Kiting Day 3 – Day 6

Friday: we had no wind so I explored the 3 North islands in fog, and could not see too much but it was still beautiful. The countryside is very green, and it makes me think that Ireland must be similar. The flora at first glance seems limited but there are many interesting plants and the place has a very nice look to it. There are lots of different dune grasses and plants, wetland and bog plants, and the pine forests have lots of berries and nice ground covering.

I spotted a few places along the Dune du Nord (between 52km and 53km) where the waves might be good for surfing. Apparently ground swells arrive in the autumn during hurricane season and the waves get really nice when pressure comes from the East.

I visited the old haul out at “Old Harry’s” where the walrus kills took place at la Plage de la Grande Echouerie…it’s amazing to me to realize how long ago this regal creature was pretty much wiped out here and how the Gulf of St. L waters were also fished to the brink of its limits so many years ago. How many people still have little awareness of the plight of our oceans is amazing. The fishing and lobstering seasons here are now by law very short because they are trying to manage the fisheries…but are we too late to fix things? Let’s hope not.

The wind this past week and the forecast for the next week is incredible. Wind every day and lots of it. 6 out of the next 7 days the winds are expected to be 20 to 30 kts or more, from the NW, SW and W! I’ve been riding hard but trying to pace myself…

Saturday: I rode at “Plage du Cap” in 25-35 kt NNE winds. The waves were a bit confused and it was a bit on-shore wind but it was still fun. I rode totally lit with 7m Hypertype and Zone. Afterward I stopped at Jomphe around 4pm and did a mini session in nice flat water with the 9m Hypertype and 28 RIP, some big airs, and some great riders en scene (Felix, Jaz, Juan, Dany and a few others throwing down). I was a little tired from the early session but I’m glad I suited up. I’m trying to pace myself with all the wind in the forecast, and I am dying to do a down-winder and ride more waves, clean ones preferably.

I was envious when Felix told me that they did a morning session down-winder from Point aux Loupe to Fatima, super lit on his 7m Waroo and head high+ waves. Juan also said the waves at Dune de l’Ouest were the cleanest he has seen them and it was an easy one-tack trip across the Baie from Jomphe.

Sunday: a beautiful day and early NW wind dying in the early afternoon. Some big kite riding at Fred Jomphe and a great day for beginners.

Monday: Dune de l’Ouest, 25-35 kts, totally lit on 7m Hypertype, rode 28 Rip and Zone in 8-10’ waves. An awesome day of wave riding. Jaz throwing HUGE airs and kiteloops. A bunch of guys did a down-winder to Corfu, but Jaz said it’s not worth it so I stayed at . Sebastian blew his LE half way there and had to walk back, and his truck had already been shuttled to the take-out so he had no other kites – quelle domage!

Went to the jam session last night at (Sebastian’s place) Leffe in Cap-aux-Meules, another cool scene here, serving locally brewed beer, with great live music, a theater and some good kite videos running. Today we will have 25 kt West wind and even bigger waves!