Utah Windriders Association

Rode 11m instinct on thursday every thing from 12 meter frenzys and mantas to 8m c-kites out with the crew, very cold new snow on top of firm pack. Friday 10m manta for myself 12 manta for Tommy Renyolds and 9 waroo for the misses. Some how Kenny held down a 15m flysurfer even having to butt drag down some terrain just to stay in control and on the gorund instead of airborn (nice work bishop!) not to mention some big long glides under 15m of sail! TR and I were hiting some breakneck speed out on the ice as the wind danced around the 30 mark and about a inch of corn on the ice as we were riding back from the marina to the launch, may have been the fastest I have been on snow, sure was one of the top three fasted days ever, for us wish we sould have had the GPS out. Instead I was content to race the cars along the rode from the ladders to the narrows. The cars were just a bit faster, but not by much it was a 50mph+ day for both TR and I maybe even onto the relm of 60 Tommy has hit the high 50s before with the GPS and we both felt it was as fast perhaps faster. Also had a sick time playing in the campground and gaping the road to the marina!!!!!

It was a fun afternoon. The wind started out solid and just built from there. Got to the point that I could hover by just sheeting in the bar. If I held the bar down, I would slowly lift as high as I wanted to go and I would either stay in place or slowly travel up the hill. Decided to keep it under 40 feet by sheeting out and staying closer to the ground. For fun I tried to figure out how close to the ground I could stay, yet still be airborne. I bet I spent 3 or 4 minutes 5 feet off the ground just hanging there. It was a rare opportunity, as I would never launch a 15M kite in 25 - 30 mph wind. The amount of power on tap was ridiculous.

Billy and Tom went all the way upwind from the Ladders to the campground. It took them a bit to get there, but they were back in a flash. The conditions were perfect for a speed run and they were absolutely hauling across the ice. Still plenty of snow, today should be excellent up there.