(Photos by Maitre Gazonga, I think...)
And a little photo/video edit by Banjoo!
Oh une aile
3 years ago
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Beauduc - Kitesurf Session 54
Great conditions last Saturday! From 7h to nightfall, we had good winds all day long. And it was a good thing we took advantage, 'cause on Sunday it started to blow too strong and, after some of us tried to go out with 6m and even 4,5m kites, the >40 knots (with gusts up to 50 knots!) forced an early return home...
(Photos by Maitre Gazonga, I think...)
And a little photo/video edit by Banjoo!
(Photos by Maitre Gazonga, I think...)
And a little photo/video edit by Banjoo!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The buzz on the new Cabrinha 2011 kites...
Yep, rumour has it that the new Cabrinha kites are coming out in a month's time... I'm not much into posting new products on my blog, but having tried (and adored) the previous two generations, I'm really stoked to see these little beauties in motion!
So, after a little web surfing (and despite all the secrecy that seems to surround Pete's new babies), I found a couple of references that give out the looks of the 2011 kites!
Love the design of the new Switchblade and Nomad:
Apparently, the Crossbow declines in two models, the "regular" Crossbow and a dedicated version for racing competitions, called the XB Race Edition:
And for beginners, here's the look for the next Convert:
If the buzz is confirmed, I must say that, personally, I love the radical chance in visuals that Cabrinha decided to take! Looking forward to see them up close and personal...
For more info (or rumours?):
http://www.kitesurfnet.gr/kitesurf/showthread.php/2901-Cabrinha-2011-Kites
So, after a little web surfing (and despite all the secrecy that seems to surround Pete's new babies), I found a couple of references that give out the looks of the 2011 kites!
Love the design of the new Switchblade and Nomad:
Apparently, the Crossbow declines in two models, the "regular" Crossbow and a dedicated version for racing competitions, called the XB Race Edition:
And for beginners, here's the look for the next Convert:
If the buzz is confirmed, I must say that, personally, I love the radical chance in visuals that Cabrinha decided to take! Looking forward to see them up close and personal...
For more info (or rumours?):
http://www.kitesurfnet.gr/kitesurf/showthread.php/2901-Cabrinha-2011-Kites
Monday, June 21, 2010
A portuguese kite trip - Part III
The second week was launched and we moved at a slower pace, since forecasts only offered good wind in the central spots of Estremadura. The decision was then made to go up to Foz do Arelho. Near Óbidos, Portugal's biggest lagoon offers a flat paradise, that we only shared with a couple of other kites...
We ended up staying there for three days, giving us enough time for some good sessions (shared with my brother, since it's one of his "homespots"), a lot of chillout and a decent dose of filming (scenes to come in the final road movie)...
After checking the wind forecast for the last days of the trip, we decided to stay around Lisbon. The first stop was Guincho, but facing the strong (on not very regular) winds and the big waves, we decided we had no intention of putting the gear (and ourselves) at risk... So, in order to have a relaxing end to two great weeks, we chose to head back to Lagoa de Albufeira. Arriving with no wind, we still managed to have enough for a little magic session at the end of the day. A very nice moment that would be crowned by some of the best kite sessions of the trip, in the following days...
(Photos by Olive and Arnaud)
We ended up staying there for three days, giving us enough time for some good sessions (shared with my brother, since it's one of his "homespots"), a lot of chillout and a decent dose of filming (scenes to come in the final road movie)...
After checking the wind forecast for the last days of the trip, we decided to stay around Lisbon. The first stop was Guincho, but facing the strong (on not very regular) winds and the big waves, we decided we had no intention of putting the gear (and ourselves) at risk... So, in order to have a relaxing end to two great weeks, we chose to head back to Lagoa de Albufeira. Arriving with no wind, we still managed to have enough for a little magic session at the end of the day. A very nice moment that would be crowned by some of the best kite sessions of the trip, in the following days...
(Photos by Olive and Arnaud)
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
A portuguese kite trip - Part II
After Alentejo and despite the good times spent together, most of us were felling the "itch" of the need for wind, so it was time to check the spots surrounding Lisbon to see if we had more luck there...
To start the hostilities, we chose a place I know well, Lagoa de Albufeira: flat waters on a beautiful lagoon that changes constantly with the tides and the possibility to get some waves on the ocean side (this option was left for a later visit in the trip...).
And the choice proved right, 'cause we had here the first great session of the trip!
With our restless "kiter souls" more relaxed, I suggested we try the spot at Nova Vaga beach, normally a "sure bet" in Summer due to good thermal winds (and the only place in Caparica were kites are allowed during the high season!).
After some sunbathing, the light conditions started picking up force and we all jumped to the water for a great wave session, before running with sand still on our feet to get some friends at the Lisbon airport, arriving at night for the second week of the trip.
The next morning, with 11 of us now in the group, my apartment was transformed in a camping site and the terrace in a kiteshop (beautiful, don't you thing?)...
Being the first day for some but the last day for others that where cutting the trip short after one week, we did a little tour around Lisbon, with enough time for breakfast at the famous "Pastéis de Belém" and a funky snapshot that must also be in the vacation albums of a lot of foreign tourists that were around at the same time...
To finish up the second part of the trip, what better spot than the mythical Guincho? Despite the "rush hour" of the weekend in this windy beach, some couldn't contain the joy of unpacking the gear to kite one of the most famous spots in Europe!
(photos by Olive, Marc, Emilie and me)
To start the hostilities, we chose a place I know well, Lagoa de Albufeira: flat waters on a beautiful lagoon that changes constantly with the tides and the possibility to get some waves on the ocean side (this option was left for a later visit in the trip...).
And the choice proved right, 'cause we had here the first great session of the trip!
With our restless "kiter souls" more relaxed, I suggested we try the spot at Nova Vaga beach, normally a "sure bet" in Summer due to good thermal winds (and the only place in Caparica were kites are allowed during the high season!).
After some sunbathing, the light conditions started picking up force and we all jumped to the water for a great wave session, before running with sand still on our feet to get some friends at the Lisbon airport, arriving at night for the second week of the trip.
The next morning, with 11 of us now in the group, my apartment was transformed in a camping site and the terrace in a kiteshop (beautiful, don't you thing?)...
Being the first day for some but the last day for others that where cutting the trip short after one week, we did a little tour around Lisbon, with enough time for breakfast at the famous "Pastéis de Belém" and a funky snapshot that must also be in the vacation albums of a lot of foreign tourists that were around at the same time...
To finish up the second part of the trip, what better spot than the mythical Guincho? Despite the "rush hour" of the weekend in this windy beach, some couldn't contain the joy of unpacking the gear to kite one of the most famous spots in Europe!
(photos by Olive, Marc, Emilie and me)
Monday, June 07, 2010
A portuguese kite trip - Part I
I'm finally back with a big smile from the trip around my beautiful Portugal! The wind took some time to greet us, but it ended up offering me and my friends a lot of great sessions. We went from lighter conditions to better and better winds, ending the two weeks tour with the best and longest sessions, thanks to the "Nortada", well established and blowing strong, up to 25/30 knots in one of the last days!
Things started slowly in sunny Tavira. Bad forecast made us decide to cross the south coast of Algarve directly to Sagres. A hesitating Southwest wind allowed for some a first session in the Martinhal beach.
Not enough to kill the "appetites", but we made up the day with a nice cool beer at sunset. We also had the opportunity to sleep in the most "roots" camping of all the trip!
We decided to try our luck next in the West coast of Algarve and headed up to Carrapateira, my favourite beach in the entire country. She was a capricious one and decided to greet us with a beautiful day, but no wind. Nevertheless, we had good fun surfing some waves and fishing!
The wind was still playing shy, so we decided to immerse in the local colours, before descovering the Malhão beach. The long and wild strip of sand offered us a "home", but only enough wind for Guillaume to try a couple of downwinds.
The road took us next up the coast of Alentejo, at a slow pace, with enough time to enjoy the views, the food and the good times together!
If it's true that the first few days were light on wind, it must be said that we had lots of fun. And the great kite sessions were just about to come...
(photos by Olive and me)
Things started slowly in sunny Tavira. Bad forecast made us decide to cross the south coast of Algarve directly to Sagres. A hesitating Southwest wind allowed for some a first session in the Martinhal beach.
Not enough to kill the "appetites", but we made up the day with a nice cool beer at sunset. We also had the opportunity to sleep in the most "roots" camping of all the trip!
We decided to try our luck next in the West coast of Algarve and headed up to Carrapateira, my favourite beach in the entire country. She was a capricious one and decided to greet us with a beautiful day, but no wind. Nevertheless, we had good fun surfing some waves and fishing!
The wind was still playing shy, so we decided to immerse in the local colours, before descovering the Malhão beach. The long and wild strip of sand offered us a "home", but only enough wind for Guillaume to try a couple of downwinds.
The road took us next up the coast of Alentejo, at a slow pace, with enough time to enjoy the views, the food and the good times together!
If it's true that the first few days were light on wind, it must be said that we had lots of fun. And the great kite sessions were just about to come...
(photos by Olive and me)
