Wainman 2.0 Mr.Green freestyle review

So the Mr.Green is the 7.5m in the series of Rabbit Gang 2.0 kites that have been greatly anticipated. This is one of the new sizes, but only 0.5m bigger than the last Gypsy so that is what I'll compare against.

I've ridden it twice now, first time in reasonably gusty winds from 25kts down to less than 10 and the second nicely powered in 25-30kts so I've had it in most of its full range.

Starting with the bag, this is again of a high standard with a new zip which now doesn't jam and you still get the comfy back padding, chest straps and padded hip straps. Tougher materials also seem to have been used and will certainly take years and years of abuse and neglect at the beach! Again the bags are spacious and if you pack well you can fit two kites in one bag.

The new bar is the biggest upgrade with the 2.0 series with tweaks made to most aspects of it. The bar was always well known for being clean and simple with no complex parts to fail or get gritty. The diameter/grip of the bar is a bit chunkier now and the bar ends are made of a tough foam, so you can smack your head on the end when reaching for a grab and you won't get concussed. The depower line now has a plastic sheath so gone are the days of replacing the DP line every season. The chicken loop is now a bit more rigid and half encased in the same tough foam so will float if it comes off. It also now locks into the bar so will remain horizontal for hooking back in. The suicide attachment has now moved away from the CL itself and is now above it, stopping the leash from getting in the way of the spreader bar.

The safety remains on the front line but passes through the depower line sheath and you clip onto it above the CL, mini 5th style, again making everything cleaner. The donkey dick is now velcro removeable so you dont need to carry 2 CLs around with you. Finally, one of the best new features is the self-spinning front line attachment (its a very nice smooth bearing) which actually works but make sure you try and keep the sand off. Oh and the right and left lines are green and orange and look pimp!

To the kite! Those of you who have already seen pictures will see that Wainman have stuck with their trusted low aspect ratio design but there have been adjustments. When flying the kite seems to be a tad gruntier developing a lot of power through turns and with a bit more input required for turning (when set to standard factory setting). The canopy also seems to be tighter with less flutter when really depowering the kite. Again the kite gives consistently powerful pop when unhooking and back flies very well with good slack in the lines. Relaunch is again super easy and quick with the near semi-circle shaped leading edge.

The kite seems very well built again with a lot of dacron used to keep the kite as tough as old boots. It seems that the leading edge diameter has been reduced slightly keep the flow over the kite nice and clean = more power!

The kite loops very well and pivots less than the old Gypsy, generating good power all the way through the loop. And because there's no misbehaviour or stalling, if you dont time the loop right there's no hint of stalling.

Overall the kite is so easy and friendly to fly giving you all the power you need when you want it. The kite is great for beginners to pro's, especially for wake and waves (will do another short wave review after a few more sessions).

Double Foz and Beyond

The last 3 days have been very busy and hectic. We've been consistently smelly, sweaty and dirty despite our best service station attempts to combat this!

Bussing from Flori to Foz do Iguacu was a fairly comfortable 14hr overnight experience on the executive coach. However arriving at 6.30am with the prospect of trekking around the Brazilian side of falls all day and then crossing the boarder to Argentina was a bit daunting. We cafezinha-ed up to the max (the very sweet coffee), left our big bags at the station and set off with two girls from bath (quite a surprise to bump into someone from the small bubble that bath is, on the other side of the world!) we met in Flori.

Once getting into the national park, the hearding of tourists began. It was a bit of a ruckus to take a decent photo without a Japanese of Spanish tour guide barging you out of the way but I eventually learnt that if I just gritted my teeth and stared at them with my offensive paedo tash, they would soon back off and let my shutter happy finger go crazy.

It slowly got more misty and humid as we snaked our way along the path to the Gargantua do Diablo (The Devils Throat) and the views got more and more spectacular. One walkway took us below one of the main falls where the wind and intense spray from the torrent of water smashing below made me feel like we were in the Earth Song (MJ) video and was going to rip off my beater screaming (ahhh ahhhh ahhhh etc) but thought that was a bit inappropriate, so I didnt!

After getting properly drenched we bussed back to Foz before bussing over the boarder to Argy Bargy (Argentina as Booley calls it) to see that side of the falls and renew our 90 day Brazil Visas. This was an absolute ball ache carrying two bags weighing close to 30kgs in total and getting off the bus everytime we needed to get one stamp or hand in a form or get another stamp.

Once we got to the Argy Hostel in Porto Iguacu, after wondering around the small town for far too long we cleaned up (this took a while) and headed out into the night as a pack of ravished wolves in hunt of some bloody bloody hunks of red meat (well reccommended Argentinian Steak!) This was achieved with the best steak I have ever had for about a tenner; probably would have cost over £30 in the UK.

We crashed after sharing a few bottles of nice red Argy wine (Malbek) with the bath girlies, Louise and Lucy.

The next day saw the other side of the falls which were much more impressive with a better angled and more close up view. Butterflies were landing all over us as we walked across the huge 1km walkway across the Rio Iguacu.

So yeah I annoyed booley by saying he was so large that the butterflies were starting to orbit him so he tried chucking me over.


We were a bit tight for time after the falls and needed to get back in order to catch our 24hr bus to Rio so we took a taxi over under the instruction of driving rapidamente, which the guy certainly did! The bus was delayed, horrific, long, boring at times but had to be done so we could actually make some positive distance north. The bus station in Rio was a bit sketchy so we got ripped off and caught a taxi to the Hostel which is nice and AC-ed but a bit rammer jammer. Will update soon after some hectic Rio parties...

Epic Lagoon session and post session nakedness...

We're off to the iguacu falls today. But instead of packing up and checking out in good time we decided to bus it to the lagoon for a butter flat, small kite early goon session.

Nothing more to say except that it was perfect conditions, awesome fun and we're now hurriedly packing our gear and stripping the boards ready for transit.

Oh and we got mad excited about kiting in such an epic place and birthday suited-up after the session....

Next post will be after a 14hour bus journey and after we've done the brazillian side of the falls.

Woop woop.....

First winds...

As you might have noticed we havent updated the blog for the last couple of days and for good reason. The day we arrived we hit the surf and the sun (brits on tour, lobsterific). Following day we kited but winds were a bit light for the larger lads but I managed to have fun in the surf begind kite. Today was a different story. Decided to only take big kites after yesterdays lighter winds. We got a bit dominated to say the least. Wind much stronger. Waves more powerful.

So Booley had an epic in the waves; got pinned by 2 waves, kite not helping also getting bashed by waves, came out alive coughing and spluttering with bridle snapped and line loose! I also had a similar experience a couple of times but came out with kit in tact. Apparently youre meant to go to A&E after swallowing 3 or more mouthfuls of seawater but we have chosen the home medicating approach of numerous Caipirinhas. Currently seems to be working well and less hassle.

Tomorrow brings a chilled day but booming winds (30+ knots) on wednesday so stay tuned for some gnarly tales and shots....if we all come back in one piece!

Sao Paulo to Paradise

I'm currently writing this blog post while sitting in a hammock on the upper deck of our hostel next to the bar. My view from here is a large bay, surf breaking on the sand and some tree covered mountains. Des and Booley are in hammocks next to me reading their books. It's a very different existance to that 24 hours ago.



Our trip to the bus station was relatively straight forward. Although the logisitics of moving a 160 cm board bag onto a busy metro meant I got left behind at the first station and had to catch up with the other guys at the next stop.

Once we'd arrived we decided to stock up on some supplies for the long journey ahead, however the bus terminal was sorely lacking in supermarkets. So while I watched the bags, Des and Booley went to the mean streets outside the bus station looking for bottles of water. They managed to find a bar that would sell them some but as they were leaving a tramp stumbled over to them mumbling in Portuguese. Being the kind souls they are they gestured to the barman to give the bloke some water, the barmen set up a glass and poured the tramp a big measure of Rum, which they then had to pay for.

After the trampy adventures outside the bus station we jumped onto our night bus bound for Florianopolis. We'd paid a little extra to get the Executivo bus and in return got some large reclining seats to settle down in for the night. Booley drew the short straw and ended sitting next to a scatty rude brazillian women who decided to get off the bus at every oppurtunity and literally climbed over him to get out instead of asking him to move. The asshole behind also decided to crank out Alicia Keys at full blast on his Blackberry.

11 hours later and a little rested we got off the bus in Florianopolis and jumped on the connecting one towards Barra de Lagoa. A little rain and bus ride later we emerged over a hill with the lagoa de conseicao below us. This buttter flat stretch of water was split in two by the town of Lagoa and was one of the first glimpses we'd had at the natural beauty of Brazil, as well as getting us pumped for the chance to kite in a sweet spot.

After arriving and setttling down in the hostel we picked up some surfboards and went to hit the local beach. The conditions were ideal for our level and we enjoyed chilling out in the sunshine. Keeping up the British tradition Booley and me went a bit lobster and called it a day after a few hours.



Now all thats left to do is wait in the hammocks listening to Jack Johnson until the free caiprinhas to appear.

Cash monies, shotgun and a huge market...

First on the agenda was getting some cash monies. as me and g were running out of currency. So we set off in the search on a place to exchange travellers cheques and access our bank accounts. My search ended with me going up an escalator off a shopping mall and knocking on a steel door marked "banko." As the door swung open i was confronted with a large man in tactical gear with the biggest shotgun i have ever seen. Who then started gesticulating and shouting in portugese. I just waaived travellers cheques and my passport at him and he let me pass through the second door. The next room was a normal bank lobby with cashiers and a friendly receptionist. After several minutes of me not understanding any portugese i was on my way cash in hand and again pushed past the security man and was free once more...

 

We then decided to hit the large municpal market to soak up the food and smells and grab some lunch. A cool guy we met in the hostel called "crazy Pete" decided to tag along. Hes an absolute lad, whos mission it seems is notching his bed post in every south american country on his travels... Lad.

The market was Huge and we enjoyed some fruit juice smoothies and spent a while walking around looking at the stalls. We decided to grab lunch at a cafe upstairs in the market. I LOVED the mortadilla sandwhiches... A large hunk of bread with LOADS of mortadilla sausage meat and mozarella. So good.

on the way home form the metro we stopped off in the jungle park for a workout at the jungle gym. After our session we joined in a yoga session with a load of people in the park. who after chatting to a fellow stretcher were revealed to be psyc patients and their carers. interesting to say the least....

We are heading to Florianopolis tonight on our first long bus journey. 12 hours leaving at 9.45 tonight.

Wish us luck....

Park Tranny Loving, Views Afar and a Pick-Pocket

So the fat bastard of a snorosaurus rex was once again shaking us to our bones with the rumble of thunder from his michellin man throat during the night. We therefore did not sleep that well and with the plan of wandering around the historic centre of Sao Paulo, we weren't that cheery in the morning.

After eating till our hearts content and guzzling coffee and toddy (choc milkshake) we hit the road. On disembarking from the metro and taking a pew in the park there, we realised we had an overly affectionate guy and tranny eating each others faces on one side and a group of disgruntled tramps on the other. Being surrounded from both sides, we scarpered.

We set off at a steady pace taking in all the sights and sounds, including your typical old buildings and churches thrown in amongst modern sky scrapers. Lunch was eaten at another typical luncheonette where we chose a platters worth of fried snacks which went down a treat. A dancing procession which we thought was in protest against the banks strolled past so I rushed to grab my camera and papparazied like crazy.




The next major stop was a 600ft sky scraper which was free to go up. From here we really understood how massive a city SP is considering you can see builidings as far as the eye can see.



On continuing the walk we passed a number of streets which were typical haunts for the local hobos. Pretty sad to see bodies literally lying motionless in rubble sacks and plastic sheets on the pavement side with everyone walking past as if they weren't there.

We stopped in one of many indoor markets/galleries to have a gand when Booley exclaimed that some guy practically massaged his crotch through his pocket in hope of finding a wallet. Thankfully he had no luck, the cheeky Brav (Brazillian chav). The walk was finished, our feet were hurting and stomachs rumbling so we called it a day.



The big ass market and zoo tomorrow (to see if we can find George a suitable mate :D )

The jungle gym, questionable literature and general wanderings...

After a good nights sleep interrupted half way through by a portly brazillian man who unleashed an unholy cacophony of savage pig like snoring, which may have had something to do with his late night samba session that clearly ended in the early hours. Des commented in the morning that he was considering slapping him in the face with a flip flop...

We rose promptly at 845... thanks again pig man for leaving your phone on and ringing....

Breakfast was toast and choccy biscuit rings that taste like wheetos...

We set off with no real plan other than to wander and get bus ticks to Florianopolis....

We set off down the Av. Paulista. a wide open road with a mix of  large sky scrapers and small rundown appartment blocks. After making a snap desicion to wander into the Jardin Trianon, a park that much like central park provides some welcome greenery but is inhabited by huge jungle trees and taking some cool photos and deciding to do a sporadic gym sesh in the body weight outdoor gym in the middle of the jungle park ( see video) we made our way to the Rua Augusta.

This road starts with small independant retailers and cafes and gets slowly more upmarket ending with expensive bar/clubs and worldwide luxury retail chains such as mont blanc and k swiss.

After a short explore we went onto the metro to go and buy bus tickets to florianopolis. Whilst queuing for the tickets me and des were talking about our money belts and decided that we needed codewords for them as "loose lips cost lives" I named mine Dave and des named his jeremy... however i then immediatly referred to "dave my money belt" so decided a name change was necessary to maintain security. Genvieve is her new name....

We're now nursing our tired feet with beers in the hostel lounge.... AMAZING.

A long plane ride and day 1 in Sao Paulo

After saying our goodbyes (some wetter than others) and checking our bags, we set off into the departure lounge in good spirits. Where after a cheeky wagamama supper Des immediatly started playing with his new camera taking long exposures of a massive christmas tree.

The excitement slowly built untill we were sat on the plane and peeked with each of us immediatly making the most of the complimentary bar and getting 3 x double measures of G&T. The next 12 hours were fairly long and tiring with me watching 2 films with a bit of napping, George going comatose after his Ginanigans and  Des complaining of food posioning after a questionable supper courtesy of BA.

We then touched down with a gentle thud in Sao Paulo. After what felt like hours getting through customs after being ushered into the "foreigners" line we emerged into the baggage hall. looked at the screen and...... our flight was no where to be seen.

"we couldnt have missed them could we?"
"no.. there are loads of other people form our flight still waiting."
"What the £$%& are we going to do if all our stuff goes missing..."
"Oh look, its on belt 4 and not on the screen..." PHEW...

After another massive queue we spent a few minutes crime proofing ourselves by shuffling decoy wallets and money belts around... then we set off into the pouring rain outside the terminal, our first taste of brazil.

After G booking us bus tickets with limited portugese and gesticulating we boarded and set off through Sao Paulo. A mish mash of awesome crumbling, gritty, old looking colonial architecture and 70/80's sky scrapers and apprtment blocks errected in a hurry all covered with a thick patina of tagging and graphitti.

We were all relieved when we finally made it to the hostel.. our football themed backpackers hostel ( oh joy :p)  after a quick nap and a shower/shave we decided to head into downtown Sao Paulo to see the cathedral and generally have a wander....

The Beginning...

In the beginning there was an idea. It spread like wildfire, there was nothing we could do, that was it!

Plans were tossed around, most of which were too expensive or stupid but eventually things started falling into place. Once the whole education malarkey was over and done with, flights were booked, friends were invited and, well.... the rest is yet to come.

Over the next 6 months we will be 'Tripping Americana'; kitesurfing and exploring South America, The Caribbean and The States, following the wind and sun north in an attempt to avoid winter at all costs!

The adventure will be captured with video, photo and always with words here on our blog.

SO, 4 days to go, last minute essentials are arriving on our doorsteps, the kit bag is packed and we are most certainly looking forward to the flight to Sao Paulo (Brazil) with British Airways (I hope they have enough supplies onboard!)

Stay tuned for more...