June 2005

Hello everyone,

THE NEW SITE IS UP...Check out the videos. The storm chase of tropical storm nicole and others will be up soon. For now, view the bit vids of last winter in Utah and June 11th tropical storm Arlene footage...

It has been a whirlwind week here in Florida. The weather is changing once again. It is amazing the amount of changing conditions down here. Over the last 3 weeks we have experienced season thunderstorms that sweep through the state. As they move west to east, the storms bring fast moving lightning displays and heavy amounts of precip. Over the last week or so, the seabreeze pushes inland to create localized thundershowers with amazing sunsets. The temps have been creeping into the upper 80s and very bearable. It only gets hot when the wind stops.
As far as tropical activity, the season has been steadily producing depressions and storms off the Mexican coastline and upper level disturbances along the Northern Florida coast. Right now the scene is quite.
The wind has been up and going strong. I have some more photos from last week on the gallery.

Stay cool
Max

June 2005

Hello again,

I just uploaded a couple of photos from our day at the inlet yesterday.Check em out here...

With the frontal boundry making its way across Northern Florida, we got a good day of kiting in. The winds were blowing between 15-18 from 11am-3pm. Around 5pm the winds cranked up to 25+. A really good day...

Max

June 2005

Welcome back.

Here in Florida the weather has been rather consistent. 88 degree days followed with evening lightning storms. On Tuesday a bolt hit the top of the condo. Lights went out and our wireless router got fried. The thunder shook the place. As the storm moved overhead, lightning flashed, thunder rumbled. I am kinda getting use to it...
On the kiting side of things, the winds have been real gusty to predominantly light. Not much kiting going on since Arlene left town.

Puerto Rico anyone?

Max

Atlantic Hurricane season 2005

<>Now that the Arlene has passed, the sun has busted through the clouds again. The winds have subsided. I am finally back to updating the blog.

This past weekend was amazing. With Tropical storm Arlene making her way toward the panhandle, rain bands, gusty wind and overcast clouds have swept across the state of Florida. Each day of the storm brought a different condition.

Thursday I kiteboarded the inlet in 15-20 under overcast skies. A solid showing of the St. A crew. Rain bands swept through the area all day.

<>Friday was sick. My first day of real gusty winds taugt me to stay clear on the tack, take in the depower strap and hold on. The winds were cranking to over 25. I was riding a 13 flexifoil and totally lit. I had to go down a size quick, so I got the 9 flexifoil ready for the rest of the session. The 9 was perfect. With the winds blowing side off shore, the upwind riding was perfect for me.
Later that day, some ominous rain clouds moved through, the wind speed was down and up again to 25 by 6pm. Paul rallied the crew for a down winder. Dale, Paul and I made our way to 9th street, up the beach 10 miles to our destination. I have a new understanding of being gripped. I was so lit on a 13 it was scary. There were times I would hit a 5-6 foot wave going downwind, sky 25-35 feet through the air and crash. With my kite completely depowered, the only way I could slow down was to fall and start again. I really could have used a 9 that evening. After I survived the trip, the guys and Eddie were amazed I made it. That night called for a celebration and that's exactly what we did.

Saturday came quickly. Rain fell like buckets in the morning and then subsided in the afternoon. I decided to film for the day and let myself rest up a bit. I got great footage of the whole crew. We recently batched the footage. I will be working on the editing tonight.
Sunday the wind and the waves dropped off to 10-15. Eddie and I did a late down winder at 6 pm.
Now for the latest news...There is a new formation just south of Jamaica. We will keep you posted...

Max

Atlantic Hurricane season 2005

Hey everyone.

It's been almost a week since I made and update. Nothing much going on in FLA since Saturday...BUT today!

We had our eye on this one before the watch went up. Tropical Depression one formed while we were out doing down winders at the inlet. After a couple of red strips and conch fritters, between commercials of the latest reality display, Gilligan’s island-I am finally sitting down to the laptop to update the blog.
Damn, what a good day kiting. I did my first down winder from matanzas inlet. I went up the coast 4 miles, happy not to be shark bait, I got my second glimpse into what kite surfing is all about. While we celebrated over a few brews, the setting sun in the West lit up the off shore cumulus clouds. The temp, 88 degrees. But enough about how good it is in Florida...

June 8th 2005 June 9th 2005
Tropical depression One Tropical Storm Arlene
National Hurricane Center-tropical prediction center
Water Vapor 4 KM

Stay tuned.
Max

Pacific Hurricane season 2005

Well, the inevitable is apon us-the East coast hurricane season started today...

Sorry Florida, we have another above-average hurricane season coming. This year's outlook, believe it or not, is almost identical to what the Climate Prediction Center was calling for last May. In fact, they're actually calling for a little more activity than what was expected a year ago....more

Keep tuned in.

Max