More Winter Water

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bad monkey
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Today I awoke to the sound of wind. A quick smoothie and a check of the wind meters on Flathead and I was off. When I arrived at the Bigfork launch my truck told me it was only 34 degrees, but the wind was ripping. I put my wet suit on and proceeded to launch the 12 meter Flysurfer Speed 3. I stayed out out for two and a half hours and had a really fun session. It was 12 to 18 mph winds and a nice swell to play on. The Flysurfer is a very fun kite. The hang time is long and the landings are butter soft. The kite also relaunches very well. I think this will be the money kite for me this season. It is very cool to through the kite out on the sand and launch. It is much easier to deal with than the LEIs when you are by yourself. And lets face it, I probably have a few more weeks of solo water kiting. By the end I was getting cold but for the first two hours I was comfortable. I snow kited yesterday 30 miles form where I was water kiting today. You just have to love living in Montana.

Tony

fstdude
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Can't wait to see that kite

Can't wait to see that kite on the water,

HRnico
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Sensor

I'm new to your forum, Is there a sensor/link to it for the North end of Flathead Lake?

bad monkey
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http://mesowest.utah.edu/cgi-

http://mesowest.utah.edu/cgi-bin/droman/meso_base.cgi?stn=EBDM8&product=&time=LOCAL

The creston sensor seems to reflect the wind on the lake the most accurately. Woods bay and angel point often do not work properly.

Tony

bad monkey
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http://mesowest.utah.edu/cgi-

http://mesowest.utah.edu/cgi-bin/droman/meso_base.cgi?stn=EBDM8&product=&time=LOCAL

The creston sensor seems to reflect the wind on the lake the most accurately. Woods bay and angel point often do not work properly.

Tony

bad monkey
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The forecast for sunday and

The forecast for sunday and monday look sweet for flathaead with south winds 15 to 20 mph predicted. If anyone is interested in getting out on the water let me know. I will definitely be there.

Tony

bad monkey
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Day number 3 on the water

Day number 3 on the water today. Flysurfer 19 in light wind on a glorious flathead day. That kite allows me to get on the water when i would not have even considered it before. The wind never was over 10 mph and i was nicely powered. Can't wait for tomorrow.

Tony

bad monkey
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Just rapped up day number

Just rapped up day number four on the water. I got to fly the 13 Fuel today, what a beast. There is a reason guys like Ruben Lenten love these kites. The power is instant and deep. The kite jumps very well and goes up wind nicely. The depower is not what I am used to in an inflatable kite but hey, we are looking for power anyway. Super fun day and Bob and Laurel showed up too. I am loving the lake this spring.

Tony

BobandLaurel
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Is it not winter anymore?

Best first sesh of the year I've ever had today. Super fun and stayed warm but my daughter told me on my way home that it's not winter anymore.
Gotta get out earlier next year.
bob

fstdude
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Youre right its not winter

Youre right its not winter anymore

fstdude
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Well its day number 9 on the

Well its day number 9 on the water, I know it doesn't count for me but I somehow managed to turn on the wind for Baja. this was todays Los Barriles weather..........

Latitude N 23° 38' 47" Longitude E 109° 40' 51" Elevation 0 ft
This page shows a summary of the data since midnight local time.

Today's data Temperature and Humidity
High Temperature 79.9 °F at 07:22
Low Temperature 73.8 °F at 06:19
Rainfall
Rainfall Today 0.00 in
Rainfall Rate Max 0.00 in/hr at 00:00
Wind
Highest Gust 36.5 mph at 15:14
Highest Speed (10 minute average) 32.7 mph (F7) at 15:15
Wind Run 324.8 miles
Pressure
High Pressure (SL) 1015.3 mb at 10:59
Low Pressure (SL) 1011.5 mb at 16:00
:now::gauges::today::yesterday::records::trends:

Page updated 3/21/2010 8:16:11 PM
powered by Cumulus v1.8.8 (881)

lewmt
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For those that are hittin the

For those that are hittin the water north of the border....What are you using for wet/dry suit gear & what do you like or not like about what you have? I have a decent 4/3 wet suit but not sure I wouldn't freeze at current water temps & I tend to still spend a lot of time in the water.

Knowing what you know about your current gear what would you buy different if you bought new now? What about durability of specific brands/types?

BobandLaurel
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rubber

I've got a couple old-style neoprene drysuits. One's an older O'neil Oasis and the other's a Promotion that I bought a couple years ago at closeout. Like $175 I think. I like em. They're pretty tough, very durable old school metal dry zips, easily repaired. I think they're like 5/4's.

Laurel bought a nylon suit a few years ago and has had lot's of problems. Had a hole in the foot once, took rafting on the Snake last fall and the neck and one of the wrists blew out. Used it a couple days ago on Flathead and now it's got an unidentified leak around the butt somewhere.

Tony's got some newer "super stretchy" steamers that he should chime in about. Keep in mind that he's part polar bear.

Drew
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drysuit

I bought a wakezone.biz drysuit 4 years ago and it is still holding up great after 150+ sessions. It has thin rubber cuffs making it easy to get in and out of. I wear one or two layers of fleece under it since it is just a shell and reverse it so the zipper is in front where I can easily get to it. I like to stay warm!

bad monkey
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I have been using a hyperflex

I have been using a hyperflex 5/4/3 amp suit with a hood and a one piece fleece suit. I have been very warm in this suit and its is comfortable compared to a dry suit. No restrictive neck gasket. I have been out for 2 to 3 hour sessions and I am not getting cold. Keep in mind that I have been kiting in shallow water for the most part so I aam not spending much time swimming. The newer wetsuits have really come along way and they are less expensive and more comfortable than drysuits. Just my two cents, and as bob mentioned, I have a high tolerance for the cold.

Tony