OK, so for those who has not heard the good news, I have just bought a new smaller kite for stronger wind conditions. I took my broken spreader bar in for replacement and walked out not only with a new spreader bar, but also with a new black-&-blue 2011 7m Cabrinha Nomad kite. OK, it only happened the next day after I got permission from our household's "Minister of Finance", but it was quick decision nevertheless. I got it at such a bargain price that I could not say no, so now I have two kites, a 10m Cabrinha Switchblade for lighter conditions and a 7m Nomad for stronger conditions. This mean that I can double my "water time" and not have to sit out while the other guys are having fun in stronger conditions. More time in the water also means faster progression. I am still very far from doing kiteloops and whatever the good guys call all those fancy tricks, but I have already reached a point where I know that having two kites would not only give me more water time as mentioned, but a smaller kite will give me better manoeuvrability and ability to learn new tricks. The Cabrinha Nomad is a very fast kite with a quick turning ability and apparently perfect for wave riding. I mean, what more do I need? The only problem now is that we are fast reaching the end of the kiting season and approaching a long windless winter with frontal rain and darkness after 5pm. This does not give me much time to start practicing the coolest kite surfing move I have ever seen, and no, it is not the "nuclear grab hook and pop" or the insane "psycho kiteloop", it is a tail sliding technique called "The Darkslide". It just looks so cool, I am sure it will wow the crowds on the beach (after I've equally entertained them with a couple of hard crashes and salt enemas). So, my goal for next year is to perfect this trick. All I need now is more time in the water, lots of optimism and a photographer to capture this move once I have perfected it....
