anyone's inkling that I could be beat on the pool table only to find myself teaching trombone, and generally having a good time. Shortly there after, we sat down to an epic conversation covering all aspects of life. From rock climbing to rock throwing, dog senses to doggy style, much of the nitty-gritty that makes humans so intriguing. Politics, the war, sex, and psychology. Ehh, here's whats funny for you. My good pal was tossed/hungry enough to have a lean pocket.....

and scotch...