Pictures

Decided to give today a skip, with only a 4.2 and 90l freestyle board I think it may have been a good idea! Oisin Van Gelderan told me he would have liked to have been on a 3.0. Tomorrow looks a bit more managable so hopefully the waves will still be there.

Here are some pictures of Howth Pier today, looks like the sea gulls were having good fun.

Low Rock

Had a pretty good session at Low Rock today. It was pretty onshore but it was still fun. I only had a freestyle fin which made everything a little bit harder as I kept spinning out but it was good. Bit chilly but a lot of people were out which was good fun. Hopefully will be sailing at Rush or Skerries tomorrow, and I'll be bringing my thermals!!

Here is a picture that I have edited the life out of:)

Wind?!?!

We headed to Dollymount on Stephen's day. Unfortunately the wind decided to take a Christmas break and didnt show up. I headed out in hope there would be some. It was a bit of fun in 3 foot waves and doing lightwind freestyle. As Lewis went in a squal came over and the wind was pretty good. Unfortunately there was only a few waves to jump off and tried a frontloop. I think i need to prepare earlier for them, as i am only moving my backhand back as I am going up the wave. Should have plenty of time and waves to try them during this week:)
I also headed to the estuary yesterday. As I was getting my gear I looked at the Burrow beach and it was super windy. I decided to only take my 4.2 and JP freestyle. When I arrived everyone was gone aswell as the wind. I still went out for a chilly lightwind session which was good fun.
The Burrow should be going off for waves and speed sailing on tuesday wednesday and thursday, low tide is at 3:10 on tuesday so should have a good day!

Woooo!!

Burrow

Had a good day at the Burrow. It was super cold with ice covering the sand but it was pretty good wind. I was out on my 4.2 Blade and Lewis on his 4.7. It was pretty chilly and Lewis didnt last long without gloves. They're a pain to wear but at least it means you can stay out when its like that.
Anyways was trying some vulcans and would have liked to have done some front loops but the chop was crap and throwing yourself into brain freeze water isnt exactly enjoyable! Hopefully will get out more this week as weve got some holidays.

Dollymount

We headed to Dollymount today. I rigged up my new Severne Blade 4.2 and Lewis rigged up his 4.7 loft. It was class down the line conditions but out back was super choppy and the shorebreak was pretty tough to get over with it being so gusty. I was pretty stacked on my 4.2 and 62l acid. Lewis was quite overpowered and didnt head out much. I didnt stay out too long either and headed in at around 2 as it was freezing! Was great to be out in some waves with everyone.

Here are some pictures of the nice sunny day

Definition of Overpowered

We haven't been out on the water in a while. I've been out with a broken nose and Lewis sold his Kombat. We headed out on Sunday at the Burrow Beach for some NE Starboard tack cross onshore, but as soon as we hit the water I was just blown back off. I couldn't sheet in at all. Lewis was pretty much the same. Can't wait for our Quads and Blades to come in so we can it these storms. JK and Oisin Van Gelderan went out for some speedsailing and got over 40kts everything. Looks like the Burrow is the place to be!

Luck of the Irish

Check out this vid I found on continent 7.

Some sick conditions!

Luck of the Irish from kulingvarning.nu on Vimeo.

Overpowered Weekend!

On Friday Lewis and I headed out to Dollymount. we were greeted with a lot of wind and a bleak sky. The wind was cross onshore, and we were both really overpowered with our 4.7s. Big airs were on the order of the day and some nice backside jumps on the way in, Lewis has them nailed. our friend Tim had just bought a new 5.0 as he was overpowered with Lewis during the week, and soon found out it was still too big! On Sunday we headed out at the Burrow beach. It was ridiculously windy with gusts of over 45 knots. Hanging on to our sails was a battle!



Here are some pictures,

Another Sweet Day At Dollymount

Had another savage day at dollymount. Was on the water by 11 and came off at half 3. Again overpowered but thats how its going to be until I can order some new sails. Today I met up with Tim whos smallest sail is a 5.9 so fair play for stickin it out!! Id say there were gusts of about 35 knots maybe even more at some points, couldn't of got the timing of my mid term break any better. Unfortunatley Ryans been away in Portugal and isnt back till Thursday so Il stop going on about the great conditions we been having! No pictures today, its just as well i didnt bring the camera, when i came in to de-rig I was greeted with my own little sand pit in the trailer!

Friday looks sweet :)!!

Another overpowered day

Today I went to Malahide with Cormac. It was pretty much the same wind as yesterday so it was tricky to control your gear, the chop didnt help. I had to make it a quick one cause i had to be home for three. I'm very pleased I managed to keep my feet in one piece without wearing boots!!!Tuesdays looking for dolly :)

Gear for sale

Hey guys,

Shifting some gear as i don't get enough use out of it so its not worth keeping.

Sails:
2008 Loft 02 freeride 6.6, Like new used 5 times at the most. Price= €250
2006 Loft 02 freeride 7.4 Perfect condition apart from a tiny rip in luff pocket at top of sail, doesnt effect the sails performance. Price= €125

Mast:
Tushingham SDM 460, perfect condition. Price= €70

Board:
2007 Starboard Isonic 87, Perfect condition. Price= €450 inc. Drake Slalom pro 32

Fins Slalom/Speed:
2009 MFC SL 28cm, New
2009 MFC SL 30cm, New
2009 MFC SL 34cm, used once, like new.
2009 MFC SL 38cm, used once, like new.

All fins are €60 each.

I'm open to all reasonable offers and can do an offer is buying 2 or more things.
Contact: lewiseickholt972@hotmail.com

Lewis

Overpowered at dollymount!!!

Absoulutely amazing day! Arrived around 11 to find a bit of wind and waves then within half an hour it started getting really windy but the sun stayed! Perfect, wind, waves and sun. Rigged my 4.7 and kombat 92, would have been on quad 71 but hadnt arrived. The wind and waves kept building all day, I was way overpowered on my 4.7 but is the smallest sail I have so had to stick it out. Around three ish it got crazy, there were huge sand storms and id say the wind was gusting over 30, not too sure though . Going to get some rest so im ready to go again tomorrow!

Here is a picture at the end of the day, the sun had gone by then and the waves had decreased a fair bit.

Sunday seabreeze

We got out two Sundays ago with Andy and Tom at the burrow. It was forcast for about 15knots but was a good 20 id say. I started off on my isonic 87 and 7.4 and ryan on his 5.3 and his freestyle 90. I was way overpowered and rigged down to my 5.9 and kombat 92. It was great to have Andy and Tom freestyling as it got us really motivated to try vulcans. When the tide got fairly high myself and ryan went back down the beach to go in cause the wind had eased a bit. Then loads of wind came again and we got back out, thats when we started trying vulcans. The main problem i had was having the balls to actualy go for it, once i tryed them i didnt land any but i did get most of the rotation. Once you get some rotation it really gives you confidence so i can't wait to get out again and try some more. Ive added another item to the for sale section check it out.

Ryans heading away this week so if anyone is planning to go to dollymount on Saturday or the Burrow on Sunday leave a comment as It would be great to have someone else on the water.

Full days sailing

We went out at the burrow beach on Saturday, I was on my kmobat 92 litre with my new loft lip wave 4.7 and Ryan with his JP freestyle and storm 4.7. We got up at 8 to catch the heavy winds that were forcast but they ended up not filling in till about 11. There was a big rain shower which brought the wind from nothing to about 2o knots, crazy! We were fully powered all day till 6 when we went in. The lip waves are great sails it was really light but extremely durable at the same time. I got plenty of duck jybes in so was really pleased and Ryan got sailing switch stance a few times. Found this freestyle vid on the beach telegraph.....

Naxos Freestyle Windsurf 2009 from Al Bentley on Vimeo.

Cruising session

We had a good crusing session today at the burrow. I was on my isonic 87 with my 7.4 and MFC SL 38 which I found a really good combo. Ive sold my futura so the isonic is my allround slalom and speed board as it can take as low as a 5.0 for speed and as big as a 7.4 for slalom which is really good. Ryan was on his 7.2 and 101 futura (he currently is selling the futura so email him for details if your interested: ryanoleary832@hotmail.com). I was practicing duck jybes, I got the actual jybe part but unfortunatley did not manage to sail away from one! The wind was about 15 knots averge which was compltetley different to what windguru said but there you go. We've been back at school for a few weeks now so weekends are the only oppertunity to get out so it was well worth it.

Galway Slalom Round 6

I headed down to the Galway event on the weekend... The wind was no-where to be seen but it was great fun on SUPS kayaks and doing lightwind freestyle. I came across this video of the Reunion Wave Classic Wipeouts, theres a sick one of Mikey!!

Reunion Wave Classic 09_Worst Wipe Out - Powered by Soöruz from Open Ocean Media on Vimeo.

Dollymount

Had a sick day at Dollymount today. When I arrived it was super windy and cross shore but when I headed out it had gone side off and the waves were so steep. I was on my 90l freestyle and loft 5.3. They were by far the biggest I've ever been in and getting out back with the gusty conditions was difficult.. But when you were on the way back in it was sick! The waves were around head high and were really clean, and you ould get loads of turns in. I was also trying some table tops and landed one but It was realy gusty and I was well overpowered so didnt try any loops. Here are some pics of the day....

Dollymount

Had a great session at Dollymount yesterday. I got my JP Freestyle 90 off Oisin Van Gelderan, who has got his JP Speedboard and 98l freestyle. Gotta say the JP Speed board looks err tiny!! and is real light. Will hopefully see him at the burrow for some speed sailing. We headed out around half two, and the wind was pretty crap. Light wind freestyle in waves was pretty fun, but an SUP would have been class. The first squal that came over was cross off-shore, and the waves were good in close to the beach and made for some fun rides. Lewis was just bombing straight for the lips of waves at full speed and catching big airs. As that died another one came over and in was more cross-shore. I had been telling Oisin that I had tried a few loops but had been unsuccessful. He kept doing them right in front of me, and it was very tempting! I burnt out behind him and was saying, I'm gonna try it!! He looped and I followed, and to my suprise nearly got a full rotation, and ended up under the sail:) Few more goes and I was trying pretty hard now. Everyone had headed in for the day, but I stayed out for another while determined. Just caught a perfect gust right before a wave, and went for it! Was really surprised when i pushed the sail up and water started from it! Will be definitely be trying more. If you want to loop I would really recommend Oisin's looping clinic.Heres a video that pretty much makes me want to just get out there and try it

Dollymount

Had two good sessions at dollymount. Tuesday evening on my 4.7 and kombat was good but could of done with a bigger sail. Today was class overpowered on 5.9 it was hard to not get massive air on the waves! Should be at dollymount again tomorrow evening so give me a shout if your heading over.

Dollymount South East And Burrow

Had a pretty class weekend! Saturday was a good session at the Burrow, over powered on my 5.3 and Futura 101. Was working on carve gybes and was trying to spin the board around to vulcan, but no luck. The wind was just west south west, so it was slightly offshore so no waves came in that I was hoping for. But today well made up for the lack of waves. I headed to Dollymount at around half ten, and left at around 3. The wind was pretty onshore so it was quite messy, but I got some pretty big airs that I was pleased with. Attemped a frontloop but failed miserably, under-rotated and the rig got ripped from my arms! Hopefully will get some south west winds and try them somemore. Lewis is back tomorrow and we'll hopefully head to dollymount on Wednesday.

Here are some pictures of the weekend.

Dollymount

Went to Dollymount for the first time on Sunday, and it was class! Lewis is still away but i got a lift with a guy called Ogy whos a kitesurfer. Unfortunately I was up by where the kitesurfers are, and nearly got taken out by a few! Anyways it was the first time I was in some ramps on my starboard tack and was loving it! Got some pretty big airs which I was really pleased with. I still haven't found the balls to try a frontloop but I think I might be heading to Dollymount today and I'll definately try one...!

Southerly Session

Had a pretty good evening at the Burrow on Tuesday. It was real gusty as it was southerly but it was pretty flat and the gusts were super windy. I went out on my 5.3 and futura and Lewis went out on his 7.4 and futura. I ended up getting 28.4 knots so was pretty pleased and i'm nearly getting downwind carving 360's but i keep getting my foot stuck in the front strap. Lewis has gone away and the forecast is looking sick for Sunday and tuesday. Hopefully will be heading out to Kilcrea or might head to Dollymount.

Burrow Freestyle-Speed-Jump Session

Had an epic day yesterday at the Burrow. We headed out at around half eleven for some speed sailing. It was super windy and I headed out on my 69l JP and 4.7 and Lewis was on his iSonic 87 and 5.3. The angle was real bad but I still ended up with 29.9 knots and Lewis with 29.5 We took a break and had a bite to eat and saw Oisin Van Gelderan out. He was showing off on the strip with some nice freestyle. The wind was a bit lighter now so we decided to change rigs and boards. I rigged up to my 5.3 and Futura 101 and Lewis went for his 6.6 and 111.As the tide came in the sand bar started to get covered and waves started to appear. It was super sweet cross shore jumping. We both went as high as we'd ever gone, with some jumps nearly topping over 10 foot. I had some interesting bails when it got hairy. It was then around half 6 and we were real tired and had a debate to see if we should rig down or call it a day. We were walking down to the shed when we decided one last go. There was super ramps nearly head high which were real good but I was so tired I couldn't hold on to my gear when in the air. It was a class day.