the next time the wind and tide is right i'm gona belt to foxton.

really hoping for 25 knots of clean onshore. or very slightly cross-on for a high speed downwinder....

my board is set up perfectly now its just waiting for the moment.

i've got this picture above my desk of me hauling to a speed run and the allure Strong.

I want that 50+kph 4 wheel drift feeling.

Hi Plumet I have been looking for a similar forecast to do some fast hour runs from Tangi to Otaki (50km). Let me know if you spot some good conditions and I will be there. I have been using PredictWind for that area and it seems pretty on the money for the forecasts. The thing that I think is important is that is is consistently windy and not to gusty. The wind I am look for is in the 20-30 knot range with an average of 25. haven't figured out what tide is best yet but I am looking for good period between the waves and flat.

Yep i'm in when the conditions prevail. except tangi to waikanai paraparaumu for 76km action. except i'm keen for anything from 13 to 35 knots. 25 being ideal. But yes clean wind makes the whole trip more enjoyable. Butch is the man on the ground at foxton who can verify actual wind speed on the day. We'll just have to wait for his call and mobilise quickly when he gives the call. For us land lubbers super low tide is the way. Surf is usually pretty small along that coastline. well compared to the naki.

my only issue is crossing the manawatu river. i have no kite surf equipment and don't have the funds to invest in any. so it may be a body dragg across the inlet for me.

You can have all my old C-quads mate. Snow, land, water... rain, sleet... just keep on trucking!

Beggars can't be choosers!

Question is how you carry mountain boards and kitesurfboards comfortably over long distances to effect such a challange!

that is the challenge guster and the answer is a 2-3 piece lighweight kitesurf deck that bolts to the underside of the lb deck for the estury crossings. Take the wheels off bolt the surf deck and do for it.

or made a hybrid deck that can simply skim across the water aswell.... thats pretty hard tho.

so far the cheapest easiest idea for me is to fab a thin multi peice deck from bendy ply and glass/carbon to quickly attach to the base of the board.. I have those bits lurking in my shed right now. it doesn't need much performance just get me planning for a couple of hundred meters to the over side of the river.... or i body drag it as it a short distance. there's probably only be 30-40 meters of over head height distance.

Hey Plummet I may have the answer for you...(smile)


either that or take up kitesurfing..

hehehe.... yep. i'm keen. i even started looking for relatively new second hand gear. then the dentist said that'l be $800 for a root canal, i blew my pc up, the missis car needs replacing blah, blah, blah etc etc the list goes on and there goes any chance for any kite surf gear for the percievable future.

If i have to drag my sorry ass across the river then so be it. it wont stop me punching the distance.

Too much to break and go wrong there old chap. Would be a waste to do a long trip and have to walk back because something broke. Not menioning you now have to carry tools too and bad enough dunking your board in brack water or having it sink all together.

I'd say practice riding a wood skimboard and strap it over your back like a medieval battle shield or ninja turtle shell... whicheva.

a 1.2 x 40 slab strapped to my back for 3-4 hours would be uncomfortable as hell and the worlds biggest air brake. it needs to be 2-3piece or foldable via a stainless piano hinge.
if i'm cunning i can design it so i don't need tools.

the other issue i have is carrying my 10kg monster grannyboard accross the estury. that would cause some pain if i stacked. the better solution is to attach it to the skim board/wakeskate thing and ride it over that way i don't need bindings of the skimboard.

i may even mount surfdeck at ground height with a couple of packers and not take the wheels off.

ps my board is stainless/duplex/carbon/glass on all components inc the bearings. so its submersable if required......
PSS i will also ensure that it floats so i don't loose it.
psss being the contentious bloke that i am since yourve told me i can't do it i have to make it to prove your wrong.

go the plumminator, that what iiiii say...haharrr.

did you know, anything skims if it goes fast enuff, even plummets on grannyboards
i have to say dear old plummet that the broken arm and timeout must have gone to your head somewhat, this is the craziest idea youv comeup with in....ooohhh, 6 months
i like the idea of hitting the water with a rolling start....ie with the tyres just sticking out from the skim platform so you can get a run up...kina floatplane stylee,it would cause a bit of drag but it could work over a short and downwind run...the skim platform dosnt have to be attached all the time, it could just velcro on to spacers on the bottom of the board, as their isnt a huge amout of friction, or tourque as you wont be carving hard, the platform it shouldnt need to be bolted...just need a large enuff surface of velcro...skimboard on,skimboard off..no tools required...
maby just about as crazy as the idea itsself but it just might work.

hehe i like your thoughts Al. maybe i just wind up to 60+kph and hit the water and aqauplane up arse across the inlet? that would be glorious if i could do such a thing... it would be full commitment trial tho. i recon it would be the fastest dead stop/faceplant/ancle snap.....

i had a almost as silly idea last night. fabric kiteboard! make a canvis cover that wraps around the wheels and deck. ratched tie downs to tension the hell out of it and some batterns for the side rails... viola you have big surface area! then when you get to the other side you can fold it up and stick it in your back pack. its so crazy it might work.

water skis at deck height. hmmm

There was an ATB that claimed to be amphibious. Baseboard or something like that. Three wheels in a row in a rockered fashion. Though it's not the kind of thing you want to 'longhaul' on.

What about a blow-up pontoon like structure... sortof like a thundercat, a lilo or blowup chair with a drink holder in the armrest.

yeah kids blow up row boat or tractor tyre. its abit gay...

baseboard is realy no good at anything. its the worst of all worlds.....

There you go... bigger wheels! Some nice bigfoots should float your boat.

Yeah baseboards were a bit rubbish. You had to be stupidly overpowered to plane them and then it's a mission to keep under control on land.

i now have a custom 112 x 38 Underground board to carry with me, and have lightened my Full Carbon D EX Explorer mountainboard for my missions. Next low tide with cranking wind im in there. tangi to paraparaumu.....

Just a heads up. It is only Tuesday, however the forecast for Saturday afternoon is looking like a possibility for speed runs at Foxton. Low tide at 3pm

Sat 14 02:41 NZDT / 0.35 m 08:17 NZDT / 2.15 m 15:08 NZDT / 0.38 m 20:35 NZDT / 2.20 m

Looks like a good weather pattern for a blast down the coast either Saturday and or Sunday. Anyone keen?

plumett is in recovery mode , butch might be up for it

p.s. Yak i got an iblaast lamp (similar idea to your one) thanks to your help and gannets , night kiting is just around the bend

well sunday is my only option. I've got family stuff on sat. Jimmy is right i am still recovering..... what does that mean? i'll have to go at a moderate 40-50kph not at world record speeds. Wrist is getting better in leaps and bounds but i still have to go easy and board within my limits rather than at the edge of them.

Now sunday wind is looking to turn N around 3 and that may be a deal breaker. but i'll make a call tommorrow based on the wind direction prediction.

ps i still don't have a method for getting across the manawatu river..... might just have to body drag on mangle something else short notice.

i'll pm you my cell ph number yaker for last minute decisions

hmmmm..... wind is looking good. but rain and drizzle predicted... today is the better day dammit. pitty i can't make it today.

hey plummet i have a 110 decay wedong that i won't be needing shortly as I have a new one being made, Decay says it will post as it is under 120cm..

it's complete with straps and heelside fins and in very usable condition, just nicks and scratches, no cracks

isn't worth much..

interested?

Craig

pm'd you