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-   -   Complete- Kitetricity Canaveral To Vero Race PHOTOS! (http://www.fksa.org/showthread.php?t=8052)

ricki 03-23-2009 09:20 PM

Complete- Kitetricity Canaveral To Vero Race PHOTOS!
 
First Installment, the START, more to follow soon

A.J. Morgan from Kitetricity.com decided to put on a downwinder distance kite race starting in Cape Canaveral and finishing in Vero Beach. The race covered over 56 miles in winds and seas ranging from around 20 mph and double head high in spots.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/...Race_Route.jpg
There have previously been distance races further south from Jupiter to Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Lauderdale to Miami. Things are moving north, good thing! There is so much coastline in the state. We've only touched on a small fraction in races so far.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/...t_IMG_9364.jpg
Captains meeting bright and early detailing what to look for, avoid and tips for riding down to Vero.
Had 22 riders register for this one. Wonder how many would have shown up if they had a better idea
of what fun they were missing? Next time.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/Cape.jpg
A look north toward the inlet and kiters way in the distance. That is the Shuttle Assembly building, I think,
don't know the name of that other construction. This is the Space Coast after all.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/Launching.jpg
Getting ready all around



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/Start.jpg
Rig up and get launched, miles to go



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/setup_IMG_8060.jpg



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/dunes_IMG_8040.jpg
Wide, hard beaches up this way and nice waves too



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/start_IMG_8064.jpg




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/Shrimper.jpg
AJ wisely set up a running start along a line projected seaward from a flag on the beach.
This saves wrapped kites on the beach during feverish launches. Although, there was still
one wrap, for old times sake?



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/setup_IMG_9392.jpg



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/Chris_IMG_8089.jpg
Chris is over from Tampa after running the recent Tampa Bay Kiteboard Masters



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/Start_still.jpg




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/Sean_starts.jpg
Sean is ready to hit it, more than any of us realized! Sean is quite the powerhouse
be it free style or hard hitting distance racing.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/Andy_IMG_9404.jpg
Andy is tuned in, camelpak in place and is just itching for the flag to GO




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/Start_area.jpg



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/Gebi_start.jpg
Gebi is ready too, these guys compete at a high level and really take to it



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/start_IMG_9399.jpg
AJ and troops ready to send the riders blasting down the coast



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/start_IMG_9424.jpg
They're off, less one, soon to catch up with a vengance though



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/Off.jpg



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/...VR_1.sized.jpg
They're running fast downwind, Gebi is soon to follow
CLICK photo for full size image



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/Off_II.jpg



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album385/Pier.jpg
Already passing the pier almost 2 miles away seemingly in minutes.


That's the START, the best part is still coming, the RACE
stay tuned.


Big thanks again to A.J., the volunteers and the RIDERS for bringing this fun even about! A.J is talking about doing another one of these great races in the fall, so get training. Also, he has the third running of yet another fun flat water event, the Kitetricity Kitebash on April 17 - 19, 2009. More at: http://fksa.org/showthread.php?p=39109


http://kitetricity.com/images/logo.jpg
http://kitetricity.com

thierrydehove 03-23-2009 10:04 PM

Rick
sorry I was missing this race... ;-)
next time for sure I will be there

T.

ricki 03-24-2009 06:29 AM

Hey Thierry,

Me too! Hope to ride in the next one in addition to shooting parts of it. Travel up went pretty fast around 2 1/2 hours. Unfortunately, heading back south the storms that blew through before and way south, during, the race had SE Florida underwater the rest of the day and night. Still, it was a fun day, lots more photos to come. Already processed for once too.

ricki 03-24-2009 11:41 AM

The second installment of photos, THE RACE!


We've seen the start, now for the RACE! I sat this race out and so decided to chase along via car to leap frog ahead. Other folks were doing the same. These guys were going so fast staying ahead was hard! I think I drove for 17 minutes just to get ahead of them the first time. Even when the traffic lights thinned out the speed limit went up to 45 to 50 mph, it was still hard to keep up and get ahead. Amazingly enough I was rushing point to point for almost 2 1/2 hours and barely keeping up. I would think they were going over 30 mph at a lot of points (over a half mile per minute). I think I pulled over about three times plus climbing up the Sebastian Inlet Bridge. Always had to run to the car to play catchup with these guys, they were ripping fast down the coast.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/upcoast.jpg
Looking north up the coast into the pack of kiters



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Chase.jpg
If you guys were wondering what you looked like from the road, here it is. I was going 40 mph at points and it almost seemed like you were keep up, amazing. I think that is Kent, Gebi and Billy going from south to north.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Who_Sean.jpg
Here comes Shawn. I didn't recognize him at first, wondering where's Billy with the Rasta Flexi kite? Didn't tumble that Billy had set him up with a kite for the race.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Andy_race.jpg
There's Andy on the red kite and please help me out with the other rider. Nice waves washing through too.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/incoming.jpg
Remember that late start Gebi had? That's his white and red Cabrinha in the leading group.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/running.jpg
There's Damian, closely followed by Billy and Kent is body dragging to recover his board. Despite small hassles and delays like that, these guys ate up the miles after getting back to the front area leading the riders.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Sean_5.jpg
Sean runs through the white stuff



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Kent.jpg
Kent flashes past with some big waves running



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/andy_n_gebi.jpg
Andy and Gebi go to back light ripping along



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/lead.jpg
Looking south after the leaders pass. That is Sean in front, followed by Kent, then Graham I think and Gebi smoking along



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Andy.jpg
Andy goes into the trough



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/coast.jpg



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Billy.jpg
Billy riding well through some big stuff


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/gebi.jpg
Gebi blasts south



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Josh.jpg
Josh is cranking fast too and looking at ease in the waves



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Sean_n_Kent.jpg
Sean and Kent, waves are still running pretty good



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/race_IMG_8236.jpg
A look up the line, the guys are spacing themselves out although swap placement
fairly frequently throughout the 55 mile run. There's Sean, Kent, Andy, Blue Kite
(help me out here), Gebi and Graham from south to north



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Sean_leads.jpg
Here's Sean ahead of a mountain of foam



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Kent_001.jpg
Kent riding real fast and popping up off small wavelets. The control and stamina
required to maintain such high speeds over 55 miles is impressive.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Billy_IMG_8339.jpg
Billy cooks along



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Graham_2.jpg
There goes Graham, these boards got rockets? Looks like it! Sky is darkening to the south.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Josh_001.jpg
Josh again. Reminds me of something someone said after one of the Jupiter to
Ft. Lauderdale Races about wasting all those great waves along the way!



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Storm_VR.sized.jpg
Working further south towards Sebastian Inlet. You can see the guys way to the north,
actually got some lead time on them for once. No traffic lights! How's it go? "Something
Evil this way comes?" Yep, there it is looming to the south, a nice storm cell. Lots of guys
opted to ride in and wait for this to pass, not everyone though. Thing about squalls, you
NEVER know what they'll throw down, dead calm, no change or 60 kts. plus gusts with wild
direction changes until you're in them. Lots of guys have been caught in them too, still what
is it they say, oh yeah "not me," sure hope so.
CLICK PHOTO for full sized image



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Sean_squall.jpg
There goes Sean, descending into a grim landscape of storm



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/sebastian.jpg
Leapfrogged ahead and ran up to the top of Sebastian Inlet bridge. You can
see the guys kites ripping along just above the canopy of skunk palms.
That's Sean, Kent, Billy, Gebi and Graham from south to north. The inlet is
a short distance south. You can see mist from driving rain to the east.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/KENT_N_SEAN.jpg
Kent eases out and ahead of Sean. Sebastian Inlet provided a lot of challenges to
the racers. Getting as far offshore as possible helped with them but the wind and
waves made that very hard to almost impossible.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/...t_VR.sized.jpg
A view from the top. You can see rain clouds to the north, hard to keep your
camera dry at times too. Some guys are passing the inlet from the north and
if you strain you can see some distant dots way to the south. Big waves in the
middle. Making to windward against those seas off the shore was a hard thing
to do. I know low tide was close to this time. I have heard stories saying the
water was coming in or still going out at this point. Which was it?
CLICK PHOTO for full sized image


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/SEAN_IMG_8392.jpg
There goes Sean



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Kent_Inlet.jpg
Kent moves along making as far to seaward as feasible



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Kent_south.jpg
Kent passes the south jetty and really works out. Some nice sized waves running too.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Billy_jetty.jpg
Here comes Billy, getting ready for the final push in the last 17 miles to the finish.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Gebi_IMG_8444.jpg
Gebi is airborn over the waves easing past the north jetty, until ...


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Gebi_Graham.jpg
His flight lines get wrapped with a fishing line?!!! Strong wind, outgoing current and whatever the fisherman has on the end of his line rushing towards you to snag or otherwise grab a bit of flesh. Not good and no fun either. Graham passes by and luckily clears the line to seaward.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Andy_inlet.jpg
There's Andy



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Sean_and_Kent_S.jpg
Looking south, Sean and Kent fight for first place in the running



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/Damian.jpg
Damian descends into the trough, he's a big guy too, takes a big wave to do that.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album386/south.jpg
The view down the coast. I think that is Sean and Kent in front, followed by Billy and then by Graham. Gebi cleared his fouled lines and jetted up fast shortly after.


I had to run down the bridge and into my car to blast down the coast to be in time to catch the first arrivals. I regret not hanging on longer to shoot some of the rest of the riders rushing in from the north. Little did I know that the wind would ease, clock more to dead onshore and make getting around the inlet virtually infeasible. A lot of guys were stopped at the north jetty. Jay opted to hop into the cut and kite out bypassing the barrier of the waves pounding on the north jetty.


More to come, there's the finish to still put up.

danny31292 03-24-2009 06:44 PM

Awesome shots Rick. I've attached a few shots of my own. I wish I could have gotten some shots from the bridge but after I launched AJ at PAB I could barely keep up. Those guys were fast. I forget if AJ mentioned it but one of his line extensions broke about 10 minutes after launch. So he had to land , take off the extensions and relaunch. I'm surprised he even caught up to the guys in the back.

Oh. I have way more pictures here http://danny31292.smugmug.com/galler...96834730_zKWKo

Dan

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._apdXW-L-1.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._YaMAZ-L-1.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._sHhxD-L-1.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._cjnUt-L-1.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._vCf5Y-L-1.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._5f7Ze-L-1.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._7M57y-L-1.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._BnCv7-L-1.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._VveX7-L-1.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._FGkuE-L-1.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._cyunA-L-1.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._DKXB9-L-1.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._4w8Bt-L-1.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._repBC-L-1.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._2gH5p-L-1.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._r3BBA-L-1.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._rtovv-L-1.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._dA8DG-L-1.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._QqTHs-L-1.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos...32_YUEQf-L.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._wSt2D-L-1.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._YATUd-L-1.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._SWNJy-L-1.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos...19_Nj6tC-L.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos...86_PM4nb-L.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._4S7Lf-L-1.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos...38_6ebZL-L.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._cK2vE-L-1.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._zKWKo-L-1.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._WA2ya-L-1.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos...18_KD9eU-L.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._upxkx-L-1.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._azifM-L-1.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos...54_WmdPp-L.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos...10_AvAmL-L.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._JvY8n-L-1.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._msp2p-L-1.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos...71_faE2T-L.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos...13_ZSyxS-L.jpg http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos...27_aYaga-L.jpg

http://danny31292.smugmug.com/photos..._qiB4u-L-1.jpg

ricki 03-24-2009 08:55 PM

Great shots Dan, thanks for putting them up. I particularly appreciate the ones of the closing ceremony as I was already jetting back south when it took place to try for another shoot. I didn't know that about AJ's run, the stuff that riders go through on these distance races!

ricki 03-24-2009 10:04 PM

Final Installment, the FINISH

So, the racers charge on south for over two hours and then off in the distance to the north a kite would suddenly come into view.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/Incoming.jpg
The kiter would work his way around the point, then boost big, drag inland or run up the beach to be officially logged in.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/...e_IMG_9476.jpg
The ladies heard some of the guys would be landing hot and so equiped themselves with a tidy foxhole. It also provides a place to avoid some of the wind.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/Sean_finish.jpg
Sean is first to make it in with a time of 2 hours, 18 minutes


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/Sean_finish_001.jpg
First or not, he is knackered like so many other riders to come




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/Billy_beach.jpg
Next comes Billy skidding into shore with a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/Kent_finish.jpg
Next Kent lands with a time of 2 hours, 21 minutes



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/Gebi_finish.jpg
Then Gebi comes in with a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes and first in the over 40 category.
Lots of guys complained of intensely burning legs. Sean kept saying his leg was hurting,
I would ask which one? The strain on two legs is intense but with one leg taking a major
multiplier more load and strain in something like this is impressive.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/Graham_IMG_8581.jpg
Then there's Graham at 2 hours, 23 minutes



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/Guys.jpg
The guys gather round for comparison of experiences on the way down



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/Damien_finish.jpg
Then we have Damian at 2 hours, 26 minutes



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/Holdouts.jpg
Damian went out for riding for another hour shortly after landing, joined by Gebi. Core riders these guys.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/andy_IMG_8597.jpg
Andy came in at 2 hours, 28 minutes. These guys were tight on their times.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/Gebi_surf.jpg
Gebi grabs some waves that he doesn't have to blow by for once


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/Kent_Maui.jpg
Maui easily out distances Kent and looks fairly smug about it too


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/...h_IMG_9539.jpg
Josh makes it in 2 hours, 38 minutes and looks pretty relaxed too.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/K_n_M.jpg
Kent is OK with it, he figures he'll get his own back when they do a directional board kite off!



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/finish_IMG_9559.jpg
and finally their was Bjorn while I was still at the finish with a time of 3 hours, 13 minutes.


My apologies for having to run south at this point and thereby missing taking photos of the rest of the finishers.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/D_n_M.jpg
Damian tries to stare down Maui, grins all around. What Damian doesn't know is that Maui is a closet baggie thief. Loves to yank baggies off surfers and run off with them.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/D_n_M_II.jpg
Maui charges after Damian desperately trying to get those baggies, Damian keeps a hand close by to protect, uh, things.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/...m_IMG_9544.jpg
Josh poses with his mom. Is that great or what, both his mom and his lady come to watch him race.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/Tribute.jpg
Here's a special thanks to the girlfriends, wives and SO's that aid and tolerate us in the pursuit of kiting! Same goes for guys too.


A.J.'s results for the race:

"1st Place: Sean Reyngoudt...2 hours and 18 minutes
2nd Place: Billy Parker...2 hours and 19 minutes
3rd Place: Kent Marinkovic...2 hours and 21 minutes
4th Place: Gebi...1st over 40...2 hour and 22 minutes....

1st Place, and the Only Woman, and over 40...Debbie Jackson...4 hours and 26 minutes...You Rock Baby...My female Hero...

We had a total of 22 Riders...Total of 57 miles...

Here are rest of the places and times...

5th Place: Gram Goodwin...2 hours and 23 minutes
6th Place: Demian Thomas...2 hours and 26 minutes
7th Place: Andy Hurdman...2 hours and 28 minutes
8th Place: Josh Noe...2 hours and 38 minutes
9th Place: Bjorn Dinberg...3 hours and 13 minutes
10th Place: Jayson Orkins...3 hours and 26 minutes
11th Place: Bryan Schneider...3 hours and 30 minutes
12th Place: Doug Smith...3 hours and 54 minutes
13th Place: Craig Priddy...4 hours and 01 minutes
14th Place: Shaun Jackson...4 hours and 03 minutes
15th Place: 1st Place Woman...Debbie Jackson...4 hours and 26 minutes

DNF People:

Chris Levins
Carlos Curti
Jan Boersma
Allen Lindsey
Erick Lov
Chris Moore
Keith moore

and Yes, I did not make it either...Just could not get around the Inlet..."



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/Capoeira_1.jpg
I left around this time to shoot some Capoeira in Hollywood way down south. I didn't know that rain had pretty much shut things down. Cranked up on Sunday though, lots of great shots to come on that unusual practice. You can see some interesting images from a few year ago at: http://fksa.org/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=2289




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album387/end.jpg
By for now, see you at the races!



.

TEG 04-16-2009 08:57 AM

Kitetricity race
 
Great pictures, Rick. Good work following the race, and a good job by A.J. too, since I'm sure organizing events like this take time.
I wish I could have been there, but I'm stuck in D.C. for a few months for work. But I'll be there next race.

I'm sure Trace was watching too...

Tom
formerly of Valkaria :D,
now stuck in D.C. :(

ricki 04-16-2009 08:56 PM

Thanks Tom, glad I was there to capture some of the action. Sure is a nice area up that way. There are so many great and varied riding areas around the state. Hope you get over to MD for the odd wind break up north. Should be good wind tomorrow for the downwind race. Wish I could skip out from work but not this time. Have fun out there folks!

ricki 04-16-2009 08:56 PM

Thanks Tom, glad I was there to capture some of the action. Sure is a nice area up that way. There are so many great and varied riding areas around the state. Hope you get over to MD for the odd wind break up north. Should be good wind tomorrow for the downwind race. Wish I could skip out from work but not this time. Have fun out there folks!


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