12/31 Strabs River 12 M MII

[Jon Manwaring]

Drove to Strabs Valley around 11:00 am drove all over the place looking for a west wind spot, found several with 6-8 mph but not much more Arrived Strabs River about 1:00 and watched an unknown kiter (to me)working to keep a vintage 15M Naish Aero up. He worked it really hard and finally got it to stay in the Sky. Checked my meter and saw that wind had picked up to around 8-12. I watched him go over the hill to the East of the parking area. Rigged up my 12 and was after him. I managed to get out and up into the higher flat area but was a little nervous to chase him to the far other side, so I played in the rolling flats an watched him go up and down the hills and valleys on the other side. Quite a show! Worked the lift provided by the terrain perfectly. Great Job to whomever it was. Please post a reply if you see this. He was on snowoard and I on skiis, deep snow 1-2 feet, I sunk in on occasion. I'm thinking that a big foil 15M and a snow board may be the ultimate STEADY LIGHT wind combi for us heavy weights, 195 lbs, I was Ok to move on the big foil. Kite was stable, new ones are much improved over previous models, but the big LEI gives much more pull. EXCEPT unless you go with the 19 M $2Kman SA special. I stopped around 3 and he was still playing in the lower areas. Again congratulations on making the light wind work
Happy New Year to All
Jon Mzee

[bob allen]

Hey Jon,
Thanks for the props. Aero 16 and voile 183 cm. Qualude kiting at its best. Always nice to get a session hopefully I can get out again soon.

[jason morton]

Cool to see you post Bob. For those of you who don't know Bob is my buddy from the gorge. A few of us stayed on his gorgeous property in underwood last summer over the 24th. He doesn't kite on anything larger than a 12m except for light wind snowkiting. He lives at Alta in the winter. BTW- Those were some sick tracks you guys left down the face of Mt. Superior yesterday.

[MikE mAy]

yeah bob! thanks again for letting us crash on your property. i had a great time up in the gorge and hope you are having a fabulous time at alta. superior can be fun, huh? i always dream about screeming past the other skinners on the uphill slog/race under the power lines. if only those lines weren't there.....

hope to get out under a kite with you during your stay here.