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Bighorns not Teahupo'o! ...It's still good!

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knewschool
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Local Beach: Big Sandy, Palisades, Mud Lake, Jackson Lake...
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Snow kite spots are growing fastly and epicly.
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Bighorns not Teahupo'o! ...It's still good!

Postby knewschool » Sun Mar 18, 2012 12:13 am

Strong wind and Steep slopes made for an interesting adventure up at the bighorns Thursday and Friday. Clint and I busted a quick minivan mission hoping for lighter winds Thursday then stronger winds on Friday. Turns out both days were strong.

We actually started at Medicine Mountain. After riding there with SSW we decided to go for more snow coverage at Mount Baldy. Clint took his sled over and I kited. The kite would have been more fun with less wind, I got close to some trees and some power lines. I think I heard the lines didn’t have power running through them, but as soon as I got to that ridge with the NOAA ball on it I was so overpowered it sucked. I just sucked it up and kept going to make it down the ridge to the sled trail. Then a 2 mile tack to the right and you’re at the sweet spot.

That afternoon I was reminded that if you’re powered enough, and winds blowing straight up a nearly vertical slope…you may have to fly like it or not.

I was overpowered on my Ozone Edge 13 and it was easy to go up the slope. I could pull my bar in and go right up, but when I had to avoid going over the back and stop short of the top I naturally turned my kite to the edge of the wind window. On that steep slope I just slid down the slope so fast that I was under my kite with speed. One side was rock the other fell out from under me. It was basically an unavoidable launch for me. I flew off overpowered. With a shaka’s worth of depower and my bar pined against the stopper I carefully flew across the slope as slow and easy as I could. Flying so depowered my kite it wobbled extra funny in the gusts. I managed to fly to the edge of the slope and turn into the wind where the hill was less steep and I just sank out with no ground speed. I never really went super high, but I did have some big terrain features pass by underneath. Ultimately getting blown over the back of something like that is mind boggling. I see that video of Alex Petersen soaring on that bluff in California on youtube and I can’t believe it.

Anyway, the second day I came prepared with my Ozone C4 9m and had a well powered session. I even practiced some jibbing and powered loops to get my water feet back under me. Clint was doing a great job and being in the right spot while I was snapping some pictures, looks like he’s getting tubed at Teahupo’o… it gets steep up there!
It’s getting so warm everywhere there’s not much time left, but I do see one more storm lining up next week!

Cheers,
Will Taggart
Attachments
1 3.15.2012SWRIGE.jpg
2 PWERLP.jpg
3 TPOTBE.jpg
3.16.2012 052SUN.jpg
3.16.2012 066CAMP.jpg
4 3.15.2012NOAA.jpg
4 3.15-16.2012.jpg
5 3.15.2012 CLFLY.jpg
7 LOPIN.jpg
8 3.15.2012 CRESC.jpg
9 3.15.2012 TB2.jpg
biggies3.15-16.2012GLIDE.jpg

rvrrat
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Re: Bighorns not Teahupo'o! ...It's still good!

Postby rvrrat » Sun Mar 18, 2012 1:41 am

:o Tubes in the mountains. Leave it to you guys. I see the warm weather is workin' on your snow. I have to say I have enjoyed all these posts of your radical adventures. It seems to me that you have outdone last season! JR

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Noahpz
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Re: Bighorns not Teahupo'o! ...It's still good!

Postby Noahpz » Sun Mar 18, 2012 3:15 am

Wild winds on Radar Mtn, Will! Even more wild was your descent off Baldy. It looks nice in the Biggies, as usual. Camping in the overlook is perfect. I'm looking forward to another springtime trip up there in the coming weeks. Last April was superb and I'll be watching the models to line up this year's rally. I'm sure there will be even more addicts seeking a fix!

Thanks for posting!

Noah


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