Sunday, November 20, 2005

AHHHHHHHHH

What a day yesterday. We started early in the morning because the wind was very cooperative. Unlike the sessions in the past few days, I had to park at Cradon park instead of the marina and walk on the beach then into the water to get to the boat. I grabbed my gear, board, and my car keys. I walked along the beach with Christophe (the owner) and Alvaro, a 16-year-old beginner. Alvaro had his stuff with him too, so before we walked towards the boat, Christophe instructed us to put everything behind the bushes near a tree so we can find it later. I walked up to the bushes with Alvaro, but I was stung by these little things they called "footfuckers". Yeah, so I retreated and asked Alvaro to put my keys with his stuff.
Then we started our sessions. He finished around 1pm while I kept going until about 330pm. My face was burnt...the sun was really strong. I had a good session, I only used a 9m. A bigger kite could have helped me move more smoothly. But Juan insisted that I used a smaller kite because I will learn how to work the kite better. I got really good powerstrokes, got a few really nice rides. I even started to work the board. I just have to remember to stay on my back leg more and put more weight into my harness and my heels (or else I fall overboard and fall flat on my face!)
The instructors had arranged a BBQ that night, so I decided to go home early to clean up. But when I got back to the beach, I couldn't find the keys. I looked around with an instructor, Stefen, but we couldn't find them. So we walked back to the parking lot and called budget, roadside assistance, locksmith, and no one can help immediately. I thought: I am so fucked. I've gotta find the keys. I went running back and search for another 45 min until Juan showed up, he had heard about what happened so he and Stefan called AAA and they did open my car for me, but I still don't have the keys. Juan came to help me in the search effort. Half an hour later, he says, what would you do for me if I find the keys for you? Noooo wayyyy, he found the keys!!! Then he said, "a shower?" Ok, at least it's not something more...coz I wouldnt have done more than that.
So we came back to my hotel room, we took turns in taking a shower and then we went to meet everyone else by the beach at the BBQ (remember he lives in his van? he usually uses the facility/restroom at this yacht club around but he has to pretend he is a member) Anyway, the BBQ was a blast! Most people spoke French though because most of them are from Montreal and the owner is from France. We ate, drank, and then we started to play drums. There were 6 different drums, it was fun just listen to them jam the nite away (I attemted to play a bit...but I sucked) I was just sitting there, thinking about the day, enjoying the breeze. Then the thought of school came back to haunt me...eeewww, don't want to go back to NY and study. I have studied in the past few days whenever I get a chance, but I feel more concentrated studying here. There is some wind today, but it is quite inconsistent so all the instructors took the day off...my last day -- no kitesurfing, but I am just gonna study a bit, get a massage later...and just chill!!!

p.s.I have a splinter in my foot couldnt take it out, hopefully I wont get an infection, it's deep but my instructor says that my antibodies will fight it off and push it out...ever heard of that?

Friday, November 18, 2005

my neck hurts

It seems as if I wasn't going to kitesurf at all this morning whne I woke up. It was raining and the wind was definitely not blowing. I debated whether I should go out and drive around, but I decided to stay and do some homework and see whether the wind picks up or not. I am glad I stayed. The picked up quickily around 12pm so I had another session on the water from 2pm and returning around 6/ 6:30. I was on the water for about 3 hours. We didn't use my 13m today since it moved too slow and brought me way downwind yesterday. Instead, we used a 11m without the re-launch system, it did move a bit faster, but not that fast.
I struggled in the beginning in getting up and riding because I was either pulling the bar towards me when it should have been pushed away or putting too much weight in the front of my feet rather than the heels. I started to notice what went wrong each time and that was a good sign that I was going to get better. Finally around 5pm, I got up and got really good power strokes and stayed back on my heels. My power stroke really powered the kite and I was flying. But the kite pulled me way downwind and I saw the shore coming, I panicked...I tried to stop but I ended up moving the kite pass 12 o'clock position and the kite dragged me and crashed. I heard my neck crack and then I was dragged a few feet in the sand. Good thing I had a wetsuit on...or else the sand burn would have been really painful. The crash was so bad I the pain moving from my neck to my forehead. My head was ringing a bit. I wiggled my toes and fingers and shook my body around. Everything seems to be in order. I decided to take a break.

When I sat down on the boat, there were about 5/6 kiters out. They were amazing, doing tricks and great turns. My coach, Juan, sat with me on the boat for a while, evaluating my performance. Then the wind picked up once again to about 16/17 knots. He looked so anxious to get his kite out to go for a few ride, so I told him that he should. Then he turned around to ask me if I wanted to try out his 12m kite. So I put on my harness and went for another ride. This time, it was perfect. I got up right away and got a pretty long ride. I got enough power to park the kite, but I forgot, I was so excited that I was going that I was kept on working the kite. Then I had to stop because I was closing up on the shore again. Man, that felt AWESOME!!! I finally felt that I was not sinking as much anymore.

I am controlling the kite much better now and I know what I am doing wrong, hopefully tomorrow I will get to ride smoothly to the right and get some short rides to the left side. I just need to learn how to edge better...

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Day 2 in Miami kiteboarding

I miss the water. It feels great yet scary to be kiting again. The last time I kited, I nearly died (okay, maybe I am exaggerated it, I could have drowned out of exhaustion). I called Miami kiteboarding school this morning and the guy told me to call back to check in on the wind because the wind was weak in the morning. So I waited around for 3 hours and worked on my immigration law outline. Then I sat by the pool for half an hour before meeting my instructor at the Crandon Marina.
I took my 13m kite because the wind was about 10-13 knots. My instructor, Juan (I think that’s his name I am really bad with names), went through some basics with me just to see where I am at, then I got on the board. I got some short downwind rides to the right today, and got like ONE left ride. I got tired very quickly because, unlike the schools in cape hatteras, there was no jetski to pick up my board for me and drop it in front of me. I have to walk back to where we anchored the boat everytime to start. The 13m, according to my instructor, is too big for me. Plus this particular kite drifts downwind so I had to fight the pull everytime I walk back. My legs gave in so I called a break, since there was another girl who was taking the lesson today. She bodydragged for about an hour while I sat on the boat to rest, then I gave it another try. However, the wind started to die and became inconsistent, so I decided to call it a day. I got back to the marina at 5:55pm.
Then I accepted my instructor’s invitation go out to eat, we went to little Havana. Great Cuban food. Oh, did I mention he lives in his van??? Yeah, he drove down from Montreal 2 weeks ago and he’s been living in his van. Now that’s some living huh? Anyhow, I hope I will get to go out again before Monday.
I am having a blast here though even though I am all by myself. It’s great going to sleep early and waking up early to do some work. The driving around is also relaxing. If there is no wind tomorrow, I may be daring and drive to downtown Miami or South Beach tomorrow. Pray with me to the wind god.