Mind and Body

In addition to daily meditation, I also make it a daily habit to hit the gym. I suppose I should since I'm a Personal Trainer - hopefully getting my NCSF certification by next month.

I've done some research and created a series of exercises that I feel will help keep me conditioned for kiting during the off season. These exercises focus more on core strength, balance and body weight resistance as opposed to conventional weight training. I found the TRX suspension training system quite useful since most motions in kiting are bar/body weight oriented.

Below are 4 exercises, some more advance, that target balance and core.

Milestone Day: In the water and on the board

We took a last minute trip out to Cape Cod this weekend so I decided to try to get some kite time in. I was able to get a hold of a school in West Dennis called Air Support and arranged a tentative lesson for either Saturday or Sunday.

The weather forecast was unfavorable as of Friday, with a Nor-Easter on the its way and winds estimated at 20-40 mph gusts. Chances were low that Saturday would be a day for the lesson. Sunday on the other hand was a perfect day, mild winds but the water was cold.

Air Support is a great shop. I would recommend it to anyone visiting the Cape Cod area. Jay was there to greet me at 9:00. I had Steve as an instructor. I was outfitted with a 6/5 full body wet suit - XL but it was still quite tight on me.

After squeezing my ass into this sausage casing, I signed the necessary forms, paid the fee and off with Steve in the Air Support mini-van. Mat-black spray painted, in dire need of attention to its breaking system needs, the van had great character and is unfit to carry a small family, but the true spirit of the beach adventurer.

The lesson location was just north of us on the shore of Chapin Beach. Excellent tide and wind conditions, but the water was chilly.
The equipment we used in this session was a 10M Slingshot RPM and board.


We rigged up, launched and walked out into the water. The wet suit, as uncomfortable and restricting as it felt, was a life saver.

Some techniques we cover are:
1) Water relaunching
2) Standard kite control
3) Body dragging downwind
4) Body dragging upwind
5) Stepping into the board
6) Popping out of the water
7) Attempted planing

Although for a brief moment, it was an incredible feeling to get on top of the board and plane... before eating it.

Now it's just a matter of putting my time in. I have most of the basics. Once I'm up and planing, I can focus on moving up and down wind.
Success!

The Zen Of It All

Why do I call this "The Zen of Kitesurfing." From the advice of my Executive Coach, I began taking up meditation. Not only as a way to counter stress, a constant battle especially with a hereditary elevated blood pressure condition, but as a way to get centered.

Part of the exercise in meditation is to not necessarily just quiet the mind, but to acknowledge the noise but give it little to no attention. Allow it to become gray noise. My early attempts at quieting the mind through meditation has been somewhat strenuous. Let's face it, we're constantly on the move in our mind. Living in New York City, mid-town no less, and working in the Finance industry, you can't help but form a habit of constant multi-tasking in our head. Being aware of this is the first step.

From the advice of a friend, I took a course in meditation provided by The Art Of Living Foundation. I learned how to just "allow" the noise, how to breath, and center myself among the turbulent thoughts. It's an amazing moment when realize how you constantly clinch your jaw or tense your shoulders until you focus and relax those muscles. Your body just gets used to the tense feeling.

The same goes for the mind. You don't realize the kind of turbulence in your mind until you focus on your breathing and ignore all of the to-do's, all of the planning, all of the worrying. Just breathing in the moment, which brings to mind a great quote:

"I do not worry about the past
and I am not fearful of the future
because my life is supremely concentrated in the present
and the right response comes to me as it occurs."

Effective meditation for me is really about being in the moment.

So what does this have to do with kitesurfing?

On eof the visual techniques I use in meditation are analogous to flying and controlling a power kite. Turbulent winds can quickly take your kite out of control - consider this your multi-tasking mind. Parking the kite at the edge of the wind window at 12 o'clock brings it back. This is finding your center - bringing your thoughts to 12 o'clock and your breathing are the lines of the kite.

This visualization has served me well in starting off my meditations both in the morning, which is easier to start, as well as the evening - where the "winds" are fierce.

Not So Breezy Point

We took a day trip out to Breezy Point just south of Rockaway beach.
The beginning of the day was nice, but with a crowded beach, we were quickly asked to drop the kites not long after we launched.

Vlod showed with his 16M kite so we decided to walk over to the unrestricted area. Popped a couple of beers and launched both my training kite and the 16M. After strapping on the harness and Vlod assisted the launch, and Alan walked it into the water. Well, it actually dragged him into the water.

In the meantime, I was able to launch and fly the trainer kite for a bit. That is, until it dropped into the water, picking up sand in all its chambers. Crissy Field all over again. Needless to say, that was the end of the practice session with the trainer kite.



Back to Alan and Vlod - the 16M flew for a while then came hurdling down on the shoreline. Vlod tried to resurrect it, but discovered a leek. The leading edge could not keep its shape. And down came the second kite. Two kites up - two kites down, all in a span of about 10 minutes, not including rigging time. Alan was thrilled with the experience. We definitely had the attention of the beach.

First Official Lesson

Now in Morro Bay, I made it a point to schedule my first official Kiteboarding lesson. I contacted a shop out of Pismo Beach (a couple of towns south of us) called California Kiteboarding. Scheduled a noon session with Jason.

We met up at Oceano-Pismo State beach, a beach you can actually drive onto. The attendant forewarned us to stay on the packed sand or risk getting stuck.

The beach was beautiful and the wind was more than sufficient for a beginner lesson. Jason drove up in his van. We had our intro and went straight to flying kites.

In this lesson, I flew my 3m foil training kite, a 5m foil training kite with a harness and finally a full blown (literally) 7m Slingshot bow kite, harness and helmet. I quickly learned that I have a lot to learn.
launching, landing , figure 8s, S sign, pulling up from a seated position etc.

           

It was quite a workout. I lasted for only 3 hours.

Unfortunately I did not get a chance to go into the water or try out a board, but I'm looking forward to it on my next lesson.

A Quick Launch In Carmel

We often stop by Morro Bay during our visits to California. Typically we drive 101 down to San Luis Obispo, but on this particular visit we decided to take Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) and enjoy the drive.

Our first stop was Carmel By The Sea. We've visited the beach there before and I remember there was a nice wind. So We made it a point to stop and see if I can get some kite time.

Unfortunately the wind was not that strong and the beach was crowded. I set up and launched getting some air for a brief moment. As I packed it up, seagulls swarmed my back pack as well as a local chihuahua. I don't remember packing any food in it, but I'm sure there was something they sensed.

Well, I can at least say that I've launched a kite in Carmel.

We packed it up and headed to Cannery Row in Monterey for a little wine tasting at Baywood Cellars. Great place, friendly proprietor - highly recommended.

Finding Wind In The City By The Bay

On our trip to California, which we do every couple of months, I wanted to make it a point to fly the kite in as many beaches as possible. First stop - Crissy Field, San Francisco - the same place where I first witnessed the sport.

The fog was low, the air was cool and yes the wind was strong. I noticed another guy rigging up to ride out into the bay. I ran over and learned he came from Colorado and made it one of his goals to kite surf under the Golden Gate bridge. He went on to tell me how someone reported to him that the wind gets questionable out past the first marker and that the undercurrent shifts in several directions. All of which was over my head - I confessed of my "newbiness" and closed by wishing him luck and looked forward to see him launch. See video.

A couple of lessons from this session:

1. Foil kites + Water + Sand = a whole lot of sadness.
2. Always check and re-check your lines, especially the pulleys. Make sure their not twisted - or your kite will continue to steer to the side.

Some day, I'll post my session of riding under the Golden Gate.