Conquering Coronation!

Seven years ago in Sydney I trained as a windsurf instructor with a guy called Kit Brogan. Until the other day I haven't seen him since, but he's been very busy. He's become a doctor, a good tow in surfer and a very competent windsurfer! He's also moved out to WA for a while to work, so we met up here in Geraldton on Monday. We headed up to Coronation Beach and he very kindly lent me a board and sail for the afternoon, an Ezzy 5.8 and an RRD 100 litre freestyle board, which was excellent. He was sailing very well, pulling off some nice loops. I sailed pretty well too, for me, landing some big wave jumps, some one handed, some with big donkey kicks, and my gybing on starboard by the beach was very good too. I did some nice duck gybes, one handed gybes, one handed lay down gybes, upwind 360's (which I'm usually better at on port so was chuffed) and also some pretty neat aerial gybes. My proudest moment was getting the closest I think I've ever been to pulling off a willy skipper! Thats when you jump, reverse the board in the air and land it backwards, continuing in the same direction. I wiped out, but it was very close. It was a great sail! Coronation Beach was where I injured my hand 7 years ago, forcing me to leave Australia early because I couldn't work, so I was really pleased to return and re-conquer it. It really wasn't so bad as 7 years of experience has made me much more prepared for the conditions.

Kit has since headed back to perth, via Lancelin, but another friend called Matt, who came out as a guest when I was working in Vassiliki and I randomly bumped into in Perth, has come up to Geraldton to windsurf and we have been hanging out. He had a windsurf yesterday in pretty marginal conditions, I didn't bother going out as it would have meant hiring gear, which seems pointless unless the conditions are good. Thismorning I recieved the final bladder I need for my kite and made (hopefully) the final bladder replacement. I'm all ready for some kiting action now, and despite the wind not looking too strong at the moment, the forecast is looking good for some flat water kite action at Separation Point early thisafternoon. I'm just waiting for the wind now. Come on wind!