Aidan and I went down to Paddies for about 11am on New Years Day. I was suprisingly awake
considering the late and boozy night the evening before!

The wind was pretty strong (20-30 mph) but was more west than sw so wasn't as gusty as normal (at least
for the first hour or so, then it went a bit silly!).

Aidan was out on the 11m Waroo and me on the trusty 9m. It was the best session I've had in a long while, the best in 2007 so far !!!!

Fingers crossed for more good sessions this year. I'm still waiting for the Northerlies and Easterlies to arrive for some proper wave riding, they have to be here at some point, it's suppose to be winter after all

Did anyone else manage to get out over the festive season? St Andrews was my nearest bet over Christmas but there was absolutely no wind for the 5 days I was up there

Cheers,

James

nice one. sounds like you had a good time. One of my mates went down to the beach to try get some landboarding in, but he said it was too windy and there was 2 in paddies, so im guessing it was you two. Nice one. Next time give us a text and i'll try pop down with you guys.
p.s next two weeks is CRAZY so i may not be able to come out and play. Coursework deadlines !! But after that i have a week off ! So should be able to get out alot then.
But good one James . I hope 2007 can bring me some sessions like that !
Was any pictures taken?

Spot the hardcore kiters!!

Still waiting on a new LE bladder for my sonic, should be here today/tomorrow then its off to get sewn up. Which is almost a shame, because it gives me a good excuse for not going out at this time of year...roll on March and the next trip

Quite fancying a 9m Trixx...it looks a similar shape to the FOne Impact and that thing looked uber-mint. Plus the '07 GR bar setup looks the shizzle.

Gorilla - no probs. Good luck with the coursework and I'll post with times etc next time we are heading out. We didn't get any pictures unfortunately. It's always hard getting a kitesurfer to take pics when all they want to do is ride.

Pete - The weather really isn't that bad. The last 3 times I've been out it's been unusually mild. Been quite a few others out as well so it can't be all that bad. Shame to have to wait until March

Its not the temp really as so much crap westerly winds, dont care what you say its just not the same as an easterly/northerly/southerly! Plus ive had no kite since Brazil, but ive not really been tempted lately. If we get some good northerlies ill be out, had some good sessions in those at this time of year before.

I would love it if we could get some N/E/S winds. Without a doubt better than these SW / W winds lately. Only thing with me is I'm so hooked that if I haven't been out on the water for a couple of weeks, then I'll take anything I can get If the number of people wanting to learn last year is anything to go by I don't think I'll have much time to myself in the summer so got to take it when I can.

What happened to your Sonic? I've read a bit about the Trixx and it does look wicked. Would love to see one, sounds like your tempted

I was that keen about 3 years ago, but im becoming a condition snob these days. I think i was spoiled beyond belief in Brazil, its hard to get excited about anywhere in the UK after that

Not really sure what happened, we were kiting in a Rio with a boat and my chicken loop ripped out while i was riding blind causing the kite to ditch. No drama i thought, just relaunch...but it was inside out (i think i rode towards to kite for a few secs on the plane while still blind causing the lines to go slack). I was just coaxing it back round, but it just seemed a bit weird. Not sure if the bladder had gone by this point, but it launched inside out, then when it came back down it was just in a pile on the water with no shape, which was when i realised it was completely mollied

Fortunately we had a fishing boat hired for us which picked me up, and some Brazilian servants to dive in and sort out the drowned kite and lines, terribly messy business, while i climbed aboard and cracked open another ice cool beer while i selected a replacement Waroo from the stock pile, all paid for by our french ex-glamour model hostess. Marvellous.

Oh and the bladder arrived yesterday, so i just need to send it off for a repair and im armed once more.