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| Wrapping up work, I contemplate what I need to do
make sure is accomplished in the next 5 minutes. Contacts in, yes,
Sunscreen applied, check, kites in the vehicle, no, maybe John will
do that, jug of water, oops, better get moving, dry clothes for
later, on the bed, just need to grab. I think I am ready. Time to
hit the road, our destination: Kite Beach. Not very often, but
sometimes, I am contemplative on how I ended up on Maui. Obviously,
a couple of key moments can be readily identified.
First, we came here on our honeymoon Jan. 2005. Purchasing a
condo was an obvious mile post marker. Yet, sometimes my mind goes
back a little bit further in time to a quiet afternoon in North
Carolina. An unassuming day, it was warm, but windy and our little
John boat with its little engine struggled through choppy water.
Besides me, it was my husband, John, my brother-in-law and nephew as
we cruised around the Outer Banks Sound. Out of the corner of my
eye, I noticed a kiteboarder approaching. I watched in awe as he
came closer, and then flew over us, literally. I looked up, to see a
large grin in lieu of a hello, before he hit the water and tore off
downwind. I instantly identified with what he surely was feeling;
freedom, unfettered freedom. In that second, I made a decision. I
must learn how to kiteboard. At different points in time since, I
have alternated between glee at this decision and utter disgust. I
quickly learned if you launch the kite too fast, it will lift you
off the ground and you might land back on the ground head first
completely disgusted. You could also end up miles from your
destination on a light wind day and spend two hours submerged in
cold water trying in vain to keep your kite flying. If you are
anything like me you will be disgusted and cold to boot. |
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But you could also launch your kite around 5 p.m.
on a beautiful, evening, glide back and forth along the shore
listening to the swish of your board in the water until you reach
your destination 3 hours later 5 miles downwind right at the sun is
setting for the night. At that moment, the idea of going to heaven
will seem odd, because it will be clear to you, it is also on earth. |
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As I leave the unit this day, I am excited,
confident. Our last time out was on the south side of the island,
Maalaea Bay Harbor. First the first time ever, I tried to launch off
a little wave. I only went about two inches higher, but it was
progress. And the best surprise for me, besides not wrecking, was
how softly I landed on the other side of the wave. If anyone ever
asked me about kiting and jumping, I firmly replied “I am happiest
when my board stays on the water.” I meant it. One problem with my thinking, in Maui, waves are
ever present. As I practiced proper form by leaning back and edging
the board, I sometimes rode up a wave, but dropped like a rock on
the other side. Clearly my board wasn’t staying on the water
anyway; lofting myself just a touch after riding up a wave seemed a
necessity. My knees insisted I rectify the situation. |
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Today was going to be the king of all days. I
would perfect my jumping skills and be the queen, at least in my
head, of kiteboarding. Disgust came back to greet me though. The
wind between the beach and 100 yards off shore was intermittent at
best. Four people had tried, called uncle and left already. The kite
launched, I hit the road, the wind dropped and the kite tissue
papered back down. In my bid to re-launch the kite, the leash
unwittingly wrapped around the right side of my handle, pinning a
section of the outside right line to my handle; in other words,
making one line 6 inches shorter than the rest. The second the kite
started launching, I knew something was wrong, I just didn’t
realize what yet. After a couple kite spirals and a brief flight
with the birds, I landed downwind sans my board. I did manage to get
the leash off, but I needed to start over. |
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Returning
to land, trudging up the beach for one more bid seemed the best
option. As I headed out to sea, another kiter was returning directly
in my path. The launcher has the right of way. Normally I make
allowances, but not today. I kept on path. It wasn’t my best ride,
but I went out, I rode, I kept the board on the water and I returned
to land intact.
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| Probably the second best
part about kiting; besides actually kiting is the camaraderie. While
today seemed rough, I wasn’t alone. One can always find kiters
hanging on the beach; taking a break, drying off or simply
socializing. Kiters exchange war stories and give one another
knowing nods, as they look up remembering their own disgusted days.
But then the same smile lights up everyone’s face and everyone
agrees; kiting is just so much fun.
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