Kiteboarding Take 2 - Brian Flies and Virgil Dives
Weather was a bit gray and windy for boating today, so we took Brian up on a chance for a second kiteboarding outing. Brian was in good form and made some great jumps. Virgil came ready this time to get wet and McIntosh Studio owner, Sarah, was on hand to get the pictures.
Brian Catches Air
Click on the image above to go to our photo album for today. You’ll see a nice sequence of one of Brian’s jumps. The photos don’t do it full 
justice, but he did make the landing. Of course, you can’t make everyone. Sarah also caught a nice sequence of Brian loosing his kiteboard and the resulting ‘recovery’.
Virgil Gets a Taste of Saltwater
Virgil escaped the water-drag test last lesson since he hadn’t sprung for a wetsuit. Walter from Liquid Surf and Sail in Fort Walton Beach took care of that for this trip. Virgil got the Liquid Surf full body suit, which was a good buy and proved to be plenty warm and very comfortable compared to suits he’s rented in the past. The price was good too. Liquid Surf is a full service kiteboarding outfitter, as well as surf and kayak shop - give them a try if you’re in the area.
Unlike John, Virgil didn’t graduate to a full ‘kiteboarder’ yet, but he had a great time practicing with the kite and doing ‘body drags’ in between kite relaunches and trying to get his feet into the wakeboard while keeping the kite up. Gusty winds made kite management a bit dicey for a novice and he’s never water skied or wakeboarded either. To be continued ….. next week ….
