Well, I had my arse handed to me on a plate yesterday in big messy swell and 25 to 35 knots. Caught two of the largest waves I have kited yet, it was breaking so far out you never really could tell where any kind of lineup was. It was everywhere. I ended up getting mowed down by a big set, and while tumbling underwater I kept trying to fly the kite. One dude said I was under for at least a hundred meters. I was hoping I could power the kite to pull me up but it never happened. I came up just in time only to be bombed by another big wave. I ditched my kite as I swam for the bottom.
It took me longer than I wanted to get in, loads of rips and relentless waves. I honestly wondered if I would get in. I did finally, way out of breath and seeing stars. I have not had to go through this punishment in a loooooooong time, and it made me realize how unfit I was for a true beating, the kind you can get in those waves. I have had so many good sessions in large surf that I almost forgot what that was like. So, I need to start swimming more and get my lung capacity working better.
The question I have is this: I know tow in dudes wear pfds, does the flotation help you get rolled onto the beach, meaning you don't dive for the bottom, you just let it roll you in, or does it just keep you on the surface longer. I have never worn one, but would consider it for bigger surf. I know the important aspect is better fitness, that is where I will start, but would the pfds help you get to the beach quicker in one piece?
(this situation was so bad that the first thing I did when I came home was to hug my two girls, it was that kind of serious awaking)
Cheers
Hit the pool, build some cardio and strength and give the pfd a miss imo.
Trying to suck in some O2 down in that type of whitewash with pfd on cant be a winner
Yep pdf work a treat. You just get to relax and enjoy the situation, hook your thumbs in up near your chest and enjoy the ride, don't even try to swim
Here is me testing mine, this wave pushed me down deep and then rollercoasted for at least 100m, did the same to my mate on the next wave
^^ you mean PFD. Not sure if a PDF would much use unless you have a good waterproof reader - but what's the point in reading, we got videos these days.
yeah man. a hard smashing by a big wave is a wake up call alright. I had one a few months back. Well the kite went down right into a pitching face and I did the submarine superman so hard i couldn't reach the release for ages.
Well I guess that was the question, does it roll you in....take a breath and go with it, or do you just pop back up? Good photo of the testing, you know you are going to cop it and you do it anyway!
tow in dudes for sure, but most surfers wear legropes, and after the hold down and beating, you pull your board toward you and ride in on your belly if you need to hit the beach. Having to swim in with a harness, (which I almost was at the point of ditching) was awkward.
Just a quick note your harness has got some floation in it so ditching it might not be a good thing to do, just lossen it off and turn it around much easer to paddle in that way . As for a pfd I think one of those ones with the gas bottle on would be better than just a floaty . If your down there and just about to fill ya lungs up pull the rip cord and make it to the top at least the most of the wave has passed not sure about the next couple coming at you though . May be do some body dragin on the next couple and you got the important breath of air in your lungs . Glad you mad it dafish .
I recon a kitesurfer getting washing machined is way worse than a surfer. You have that added danger of the kite and lines.
plus we can and do hit breaks that the surfers can reach because its too far out.
Its bloody great fun but the concequences are high.
I tacked upwind to a break the other day that's about 800m out. in shore is boulder wall for about 1 km down wind. I was riding these awesome waves. the big sets double me. Sweet sweet faces. You know when it gets to the critical size when it doesn't matter how windy it is the suck back of the wave just pulls the wave clean.
It was like that.
So I catch this big one and run down the wave but i'm running straight at the kite and it slack lines and starts to drop. To carve upwind to get line tension ment smacking into the me + white wash rumbling next to me. Not too keen on that. I found myself reaching further up the top stearing line and yanking on it while I dodged the monster. At the last moment my I managed to snap the kite into a loop and avoid a major hammering.
Risky stuff.
Any way I find myself thinking more about a pfd for those sorts of silly sessions. More for floatation if I get stuck a long way out to sea with a stuffed kite and need to spend a while swimming back to shore.
So the big difference is with the PFD (thanks acronym police) you are in relax mode because you know your coming up so your not using any muscles, not using oxygen, you may be under for longer but you know you will pop up so u relax
Now i think if you needed to use a leg rope for kiting a big point break a PFD would be a real good idea, not ideal but leg ropes can really keep you underwater for a long, long time