Squamish 2020

[Alton]

Arrived early to modify my North kite bar. Removed extensions from steering lines and cut power lines by 3m - terminated with sheathing and figure eight knot.

After wind arrived at noon, I got 1.5hrs to test my shortened kite lines in steady SW 16-20 in silky smooth water on 12m+surfboard. Only 4 of us had the whole river to ourselves. Super fun laying down fast turns on a surfboard.

Finally happy with my resurrected North bar with shortened lines ... after that a-hole newbie cut our lines with his tomahawking kite.

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[Alton]

Arrived at noon only to discover a full house at the Spit. Started with 9m+TT in SW 20 over smoooooth water. Switched to surfboard but it was kinda crowded in the river. Switched back to TT for some boosting fun when it ramped up to SW 25 but called it quits at 3:30pm when it became gusty.

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[Alton]

Long day from 11:30am to 3:30pm. SW 18 - 25. Started with 9m+TT then 9m+surfboard then 7m+surfboard. Lots of traffic in the river but then I followed "mountain man" Steve upwind to ride some sweet nicely formed swell 15' to 20' apart for super fun toeside hits.

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[Alton]

Sweet 2.5 hrs at Squamish today. SW 18-27 - gusty at times. Demo'd a 12m North Reach on TT surprisingly cushy in gusty conditions. Later demo'd the 9m Airush Session and LOVED it on my surfboard. Bar had a direct feel (not cushy) and best of all I would CRANK my gybes aggressively without getting yanked off the surfboard ... SO ... MUCH ... FUN !!!!

I hope to demo the Airush Session again tomorrow (Sunday) but on a twin tip next time.

Squamish_Sat_Aug_8.jpg (75.29 KiB) Viewed 7653 times

[Alton]

Fun day demo'ing 12m Airush Lift. Started at noon but too light (SW 15-18) for a twin tip so jumped into the river with the surfboard. As expected the 12m Airush Lift was slow to crank turns on the surfboard but served it's purpose until the wind ramped up.

When wind ramped up to SW 18-22 I switched to twin tip for some boosting fun ... and fun I had. Bar pressure was just the way I like it - direct! The kite was super floaty for some sweet hang time. Had to call it a day after 2.5 hrs of big smiles.

Squamish_Sun_Aug_9.jpg (58.03 KiB) Viewed 7589 times

[Alton]

Arrived late (3:30) today but still enjoyed almost 2 hrs on 9m + TT and surfboard. Got some boosting on twin tip but the wind was a little marginal (SW 18-22). Quickly switched to surfboard when I saw the nicely formed swell. Lots of fun with toe side hits.

Squamish_Mon_Aug_10.jpg (76.71 KiB) Viewed 7477 times

[Alton]

2 hrs of fun on 9m+surfboard. Tricky getting into the river in gusty SSW wind but once in it wasn't as gusty as the graph suggests. Chop was tolerable accompanied with some clean swell for some sweet toeside hits.

Squamish_Wed_Aug_12.jpg (81.35 KiB) Viewed 7350 times

[Alton]

3 hrs in SW 18-25. Gusty at times but way steadier by the river. River swell was nicely formed and smooth.

Again demo'd the 9m Airush Session (wave kite) but this time with a twin tip. BIG disappointment - boosting was gutless and difficult. My dissatisfaction led me to switch to my surfboard. Way more fun on the Airush Session with a surfboard. Gusts are dampened, power strokes are smoooooooth and cranking turns is fast. I felt the surfboard and swell more than the kite. Now I consider the Airush Session is a specialized kite only suitable for surfboards and maybe foils but definitely poor as an all-round kite.

Squamish_Thu_Aug_13.jpg (81.61 KiB) Viewed 7284 times

[Alton]

Long day - 4 hrs TOW. Started too early on 9m and had to self-rescue down the Spit road.

After cleaning up my lines, the wind ramped (SW 20-25) to restore my self-respect. Tons of fun upwind of the river where there was plenty of fun swell to be found on my surfboard.

Got a chance to try out AJ's 8m Airush Union on twin tip and surfboard. Wow! This 8m kite is very aggressive and responsive - way more powerful than my 9m. Perhaps more aggressive that what I'm accustomed to for a surfboard ... but sooooo much fun boosting on a twin tip. Even though the Airush Lift is floatier this Airush Union is faster and much more fun.

Squamish_Fri_Aug_14.jpg (78.17 KiB) Viewed 7168 times

[Alton]

Thought I arrived early at 10am only to park half way down the Spit road. Tons of trash talk before the wind arrived at noon. 1.5 hrs on 12m+surfboard working (unsuccessfully) on tacks followed by an excellent boosting session on twin tip.

Switched to 9m just as the wind dropped. Too light downwind so moved into the river .... even worse (streaky wind). Kept drifting downwind with worsening wind until I had to make an emergency landing near my car.

Overall a great 12m session ... but should have known better to stay on it.

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