Ozone Weekend

Saturday was a no wind day - although I flew for 5 minutes before the fog bank came in...then it was a day to hang on the beach. Sunday crazy wind, crazy waves, hooked up with a bunch to do a downwinder but I was flying my 12 M and should have been on my 17 M. By the time I switched kites I missed the opportunity to do a downwinder but still played in the waves for an hour or so.

Bob, Jean here. I'm gonna add a little to this report, if you don't mind...

The Ozone weekend was blessed with a strong blow from the Northeast. Eric from Funseekers.org took some time away from demoing Ozone kites to show the masskiters how to tackle an open ocean downwinder. We left some cars at Nauset Light Beach, and the group convened at Newcomb Hollow Beach, on the Wellfleet Truro line. There was Stephan from Arlington, his buddy Mathias from Paris - just flown in the day before, Bob Doe and brother Tim, Jeff, and myself (Jean). We started with a skippers meeting led by Eric where he shared with us his philosophy on safe downwinding. There was a Southeast groundswell, and a building Northeast wind swell, sets reaching 8 feet. Getting through the shore pound was a chore, though Eric taught me to jump in fast and body drag out past it first, then start boarding. For me, it was high adventure, and a ride I had been wanting to make for a long time. I was very grateful for Eric's guidance, because as all masskiters know, there is no substitute for local knowledge. Eric told me he's probably done this downwinder 300 times..!

Reading the water in these conditions is a total experience, so much happening all at once, but it all felt real smooth - 4 dimensional. Caught some huge air on the outside, and focused on not getting crushed on the inside. I can't wait to go again. I'm not a surfer, so I'm learning to ride waves, need to buy a surfboard.

Session Pictures: