Yes this week 10 years ago I got up and going properly on a
kiteboard for the first time and today I had that same thrill after being off
the water since April 2012. Learning to
kite was daunting yet exhilarating and every step of the way you knew you were
getting better and your body was getting stronger and your mind wiser. Here I am nearly 6 months post ACL, Meniscus
and Cartilage surgery and I have to remember those lessons I had learnt and the
feelings that kept me going back for more,
so that I take it slow and take this recovery serious.
2013 started with crazy winds here in Cape Town and so on
the 2nd of January DK and I legged it up to Langebaan for a light
wind flat water session. I got 45
minutes of riding, first on the 13m and then the 11m Chaos and 136
XCaliber. If only I was fit and healthy
I would have been lapping up the conditions, but as soon as the wind and
current started disturbing the water too much I could feel the knee telling me
to take a break. I was not disappointed
with my session at all; in fact I was over the moon happy.
Today the 4th day of the year I remember why
kiting is so important to me. Another
45minutes or more on the water, this time down in Big Bay - flat water between
the waves and an occasional slashable swell and that sensation of happiness and
fulfilment returned. The 13m Chaos and
140 Tronic were the perfect tools to get me out on my own on this beautiful
sunny day with Table Mountain as a backdrop.
I can see why this spot is so popular in the northern hemisphere winter
– there were really nice little ramps for flat 3’s on the inside and I had to
hold myself back from trying anything with all my might. We are flying out tonight, so I could not
stay out long enough to re-injure myself as the wind filled in - someone is
keeping an eye on me.
I felt this again when I was refuelling at Callici’s after
and bumped into Aaron Hadlow (5 times PKRA world champ) who is 10 months post
his ACL /meniscus surgery. He said he
had a sweet little session today, but did warn me that to get ahead with my
return to riding hard I need to take it very slow and not be tempted to trick
too much too early.
This brings me to why I am starting this blog. Inspired a bit by a friend, Kitey, who
blogged to keep herself on track to a healthier self and who’s heading to do
her first Iron Man event in Cairns later this year. I am going to steel the idea and use this
blog to make sure I do not get ahead of myself on this return to kiting. It is going to be a while before I get to
those back mobe, blind judge and S to blind attempts again, but I plan to get
there… and a lot further.
Another reason to blog is to give back to kiting. Often I see people out doing silly things
because they do not know better or getting stuck in a rut because they do not
know what to do next. So as I go through
my sessions on track to my future kiting self I will also delve into past
sessions that taught me lessons as well as lessons I learnt from others. This will hopefully help these people and
maybe even you to be a better kiter. I
do not claim to know all and expect debate on many of the matters I mention –
all of which will make us better kiters.
So please join me on my journey, challenge me and keep me on track and I will join you on yours too.
Good winds!
