Katapolt

Dreaming of smooth water kiting?

2010-09-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

We are pretty lucky in Gisborne to have some first class beaches right on our door step and even in the middle of summer still have plenty of space to self launch and kitesurf without the fear of hurting anyone. Golden sand and clean deep blue water what more could you ask for.....well some flat water would be nice.

We are known around the world for our surf breaks and local world class surfers. To learn how to throw down those new tricks would be a lot easier on some flat water instead of trying to time your move in-between a couple of double overhead sets rolling through and then if you mess up and drop your kite into the surf things only get worst real quick.

I guess we could always ask the Council if we could hire the local swimming pool for an afternoon, check out these guys for a great(?) idea.

Always respect local advice.....

2010-09-24T18:46:00.000-07:00

While on the subject of kitesurfing safety, listening to local advice can save you you a headache or worst. So when the signs are obvious, pay attention and you might surf another day...

Kiteboarding can give you a serious headache.....

2010-09-03T22:33:00.000-07:00

On those busy days on the water you have to be aware of those crazy kiters around you. Most times it happens so quick that nobody see's the accident just the aftermath, but sometimes there is a camera lurking.....Lucky this wasn't more serious if you ask me. Must be the luck of the English or something......eh Matt?
Special thanks to Lance Gelden of FreeLance Productions for allowing me to use this video clip from Perk Freestyle 07.

Kitesurfing - In Bruge

2010-07-24T17:02:00.000-07:00

(Warning this post is not for the politically correct, if you're easily offended skip this post - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED)

Bruge #1
Eight Bruging weeks I have been waiting for enough wind to get a kite surf in. Has an alcoholic ever waited eight weeks for his next drink, I don't Bruging think so! To say I was just a little stressed out from not having my adrenalin fix would be a major Bruging understatement. Here's how it went down.

It's the middle of winter and instead of getting our strong predictable on-shore southerly winds to keep any kite-addicted groupie, well, as high as a kite, this winters storms and wind have been coming down from the north, so mostly off-shore winds. So after a long windless eight weeks we finally get a southerly blow. The gear is thrown into the work van and I hit the beach in the blink of an eye. Yep nice wind lets get some action happening.

Bruge #2
Start to get the wetsuit on and the back zip is locked tight with salt corrosion, off comes the wetsuit to fix the zip. No worries only a minor set back. Check the wind, still a howling southerly.

Bruge #3
Pull out my new 2010 Ozone C4 12 meter, lay it out on the ground and pull the air valve plug out only to break the top off, leaving the plug in the kite bladder. Ah Bruge it. 10 minutes of trying to get the plug out of the valve and finally fix the problem.

Bruge #4
Pump the kite up, lay out my lines directly down wind. Checked the lines once, twice yep ready to launch. So I walk my lines around to the side of the (kite) wind window and complete a self launch as I have done hundreds of times before. Kite goes up nicely but half way up the lines they are bunched tightly into a knot at the stopper ball which stops your control bar sliding too far up your lines when you have to hit your safety release. So now I have a 12m kite sitting at 12 o'clock in a gusty southerly with no steering, no depower and no Bruging control while standing in a very small launch area next to a busy road.

Realizing that I don't have many choices and while I still control the situation, I pull my safety release system to release my bar. This should depower the kite and let it fall slowly downwind of me, only problem is the road is downwind of me so I start running backwards trying to pull the kite back away from the road. Bang! The kite dives hard into the tarmac on the lane closest to me, just missing an (old) hat driver in the other lane. The hat driver doesn't even slow down even though I am certain that my kite might have knocked his side mirror off his car. If my kite had been just a meter further away from me, it would have caught this car like a giant lasso with me still attached to it, who would now be travelling at 50kph towards the wooden barrier fence.

Stupid is, stupid does. So after untangling the knot in my lines at the stopper ball I reset my kite and lines ready for another relaunch. Kite starts to come up and at about 45 degrees I see that history does Bruging repeat itself with another knot in my lines. Before the kite gets any higher I hit the safety release again but this time I have plenty of room and the kite lands without any problems. Out comes the knife and that little Bruging stopper ball is gone for good. Reset everything for a third relaunch but this time no drama just a perfect self launch. Hey, if nothing else the entertainment value to those people watching would put me at the top of the You Tube ratings.

Bruge #5
So I grab my board with my brand new, Litewave Hybrid laceup sandals and hit the water. Wind is a lot lighter now (as almost it knows my many kite relaunch attempts are over) but there's no way I am calling it quits at this stage. A few warm up laps up and down the beach sluicing up the shallows and my right leg is getting some serious cramp. My right foot strap is not tight enough so I have to hit the beach, drop my kite, tighten my foot strap, relaunch my kite (amongst a serious build up of driftwood) and maybe finally get a decent kitesurf in.

Bruge #6
Where's the Bruging wind gone. Like a scorned girlfriend the wind has packed a sad. There's blue sky poking through the clouds meaning the cold front has passed. No more kitesurfing today.

After waiting for so many weeks for a decent kitesurf, it just seemed that everything conspired against me. I sure everyone who kitesurfs can relate to a day similar to this, where Murphy just gets the better of them. Sometimes it's hard to describe in an articulate fashion your man feelings without coming across like some Bruging poofter. So from the movie "In Bruge", I present the following video to accurately portray my feelings about this particular days kitesurf. All you have to do is every time you hear the work "Bruge" replace it with "Kitesurfing" and you will get my drift.

Kitesurfing 101

2010-07-17T20:38:00.000-07:00

Welcome to kitesurfing 101. As its mid winter and everyone is looking forward to those long hot summer days on the beach, with perfect sea breezes for kitesurfing, its time to think about the basics in safety and kitesurfing skills.

You know what its like, sitting on the beach while everyone else is on the water kiting their heart out.

Or worst still having to bring all the gear down to the beach for your better half, I mean whats up with that?

But before you get too carried away you better learn the basics, kite beaches can get busy.

And you really don't want any aggro by brassing the locals off, do we?

So before we gear up.

Lets sit on the beach and think about what we need to do to have a great kitesurfing experience.

First we should get plenty of practice with a trainer kite, to perfect our kite flying skills.

Next, selecting the right size board is critical to your success. How do we do that, well each to their own.

If you don't get a board that is a good fit, you will keep losing it for sure.

They say the right board just fits like a glove.

The next step is to pump your kite up.

Once the kite is fully inflated, always check that the struts are fully inflated, no holes etc.

Once the kite is checked, get your friend to flip the kite over. It makes it easier to carry.

And maybe get them to take the kite down to the beach for you.

It's always best to have a friend keep an eye over your kite while your grabbing the rest of the gear.

You just never know if your in for a big blow.

Time to grab your control bar.

Walk downwind of your kite and find a nice clean bit of beach to lay your kite lines out.

Run your lines out along the beach.

Check the lines for any knots or tangles, this is very important.

Okay, everything looks good from this angle, now to grab our harness.

Make sure it's a good tight fit and is comfortable.

Ok, we have inflated the kite, run out our lines and attached them to the kite. Got our harness on, time to grab our board.

Launching the kite is very important. It is always safest to have a friend give you a hand.

Kites up, now lets move down to the water.

When first starting out from the beach it can be helpful to have a friend pass you your board.

Making a stylish departure from the beach will always grab attention.

Once on the water it's time to lay down some tricks and show em what your got.

Sometimes you know when your got it wrong!

But with some sheer determination and concentration......

You will be nailing those slick moves.

Remember, safety first so I always recommend that while you are out on the water have a friend watch over you from the beach.

After a long hard session on the water remember never let yourself get too cold, so always hit the beach and wrap yourself up warm.

Never get a case of the guilts, you know how it is. Your at the beach everyday working your kite surfing moves while your buddies are chasing careers, money, promotions (aka working overtime, stress, heart disease) and sometimes you wonder should I be doing the career thing?

Who would you rather be, this old kite-surfing dude with man boobs, a beer gut and a 20 something year old sweetie hanging off his beach towel or working your ass off in "your cubicle" for some boss for him to take the credit for your hard work?

Kite-surfing is all about personal freedom, great mates and long summer days at the beach. What more could you ask for? So why not try this fantastic sport, get some lessons, be safe and then rip hard into the sunset.

Litewave 2010 Hybrid Lace-Up Sandal

2010-07-17T00:39:00.000-07:00

Your looking at the 2010 Litewave Hybrid Lace-Up Sandal designed for kite-surfing boards. For your nearest retailer, Google "litewave+dave" or "litewave+laceup+sandal".

The Hybrid Lace-up Sandal is just that. A 6” wide lace-up section covers more of your foot; more like a binding than a foot-strap. The pad is soft and superbly contoured to keep your heel locked in, form-fit your arch, and a toe-shelf lets you really hang on with your toes. Cool thing is that the lace-up part uniquely attaches to the foot-pad independently of the screw that holds it down to the board. This makes it super easy to attach and remove. Shop techs will appreciate this. Two sizes: S/M and L/XL. Black only.

2010 Ozone C4 on a Summer Southerly

2010-07-16T23:21:00.000-07:00

It seems that we are getting more summer winds from the south over the last few years, but if its on-shore its gotta be good. This was my first real session with my new Ozone C4 12m kite, to say it rocks would be an understatement. To call it sex on string might be getting closer.....

2010 Ozone C4's hitting the Gizzy beach this summer.

2009-12-12T23:12:00.000-08:00

Keep an eye out on the beaches around Gisborne this summer as the new 2010 Ozone C4 kites are the talk of town.

Take your favorite C kite, add to it massive de-power and a huge range and you still wont have an idea how good the C4 really is!! The kite pops, floats, pulls like a C-kite but comes with user friendly de-power and it also relaunches with ease.

Just take a look at the pic below and you would have to agree that with curves like that it's a hornet disguised as a butterfly.

Check us out on the beach or if you want some more information follow this link to the Ozone website:

http://www.flyozone.com/kitesurf/en/products/kites/c4/info/

Recession hits kitesurfing.......

2009-12-12T22:27:00.000-08:00

Gone are the days of buying the latest must have kite surfing accessory's just because its this years new model, or that it has a bright new racing stripe or even because you just want to be the first guy/gal on the beach to sport the latest kite surfing fashion accessory.

No, those days are gone and the recession has hit us hard. Take the 2009 super model vest. It was just so f*****g sick that we couldn't keep up with the orders. Never did get the demo model back from Andy......

But just when you realized that you were too bloody poor to buy the super model vest, we have found our competitors have introduced the new 2010 budget line vest. For no particular reason we at Katapolt won't be stocking this vest rather letting our competitors have the business. It's called the unicorn vest and comes complete with cool unicorn graphics, it's own mullet hair lining for the ultimate in user comfort. Some reports have been rather negative about the unicorn vest but those crazy Europeans are just a little more open minded than the rest of us. If your got no money, no job and your bank manager is on ya arse then just maybe the 2010 Unicorn Vest is for you.

Johnny Stormrider

2009-07-10T10:56:00.000-07:00

We have the Whale Rider now we have Johnny Stormrider. No other kiter was brave (?) enough to take on this storm. Was it because of the size of the waves, the howling southerlies, the freezing cold temperatures (there was snow on the ranges that day)? Nope, maybe it was the colour of the water!! There's a few reasons why they call it the "pipe" and this time they weren't referring to the well shaped waves but more the "Gizzy pipe-line". Nothing could get out to sea that day, what got pumped out was soon washed out, which is how Johnny ended up his day as well. The mans a freaking legend.

Edson showing his style.

2009-04-29T02:28:00.000-07:00

A hot January summers day with a very light nor east sea breeze and a few good sets of dumping swell was not going to stop Edson from having a kite surf. It was pretty spectacular stuff watching him work his kite furiously while coming back into the beach with a big Wainui dumper chasing his ass, like a true pro Edson even pop a few jumps!

Latest "must have" kitesurfing accessory.

2009-04-28T01:16:00.000-07:00

This season, like all those before it brings the latest offerings from kite boarding manufacturers. From new kites, bars, boards, lines, vests, harnesses, wetsuits etc but we at Katapolt work day and night to bring you news on only the most cutting edge and coolest of the cool products.

Our pick of the bunch is a new kite boarding vest. This is the latest on-the-water fashion statement, normally reserved for billionaires who own their own tropical island but we have limited stock available now. We suggest you only purchase the "super model" size as opposed to the chubby girlfriend size as we have concerns about stability, flotation and jump performance. Some critics have suggested that the super model vest is all about fluff but nothing that a good bit of board wax won't rip off. Some have said that the vest is too thin and won't keep you hot, while others have said they are as bony as hell and uncomfortable. I say once you have tried it you will never go back, so call us on 0800 katapolt to order now!

Katapolt staff comment: Andy will you return the demo model vest please.....

Wave Jumping 101 - FAIL

2009-02-07T10:40:00.000-08:00

With Wainui pumping some double overhead waves its important to get your timing right when wave jumping or else instead of going over the top you will simply smash your way through. Unless you have ever experienced that feeling of getting it "wrong" when traveling at about 30km an hour with a tonne of water coming at you the other way, you really don't know what this post is about. Here's some pictures to tried and give you an idea.

Wainui Summer Fun 2009

2009-02-06T22:13:00.000-08:00

Wainui Beach in summer is just one of the best places to be if you like sun, sand, water and a few bikini's to show your kiting skills off too.

Long Winter

2008-07-20T17:30:00.000-07:00

Well it's turning out to be a long cold winter with hardly any wind.. at the half way point. But looking on the upside the days are getting longer and the northerlies shouldn't be too far away. With all this R & R we'll all be ready to charge hard for summer.

We have a winter discount running on all the girls and guys bags in stock at the mo - 25% off - just email me your wishlist.
andy@katapoltkiteboarding.com

DVNT Kiteboarding boards are #1

2008-03-22T16:57:00.001-07:00

I took delivery of my new 2008 DVNT kiteboard with the "plug-in" graphics, a couple of weeks ago and I am totally thrilled with my new board.

I started kitesurfing with an expensive international brand name kiteboard and struggled in progresing as a learner to a half decent rider. Andy from Katapolt Kitesurfing loaned me his older 128 X 36.5 (board on the right) DVNT board and in just a few sessions I was able to carve up wind and generally spend more time on the board than in the water. In other words turn my frustrations into hours of fun on the water. A couple of weeks ago I received my new board from Ian at DVNT, a 2008 125 X 38 board. Within two session on the water I am now popping some great jumps.....and landing them. Showing off on the toeside rail and just having a ball. In Gisborne we have some big surf days and when the wind is from the south it can hit 3o knots pretty easy and quite often. This board just loves these conditions. Apart from Andy's great teaching, selecting the right size board for your weight/kitesurfing experience is very important. It can mean the difference between a great day on the water pushing your limits and learning new tricks or just getting more and more frustrated while those around you rip the surf up. If you are in the market for a new kiteboard, don't waste your time or money looking at all the different brands out there, just head straight to DVNT and ask for Ian!

Melissa at Midway

2008-02-10T20:19:00.000-08:00

Melissa getting the hang of the onshore at Waikanae/Midway.

6m Naish Code

2008-02-10T20:17:00.000-08:00

The new 6m 2008 Naish Code getting a workout in the latest southerlie. Winds were up to 35knots - just right for this kite.

2008-02-10T01:36:00.000-08:00

Edson Charging at Okitu in about 10 knots of wind (if that).

Trainer Kite at Okitu

2008-01-12T01:31:00.000-08:00

Nice to see some girls getting into kiting. Heidi picking up the basics of flight in just 5 minutes! I think you're going to give Gabriel a run for his money! How about a competition to see who can get on the board first? Had a few shots of you too Gabriel, but strangley enough all of those shots had the shutter half closed across the lens... too bad eh.

Good Size Swell

2008-01-12T01:21:00.000-08:00

Edson and Simon showing their skills in the 2m plus swell. A few of the sets comming through were double overhead, a couple of kites went down in the waves, but no kites ripped! Edson giving the lifeguards some exercise retrieving his board... have to practice that upwind body dragging eh!

2008 Sigma Series Naish Kites

2008-01-12T01:16:00.000-08:00

Check out the new 2008 Naish Cult. Pictured is the 12m2 with a DVNT board. Nice steady kite with an amazing range. Most technically advanced kite on the market! Check out http://www.naishkites.com/en/products/kites.html

Wainui Working

2007-12-19T16:12:00.000-08:00

The recent lack of swell (the bane of surfers around here) has provided some easy conditions to get to grips with the Wainui conditions, which often are difficult.

A new Naish Sigma series Cult is arriving in Gissy soon. If you see it in the air come down and check out the new technology!

Waikanae Thunderstorm

2007-10-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

Simon, late again, almost gets nailed by a thunderstorm! That'll teach you for spending so much time at work Si...

View from inside the car was safer!

Kaiti Beach

2007-10-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

Good to see the boys giving kaiti beach a go in the North-Wester's. Four guys out today - don't think anyone was much interested in working!

Kaiti Beach, Gissy

2007-10-04T00:19:00.000-07:00

Wind was pumping today. Westerlies coming thru strong as, with a few holes in between.

Getting a lot of North-Westers at the moment and should stay that way till Xmas. Seabreases have been building latley, so Wainui/Okitu will be all go soon too.

Si-Man video at Waikanae Beach, Gisborne

2007-08-15T21:43:00.000-07:00

Learning to kitesurf at Waikanae Beach, Gisborne.

15th August 2007

Kaiti Session

2007-08-04T18:56:00.000-07:00

Another cranking session down at Kaiti Beach, next to the yacht club. Flat conditions, about 20 knots of wind (North West) and the odd wave breaking over the reef - sweet as !

Waikanae in a 25 knots plus southerly!

2007-06-23T21:56:00.000-07:00

In one of the coldest polar blasts yet this winter only two were brave (???) enough to go kite surfing. Hamish and Andy donned their wet suits and braved an 8 degree celsius day (I wish I recorded the wind chill temperature!) with 25 knots plus in the gusts it made for a fast ride and some great jumps. Video available on the www.katapoltkiteboarding.com web site. Simon.

The Boys getting to grips with kitesurfing

2007-06-03T21:51:00.000-07:00

Learning to kitesurf, thrills, spills and good fun.

3rd June 2007

Waipaoa River Mouth

2007-05-18T03:03:00.000-07:00

Check it out! - Wiapaoa River Mouth, strong north wind and incomming tide. The water was pancake flat and staying upwind was a piece of cake due to the tide and wind working against each other. May pay to use a leash for these conditions so that the current from the tide dosn't take your board too far upstream. This spot has tones of potential for both northerlies and southerlies, and it's only 5 minutes from town!

Tologa Inlet

2007-04-14T17:02:00.000-07:00

Went up to Tologa last Thursday on a South West brease. It was too off-shore to go out on the main beach, but great for the inlet 'cause it was high tide. Got about an hour session in on the butter-flat water. Gotto watch out for all the sticks and crap as it would be very easy to rip the kite.

Katapolt Kiteboarding Premieres on YouTube!

2007-03-30T03:08:00.000-07:00

Katapolt Kiteboarding Premieres on YouTube.com

We hope to post on a regular basis, videos of our kiteboarding adventures around the district.

If you check out Andy's web site www.katapoltkiteboarding.com and click on the "Video" page you will find links to our video's. Alternatively, just complete a search for "katapolt" on YouTube.

I promise the video's will get better as I get more practace and as I am still sporting a broken toe I seem to have been nominated as the new video guy.....yah....rather be kiteboarding! Simon.

A little practice makes perfect.....

2007-03-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

On a low wind day or just for some practice, flying a trainer kite is great fun to hone your kite skills.

As a trainer kite is small (about 3m) compared to the full size traction kites of 12m plus, they provide you with enough feed back to improve your kite flying skills as well as feel the power these little kites can generate without putting you in any danger. If you can master flying the kite without have to watch where it is in the wind window, it allows you to take the next step of introducing the board with one less distraction.

Waikanae on a SE brease

2007-03-23T18:23:00.000-07:00

Was a great session at Waikanae slicing up and down in the shallows.

Si was going hard with a broken toe, but unfortunatly the camera batteries went flat and Grace only got 2 shots of him before he came in.

Just missed one of Hamish's jumps, but a nice shot in any case.

Bit of a tangle here - we were both lining up for a shot in front of Grace - she got it, but not quite the one we wanted!

Skimming down the beach in just a few inches of water...
great until your board bites into the sand!

Showing off is bad for your health

2007-03-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

You know how it is, you're out having a great session, no make that a fantastic session laying down some kite-boarding moves and it just seems that you can do no wrong. The summer sun is beating down on Wainui beach, the sea breeze is kicking, the water is crystal blue and the surf is pumping and there is plenty of bikini eye candy walking the length of the beach.

So what's a guy to do? Show off, of course.

So after trying every trick in the kite-surfing book that I know, I decided to charge up to the beach at full speed, kick my board off and run up the beach under full kite power and look bloody cool doing it. Right! A break in the surf...check. A gaggle of hot bikini's walking on the beach right in front of my proposed landing spot....check. What could possibly go wrong, lets do this!

Full speed,edging hard, bout an inch of water left under my board, kick that off, take my first running step....second running step...suck the gut in, stick the chest out, check the girls are watching, looking cool, THEN intense pain in left foot, no make that second toe in, eyes watering, feeling hot, flushed, dizzy, trying to look cool, calm, collected but not pulling it off. Bikini girls, laughing, not with me but at me, face turning red, ah crap.

Bloody hell what just happened? Turns out I managed to kick (mid stride under full running speed) the only partially submerged rock on the entire sandy beach, breaking my toe!

You want what? Pictures! Well here they are in there full X-Rayed detail.

Mahia Mission

2007-03-22T02:25:00.000-07:00

Edson and I went down to Mahia to make the most of the strong NW wind. For the first couple of hours the wind came and went a bit, then it really kicked in giving us a good hour or more of wind up to (and above) about 30 knots!

Here is Edson getting up on the board.

And me lining Edson up!

All in all a great day out.

Si and Ryan with new Naish Gear

2007-03-22T02:21:00.000-07:00

Here is Si with his new Naish Boxer 12m and Haze 133 board.

Also pictured is Ryan - the up and coming.

Session at Okitu

2007-03-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

This one is thanks to Mr Ryman the Frogman who almost got run over and landed on a number of times in the name of good photos.

Was a typical seabrease at Okitu that day with a nice half metre swell and fairly clean conditions.