Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Super windy day (Wed)



Not many people out today. Seems most don't have samller kites,

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Tuesday Pre-First Day

First day, but not evrything was setup. High winds in the morning (34/40) and a high wind warning all day, but it calmed down to the 20's in the afternoon. New world speed record was set in the morning at 82mph :o Crazy to see that buggy zipping across the lake, wish I had video. Ricardo also set the 1 bug, 1 pilot, 1 passenger record at 85 kp. Wish I had my gopro, I could have ad a few good shots as I pulled up behind him. Today I worked up from the 1.7 to the 2.5 in the afternoon and hit 35 which is plenty fast. Also was not using a harness ;) 20mph 180's on the hard surface is quite fun! The new buggy is extremely stable and takes speed and turns really well. The pull of the wind is also very different from the beach. On the beach, I often feel like you need to fight the kite to get moving. The wind pulls the kite, the kite pulls you, you pull the buggy, the buggy is resisted in the sand. So my 3.5 often feel like a lot of kite since the power is more on me then transferred thru the buggy. On the playa, there is almost no rolling resistance so you just go. Te 2.5 was never too much kite, so I imagine the 3.5 would feel the same. You can't really feel the more pull, it just translates into more a faster transfer thru the bug and into speed. The discovery channel was on site, and so was peter lynn, filming for some documentary. I was out flying, maybe they'll use a clip I was in... they can use me as a reference to show how fast the competetive kiters are ;) The trailer is working out great. Left it on the playa and chained it to another trailer. Also can't find my GPS, I had it yesterday; need to clean out the trailer and car to look for it :( The high pressure system never really landed, so it's still out there. Not sure if it'll be windier, rainy, or lully tomorrow... we shall see. News is saying higher winds, rain, and cold.


Hellawindy

Aparently gust to 60... Someone hit 85mph ( on purpose) with a 2.5.
Yow. My chair awaits.

Monday's Pre-event

Pulled in after noon and was able to check out the playa. New buggy, new surface, starting slow. Used the 1.7m to test the water and was able to get to 25 (trying hard with a tiny kite). Pulled out the 7m blaze II but the wind was too light. I believe the biggest kite today power/area was Jim's 14m jojo. Flexifoil guys were pulling 10ft buggy jump and sui jibes. crazy. Wind forcast is 40mph for tomorrow, too much for me, but I can't wait to see what the flexifoil guys will do.




Sunday, March 28, 2010

Part 2.5

Part 2

Gassing up...

416...Merced!

Dusk

Moon. Headlights. Feist & Mraz.

Box wine land @ I5 487

Overexposed @ I5 505

Hey look ma tall bldgs!

1st buildings over 100ft in 10h...

1st highway palm @ I5 597

@ I5 650

Olive pit, forgot about that.
2nd 1/2 of sammich'
340m to kettleman city.

Starting to look like sonorcal.. @ I5 675

Gas @ Shasta lake I5 682

I5 @ 695

I5 @ 751

Crazy windy!

Shasta... Stretch!

Over the pass.. Hi norcal!

Ashland @ I5 16

Del Rio vinyard @ 43

Yum!

Food and gas

The two are un related. 30m stop in grants pass... Back on the road,
next stop sac-town.

Navigator Ruff @ I5 88

>

> Ruff navigating and looking for gas and food. Thanks Marek!
>

I5 roseburg 120

I5 @ 222

I5 willsonville 270

Test