SPECIAL EVENTS

FLORIDA TOUR: Sunday Feb 18, 2007
Jeremie Green owner of Jupiter Kiteboarding shop called early in the morning and suggested a downwinder. The wind had clocked North, North East and and the conditions were perfect for a extended ride.

We quickly met at the shop in Jupiter and drove along the beach checking conditions and landing spots along the route. We headed towards the home of Jeremies' student to start the ride. With Jeremie was his old friend Jimbo who wanted to ride the Batwing.

The wind was still a bit off-shore and still gusty when we pumped up and slowly one-by-one we left the beach somewhat underpowered. The 12m were fairing better than the 9's but eventually the winds filled in and we ripped down the beach with great excitement. A few sharks and turtles were spotted and the swells filled in nicely in a few places. Jeremie got worked throught the surf in one accation and we thought for sure the Rampage II 12m kite would be destroyed. But he was able to re-launch and continue with no consequence as the Rampage II had a trued test for durability.

FLORIDA TOUR: Saturday Feb 17, 2007
After a day of no-wind, we were quite pumped to see the forecast call for North to North East winds at 15-20mph. We had planned to go up to Fort Pierce but got side tracked when Indigo from the Jupiter Kiteboarding shop called and invited us to go with a group of local kiters to an island only reachable by boat.

We turned around and headed back to Stuart and met the guys on a dock. There a kiter by the name of JC came and picked us up on his cat-hulled motorboat and ferried us to a secluded island that the locals wanted to keep it a secret. The wind had built up to the 20's by the time we landed on the sandy shore and five kites quickly took to the air. It was quite a gusty wind and riders were being challenged especially when crossing the leward side of the island. It wasn't long before a few other boats came in with four other riders and a pretty spectator join the group and kited all afternoon.

Another great day of adventure. The wind continued to fill well into the night. The next day looked very promising.

FLORIDA TOUR: February 13-15, 2007
Getting there was part of the fun. We flew into West Palm Beach after a 23 hour delay in Washington D.C. because of the ice storm that paralized the whole East Coast.

It wasn't long after we arrived that the cold air filtered down for some cold days in Miami. Boarding Bob was already in Florida and had a great day of kiting on a Batwing 9m while we were stuck in the DC airport.

FLORIDA TOUR: Thursday Feb 15, 2007
A late start for the first day and northwest winds was the call so we headed towards Naples. Somehow ended up at Tiger Tail Park. The only reason we stayed was because we ran into Robin, a kiter from the Gorge who was walking back to his car to retrieve a smaller kite.

We were told that there was a 20-minute walk to the launch site, which explained why there were no kites in sight. We grabbed our gear and started walking.

It was cold but when we came on the launch site the sun broke through briefly. It was a majestic location! Ocean on one side and flat shallow waters on the other no more than 10 yards across.

Three kites were up in the bay and we quickly join the group with our Batwing 9's. Boarding Bob got out first followed by a shivering Jonathan who though Florida was the tropics and left his full suit at home. Bob crossed over to the ocean side and kited most of the session on the choppy waves.

Jonathan came in complaining of leg cramps and ended up talking with Robin between shivers and got him riding on a Bat 9. The sun started to set and we still had a long drive back to Miami. Fortunately a truck came along on the beach and we hitched a ride back tot he car. It was a great half-day ridding and a good first day in Florida...