Author: Bryan Elkus

Yesterday it blew a constant WNW @30 knots all day. With a little hesitation a bunch of us decided to head out and ride with some of our clients. We drove up to Avon where it was still just as cold and the wind was coming mostly onshore. Before we left we raided the shop and took all of the smallest kites we could find. I rode the 7m Slingshot Link and the JL Model 3 139cm. Dave was on a 5m Fuel, Tommy rode a 7m Waroo and Nuzzi was on a 7.5 boxer. We all had a good time after getting out into the water since the launch was not the safest in the world, but it turned out to be a lot worse looking than it really was. The Sound side was up about 2-4 feet higher than usual. I liked riding the link it’s a quick flying kite and turns on the drop of a dime. It was hard sometimes to know where the kite was in the air because of the light bar pressure. The kite had great depower. I defiantly should have rode that kite for yesterday’s ocean session.

This weekend proved to be another great one. I started Saturday off slow going to the Orange blossom for a tastey breakfast. Then droved down to the wash out for a couple hours of light kiting. GS, Wendy, Dave, Beth and Zack were there along with some others. I also meet Jonn Myers, who kites with My friend Tom who recently moved down the SC for work. After the wind got really light we called it a session and headed home. Tommy, Joe and myself meet up with john his girl friend (Ruth) and friend (erin) for dinner. And then a bunch of us came back to the house to hang out and watch movies and plan for the storm coming the next day. Ryan Evens came down with Steve that night to ride with us in the morning. We woke up and went to the shop for gear around 9 and then headed to KP. When we got to KP it was getting dark. By the time we were running our lines it was poring. We checked the radar and had a good hour to two hours before it became unkiteable. We were all up on small kites (9m). We were boosting as high as any of us had before. It was a great session other than the poring rain, and some gusts. Once the wind picked up past 30 we had to put the kites down. We took a break and hung out more at the house. 3:30 came around and the storm was just starting to pass so we headed out to The Cove again to hopefully get up and ride. The pics below are from that time. It was sunny but poring and windy as can be. The rain stopped a half hour later and tommy when out on his 7 waroo pro and the JL Chaamber strapless. The wind was 30-35 knots and the waves were head to maybe double overhead. I put up my 9m fuel and took the JL Charger for a couple tacks. John put up his kite but I couldn’t hold it down. Evens tried to put up a 9m Boxer and Joe had to hold him down from flying away. About that time the wind picked up from when I went out. I was way over powered and skidded to a face plant in the surf. My board flew off my feet. So, I was in head high surf and dusk body dragging for a board I thought id never find. But luckly after a couple of body drags I was able to get back to my board and depower the kite enough to get back to shore. All while tommy was still out rocking it. It was a great sight to see none the less and it was defiantly a great weekend.

More Photos coming soon.

Any Bolt rolled into the shop today a little before 1 to let us know that people were riding at KP. We checked out the wind and it said 10 everywhere. We decided to go check it out anyways because we had to get photos of the new Yarga anyway. But thank goodness for thermals SW @15-18. It was pumping at KP and you would have know too with the 15+ kiters up riding. Dimitri, GS, Wendy and the rest of the locals were there having a great mid day session. It wa a fun session overall. I had another problem with my 17 delatign on me when i crashed my kite thats why im riding the 06 gear below. Cant wait to see the footage Andy !!!

The wind was cranking all day yesterday at work. We booked it out of work at 6:00. We headed down to Robin Lane to do a down winder to the washout. It was a great session. Zack, his brother, Dave and myself headed out for the downwinder. It was blowing 20+ SE with shoulder to head high surf. We rode all the way till dark until you couldn’t see the waves until they started to break so we decided to call it. We all woke up this morning to go session but the storms came on too quickly so we canceled until next time.

Since ive been in Hatteras I have heard about the infamous switch of wind from SW to NW in the matter of minutes. Yesterday we saw it in action. It was around 11:00 and ryan when to go grab his board from out side when he looked up and saw a wall of rolling clouds barreling towards the house on a perfectly clear night. He yelled at us to come check it out. Sure enough the wall of clouds (it looked like the mothership from Independence Day) was the NE front moving in quick. It went from SW@15 to NW@30+ . It was crazy to say the least. We stood on the front porch watching the front roll in. As it passed over our heads the 30+ winds hit like a truck. It was quite an experience. I was glad we were not out kiting at the time.

Michigan invades Cape Hatteras: There are 50+ wind riders in cape hatteras now and for the next few weeks. It’s been a great time riding with everyone again. The house they rented is amazing. It’s a 4 story house that must sleep 20+ people, 2 hot tubs and a golden view of the ocean and frisco pier. We have scored a bunch of great session. Especially today, we were way overpowered on 13s SW @25 at the second turn off in Avon. Ryan and Bryan we boosting huge airs and having a great time. And its even looking like we might get to have a night session tonight with the full moon out. Heather has been taking tons of great shots and getting out there and riding too.

The wind held out just enough for Nick and I to run out to KP for a quick and light NE session for lunch. It was blowing 13-15 and we rode for 45 minutes. I was trying to learn new tricks and nick was out for a cruise.

The NE Winds came a day and a half ago to drop the temperature over 20 degrees. NE winds are also very strong. It was 55 today with NE @27 Tommy and I took a split shift to go ride some chest to over head high surf at the Cape Hatteras Light House. This was the first time ive rode there kiting. I have surfed there a few times before , It was a blast. I tried out the Jimmy Lewis Rad-F but could not keep my feet in the straps, so I rode the JL Park and my 9M Fuel for the rest of the session. Other than having the wave close out on me a bunch of times it was a great session. I was like a moth to a light when it came to closing out waves today.

I had my one day of rest after a crazy weekend. The forecast for today was suppose to be 20+ but I was barley lit on my 17m fuel. I took a split to go ride today. I wound up driving up to Waves to ride The Slick. The coaches were doing coaches training to get ready for the season. Tony, Tommy, Enily and JoJo rode in the slick for a couple hours of SW winds and buttery flat water.