Great wind for North Kite Demo 4/25 in Alameda

Dan Schwarz (new North rep as of this Spring) and the North pro team rider John Van Malsen paid us a visit on their West Coast North Kiteboarding Tour this past weekend.




We got very lucky with the wind Saturday in Alameda. Around 4pm, the winds kicked up to 25+ and we got a lot of people out on the new 2009 line of North kites and boards.


Dan said it was his most successful demo over the two week tour - with lots of riders hungry to try all of the North goodies. With such a nice setup in Alameda - good wind, sunshine, and a great crowd, we were pleased to have another successful demo event.


The highlight of the demo was of course the 2009 North Rebel. The kites were great last year, but have some significant improvements in 09. We're not sure what else they can do to this kite as it seems to be near perfect. Here is a description of its' riding characteristics>

"The 2009 Rebel is bashing down the barriers of free-riding and surfing! The clean, simple 5 line design delivers smooth, reactive steering, extreme resistance to back-stalling when over-sheeted and the most direct bar feedback yet. Our unique quad strut configuration produces a light weight kite with quick turning and a snappy feel which makes the bigger sizes feel more crispy and lively than ever! The quad strut also helps create a very clean center profile that delivers constant, predictable power for free-ride comfort. The Rebel is heavily reinforced with Dacron to take some severe thrashings in the surf and come out in one piece. The combination of decreased weight and a rounder arch helps prevent the Rebel from falling quickly when the lines go slack while surfing making it easier to recover from steering errors. One pump inflation for added simplicity."

I got a chance to ride the 10m Rebel last week in Alameda...and was very impressed by the "snappy feel" and stability of the canopy through turns. The 10m had quite a bit of power, and I was able to crank upwind on a light day. The massive depower also makes it a very forgiving kite that will please beginners...just sheet out when that gust comes and the kite lets go of the power. I have been watching Yuri play on his Rebel in Alameda for some time...now I can see why looping the kite is so easy on a Rebel. Lots of response, quick turning, and a steady smooth ride. We have the 09 Rebels available for demo (and new ones in stock if you know you already want one) at Alameda and San Mateo. Come by anytime to try one out if you are in the market for a great new kite!

Dan invited me out with his crazy buddies Saturday night as well. Even though Dan is now 30 something...I am guessing his very cute and lively friends were in their 20s.

I was hoping I could keep up with them and I did my best for a few rounds at Mas Sake on Lombard. I had my first experience with Sake Bombs...where you fill a glass with beer, place 2 chopsticks on top of the glass, rest your sake on the chopsticks, bang on the table to drop the sake into the beer, and shoot it back pronto!
Drinking with the boys reminded me of my days back on the east coast with my financial buddies at Merrill Lynch...taking me to crazy clubs in Manhattan and trying new fangled concoctions. Oh to be young again! I had to head home early Saturday night so I could wake up Sunday morning and teach the stand up paddle clinic in San Mateo at 9am. That is what saved me in the end...

After teaching a great SUP clinic in San Mateo with sunshine and perfect flat water conditions, I made my way to Crissy for some more North demos and / or sailing. We got a few more people to try out the Rebels...but it was a bit holey and gusty, so I opted to take a maiden voyage on my new windsurf board and sail...the Tabou 76 3S and bright orange Hot Super Freak.


I had a total blast and got to sail with Abigail, Rigapasta, Mary, and the regular Crissy crew. I miss hanging out there and will make time this year to get in some great sessions there.

We have some more great demo weekends coming ahead over the next month. Stay tuned on our website for dates/times/locations.

Bye for now.
Jane

Hot Sunny Weather for the Crissy Swap and SUPing at Half Moon Bay

The weather was GORGEOUS on Saturday for this season's annual SWAP MEET at Crissy Field in San Francisco. The swap meet was packed! Many people commented that it was the busiest swap they had seen in years. Lots of people were buying and selling their used gear. I had fun socializing with everyone and checking out the gear.


Abigail (one of our Crissy team riders) helped me to promote our school and shop by passing out brochures and showing off our new '09 Naish SUP boards. They got a lot of ooos and aaahs with their irresistibly beautiful wood veneer construction.

I also brought our newly arrived Powerex Sean Ordonez 100% Carbon SUP paddles. Here is what Lightning Bolt Maui said about the SO Powerex carbon paddle on a recent forum post:

"In my eyes, the Powerex paddle is the best built paddle out there. I have been testing them for about 10 months now. I find the paddle to be my favorite paddle to date. I have left all my other paddles for this paddle. The paddle is very light yet very strong. Cort the manufacturer stated on a video if you break this paddle he will buy it back unless there are tire tracks across it. Thats a great warranty. I have been testing the hell out of this paddle, surfing big waves and doing down winders and letting beginners beat it up also. The paddle is stiff but flexes enough for my liking. The blade is bigger then most blades but it is not so big that you feel it right away... fast and powerful. Enters the water and exits well and plenty of torque."

Watch The Video of Cort Larned's overview of the new Powerex 100% Carbon Paddle and how strong it is. We have them in stock and they retail for $349.

With hot sunny weather and no wind all weekend, I also got a chance to join Kathryn Martin and her husband Jeff on a surf adventure south of the bay. Our kite instructor Mike joined me on the road trip, and we all headed to Half Moon Bay. The surf break south of Half Moon Bay Harbor is one of the coldest spots on the coast, as the tides are strong and upwell some mightly chilly h20. I am spoiled with some of the warmest water in the bay at Alameda and San Mateo (right now about 63 degrees), but I figured my 4/3 Xcel wetsuit would do the trick. We entered into the 48 degree water unknowingly (and without booties), and our eye balls almost popped out upon the sensation of ice cold water enveloping our vulnerable bare feet. Kathryn (apparently some type of alien in terms of cold water tolerance) was only wearing a 1 mil shortie, and doing just fine! She is my new cold water heroine...her bravery was quite impressive.

Paddling around helped warm me up. Before I new it, I caught a great big (for me as a novice at surfing) 3 foot wave! I shot down the face and was excited to feel the smooth glide of the board under my feet. Closer to shore, I managed to fall into the white water for a cold water full body plunge. By some miracle, the freezing cold water was not as bad as I thought it would be through my warm wetsuit. With the adrenaline rushing through my veins, cold water was no bother to me now, and with wet hair, now I could actually see where I was going.


After about an hour of paddling into the waves, we decided it was "beer thirty". We drove to the nearby Half Moon Bay Brewing Company to take in the warm glow of the sun and some much needed salty Cazadores margaritas. This is an ideal place to stop for apres surf. They have great food, great drinks, and dogs are allowed on the patio (Zoe was psyched!).

Mike and I decided that the next time we go, we'll have to hit a warmer spot (any spot is warmer than this one)... perhaps Pacifica, Bolinas, or Maui! Until then, I will savor my big 3 foot wave.

Jane

Boardsports nominated "BEST OF BAY" by SF Chronicle, VOTE April 7th!

Boardsports School & Shop has been nominated by the SF Chronicle for the "Best of Bay List" for 2009. Click on the banner below to place your vote - voting starts April 7th!