On Working with one's Hands.

I started my new evening class this week: Beginner's woodworking. Just like my welding class, I figured I needed to learn the proper way to work with wood, from picking the materials, proper joining, how to make something square and the like. I made my pilgrimage down to Wellington High School for my first class, and, as I sat down at a bench, looked around. Of the 12 pupils, only 4 of them were guys. 8 women who had all manner of reasons for signing up. One wanted to build the furniture she'd been looking for but couldn't find anywhere in Welly. A few had specific pieces they wanted to build or restore. There was an upholsterer who decided she wanted to expand her knowledge. One woman, whose partner had been to numerous of the Intermediate Woodworking sessions (basically a structured way to use the tools while working on whatever project you want) decided she was tired of waiting on him to finish the projects he wanted done, so signed up herself. The woman sitting next to me decided she needed woodworking to advance her career; she worked in the film industry but because of recent cuts to big movies being made in Wellington, needed more skills to be more versatile in the tighter job market.

We went through the shop basics, safety, a walk through of the tools. It's incredible how much I learned just on that walkthrough. Little questions I'd asked myself about the finer points of making tables and the like, for example how did you join a bunch of pieces of timber and yet get it all nice and flat? Table sander. What was the difference between a C and F clamp? What's the proper way to hold a chisel? I'm sure many of these seemingly obvious things bring out holy wars in the woodworking circles, but for someone who's new at it all, having someone experienced tell you at least one side is a life saver!

I thought back to my schooling and how the one thing Lycee didn't have was any sort of hands on shop class. I picked up some here and there, with family resources close at hand for the most part. Simple things that I took for granted during my basic projects, like how to properly cut using a hand saw, became obvious once someone showed me how.

As I was chiseling out my first housing joint, I looked down and felt really happy that I was finally learning to use some of the tools my grandfather had left me. Every time I figure out a new tool, I think back to him smiling as I was putting the wheels on one of my first model airplanes using proper washers and nuts. It really feels like I'm following if not in his footsteps then at least in his interests.

so 7 more weeks of beginner's woodworking, of which 3 will be building a basic tool tote as a "first guided project" before we move on to projects that interest us. I will be building a set of 4 rolling drawers for under our bed, which, hopefully, I'll be able to integrate into some underskirts to make for a nice finished look. I'm already signing up for the Intermediate's class :)

All Quiet On the Southern Front

Our 10 month anniversary of moving to NZ came and went. No fan fare, not really even noticed to be honest. I think this is a good thing. I won't speak for Carly, though I think it's a pretty safe bet we agree, but I certainly don't feel like an outsider anymore. Our act of immigration, which once defined who we were within New Zealand has become an interesting fact. We know where everything is, we know the local geography, heck, people ask me for directions!

I look at people with backpacks, maps and confused faces and smile now. I'm excited to share the cooler parts of the country with friends and family, looking up things to do and new places to explore.

The regular day-to-day however, is as it ever was. We go to work, we come home I cook (sometimes) exciting meals, Carly makes tasty baked treats. Wes has added some great flavour to our little domestic lifestyle, but overall, life has settled into a very happy, comfortable groove. It's not a rut though, things are still changing up often enough that I'm on my toes.

Most of the things we missed about Canada are now fond memories that we've either come to live without or found local replacements. A few of them we've had to make ourselves (Chicken wings. I bought a fryer just so I could make my own :) ) but mostly with the help of family and friends back home we're well taken care of.

I guess the point of this post is just to say that things are going well, we're happy and we are in the right place :)

How to Start Kitesurfing.

A friend of mine recently asked me for my opinions on how to start kiting. I figured it might be good to have my thoughts on a website that's indexed by google so more people can get my opinion. Most of the stuff you'll find here is an accumulation of good information from the locals here so it may have some wellington specific content.

Ok, first off, find yourself an IKO certified instructor and get yourself signed up for the basic lessons. Usually it'll be 2 days worth, one using a trainer kite of some sort and one on the water.

I personally bought myself a trainer kite before the lessons so that I knew the basics of flying a foil kite. I bought a Peter Lynn land kite, but they have since put out an EXCELLENT trainer kite called the Impulse, it's what all the instructors here use.

http://www.peterlynnproducts.com/

Once you're comfortable flying a kite, get the lessons and find out what kind of kites are appropriate for your area. There are three types of kites, C-Kite, Bow Kite and Hybrid, with radically different characteristics.

C kites have more power but don't handle gusts very well, so it's easy to get in trouble with them. Bows have a wide variety of power so they are better for inconsistent conditions. Hybrids try to do both, though they tend to be more complicated than most.

I have a 14 sqm hybrid and a 10m bow, if i'd known better when I was starting I would have stuck to 1 type.

Boards are a lot easier to pick. Get a big one to start, as it'll be easier to get on the plane quickly and it's a more forgiving board. My first one was a 142cmx42cm board and I was up and running quicker than the other beginners that started with me. Your snowboarding skills will come in very handy, though I hope you like riding switch, because that's what you'll be doing 50% of the time ! :)

So now for costs. You need:

• 1 or 2 kites (most people start with 1 but it's frustrating because you have to wait for the "perfect" wind for that kite. having 2 different sizes lets you get out more often and get better faster) (make sure they come with lines!!)
• 1 board
• 1 seat harness
• 1 leash
• wetsuit (depending on temperature)
• safety gear (impact vest / helmet, optional but highly recommended. I ride with a vest but no helmet yet because I can't find one that fits)

Optional gear:

• Booties
• gloves
• trainer kite

In Kiwi dollars (currently around 0.75$ CDN to a kiwi dollar)

• I got both my kites for 1050$ each used, in good nick (with lines)
• my first board was 400$ (lost it) my second was 600$
• harness i bought new (don't trust used harnesses) 189
• leash was 40$
• wetsuit depends on local climate (i have 2, paid 250 for the summer one and 500 for the winter one)
• impact vest 189 new
• booties 70
• gloves 60
• trainer kite 200

And yes, Carly knows about all these expenses :)


So total expenses when I started was about 2000$ kiwi, but i started with 1 kite (it took me about 2 months before i got fed up and bought my second one) I'm now completely sorted and it's cost me closer to 3200 before the wetsuits that i use for all other watersports

Now, things I learned:

When you are just starting out, stick with the major brands, you'll have an easier time of it. Get one of the brands that's most popular in your region, likely there will be a good rep for that brand for maintenance issues.

If you're going to buy 2 kites, buy the same brand and if possible model. I have a lot of trouble still switching from one to the other because they fly completely differently

Boards are the least important piece of the puzzle when you are learning, pretty much any big one will do.

Buying used is good, but make sure you can look over the kites. if there's damage, make sure it's professionally repaired. If it's got a lot of damage (say more than 2 repairs requiring sowing, or 1 full length of kite repair) walk away.

be patient, practice flying the trainer, and listen to the other kiters at the beach. You'll very quickly figure out who to listen to and who's an idiot. When in doubt, either rig the smaller kite or tune your kite for LESS power, not more.

You're going to get in trouble, know your safeties. make sure you do a dry run or two of the safeties in good conditions before you need to use them when you're in trouble.

Wait for the right conditions. Too light or too strong for your kite will be frustrating. bow kites have a good range of conditions, but keep in mind that gusts can be as much as 15knots over the average)