A little STOKE for the winter

So it has started to snow in some areas here in the USA. With Montana and Wyoming getting the first dumps of the season and first sessions of the year. Here is a clip just to keep you jealous. Back country kiting is the way to go. The use of a kite is limitless in the Back Country. Why buy a ski pass anymore? Get a kite and you will have more fun than you would ever have gravity skiing!

Men who ride up mountains Part 1 from Snowkitingworld on Vimeo.

Kite Skate Sess.

So I read on kite forum earlier this week if kiteboarding will be as popular as skateboarding. Or if kiteboarding would be as cool as skateboarding one day!

I say, "Hell yeah, kiteboarding one day will be Too legit to quit!" If the sport of skateboarding took as long as it did to become main stream. I think kiting has all ready become a legit sport and also gone more mainstream in a shorter time span.

All I really want to see is everybody that has a skate board to try Kite skating. Or even snow kiting. Maybe a little lame for most. But I seem to have a lot of fun doing it. I don't know if it is the constant pull of a kite. Or just that I can cruise a parking lot doing turns, jumping curbs, and grinding parking blocks with out having to kick as much.

But that is the benefit of snow kiting too. I don't have to hike to do my turns! Or get pulled by a snowmobile to have fun. I use my kite to pull into quarter pipes, half pipes, and fly off hills.

All I am trying to get at is, if you have a trainer kite. Pull it out and try to skate with it. It is more fun than you think. Not only that it helps your strapless riding too. It also trains you to use your kite in moving it more and generating more power with speed in the kite. I have found that people go out on the water and don't work there kites as much. They have gotten into a rut of just park and ride kiting. Then everyone says it isn't windy enough to ride!

Well I guess these are just thoughts, go out and try it for yourself!!

peace

Patrick Nedele

Made it to the WEST Coast!

Whew what a fiasco! Over just a kite! Who would have thought that there would be so much drama during a kite session!

Anyway we had to redeem our self's after a half good session. So we traveled south from the Jetty's to Sunset Beach near Seaside, Oregon.

We were amped to get there when the tide was going out. Brain, Eli, Tony, Noah and I had a great session out on the hard packed sand. Eli brought all his Ground Industry boards out to the beach for us to try out.

For me, this was my first real experience riding on good hard packed sand. The feeling was similar to riding on snow. From past sessions on grass and hard packed fields, I never got to feel the slide and the hooking up of the mtn. board on hard sand. Fun, Fun, Fun

We got showed up by the style and power of Eli's land boarding skills. Also his buddy and long time friend Gabe Shortman showed up and showed us his style. Gabe on a super old V4 was still ripping up the place and also boosting off a huge kicker he brought.

With all of us flying all the new 2010 snow kites and a few inflatables. We attracted a crowd of people. Then 3 buggyers showed up and were romping up the dunes and hauling ass on the hard flats. Who would have thought that we would get a good size group from a in prompt to kite session.

well tell next time.


peace
patrick nedele

Zephyr Gets LOST

After some amazing reaches in really light wind. I was so amped for someone else to try the light wind abilities of the new Zephyr. So our good friend Eli had to try to show me up. Even thought he weighs about 80 pounds more he still had to go out and give a go at the light wind.

Even with as light as the wind was, a guy that weighs 240 pounds and riding a 132cm long and kind of a wide board. Eli managed to get up and plane across the little bay we were in. With the winds being as light as they were. As Eli sailed to the other side. The wind luffed and Eli dropped the kite! Oh Eli! So he decided to try to walk up wind in the shallow water, even though the water was about chest deep! Up wind of him was a nice little island to regroup and relaunch the kite in the none existing wind.

As Eli was half swimming and half walking in the deep water. He was wearing a new Mystic harness that he got at the AWSI. What is the most important thing that hangs from your harness? A LEASH!!! So since Eli got a new harness he didn't have a leash. As he strolled and swam in the water he took the leash attachment point and larks headed it around his spreader bar. Well all is good until the leash line slips off the bar and the only Zephyr in the US, floats away into the Delta of the Colombia River. BALLS!!

As we stood on the beach we watch the only kite, we all want to ride in the light wind float away slowly. Mean time Eli is swimming like a Olympic swimmer to get back to shore. He yells at us, "Go get a boat," to get the kite. So we start scrambling to find a fisherman to bring us out to the kite.

In the mean time the beach goers were worried that Eli is drowning and they call 911. Poor Eli, loses a kite, has to swim back to shore, and the cops get called. Everybody shows up to the beach to meet and greet Eli. Ambulance, cops, fire trucks everyone waiting for a disaster. When they got there the personal was bummed to see that there victim was a walking, talking and not drowning!! So Eli managed to sort out the confusion. Sign some papers and got them to leave.

We managed to flag down a boat, that went to go check out the kite. The Zephyr managed to float down wind into the delta of the Colombia. But luckily the lines got wrapped around a lobster buoy and the kite didn't go as far as we would have imagined. The nice people from Washington on vacation with there boat came to our rescue to help us save the Zephyr. Amazingly absolutely nothing happened to the kite and the folks were just glad to help.

So what is the lesson learned from the story?

Always wear a leash! Even if you get a new harness because you are a bad ass rider!


Peace

Patrick Nedele

A little Sneak Peak

ZEPHYR!!!!
It wasn't that windy when I tried it. I wish we had a wind meter! The Kite had amazing grunt and movement!

AWSI Hood River

After Rooster Rock, The nudist adventure. We headed back to tha HOOD. Found this sweet camp spot on Post Canyon Rd. Slept there for the night. Really nice and quite, no trains hauling coal freight at 3am.

Anyway after a good evening of drinking and talking kite stories. We all headed down to town to get coffee. Who is the first people we run into at the coffee shop? KITERS, Sheldon and Renee from Decosse customs talking with Julian and Slezak about the winter snowboard line up for LF. I am Stoked to see there are more brands that are going to be serious about the snow for 2010!

Also stoked to see Decosse because, they are making me skis this year for the 2010 race season(Thank you for the new Ride!). I want to win this years US Snowkite Nationals again for 2010. Mark your calenders and come race, February 25-28. Most of the event will be held on the weekend. www.snowkitemasters.com but for those of you that are hard core snow kiters come earlyer and kite!

Anyway AWSI was cool. Got to meet and greet with alot of friends, riders and manufactures. Was stoked that there were that many brands there. Ozone got to show off the new 2010 C4 and demo out the Zephyr. Lots of talk on the C4, new generation of the C kite is going to be the ticket. C shape, C power, C friendly and Usable!!

Not only did I get to try the new C4. But I also got to rock out on the new Underground surf boards! They ride really smooth in the chop and carve turns like no other board. The board has flex and it makes the turns more progressive.

I also have to thank Bill Morrissey of Dakine. To stop and take the time to talk to me about snowkiting and the Snow Kite Masters. Thank you once again of the continued support of snowkiting, and also for the new harness.


Check out the next blog for the Zephyr!! The ultimate in light wind fun and Performance.

Peace

Patrick

Funny Clip Of the Zephyr

Ozone Zephyr 17m from Nicolas Beaugonin on Vimeo.

More coming

Three Mile fun! + Rooster Rockin

So our first camp spot was a total surprise. As Brian and I drove all the way from Mt. Pleasant, Utah, about 12 hours. We showed up to Three Mile Canyon to camp. To our surprise we got down to the water and there was about 50 cops! For me I don't trust the police, so it was a awkward situation. It must of looked funny when we drove down to the waters edge in the Ozone van. Then we turned right around and high tailed it out of there.

Weird vibe from Cops, so we went to the next exit down the road to camp. After a good night sleep listening to the train that rambles down the canyon. We headed out in the morning to Hood River. We met up with our Friends Tony and Noah of Montana Kite Sports. Then decided where the wind is going to be in the Gorge. The sand bar wasn't looking great, light wind and hot. So we decided to rock down river to Rooster Rock.

What a sweet spot! It is a state park with a great beach and sand to launch kites and hang out on. But even better it is a clothing optional beach!! I got to kite and look at naked woman in the river!!! How much fun is that! Kites and BOOBS yahooooo! Only down fall is the Viet Shlong!! And the old naked dudes, but there is a good share of strippers from Portland.

The wind was cranking at Rooster that day. We were riding 9m Edge's. Also got to test out the new C4 kite by Ozone. It was sweet! I got to test a 11m C4. All I can say is SUPER! The kite is a total hoot. It is a user friendly C kite that totally depowers and still has the punch and bang of a C kite. I was amazed at its gust munching abilities. There will be alot of stoked people to try this ride. It is a totally different feel and jumping with it is like going to the moon. I need to ride the C4 for a afternoon just so I could get use to the boost and glide. Also the speed it moves, what a riot!

From local Gorge riders to visiting retailers everyone that got there hands on the c4. Was stoked on the new generation of Ozones. And loved the fact that they are trying new designs that work!

COMING SOON
Zephyr pics and write up!



Peace

Patrick Nedele

Mt. Hood

 
So finally I am making it out to tha HOOD. Making it out west has been a journey. At least I finally get to kite in the Colombia River Gorge. A long awaited stay to actually kite on the river.

Mt. Hood

Peace
patrick

Project Cloud 9 Trailer

Project: Cloud 9 from Motz on Vimeo.

We filmed this in Clark about 2 years ago now!! I can't wait for the snow to FLY!! You can still check out the web site too!! www.projectcloud9.com

Insides of Clark

So after a lot of deciding and discussing, we have decided to sell CLARK!! Ah what!!!, I have heard some other kiters said, "That they would buy it just to stay in the kite comunity!!!" Clark has been the best experince in my life, Traveling, Demoing, the Filming of PROJECT: Cloud 9, and friends that have passed through CLark. We will all miss him. Hopefully Clark will go to a loving home.

It is time to move on to the FUSO.

This is just amazing, what a adventure this would be!

The Longest Way 1.0 - one year walk/beard grow time lapse from Christoph Rehage on Vimeo.

Just another video for you viewing pleasure. I might have to get a new camera to do some thing like this!

Check out his site too!!

Wow

http://www.thelongestway.com

May Fly Heaven

So when we got to Lake Millie Lacs, Minnesota. We were instantly welcomed to warm open hands and a place to park our Clark (The R.V.). Thanks to Kathy and Terry hooking us up with the most epic camping spot in between the trees on there land.

Everybody from the Minnesota crew was super nice and loving. I think this crew is very similar to our crew in Colorado. There is a lot of camaraderie and friendship. Everybody for the most part is there to have a good time and hangout around the kite atomoshpere. Even if people didn't kite they hung out and chilled and watch the others rip it up and have fun. Not only that but MN crew reminds me of our crew because they are all partyers just like us. Kite hard and party even harder (to make the muscles stop hurting!!)

As for the spot they ride. Lots of FUN!! The lake is set up super nice. There is a sandy bottom where we rode both days. With a huge sand bar the water was only about waist to chest deep. So it makes for a great spot to ride. Except for the crazy may fly hatch that we endured.

I have never seen anything like that. Massive swarms of bugs called may flies. It only happens about twice a year the locals say! But the big slow flying bug doesn't do anything but fly, attach to your hat or on your back and chill until they die. You get used to them but, if you are squeamish it is not fun. The only thing I didn't like about them is they smelled like dead fish. Oh and they pop like pop corn when you step on them or drive over them with the car.

Anyway sweet demo lots of people got to ride the multiple models and said they were all great.

Peace

Patrick Nedele

Mille Lacs Lake, Mn

 
Ohhh I didn't forget about you guys! Your write up and grades are coming later!

Surf

 
Surfing through life is all I need. I just got a new fortune cookie saying, "You cannot Love life until you live the life you love." Man how true!! I just wish I could win the lottery, so my wish could come true. I am completly and totally addicted to Kiting and Travel. How do I cure my self?

Peace
Patrick

Just for your viewing pleasure!!

Hooray

 
HOOORRRAAY KITES!

Mackinaw Bridge

We had a rocking time at Lake Michigan, but it was time to head north along the Lake Michigan coast. We decided to head north to go to Lake Millacs in Minnesota. Instead of heading south through another gauntlet of a City, Chicago.

Instead we headed for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Well worth the drive. Very, very pretty. It almost felt like you were in Alaska. Not that I have been to Alaska, but it is on the bucket list...

Also driving across one of Americas engineering miracles, the Mackinac Bridge. It is basically the mid wests version of the Golden Gate Bridge, in San Fran. Just way more engineered for the Frozen winter weather. With Ice flows and crazy gusty winds in the Strait of Mackinac, they had to make the bridge better and stronger than its counter part.

The Mackinaw bridge is now currently the third longest suspended bridge in the world the leader now is Japan and second is Denmark. I also read this interesting fact that all suspension bridges are designed to move to accommodate wind, change in temperature, and weight. It is possible that the deck at center span could move as much as 35 feet (east or west) due to high winds. This would only happen under severe wind conditions. The deck would not swing or "sway" but rather move slowly in one direction based on the force and direction of the wind. After the wind subsides, the weight of the vehicles crossing would slowly move it back into center position.

Crazy!! If you want to read more history or cool facts check out the web site or watch the History Channel on T.V. they have a whole show on Modern Marvels about the Mackinac Bridge. It is also pronounced Mackinaw bridge.
www.mackinacbridge.org

Peace

Patrick and Kara

Mak Attak

Being all the way in the east on Lake Huron in Tawas Point we motored Clark (The Rv)west through Michigan through very lush green trees, and beautiful bushes and tall Breeze grasses. Straight to a even more beautiful spot to kite at Muskegon, Michigan

Kara and I went to one of the nicest beaches on the hole trip. It was pure white silty sand. The sand didn't stick to the kites. With fresh water in the Great Lake Michigan. It made for great kiting. I wish we were there for the waves! Locals say that the waves can easily get to 10-15 ft!

Setting up kites on clean sands with no shells is just nice and feels good. It reminds me of our home spot at Lake McConaughy, Nebraska. It almost felt like home but it was lake Michigan, waaay bigger!

I flew Kites with some of the local fare. Chilled with there Peanut Gallery on the bench. Down near the old Mack Shack. The water was surprisingly warm, some of the guys sad it was really cold about a week before we got there. Darn, I bought a new dry suit and every where we go the water is warm. Haven't got to try it yet!

After our great session on Muskegon Beach. Mark I wonderful guy that is a photographer in the area invited us to his home. To stay behind his house next to another fellow camper. Mark was so nice after he invited us to stay at his house he invited us to go on a sail. Kara and I got to go out on a 27 ft. sail boat, we kept telling ourselves that we wanted to go out on a boat the whole trip. Finally the end of the trip we got to try out our sea legs.

Thank you so much Mark and Kristy. We had a great dinner with you guys and great conversation. I hope the cats didn't destroy much more in the house!! Thank you

peace
Patrick and Kara

(sorry forgot camera for the sailing trip!)

Wawas

Next we went North to Tawas Point on Lake Huron. It had a amazing campground filled with big green trees, family's that road there bikes everywhere, and sweet Fire rings. It also had clean facilities and soothing showers that are just a walk from the beach.

The riding spot is cool it takes all wind directions pretty well as it is a point. I got to ride on the inside of the bay where the water was warm. We launch right by the Lights house and walk down to the beach. A little sketchy because of trees make a wind shadow but once the kite is in the air no problem. You can also go down and launch on the beach on drift launch. Not as nice as the grass!

Had a instructor for Great Lakes Kiteboarding, try a 11m Sport. He loved the boost and glide of the kite also the direct kite to bar feel.

I had a great time on a strapless board. Trying to do upwind tacks. Can't figure out the weird under the bar and lines limbo.

Trying new things, keeps live interesting.

Peace

Patrick and Kara