[Rule # 32 Enjoy the little things]
An epic kite adventure to South Padre Island, March 2010
After a long, cold snowy winter….it was time to dust off the gear and head south to hit the wind and water. This was my 2nd annual South Padre Island kiting trip, and it couldn’t come at a better time. Good friends, new gear, and warm temps. Damn straight! We were all jumping on planes to Brownsville or Harlingen, jumping in Ruby Begonia and driving 2000 miles or jumping in the Defender 90 and driving 1300 miles! Either way, it was a long trip filled with vehicles, multiple planes, cancelled flights and lost gear. We all trickled in, and slowly trickled out…..and most importantly, quenched our thirst with some great riding conditions and WIND!!
After my three flights on Saturday, a tired Meggers arrived into Harlingen, and did a little wind-dance as I saw my surfboard gear bag make an entrance through the baggage claim tire flaps. I had arrived. My gear had arrived. STOKED! [Rule#7: Travel light] The forecast in SPI for the last month was terrible…the wind had been less than usual, temperatures were lower than normal. I was praying this would change. But, as I awoke on Sunday morning, temps were barely touching 50 degrees. As the day warmed up though, we sat in the sun at the North Flats and waited on the wind. By 4pm, I rigged my 9m Rev2, Warren on his 12m Rebel, and JB on his 13m Rev. One word…Glass-tastic! The flats are just that…shallow water, endless flat sand to park vehicles on, room as far as you can see to launch, land, rig kites. It’s amazing! And 2 port-o-potties in the far, far distance. [Rule #1: Cardio] By early evening, Jimmy and Brian had arrived after a canceled flight into Harlingen. They made it as far as Corpus Christi and drove down. Their gear took a detour, so they only had a couple carry-on bags. We solved that problem: Jimmy took my harness and kite, while Brian took JB’s kite and harness. We share well….anything for friends to get a session in after a long day of travel! [Rule#29: The buddy system]
Monday was fun-day, as there wasn’t a lick of wind. Rented some paddleboards, hung out at the pool and beach, and readied ourselves for the following couple days. The wind was coming!! Tuesday brought us some winds (SE 20-25) that built through the day. We all got out at the north flats with epic off-shore conditions. I got out on my surfboard in the flat water to work on transitions and toe-side riding. While doing this, I stepped down on something nasty!!! It will always be a mystery…but the story is that a stingray punctured the bottom of my foot [Rule#13: Shake it off.] Nasty nasty…but back to riding in less than an hour. We all gathered in Ruby Begonia and headed over to the ocean for a group 10-mile downwinder. Kites ranged from 9m to 13m, with fun surf to play in the entire way up to the north side. Jimmy got out on Janie’s pink Amundsen, and well, he was smitten. He prayed for SE wind the rest of the week, just as excuse to ride that sweet ‘lil girl. [Rule #16: Opportunity knocks.] Wednesday morning, the wind had died off, so we camped out at the north flats and set up a Ruby Begonia tent. Beers broke out at 11am, and the boys got the skim board out to be pulled by JB in his D90 along the water’s edge. Warren rigged some 600lb test line to a wooden stick, but it couldn’t hold him over 5mph on that skim board. SNAP! The sun poked through and temps heated up, as the wind teased us. A few of us got some quick rides, but not enough to stay up-wind. Packed it up and headed home for dinner and a movie with the gang….ZOMBIELAND. We quickly learned surviving the zombie apocalypse can be very similar to our kiting lives. There are rules, and it’s a good idea to apply ‘em!! [Rule #26: A little sunscreen never hurt anybody] How perfect….a zombie movie that shows us how journeys really bring us together, even in a virus-laden world!
Thursday answered all of our kite dreams….the most EPIC day for everyone!! Warren planned an early-morning ocean downwinder, as winds were from the NNE. After that 10 miler, another one followed after all meeting up at the flats. I took the second one soundside on my surfboard with Brian [Rule#8: Get a kickass partner], as Jimmy, Warren, Buster and JB went for the ocean a second time. We all re-grouped at the flats and continued to ride until about 5pm. We were flippin exhausted!! What a day! Friday morning brought more calm winds, as I took Buster to Harlingen to fly off….SE winds filled in later in the afternoon (14-16) and we all got some great riding in. Switzerland had arrived, and as we lost Buster, Laila and Reto joined us for some riding through the weekend! Saturday proved to be just as stellar as Thursday. Early morning downwinder with SE winds pumping, I ventured out on my celeritas surfboard for my FIRST ocean downwinder on a directional [Rule#17: Always carry a change of underwear]. We all started out at the condos and headed north for 10 miles….myself, Jimmy, JB, Warren, Laila, Reto, Brian and Mike. Elaine and Janie worked the Ruby Begonia pickup like rockstars!! By the time the downwinder had finished, winds ramped up to 25mph with gusts over 35! JB and Jimmy were lit, on 10m and 13m kites! [Rule# 22: When in doubt, know your way out] After the ride, we all jumped in Ruby and headed to the flats to ride one last long afternoon. Sunny, warm temps….just a beautiful windy afternoon! Girls were rockin it as Janie, Laila, Elaine and myself were all out in full force! Watch out boys! Lots of firsts for this gang out on the water that week…and most importantly great group fun.
Saturday night was filled with one last group dinner, gear packing and wrap up from a great week out on the water. A great week filled with great friends, great wind, sunshine and plenty of tequila, I mean water. [Rule#40: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Unless it’s a sprint, then it’s a sprint]
SPI “Kite Zombieland” 2010 starring:
Warren Fuller
Janie Fuller
Eugene Fuller
Jimmy Kondisko
Brian Muller
Meg Shipman
John Brown
Todd “Buster” Alphin
Laila Hug
Reto Leuenberger
Elaine Beresni
Mike Beresni
Special appearances by:
Ruby Begonia, Pinky, The Brain, Pink Amundsen, The Claw, D90 #77, and a stingray
An epic kite adventure to South Padre Island, March 2010
After a long, cold snowy winter….it was time to dust off the gear and head south to hit the wind and water. This was my 2nd annual South Padre Island kiting trip, and it couldn’t come at a better time. Good friends, new gear, and warm temps. Damn straight! We were all jumping on planes to Brownsville or Harlingen, jumping in Ruby Begonia and driving 2000 miles or jumping in the Defender 90 and driving 1300 miles! Either way, it was a long trip filled with vehicles, multiple planes, cancelled flights and lost gear. We all trickled in, and slowly trickled out…..and most importantly, quenched our thirst with some great riding conditions and WIND!!
After my three flights on Saturday, a tired Meggers arrived into Harlingen, and did a little wind-dance as I saw my surfboard gear bag make an entrance through the baggage claim tire flaps. I had arrived. My gear had arrived. STOKED! [Rule#7: Travel light] The forecast in SPI for the last month was terrible…the wind had been less than usual, temperatures were lower than normal. I was praying this would change. But, as I awoke on Sunday morning, temps were barely touching 50 degrees. As the day warmed up though, we sat in the sun at the North Flats and waited on the wind. By 4pm, I rigged my 9m Rev2, Warren on his 12m Rebel, and JB on his 13m Rev. One word…Glass-tastic! The flats are just that…shallow water, endless flat sand to park vehicles on, room as far as you can see to launch, land, rig kites. It’s amazing! And 2 port-o-potties in the far, far distance. [Rule #1: Cardio] By early evening, Jimmy and Brian had arrived after a canceled flight into Harlingen. They made it as far as Corpus Christi and drove down. Their gear took a detour, so they only had a couple carry-on bags. We solved that problem: Jimmy took my harness and kite, while Brian took JB’s kite and harness. We share well….anything for friends to get a session in after a long day of travel! [Rule#29: The buddy system]
Monday was fun-day, as there wasn’t a lick of wind. Rented some paddleboards, hung out at the pool and beach, and readied ourselves for the following couple days. The wind was coming!! Tuesday brought us some winds (SE 20-25) that built through the day. We all got out at the north flats with epic off-shore conditions. I got out on my surfboard in the flat water to work on transitions and toe-side riding. While doing this, I stepped down on something nasty!!! It will always be a mystery…but the story is that a stingray punctured the bottom of my foot [Rule#13: Shake it off.] Nasty nasty…but back to riding in less than an hour. We all gathered in Ruby Begonia and headed over to the ocean for a group 10-mile downwinder. Kites ranged from 9m to 13m, with fun surf to play in the entire way up to the north side. Jimmy got out on Janie’s pink Amundsen, and well, he was smitten. He prayed for SE wind the rest of the week, just as excuse to ride that sweet ‘lil girl. [Rule #16: Opportunity knocks.] Wednesday morning, the wind had died off, so we camped out at the north flats and set up a Ruby Begonia tent. Beers broke out at 11am, and the boys got the skim board out to be pulled by JB in his D90 along the water’s edge. Warren rigged some 600lb test line to a wooden stick, but it couldn’t hold him over 5mph on that skim board. SNAP! The sun poked through and temps heated up, as the wind teased us. A few of us got some quick rides, but not enough to stay up-wind. Packed it up and headed home for dinner and a movie with the gang….ZOMBIELAND. We quickly learned surviving the zombie apocalypse can be very similar to our kiting lives. There are rules, and it’s a good idea to apply ‘em!! [Rule #26: A little sunscreen never hurt anybody] How perfect….a zombie movie that shows us how journeys really bring us together, even in a virus-laden world!
Thursday answered all of our kite dreams….the most EPIC day for everyone!! Warren planned an early-morning ocean downwinder, as winds were from the NNE. After that 10 miler, another one followed after all meeting up at the flats. I took the second one soundside on my surfboard with Brian [Rule#8: Get a kickass partner], as Jimmy, Warren, Buster and JB went for the ocean a second time. We all re-grouped at the flats and continued to ride until about 5pm. We were flippin exhausted!! What a day! Friday morning brought more calm winds, as I took Buster to Harlingen to fly off….SE winds filled in later in the afternoon (14-16) and we all got some great riding in. Switzerland had arrived, and as we lost Buster, Laila and Reto joined us for some riding through the weekend! Saturday proved to be just as stellar as Thursday. Early morning downwinder with SE winds pumping, I ventured out on my celeritas surfboard for my FIRST ocean downwinder on a directional [Rule#17: Always carry a change of underwear]. We all started out at the condos and headed north for 10 miles….myself, Jimmy, JB, Warren, Laila, Reto, Brian and Mike. Elaine and Janie worked the Ruby Begonia pickup like rockstars!! By the time the downwinder had finished, winds ramped up to 25mph with gusts over 35! JB and Jimmy were lit, on 10m and 13m kites! [Rule# 22: When in doubt, know your way out] After the ride, we all jumped in Ruby and headed to the flats to ride one last long afternoon. Sunny, warm temps….just a beautiful windy afternoon! Girls were rockin it as Janie, Laila, Elaine and myself were all out in full force! Watch out boys! Lots of firsts for this gang out on the water that week…and most importantly great group fun.
Saturday night was filled with one last group dinner, gear packing and wrap up from a great week out on the water. A great week filled with great friends, great wind, sunshine and plenty of tequila, I mean water. [Rule#40: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Unless it’s a sprint, then it’s a sprint]
SPI “Kite Zombieland” 2010 starring:
Warren Fuller
Janie Fuller
Eugene Fuller
Jimmy Kondisko
Brian Muller
Meg Shipman
John Brown
Todd “Buster” Alphin
Laila Hug
Reto Leuenberger
Elaine Beresni
Mike Beresni
Special appearances by:
Ruby Begonia, Pinky, The Brain, Pink Amundsen, The Claw, D90 #77, and a stingray
No comments:
Post a Comment