Outrigger Kiting story about non surfer guy....from Switzerland - 12/07/03

Launch Two

Everything started by a beautiful sunny day at Kanaha beach. I was just here to film and take photos for the website. Then Loch said :"Yann just go and swim to the canoe", so no time to take my life vest that was in my car... probably a sign... just my lycra top and go for it.

After swimming more than 50m, I'm in the canoe I received a very very short brief Pete the guy on the back of the canoe, it sounds like : "Do everything in the same way the guy in front of you." I don't ask any questions. just executing the right move at the right time.

After just 10min. we catch our first wave with a perfect timing (thanks Don!), it was terribly amazing the sensation to feel the power of the wave and the kite. At this time we use a 30m2 kite and not enough power to make big jumps over the waves.

We took 2 perfect waves but the situation will completely change and go to another direction.

Everybody was ready to take this third wave. Don said : "Jibing.." the canoe turned very fast but I can see we are a little bit late on the wave. then everything goes really fast. the wave catch us and the canoe was completely turned over. Pete said: "everybody is ok?". So now we need to swim quickly to return the canoe and especially don't loose the paddles.

I swam to catch the paddle we lost. then finally catch it. Now I can see that I'm far from the canoe. I decided to swim as fast as I can to go back to the canoe. Suddenly I can hear big noise, the noise made by the waves and I realize that I'm right now in the middle of the impact zone. I am thinking:"Yann don't panic, that's nothing. without any convictions.".

The show was really nice, Max Bo was just riding the waves around me with his kite... a really great moment.

Now everybody is in the canoe except me, I was thinking about what decision I need to take: Go back to the beach or just wait here. mmmh.. crucial question because I was now in the impact zone during last 20minutes.

Don tried to go in my direction to catch me but the canoe turned over again and nobody on board. Now I can just see Don body draging with the 30m kite without any depower system because he didn't have any arness. Don goes much faster than the kiteboarders around and goes back directly to kitebeach.

Short time later, they finally catch me and we return to the beach alive. It was probably the most exiting experience in my life.

Thanks to everybody especiall Don.

Aloha, Yann