HOW IT ALL WENT DOWNgreat pics guys - heres the story.
We worked through the unnecessarily complicated hassles of getting to the base camp without too much difficulty.
Stood around in zero wind with 3 boats ready for the anticipated need to ferry kiters offshore to the wind. Nothing to do but enjoy the scenery
Got a call from Woodies at 3:30 to say the Dr had hit with a vengenance. From zilch to 7M conditions in a matter of minutes. Much excitement & a flurry of pumping.
It took right up to our official start time to come in at all but almost on the dot of 4:30 we did get a breeze on the north side. Difficult to judge strength from where we were but we all expected that the reported 30kts at Woodies would make for some big wind once it had time to build.
WRONG
Whilst it did get to a respectable 15kts plus for some great kiting at Melville it just didnt cooperate enough to push that extra 1 or 2 kms further inland.
BUMMER - so close but Oh so far
We did get a few riders out and they did a fantastic job of making the most of the flukey conditions. It wasnt the HUGE spectacle of big airs and powered moves we had hoped for BUT they did the job.
And considering that the thinking was only a 1 in 10 chance of it happening at all I reckon we have to call it a success - albeit a less than perfect result.
Huge thanks to Darren, Dale & Jess for giving it your best shot & to Simon especially for sacrificing a kite on a row-lock to the cause. Sorry bout that outcome Simon - waksa owes you 4 that.
Thanks also to the other riders who turned up all set & dead keen to part of it - next time guys ur on
Extra special thanks to Darren, Ed & Paul (Aust. Kitesurfing School) & Ian Young (WinDesign Aust) for giving up their day to provide support boats. Very much appreciated
The fact that we did get out there will mean we will certainly be invited back to try again. No.1 priority of the day achieved.
The fact that we got some great footage & photos as an enormously valuable resource for waksa. No. 3 priority achieved.
The organisation & logistics will be way better next time round.
The Wind will always be in the lap the Gods but if we are able to keep trying we will eventually score that magic breeze which will set the crowd screaming at the power spectacle that kiting really can be.
Thanks to all at waksa & others for helping get it done !
AND to Russell Lanyon of 'Eventsforce' & the City of Perth for giving us this great opportunity.
and thanks too to all those who thanked me. Absolutely no need - too easy & I had an awesome day & Im still
'ing yet.
