Words: David Kramer
Lens: Brett “Gibby” Gibson

Required items essential to success:
- A forecast of 22 + knot NE wind
- Clear skies over Hatteras; at least no rain
- 2 tanks of premium gas 2.99 a gallon
- 5 Sugar Free Red Bulls – 2 in the morning 3 on the way home – especially after the 12:00 am mark (save 2 for this point)
- A free schedule from 6:10am to 1:45am the next day
- A bacon, egg and Cheese McGriddle (only because apparently you cannot order a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel at the McDonalds in Curitkut)
- Balls of Steel to loop kites in 30 knot winds (more to come on this)

So waking up to Gibby’s 5:45 “Wake up, Bitch.” phone call, I was on 395S by 6:10am. Gibby was a few miles ahead of me so I got the occasional speed trap and traffic report texts such as “FxxK, traffic is stopped at mile marker 244.” Or “speed trap at 136.”

We met at the McDonald’s and hauled a$$ down 158 to NC-12. On NC-12 the Kook drivers must have been out with Gibby and I passing multiple cars between Waves and Avon: most of which doing 45 in a 55.

Upon crossing Oregon Inlet it was evident that it was on. We took NC-12 through Buxton and Frisco to dump my car at the Washout lot. We saw some 7s and 9s in the air but the wind on the beach made me feel that my new 11 was the choice of the day.

We rigged at Habor Patrol Rob’s beach house (Thanks for the hospitality!) in the middle of Frisco and did a 1.5 hour up winder there. Gibby was killing it on his 9 Waroo. We both were wishing we had our new 9s. I was on my brand new ’09 Fuel 11M. I felt fine as long as I edged up wind but I have a new respect for kites now: the 11 has so much lift, speed, and pull that if you let it get away from you there is imminent spankage.

I was doing popped back rolls and attempted unhooked stuff but there was simply to much pop and power in the kite. Unhooked resulted in multiple losses of the bar and popped tricks led to loftings or ridiculous over rotations. So I simply started pulling the trigger. Wow. I was boosting on the new Fuel like never before. The lift was spot on and I had to hold back on the sends (and I was still dumb shit high at times). Gibby or the photos can comment on height but I know that for myself multiple personal records were set. I also learned nice, big solid midair transitions so that was killer.

We did the downwinder to washout and Gibby, Rob, Rob’s brother in law and sister came with us. Everyone was killing it tough conditions (24G 28 at times) but Rob, Jack and Gibby were jumping a massive island. It was nasty to watch. I landed on the Island and then decided since I was already there I would practice some beach starts… I went to the downwind side of the island cranked the kite through the power zone, sheeted in, leaned back and up I went to a smooth touch down. Fun trick actually – looking forward to doing that more.

After the downwinder we drove 5 kiters back in Rob’s truck and proceed for round two. I was getting beat up by the 11M a lot – way to much kite for the wind and felt my yellow ’05 SS 9M diesel was on deck. The diesel was the weapon choice because I could go for looping action and not get to much power out of the loops (it was gusting to 30 knots after all)

A few f-16s later I decided I wanted a “big” f-16. I unhook, sent and then cranked it over and found myself at about 20ft with the kite below me. No a problem yet – until I dropped my hand off of the bar and proceed to watch the kite dive straight into the water while I was still 15ft off of the deck. It was a neat visual, really… I let go of the bar and freefell 10 ft to a nice soft landing. I pencil dived into the drink and was totally ok; but I’ll leave the unhooked megaloop f-16s to Jeff and Len10. When the photos make it my way the pictures will speak for themselves. That, to date, is my biggest wreck.

lens: Brett Gibson

Kramar and the Consequences of Kitelooping in 30mph. F-16 Epic!!!!!!!!!!!!:

Gibby was killing it, again, with huge airs and a damaged rib. Rob and his family called it good after their second downwinder earlier and the only other kiters out were a train of Real Kiters (Scott Laney and Co.) and 2 others. The “epic” crash caused my intake valve to pop so I was loosing air on our second downwinder. I realized about 12 – 13 minutes into it that I had to bolt for washout and headed straight downwind. I lost all use of the kite about 300 yards from washout; so I packed up and walked in.

Gibby:

Jack Over Island

Rob Over Island:

Rob’s Bag of Tricks:

Look Ma, No Hands!

Taking a Nap

Orbit

Old Skool, Going for the Deadman

Beth Carve

All in all, it was an “epic day.” My kiting sucked because I felt uncurrent. On popped tricks I was letting the kite get to high and on unhooked tricks I was loosing the bar but I did take away a lot of stuff too. It was fun to ride with an EastKB / Mass kite group and the burgers and hot dogs hot of the grill made for a killer ending of the day. Got in at 1:45am. 692 miles for 7 hours of kiting, you ask? Worth it. I’ll do it again, I’m sure.

Wind Graphs: