Postby MKM » Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:27 pm
Although the rules read that the wind must be an average of 4 knots at the start, I don't believe that we can race in this year. I can say however that 5 -6 knots is perfectly fine given that current isn't a problem.
The deal is that if they get a start off and I think 15% of the fleet finishes with in the time limit that it counts. We actually started 2 races in PV that were abandon due to dropping winds. Damo and Bruno were well ahead in the first one when Bruno's kite fell out around the bottom mark. Damo's soon fell as well. Farley was next, but made it back to the beach. Adam and I limped in with winds ranging as low as 2-3. We weren't on a plane, but if we kept the kites looping we could make it in.
Race organizers tired to get a race off on Saturday and started the sequence in 7-8 knots. In this wind the top guys were all fully powered going up wind but had to work pretty hard off the breeze. About 35 seconds before the start, the wind dropped out on the starboard side of the course and left several of us out. Damo, Bruno, and Farley were really the only 3 that were powered up wind. I believe that they may have actually been able to finish that race, but if they sailed into any of the 3-4 knot holes it would have been over for them. My kite fell out and I took the 35 minute swim back to the beach.
Regarding boards, I'm not sure that 19 or 20 inches is competitive at this point. Maybe slim boards will work in windy texas with large chop, but it seems as though Alex has the rocker nailed and the 23's can work well in this stuff. This being said, 19 to 20 inch boards are still excellent light wind boards and still fun to ride.
I think that the jury is still out on fins and I doubt that many of the top guys will give much info in this area. I haven't however seen anyone competitive on 2 fins yet so i guess this year will stay at 4 again. Most good boards are riding flat and it seems as though if you are edging, you're out up wind for sure.
If you are thinking about texas, do it for sure. Like me, you will learn more in a few days than you will learn all year riding alone. Most of the guys are really nice and have pretty unique ideas as to what will work. Gebi, Damo, and others are still pretty open and will surely help to push any new racer in the right direction.
Yep, learn the rules as they will be fully enforced at this event. To be honest though, I doubt that you will run into many problems as most come in the start. It always takes some time to actually get up the confidence to mix it up on the line and therefore most confrontations will likely be avoided until your are pushing the line. I'd probably stay away from port tack starts until you are competitive for top 5 around the windward mark. I got caught out on a port start in PV during the first race and had to take a penalty along with Farley and Bridge.
Make sure you understand windward / leeward rules along with port / starboard. I'd also make sure that you understand that you lose right when tacking and don't gain starboard rights until the tack is completed while also allowing port tackers to keep clear. There are some odd rules when heading down wind due partially due to the somewhat difficult task of telling which rider is on starboard or port when kites are looping and boards are heading very low both heel side and toe side. Most commonly you will run into port and starboard off the wind along with windward / leeward.
The starts get pretty anxious but in the end are the most fun part of the race for me. Work on your tacks and determine which style you will employ. I currently use the Damo style and come out with lines crossed, but I'm switching to the Bruno style whereby the lines end straight. Both seem to work well, but if you mess up on the Bruno style, you generally end up on the windward side of the board (easy to get going again). Jibing down wind is also key if you bail over the front it can cost you 100 meters or more against other riders at these speeds. Get your quads strong because they will be screaming both up wind and down in the windy conditions.
Racing is growing very fast and unlike freestyle, age isn't really that important. See you in Texas.