A year and a half ago, I suffered a trauma to my lower rib cage due to a megaloop gone wrong. The Harness was violently pulled up while I was being pulled down by water drag.
The result is a permanent inclination of the rib resulting in cartilage scar tissue protruding on the lower part of my rib cage. It took 6 weeks before I was comfortable on the water again with a seat harness.

I have since discovered that this is a fairly common injury amongst kiters wearing waist harnesses. But not always caused by the harness. (bar, water impact, Beach…)

Avoiding the injury:

It is likely that wearing a proper Impact vest would have avoided the injury even though the forces involved were substantial. With regards to impact vests, one needs to find a product that covers that lower rib area. Not all impact vests do. It will protect from water and bar impact too.

You could argue that in general one should rather wear a seat harness, but that in itself does not absolve you from potential injuries, and for some things a waist harness is more enjoyable. In my experience they both have their advantages.

For me, A seat harness is more comfortable for:

Long sessions

Super powered sessions

Kiteloops

Pics courtesy of Melissa Smith

Waist harness on the other hand I prefer

Waveriding

Freestyle

Board offs

Pics courtesy of Andrew Miller

So my dilemma was how was I going to wear a Waist harness again with this permanent fixture on my chest.
The answer was to try different model waist harnesses until I found one that didn’t apply pressure directly on that area.
The one that worked for me was a Dakine Renegade waist, so I’m back to hitting the waves with that free feeling the waist harness gives you. I was really happy to find an option that worked for me as I was staring at “No more waist harnesses”

However for long sessions, or when planning to ride super powered I slip into my Dakine Nitrous seat harness.

Hope you find your solution…

Ced

Thanks for the pics Melissa Smith and Andrew Miller

I’m really stoked to have joined the Dakine team in South Africa.
Giving me the privilege to ride with their amazing product but also giving me the opportunity to support and grow the kiting scene in South Africa.

 Hope to push some new boundaries in the next few months… So watch this space!

Two weeks ago, I picked up the new Escapes from Cape Town where photo shoots were taking place. Over the last two weeks I have been testing the kites in various conditions to get an overview of the kite.

The very first impressions was stability Grunt and Ease.

This kite is truly an all rounder

Compared to the first Escape model, The lower end seems to have been improved meaning not only that you get planning earlier but that you can also unhook earlier.
The stability makes it feel like the kite flies itself.
The 3 attachments allow you to change the bar pressure and set it to your preferance. I must say that the middle setting for me is perfect. It has great feedback through the bar.

In Cape Town I concentrated on Wave riding, using mostly the 7m. Again I must stress that I just got on and rode. No adjustment period, it was just easy.

Back in Cannon Rocks I am getting a chance to test the kites in different conditions, doing some twin tip riding and some big loops. Got to use the 9m a little more and enjoying the stability for my basic freestyle moves. The kite also has great glide keeping you in the air long enough to throw some old school stuff.
It just makes you feel comfortable whatever the wind throws at you.

I really like the way the 7m loops, it’s seems to have plenty of power through the loop to give you that “Yeaaah” feeling

Of course, being an all rounder, it will not out perform a kite that is specifically made for Looping or Freestyle or Hangtime, but if you are a kiter who, like me, wants to keep things varied and a try new things. This kite is FUN!

Thanks for the pics Melissa Smith

Tech details available here

Ced

Placing a go pro on my lines has given a new perspective.

This is an ongoing search to capture the beauty and freedom of this beautiful sport, and to convey the communion that occurs between one’s soul and the space between the ocean and the sky.

Organizing the Halyards Cannon Rocks Kiteboarding Classic was quite a “tour de force”. And the immediate aftermath brought about a release but also a kind of empty feeling.

4 days of madness followed by a return to my home spot being empty with only 3 kiters.
But normality will only be abnormal as it has always been.

The final report of the contest is ready. Working on a video as I prepare to hit some snow in Europe.

Meeting up with the boys at Peter Lynn kiteboarding for some discussions and getting ready for a crazy 2013 is a few of the things on my plate. Watch this space as things are gonna get busy!

Ced

The Halyard Cannon Rocks Kiteboarding Classic 2013 runs from the 3rd to the 6th of January at my home spot. Things are heating up!! Here is a little video if you need convincing to visit this awesome coastline.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

This Year is heading at break neck speed towards the end.

Every year I run an event at my otherwise deserted home spot on the east coast of South Africa.

It is driven by a vision of seeing riders of all level coming together and sharing their passion for the sport. But also the opportunity for the public at large to see what it is all about.

And so for the 3rd edition, Cannon Rocks will once again play host to the Halyards Cannon Rocks Kiteboarding Classic.

Once again it has grown in size attracting some very exciting sponsors.

Look out for our press release in the next few weeks. You won’t want to miss this.

Ced

Ewan and I have one thing in common, We both ride Underground boards. So when he contacted me and said he was dropping in for a visit, I looked forward to introducing him to Cannon Rocks. And Cannon Rocks delivered… 4 day visit, 4 days of wind. It wasn’t the best conditions ever with unusually gusty winds (Probably an aftermath of all the rains we have had lately) but still some rideable conditions. Strong for sure.

Ewan has concentrated his riding skills into the art of strapless wave riding and was great inspiration for me to loose the straps. But I got a long way to go!

It was great to share my little piece of heaven with someone who is passionate about this sport and who’s been doing it for as long as I have.

Got a feeling that it may  not be the last time we see Ewan ripping our waves

Till next time.

Ced

Being Stuck in South Africa for the Winter, I was hoping to get a little footage and put something together. Things didn’t turn out that way. Kiting on average 3-4 days a week at my home spot on the Eastern Cape Coast in Cannon Rocks, I ended up with a mountain of footage. the result is slightly longer than anticipated.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

The Wind was often strong and gusty and the waves were gnarly and big, but it was all kiteable.  We even managed to get some soft Easterly days (Summer Wind).
The Kites used were from Size 11m to 5m. ( not so much footage of the 5 as the conditions were terrible on the beach for filming, but great in the water:)) The Fury and Escape both got plenty of Action. I also got to test the Peter Lynn C shaped foil, the Charger2 and there is a sneak preview in the clip.

The sound track is available here For Download.

A special Thank you to Tania for braving the cold, windy, sandy conditions.

For the travelers, I wouldn’t rush here over the winter as this year was unusual. Often we have cross off gusty winds making the riding not so pleasant (Some of it on the video).

As the days get longer (And kiting hours are extended) It’s time to dust off the short wetsuit, and pull out the sunscreen.
Enjoy the Video
Ced

The signs are upon us that the season change is here. Warmer, longer Balmy days, easterly winds, and the need for sunscreen (Always)

But we are still getting the odd winter storms lashing our South African Eastern Cape Coast line. As I write this Blog the house is creaking with a “Very Fresh South Westerly” .

But the winter is over.
As I mentioned on a previous post, this was an unusual year for me. Normally following the swallows, this year I was left behind. But things weren’t too bad, unusual winds for our low season has meant that here in Cannon Rocks I’ve kited on average 3 to 4 times a week!

All along  we’ve been capturing footage and testing some new equipment from Peter Lynn An epic video will go online pretty soon. so keep an eye out for that.

So here in Cannon Rocks, we will be dusting off our shorty suits and learning to ride waves to the left all over again

Ced