Cabarete Days 12-14

Had a good last few days. The swell has settled down a bit and the wind has been a good 18-22mph.
North rider Ania Grzelinska arrived in town and promptly set about throwing down some very impressive moves.



As for us mere mortals of the kitesurfing world, Clare achieved IKO status 3.J which just leaves upwind riding and jumping, which given the determination shown the last few days isn't going to be that far away.
Clare did try going out on my gear. She liked the smaller lighter Spleene 134 over the barn door she'd been using with the school, but the Primadonna wasn't such a success. In fact, I'd be surprised if she flys it again! Whilst she prefers bows over C kites for certain, the JN bar remains too reachy and too thick for those with small hands and short arms. Clare often steadies the kite with one hand around the depower rope, and this proved difficult on JN. (The bar pressure is also a little higher, which I personally like, on the Primadonna over the Waroo).
Whilst there is the option of a DaVinci on a different bar, Clare has taken an interest in the new North Evo - which does look pretty funky. The only downside is that North must be the only manufacturer who we do not know anyone who works or rides for them. Any North dealers out there want to offer a deal? :)
(The Paris board looks nice too)

As for me - I decided on the last day that I really did need to knock out a few kiteloops before I got back. I had hoped to get out on the 9 again, but is simply wasn't windy enough, so the 13 would have to do.
I'm glad to report that even the larger kite loops very smoothly indeed - less 'yank' than the old kite and more of an elastic surge. I, being old and fragile like this a lot, but some die-hard C kiters maybe prefer the snappier delivery of the older kite. However, this was on a fairly big kite and I'm sure the 9 will be a bit more brutal in it's delivery.
There are two sides to this though.. you can be lulled into a false sense of ability and talent and be convinced that you are Ruben Lenten. In this case, the kite will still make it perfectly clear that this isn't the case and dish out a good spanking.

Well.. it's now time to pack up and go home. It's been a fab trip and the wind has been good for us throughout the whole two weeks. I would wholly recommend Laurel Eastman Kiteboarding if you are thinking of coming out here - they can hook you up with accomodation and the instructors and general atmosphere are really good. They are also positioned on the best bit of the beach.

I'm very happy with my new kites. It's true than JN's first lady has become softer with age, but the performance is still on hand when you need it. As a freeride,freestyle and wave kite it works really well. Other kites may have more ability in one particular area, but the Primadonna2 seems to cover all bases pretty well.

Camber Sands just isn't going to feel the same.....

(Watched the new Ben Wilson DVD last night - why are there no waves in Kent?)

Cabarete Days 7-11

Been an interesting few days. Firstly my wedding ring went missing - fairly sure I removed it before I went out kitesurfing, so was somewhat annoyed that it had disappeared. After some investigation our maid 'found it on the grass outside the apartment'.. Given that if I had left it on I had been throughly tumbled by some big waves that afternoon, I wasn't totally convinced.

Anyway, it's back now and that's a good thing. Quite odd how you can get so attached a small lump of metal!

As for the big waves mentioned earlier, we've had a couple of mad days with high winds and big swell. Been trying my hand at amateur wave-riding.. was getting quite confident (even on my twintip) until I went into a big wave a bit too slow, which jacked up behind me, the nose of my board dipped and the rest was just a long protracted gurgling noise as I got the full washing machine treatment.

I emerged to find my kite lying in the path of the shore break. Given that I'd seen quite a few kites coming back up the beach with holes punched clean through them, I ditched it onto the 5th line to hopefully take some tension out of the canopy. Kite got twisted up and spat out on the beach but was unharmed, proving that it is tree and wave proof!

Conditions clamed down a little yesterday, enabling Clare to get out for another session. She's progressing really quickly, getting up on the board pretty much every time. It can't be long until she's fully cracked it, and she's hoping to notch up her IKO3 before leaving (which includes going upwind and jumping!).

I had a quick play on the Waroo.. Not as alien-feeling as I thought it would be. I can see why Clare has taken to them as they turn much like a foil kite, pivoting around the centre rather than the tips on a C-kite. Not a bad kite really, plenty of power for the size but the bar pressure felt vague with the bar any further out than the last third, and it was difficult to gauge how much power you had dialled in from the bar. The Primadonna whilst not having quite the same amount of depower (although, not far off) feels more progressive to me.

That said, the female half of the Primadonna1 flying couple here said she actually disliked the bar pressure on the new kite, which just goes to prove that not everyone is suited to the same thing.

It's the last few days before returning to the cold reality of home. Clare's hoping to become a kitesurfing goddess and I'm hoping to acquire big enough balls to test out the kitelooping performance of the Primadonna2. What could possibly go wrong?...

Cabarete - Days 4-6

Well.. it's been sunny and windy everyday. Can't really complain! Clare's had a little tuition and got up on the board on her second lesson (something that took me weeks!)

Getting on very well with the 13m now - the range is fantastic. Even when it's really blowing, I've barely had to touch the trim. Been enjoying going huge instead! Getting big air with the increased depower is very easy.

The kite doesn't go so well at it's bottom end (although the warm wind here may be a little deceptive) I do think that the old kite had slightly better bottom end performance. I don't think I'd buy a bigger one than a 13. Will be interesting to try the WildThing2 when I get home to compare in this area. Not sure whether a 16.5WT2 or a 15DaVinci BAT would be the better low wind kite.

However, the top-end performance is way beyond the old kite. There's a german chap here with a brace of old Primadonnas. Yesterday, he went out on the 12 while I was on the 13 - both going well. I think the bottom end of the 13PD2 is closer to the old 12 than the 14. However, as the wind picked up he was soon in for a 10 while I was simply enjoying the view from a higher altitude on the jumps and still having plenty of depower to fly upwind.

The comfort factor on the new kites is great. I couldn't care less if people think old-school c kites are more 'hardcore'.. I haven't had to ride out a gust in a plume of spray and gritted teeth since I got here, I just push the bar out and carry on. Long sessions are far less tiring and the added power control on carves and landing rotations is very welcome.

Clare seems have taken to bow kites and is getting on well with the school Waroos.

Most of her previous kiting experience has been with quick turning fixed bridle kites where the power is made on the stroke rather than through the turns and bows seem to come closest to this with the added bonus of huge depower and safety. Hopefully the new JN Switchcraft bar will shorten the reach to the trim enough for her to try a DaVinci.

I personally think a bar with a trim adjuster on the chicken loop and a sliding stopper would work well on the new JNs. Will have to see what they come up with...

Forecast continues to look good :)

Cabarete - First 3 days

Well, we are here, the sun is out and the wind has been blowing...

We spent out first few nights at Kite Beach at the Extreme Hotel, now run by the KiteLounge guys. Pretty basic, but pretty cheap. Sadly the kitchen area and a few other bits aren't ready yet. They've only had the place a few weeks, and it's best described as 'work in progress'.

Can't knock the guys, dead friendly and helpful, but we've decided to upgrade to a somewhat plusher (and more expensive) pad as we're going to be here for 2 weeks. More on that later..

Day One

Arrived, had a couple of beers, ate food and passed out.

Day Two

Bodyclock woke me up at stupid o'clock. Waited around till noon for the wind to kick in (The winds here are thermally driven, so you're almost guaranteed wind from 12-6) and set out on the 13m.

Spent the afternoon adjusting to new equipment; My board hadn't been ridden without booties before and required some fiddling with the footpads to get my feet in the right place to edge effectively, and it was the 13's first outing on the water.

The PD2 is a little different to the old kite in it's power delivery and it wasn't until the end of the session that started to feel at home on this kite. The kite definitely is at it's best when well powered and as the wind filled in during the afternoon it started feeling more solid. However, I pretty tired by then and called it a day.

One thing is for sure, the water here is fabulously warm, even in February :)

Day Three

Awoke to find I had been early breakfast for the local insect population. (No A/C or fan, so closed windows weren't really an option)

As the noon wind watershed approached, a big front loomed on the horizon. Once the accompanying light drizzle has passed, the wind really picked up and I nervously headed out with the 9m. (on the correct knots this time!). The kite was well powered and I soon started feeling at home, trying a few jumps and spins (or 'crashes' they are otherwise known). Some of the locals then went out and set about completely overshadowing my airbourne prowess with some real big air and unhooked mentalism - some of these lads are sh*t hot.

Once the brief high winds has settled down, I went back out on the 13m. Felt much better this time, and I was soon out on the reef playing with the waves, and actually landing some jumps and tricks! Taken a little while to find my feet with these kites, but they are coming good now. Feel much like the old PD1, but even smoother and with much improved depower.

My session ended a little oddly. I got sent off downwind by some crashing learners and had to exit out between the reefs further down the beach. Walking back with the kite, I was watching the other kiters rather than my kite which promptly wrapped itself around the top of a coconut tree (stupid yes, but not a hazard I'm used to on my home turf!).

Thankfully with a little persuassion and cursing I was able to free the kite and lines from said tree before anyone other than some local gardeners had the opportunity to laugh at my expense. I glad to report that kite and lines are perfectly fine.

JN Primadonna2 big tree durability test: tick.

After all that, we went off looking at some potential alternative accomodation, which unfortunately was full :(
However, got chatting to the very friendly Laurel Eastman (ex pro kiter, and now of SeaSpecs advert fame!) further down the beach, who hooked us up with a good deal for one of the swish apartments near her kiteschool. Was somewhat more than we had been paying, but we're now living it up in a fully air-con'ed two bedroom apartment with a fab kitchen, all mod cons and no darn mosquitos.

So, the accomodation is now less 'extreme', but the forecast is looking good, I've settled into my new kites and hopefully I can make up for it on the water!

Clare's looking at hooking up the kiteschool tomorrow and taking to the water (albeit on a Waroo!) which is good, although if the kitesurf bug does bite, a windswept Camber Sands in March might be a bit of a shock when we get back!