Delta 2 rocket! I saw this same veiw this morning over Clearwater........aj;)

Very good, top points! We had no idea it was going up, just walked out of the hotel early in Orlando this am and there it was. We were only about 50 miles away, you were about 150 miles away from Cape Canaveral. Amazing how far away these shots show up from.

More about this historic final Delta 2 launch at:
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches...af-launch.html

Diving into the Devil's Den in northwest Florida ...

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album442/...kylight_rs.jpg
CLICK PHOTO FOR FULL SIZED IMAGE

A strange place in northwest Florida. Looking at the bizarre trees
intertwined over Devil's Den or a sinkhole in formation.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album442/...t_IMG_7458.jpg
Don't fall in. Doubt wildlife managed that all the time back in the day before the fences went up. Warm Mineral Springs reportedly resembled this, thousands of years back. Only in that case the hole was about 400 ft. deep, filled with mist and vines. Saber cats, ground sloth's and the like fell in and were entombed in the anaerobic sediments there. History repeats, on a smaller scale.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album442/rick_P8160137.jpg
Walking into the grotto for some free diving and at $9. a head it is an incredible bargain for a truly unique experience. The water is a refreshing 72 F, so bring your wetsuit. Kept fogging my lens up.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album442/stairs_IMG_7469.jpg
Entering the grotto. The camera image makes things look a lot brighter than they are. Still, you can see the brilliant wall coloring, deep blue water more readily this way. It is a fairly large, hemispherical chamber caused by the gradual failure and subsidence of underlying limestone. One of these days most of the roof will fall in and the bottom slip out below resulting in a full blown hour glass shaped sinkhole. No time too soon ideally.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album442/Sink_IMG_7543.jpg
They've constructed a stagging platform for divers to gear up on, to avoid silting the place out. You can free dive it but pay attention to the skull and crossbones signs at the mouths of the secondary caves. Also watch your head on ascent to avoid smacking into some of those inverted walls. For folks wanting to penetrate with SCUBA, make sure you are fully NACD qualified for the dive. Too many lost souls in the cave systems of Florida as it is. That is lunch easing down through the skylight for a group of spelunking cows expected in the afternoon.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album442/stairs_IMG_7485.jpg
A truly remarkable place, recommend checking it out. They even have a pool area and campground. I shot some poor quality,
likely surreal video, may put up a clip to show you things underwater.


More info at:
http://www.devilsden.com/



.

Video from one of the more bizarre dives in Florida, Devil's Den. Located along the northwest coast around Ocala, it is worth checking out. Apologies for some of the video, poor cameras were pushed beyond reasonable limits in low light. Still, there is some unusual imagery in there. The viz. was actually better than implied in the clip.

"Is that kite coming out of your car or are you just glad to see me" ;)

Wow that's a nice place to go diving!:p

Just saw this on kiteforum.* It is a pretty interesting speed kiting clip of a record attempt with a nasty wipeout at the end. The guy was around 50 kts. at the time of the wipeout on a speed sailing course (shallow, fast with ripples - no waves). I understand all he messed up were two sprained fingers.

* http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.p...b79a95ffdeeb62

Wiping out at half that speed can feel almost as bad at times. Speed vs. impressions, so 50 kts. may feel like a 100 kt. wipeout? Brave folks hitting the high speeds.

A look back a a Shameless Charlotte bikini calendar shoot from a while back.


http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._3179750_n.jpg


http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._2608595_n.jpg


http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._4957070_n.jpg


http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._4100941_n.jpg


http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...59_65206_n.jpg


http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._2712585_n.jpg

Have to do another one of these sometime!

From Brien Mastriana's Photo page on Facebook, maybe off Indonesia, not sure.

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...5_606223_n.jpg


http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._5258820_n.jpg


Impressive stuff in any case!

I was looking for an unusual historical image last night, still looking too. Anyway, came across some strange stuff in the Popular Mechanics archive site.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album447/...boat.thumb.jpg
CLICK FOR FULL SIZED IMAGE
HEADS UP! I AM CONVINCED that this is the future for kiteboarders. No more line, space, bystander issues. All the thrills, huge jumps without the peripheral issues. Well, maybe after a few beers?



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album447/..._air.thumb.jpg
CLICK FOR FULL SIZED IMAGE
Free diving will never be the same again. Wonder why I never saw this before? Well, there could be a few reasons, air embolisms for some of those beginners?




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album447/...te_0.thumb.jpg
CLICK FOR FULL SIZED IMAGE
Who needs cable parks when you can have the bathing chute?!




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album447/...te_1.thumb.jpg
CLICK FOR FULL SIZED IMAGE
This would be better if you could tie in I think.

How long have you been passing Hillsboro Lighthouse and wondered what it is like up there? Long time in my case. Even though it is restricted USCG property, you are allowed access several times per year. More about that at: http://www.hillsborolighthouse.org/tours.html

Here are some wide angle shots of the lighthouse ...


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album449/hl0_PICT0013.jpg


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album449/hl_1_PICT0048.jpg
The north jetty actually lies on the first reef, Anastasia formation, as it travels inland to form the base for the coastal dune


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album449/hl_4_PICT0035.jpg
Wide angle distortion?


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album449/hl_5_IMG_4903.jpg


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album449/hl2_PICT0006.jpg


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album449/...ghthouse_s.jpg
Summer squalls pass over



Check it out sometime, your donation will help with the preservation of this great landmark.

My recent session in Kiev (Ukraine)...

Conditions:
- Wind: S 15-30 knt
Wind was against river current, gusts were "zero-to-hero" - made me think of kitesurfing as an extreme sport again :)
- Support: 2 boats

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_MlgiiObXp-0/St...55IMG_7189.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_MlgiiObXp-0/Ss...0/IMG_2044.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_MlgiiObXp-0/Ss...0/IMG_1734.JPG

Nice set Ricki. What lens did you use? Wide or fish eye?

Nice images Russky. Were you riding north of Kiev where the river widens quite a bit to a few miles?

It was a GoPro WIDE, with a 170 degree field of view. Versatile camera.

When was the last time we were able to drop into some waves kiting around here? Seems long, anyway, as we wait for things ...













until next time

Kiev pix
 

Rick, the first two pix were taken at the South Bridge of Kiev-City.
Gotta admit it was pretty unusual sight for Kiev - caused a few traffic jams... both on the bridge and on the river :) ...

The third pic was taken at one of the spots on "Kiev Sea" - huge resevoir up north (the one you're talking about).

Gusty (that is freakin-five-to-thirty-gusty) conditions are a status quo over there - good training on using a quick release...

Wow, the river was narrow down there, lots of terrain to stir up wind shadow too. All that gustiness makes sense. Was it less gusty at all on the Kiev Sea? Interesting area to ride, intense looking squall moving in.

Kiev Sea is definitely much better - no gusts (with the right wind directions), lots of Florida-like flat spots. No sharks and no salt, too.


Will this qualify for the pic of the day :) ?

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_MlgiiObXp-0/Ss...0/IMG_2670.JPG

This charismatic "vehicle" is actually surprisingly pretty good off-road... real shame on the highway though :)

vehicle
 

Love the car , that is classic.

What a great shot! Glad to hear things smooth out a bit on the Sea. Investigated an accident there some years back, likely in squall and near downtown as I recall. Bigger (riding areas) can be better. Thanks again for posting.

... desaturate, instant B&W!


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album456/...l_IMG_7723.jpg
Got shark treats? Be sure to make 'em wait, they're so cute when they stand on their tails and beg. Is it my imagination or does that yellowtail look constipated?



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album455/Giza_PICT0181.jpg
Giza distorted, "you got backish???"



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album455/hl0_PICT0013_bw.jpg



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album455/...a_PICT0067.jpg
Pyramid of Khufu through a fish's eye. Pyramids to disks, no problem.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album456/bw_IMG_7713.jpg
Common, you sharks gotta pay your backish, seriously!


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album455/3_wise_ladies.jpg
Three wise ladies hoof it to beat Cairo traffic


.

...thought I would share the link to this amazing video: "Addikt 2" from F-One ...

[Watch the strapless action at 4:40 - that guy got some style...
Changing the board techinique at 1:30 - no waste of time on the shore :) ]

Nice clip Russky!

Just saw this one, deals with the Olympics in Rio in 2016. Kiting going to be in the Games by then?



Great music down that way

Rio would be the perfect place for kiting in the Olympics...

Where do we sign it up Chrys? For my part, I think Samba should be in the Olympics, Capoeira too!

Just came across this, winter is on the way!

False Bay, South Africa ... where's Elmo???

http://newrelease.co.za/images/false-bay-storm/kids.jpg


http://newrelease.co.za/images/false...lighthouse.jpg

There he is, in the cut! Looks like an ideal place and time for a swim, uh maybe.

Photos from:
http://newrelease.co.za/general/cape...-bay-pictures/

Those were from 2008, this one is current;

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-10/50082688.jpg
From: http://www.latimes.com/

The above photo and the one below were captured by Nic Bothma. The guy has a feeling for waves ...

http://www.wavescape.co.za/images/st...Marr-byNBo.jpg
From: http://www.wavescape.co.za/

great place
 

My wife and myself spent a night there last Oct, what a great place, we stayed in a hotel a few hundred feet from where these photo,s were taken.The winds were blowing about 30 mph every day for a week while we drove along the coast.

Sure is a beautiful and varied country! Would like to visit SA sometime. That is some honking wind too.

Things to come ... ?

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/.../med_cover.jpg
What size are you biking today?
1939 PS


http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/.../med_cover.jpg
Have it on good authority that lead kiteboarding competitors are moving on to something new, uh ... this?
1939 PS


http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/.../med_cover.jpg
1964 PS


http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/.../med_cover.jpg
How would you like to see one of these in your mirror?
1923 PS


http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/.../med_cover.jpg
Who gets to wind the rubber bands up to go back up the mountain anyway?
1939 PS


http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/.../med_cover.jpg
Ok, need some help on this one. Is this thing taking out invading birds, uh gophers, both? What happens when the warball rolls over your gun barrel?
1936 PS


.

awesome old windsurfing pic, brings me back
 

killer early 80s pic

Matanzas Halloween Blast/Bust 2009
 

A few pictures from the Matanzas Halloween Bust.

Matanzas Halloween Blast/Bust 2009
 

A few more..........

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album464/IMG_0002_Small.jpg


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album464/IMG_0014_Small.jpg


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album464/IMG_0018_Small.jpg


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album464/IMG_0021_Small.jpg


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album464/IMG_0024_Small.jpg


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album464/IMG_0025_Small.jpg


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album464/IMG_0026_Small.jpg


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album464/IMG_0031_Small.jpg


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album464/IMG_0038_Small.jpg

Reminds me of some past events up that way, including:


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album144/20_G.sized.jpg


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album144/...ight.sized.jpg


Complete write up with lots of photos at:
http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=830

Ideas past, will they come again? Uh, hope not.


http://cac.plongee.free.fr/images/histoire/masque_k.jpg


http://cac.plongee.free.fr/images/histoire/prieur.jpg
Images from: http://cac.plongee.free.fr/


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...e_plongée.jpg
From: http://commons.wikimedia.org/


http://www.classicdiver.org/Galeazzi4.jpg
From: http://www.classicdiver.org/

Just came across this. Pretty amazing videography in terms of timing and viz. Kudos to the free diver having at in and in proper position, sans mask or fins.



Another recent discovery. An old intro film to the well regarded LA County Dive Instruction program from 1964. Often use the analogy of kite instruction today being similar to diving in the 1960's. That is to say focusing to excess on bare basics, not enough theory, emergency procedures, environmental evaluation, access protection, etc.. In some ways the content and delivery in this case well exceeds what I was getting out. These folks were ahead of their time. Shop well for kite (or dive) instruction, it far from equal.

I've heard of manatees and dolphins doing this sort of nurturing but a leopard seal under the Antarctic ice? Here's a penguin, that's a good boy. Intriguing video!

Here is an interesting presentation of multiple viewpoints taken with GoPro cameras. Have this problem myself, good to see various approaches to managing all the footage.

That is simply amazing.