From a recent visit, Kindly hosted by Andrea Phillips and Mike Lee

looks epic, those foil board seem to get more interesting by the second!

Amazing spot!
Personally prefer to be coping water spray from a twin tip, especially in a tropical place like that, but I understand the appeal! To each his own!!

Awesome spot!

Just looked it up. North of Cook Islands?
Please tell us more about the area? Expensive? Flights expensive? Accommodation? Other stuff to do there? Family friendly? How long are the flights? Is there a kiting population there?

Would be good stuff to know

That could almost be the definition of paradise right there.

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Sir V said..
























From a recent visit, Kindly hosted by Andrea Phillips and Mike Lee

I'm sorry,

but it all looks so pedestrian to me. (Despite the gorgeous scenery)

There's no sense of movement in these shots,

there's no foaming wake trailing the tail of the board,

there's no spray fanning off the rails,

there's no leaning by the rider with or against the forces.

I can't see the motion.

You're a statue.

I'm sorry.

Hi guys, this really is the stuff dreams are made of

Flights from Sydney direct to Rarotonga, then a short hop of 45 mins to Aitutaki. Accommodation on the mainland is reasonable, but you must take a boat transfer to Honeymoon Island for the kiting (NZD 35.00 return). While I know there is kiting from the mainland I would personally recommend going to Honeymoon as kiting is 20 times better. Flat an shallow lagoons as far as the eye can see - a perfect place for beginners or TT riders wanting to perfect their tricks. At the moment Mark Jacobs is there with the Switch and Air Rush teams shooting for their new products, a nice show to enjoy - total freaks :), far too good for me.

I will post additional photos later about the kiting at Honeymoon, these were taken on One Foot Island inlet on the other side of the lagoon. Awesome downwinders to be had on the right wind.

Expensive? that is relative - this is an island, everything is 'imported' in by barge so the prices are about 20 bucks for takeaway meals or about 40.00 NZD for a resort restaurant. If you want to do it on the cheap it can be a little tiring after a while.

I may not repeat for a while as I had to travel to One Foot to foil because Honeymoon Island is far too shallow for a foil.

Did I like it? well, look at the pictures.. that session was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G... what else can I say?

V

there is definitely something special about foil boarding in such locations, really can't wait to see where you take it from here, so stoked on the idea

a video of me a couple of years ago

Love the spot - recommend going there..

nice shots sirV but the way your hand is reaching out in each shot it looks like your foil board should of come with a hand bag

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TurtleHunter said..
nice shots sirV but the way your hand is reaching out in each shot it looks like your foil board should of come with a hand bag

Balancing mate, balancing on toeside, resting on heelside.. I considered the handbag but it didn't match my nails

Hey Waveslider: Pedestrian?.. you're funny mate. The Zephyrs weren't holding ground on that session and I am on a 9M drifter There are many cars on the road and taste for all riders, not everyone needs to ride a Mustang with double carbs tearing up the pavement on every run. But if you do, that's your thing..

I was happy to be in Paradise riding while everyone was super envious ON THE BEACH .. as it has been said - each to his own. I "IS" HAPPY...

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Daniel1973 said..
Just looked it up. North of Cook Islands?
Please tell us more about the area? Expensive? Flights expensive? Accommodation? Other stuff to do there? Family friendly? How long are the flights? Is there a kiting population there?

Would be good stuff to know

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Aitutaki-tips-reqd/?SearchTerms=aitutaki

arranging to take a couple of groups over there july 2015, pm me if you are interested

24 days and I'm there. CAN NOT WAIT!!!
Hey, Sir V, any neoprene required or will a rashie do the job?

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KingOTCastle said..
24 days and I'm there. CAN NOT WAIT!!!
Hey, Sir V, any neoprene required or will a rashie do the job?

Depends on your skin type mate. I only wore a rashie on the last day for a DW because a storm hit and it blew the tits off everyone . Apart from that I never wore anything but shorts eheh

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Sir V said..

TurtleHunter said..
nice shots sirV but the way your hand is reaching out in each shot it looks like your foil board should of come with a hand bag

Balancing mate, balancing on toeside, resting on heelside.. I considered the handbag but it didn't match my nails

Hey Waveslider: Pedestrian?.. you're funny mate. The Zephyrs weren't holding ground on that session and I am on a 9M drifter There are many cars on the road and taste for all riders, not everyone needs to ride a Mustang with double carbs tearing up the pavement on every run. But if you do, that's your thing..

I was happy to be in Paradise riding while everyone was super envious ON THE BEACH .. as it has been said - each to his own. I "IS" HAPPY...

Hey Waveslade, I totally get your view. There is no doubt Foilboarding is VERY different from a TT or a surfboard by not having direct contact with the surface. It is however much more difficult to attain the delicate balance to keep the board at the exact angle to allow flow.

The reason people say it is difficult is because it actually is - and in there lies the challenge itself. The sense of achievement once you get it and the absolute silence while riding it is unlike anything one has ever experienced - foiling is in a total class of it's own. I believe the experience would be comparable to Marty McFly riding a hover board, the constant micro-adjustments needed to keep the board aloft are an art it itself.

You know when you get that top lip cut and the stray comes off just right? Well I feel similar when I make a toeside turn on the same lip without losing the grip on the wave or the board touching the water. I have to maintain the exact distance from the wave for the board to continue riding the wave, and without feeling it by direct contact. I ride my foil in waves, that has always been my goal. I learned to ride on my own and continue to push my limits, within the constraints of my ability.

It took me hundreds of falls, literally, to get where I am. So you understand that when someone dismisses this avenue of the sport I get a little 'itchy' to reply in kind. But neither you did that nor I replied from any other platform than an explanatory one . I know there is much to foiling than meets the eye and I am sure the sport will progress to areas yet unchartered.

Did you see the guys doing backslides, front and back rolls, 360, gybing.. and lately some crazy MoFo starting to kiteloop with a foil ??? - it's coming man, it's coming. It sure ain't mowing the lawn.

Peace up and good winds (stolen)

V

Ive got to stop reading threads like these whilst im at work,.. sooo depressing. Makes the day go quicker though, read the articticle, then spend the rest of the day researching flights etc. Thanks Sir V foir the report and man I wish I could be there!

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Sir V said..




Hey Waveslade, I totally get your view. There is no doubt Foilboarding is VERY different from a TT or a surfboard by not having direct contact with the surface. It is however much more difficult to attain the delicate balance to keep the board at the exact angle to allow flow.


Blah blah blah foiling is hard therefore it is awesome

For christs sake, all you ever do is bang on about how its awesome because its difficult.

Waveslave was saying that the photos look pedestrian and boring (i think) because there is no sense of movement and he's totally right.

Top scenery though, would look good with a massive rooster tail in it.

So it doesn't look all that windy. How many days over 20kts did you get on your trip?

Hi Sir V awesome shots , don't you love the way the WA wankers can really appreciate skill they should look at Johny Heinekin and co ride foils then they may appreciate the skill needed to ride one they have obviously never tried

Thanks for sharing nice pics.

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Phoney said..
So it doesn't look all that windy. How many days over 20kts did you get on your trip?

Not many mate, it was very light. Most days only I got a decent ride because everyone was expecting high winds and took 9 and 7 kites :(. I had a good compromise for my weight of a 11 Drifter and a Shinn Wave, the best board ever for a mutant . But I also got a storm on last day and it blew about 35+ for a few hours, I did a DW mainland to Honeymoon at great speed, one tack only needed.

Here's a few... Twin Tip paradise man.



Learning area @ Honeymoon (below)













All the learners doing their thing :).. not enough for them though eheheh

Thanks for sharing V - I need to get over there...

Great pics!

Aitutaki is on my list to visit and hopefully next year, I've just got back from Cocos .

Man I definitely went to the wrong place.
Just got back from Phuket with kite and family in tow. Dribbling wind but plenty of waves ...believe it or not. That foil looks like tricky work.
Cook Islands for me next year.

mowing the lawn is such a chore!!
Luved the pics, awesome spot for TTing

I was asked to upload some images of a Downwinder we did One Foot to Honeymoon Island.. as if you needed further proof of what Paradise looks like.

I'm unsure I will find a better scenery for such an epic DW.. it was simply amazing as you can see. I look at these pics and I am trying to find where I've seen better.. difficult though :). For give the fact that it's me in them as when they're on my kite that's what I get, just enjoy..

V



































And there you have the GPS track recorded on the Suunto watch. As you can see the speed is marked as average.. who wants to speed with such scenery? about 2 hours strolling downwind..

V

The water colour is amazing!

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Sammyjay said..
The water colour is amazing!

Sorry about the double-ups.. something is not right on the upload. Oh well, double the pleasure

That water though.... *drools*

Hi Sir V,
Great pics mate,
Im heading over, 3/Aug, can't wait. Was wondering what size kite you're on there ? Wind looks pretty light. wind Predictions look light as well.
Any other tips ?
Cheers mate

Looks a great place no doubt and the skills to ride the foil is great to see.

Can i ask why the foil is on a SB and not a twinny !!

Just cant see the sense in ridding a SB 2 foot above the water in no waves , the foils will have there place no doubt with certain crew looking for something different , but for the surf purist cant see it being the goods

Again the shots are fantastic Sir V and the foil doers look impressive