Su became 3rd

Boardercross

Evening chats

Flat water heaven

Back in NZ

Hi All!

October was another great month – especially the 10-day trip to Tonga!  For a couple of weeks before the trip I kept thinking I was never going to get up to date with all the boards that needed laminating in the Decay factory before I left.  This made me sure that I would not be able to go, but I caught up enough to be allowed out of my laminating room and onto a flight early on the Thursday morning.

The Tonga trip was to the Cindy Mosey Island Odyssey.  This year it was held on the beautiful little island of Mounu in the Vava’u group of Islands. 28 Women attended the event – ten of which competed for the largest prize pool in women’s kiting in the world. The winds were light the whole week, never blowing more than 15 knots. This was probably because I took a 7m Edge along in case it got windy.

The first of the competitions run was the Boarder Cross. I have never done one and had superb advice from the top Boarder Cross woman in the world – Kristin Boese. I was very proud of my 3rd place finish. On the day the Course race was scheduled only three of the competitors were able to stay upwind - I was one of them thanks to my 11m Edge combined with my Decay Scimitar. The freestyle event was run down wind of a sandbar between two islands – a heavenly flat-water location! Unfortunately after round two the wind died, but was enough to show off our abilities in front of the cameras.

Other than compete the pro girls worked hard at encouraging the social girls to become better riders through clinics and many, many hours of discussions on what they should be trying next. There will be some of them emerging on the international kiting scene in the near future if they carry on with the motivation they had on this trip.

The week was not all about kiting and we had wonderful opportunities to discover the local culture and experience the magnificent wildlife in the area, including swimming with humpback whales!

For a full account of this fantastic location and trip you’ll have to keep your eyes out for the next issue of some of the international kiting magazines.

On my return to New Zealand I enjoyed a cold, gusty, strong wind day’s kiting in Auckland showing off the Ozone kites and Decay Kiteboards. Many of the people who tried them now know what the next kite in their quiver will be – the 7m Edge and the 5, 7 and 9m Lights eat up the gusts. There was even a 90kg rider I couldn’t get off the water on my 11m Edge he was boosting huge and loving it!

With summer coming – my lesson book is full and my days are being filled with 2 to 3 board laminations. What a fun filled life!!!!

Happy Kiting
Su www.suk.co.nz

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