Photo Of The Day!!!

[ricki]

Red Bull is at it again, this time with Illume Image Quest 2010. They've posted their top 50 selections and are seeking viewer input and votes on your favorites at: http://www.redbullillume.com/gallery...ages-2010.html

Here are just a few of the great images ...

[ricki]

Top secret kite testing by the major brands in Brazil:



Did that kid handle pass a garbage bag?!

I understand they're using blankets and plastic bags. Why not take some old kites and leave them with the kids when you're down there? That is assuming they don't clothesline tourists or each other.



Chrys posted this shot of another Brazilian heading out on a home grown SUP board aka door? Or, maybe it is a piece of Wonder bread?

[ricki]

Damo and Nick grab some prime tow-ins courtesy of Hurricane Earl far to the east.

[ricki]

Some interesting videography and processing. I see Kinsley Wong shows up in some of the footage prior to his accident. Best to Kinsley and Jamie.



Another more recent video with a lot of strapless footage



NOTE: a video can present an artful view of kiting and at the same time include some ill advised practices. Things like riding in shallow water, poor downwind buffers, hitting equipment without protective gear, etc.. These things are common in kiting media these days and may well remain so until more people are hurt at which time these practices may change. Posting these or any other videos is not an endorsement of questionable practices but is simply that, the posting of a video for viewing and not a "how to" guide. Seek proper instruction for that.

[ricki]

Unusual surfing from Oz and in some large sets too:



"Derek Hynd: still opening new frontiers in surfing. Couple of years ago, but still nothing less than astonishing." Quote from Robert Smallwood

[ricki]

Marc Johnson with http://floridakiteboarding.info/ just told me about this clip. Stay out of squalls or else, ka-boom!

To my knowledge no kiters have been struck by lightning yet, pretty amazing considering how hard some of us try. It may well come someday. The squalls that toss out lightning have taken many dozens of kiters and likely injured hundreds worldwide through excessive winds however.

Avoiding a lightning strike only makes good sense. So does avoiding squall winds, some folks get it and some don't.

[ricki]

Alex Caizergues has officially set a new World Speed Sailing Record at 54.10 knots (62.1 mph, 100 km/hr, 91.1 ft/s, 27.8 m/s) on his F-One Bandit 4 in Namibia in Africa on October 12, 2010. Had no idea it is such a stark place. High winds blowing away topsoil for eons can do that.


http://f-onekites.us/portal/2010/10/...nots-per-hour/

This is what F one has to say about it:

"Alex Caizergues, F-One Kiteboarding, has officially set a new outright World Speed Sailing Record at 54.10 knots during his 1st run at 15h38 yesterday afternoon in Luderitz, Namibia. This is truly an historical moment. For the first time ever, the 100km/h barrier with a sail has been broken. Alex left his closest competitor almost 2kts behind. Unbelievable. Congratulations Alex!

And congrats to the F-One team as well to provide Alex with the right gear. Record was broken on a new 2011 Bandit IV 8m, using a Kakoo custom board and asymmetrical “RESPONSE” thin fins based on the new UNIBOX system that will equipped all the F-One 2011 twin tips."




*** CLICK IMAGE FOR DRAMATIC FULL SCREEN VIDEO






The low cost competition, only 40 Million French Francs or about $8.5 M USD. It held the speed record last year at 51.36 kts. over 500 m.* Looks like Alex smoked it by almost 3 kts.!
http://worldsportsboats.com/tag/watercraft/

*http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/500-metre-records.html

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Amazing, again the rapid progression will show that kitesurfing will be the fastest sport in the future. Time will tell again ! Great to be a part of it !

[ricki]

This is nothing to do with water although it does involve fluid at high altitude no less. This guy seems to be in the Alps judging from the architecture, mountains and snow tunnels. Haven't been into RC planes since I was a kid, this GoPro video might get me to rethink that. Check it out ...

[ricki]

Florida to Oregon Road Trip

"This summer myself and Billy Parker drove from Florida to Oregon with a 48 foot wake / kite obstacle on a F-150. The obstacle was fabricated in Islamorada, Florida by Mikey Walsh of The Otherside Boardsports. Mikey is fabricating winches as well as portable and modular obstacles. This video shows the feature set up as a 48 foot flat bar, a 16 ft incline to a 32 ft decline rooftop, and a 16 foot bank rail. This video is leftover footage from the road trip, that features the Hood River Slider Project and some shakey clips on Billy Parker throwing down."




NOTE: a video can present an artful view of kiting and at the same time include some ill advised practices. Things like riding in shallow water, poor downwind buffers, hitting equipment without protective gear, etc.. These things are common in kiting media these days and may well remain so until more people are hurt at which time these practices may change. Posting these or any other videos is not an endorsement of questionable practices but is simply that, the posting of a video for viewing and not a "how to" guide. Seek proper instruction for that.