Just goes to show that once again weather forecasts and the best-laid plans of mice and men are all not to be taken too seriously. The promised frontal wind of 14kts by early afternoon had clearly decided to take a wee Sunday morning lie-in followed by a long slow breakfast, which left the assembled riders at Kite Zone none too impressed.
Still at least the thermal wind tried to make up for it and as Mode headed off to the beach to take James through the second session of his IKO course a plan was hatched to head upwind to the ‘big rock’ for a mass down-winder.
So with Yo’s twin cab loaded to the brim with riders and kit all was set, the journey began and soon we were all at the ‘big rock’. Amusing scenes then followed of kit heavy riders dancing and bouncing across the way too hot sand in desperation to reach the cooler wet stuff. With that negotiated and everyone set to go the wind of course decided to drop back a notch or two. Never the less Lucie piled out there as it was her last day before heading back to the chilly waters of the UK, which prompted the rest of the crew to get on the case.
Okay I admit it Epic Downwind Dash might not ring completely true to most of the lads who left the ‘ big rock’ as they worked like mad things to make progress in the dropping wind. On the other hand the girls, Lucie and Leila completely blasted it and tore off towards Kite Zone, even adding some cheeky upwind runs to add salt to the boys wounds. Still they ploughed on with much male pride at stake, dropping, re-launching and cursing their way to the distant Kite Zone shore. Still on the bright side for me being a non-kiter for the day, not only did I get to score the shots of the ‘action’ but I now also hold the Thai record for the most kites launched out of the water in a 1km stretch. Fair play to the guys though for some it was still early days in terms of kiting and both John and Sven put in top efforts before even they had to admit defeat and head for shore at the half way mark to join the rest of the guys in the ‘walk of gloom’ back to the centre.
By this time of course the girls were hitting high fives and toasting themselves on a job well done – girl power hey, next it will be the vote.
John heading out for what he hopes will be better wind
no worries..Leila blasts past the boys
on the road to the "Big Rock"
Pae chooses kite repair over the downwinder, mmmm local knowledge pays off me thinks
part of the er.........downwind team?
storming Lucie makes the most of her last Pranburi session
the walk of gloom
even light wind trio member fred was working hard
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