Longest day of my life

Squamish Spit to Vancouver Jerricho Beach, 

​This article is my personal memory of the longest kiteboarding session of my life.
The whole action starts with phone call from Lucas about downwinder organized by Aerial kiteboarding who also provide boat support.
We meet at 7:30 AM at the school, Dan provided Coffee and walk us thru the plan, basically going with wind until the wind dies and then come back on boats. Then all kiters, over 25 people, 5 supports boats was ready to go, as soon as we exit the marina and heated towards spit the wind hits. I never experienced such a strong outflow. According the terminal follow meter it blown over 40 knots and the Pam Rock over 50 knots. When all the people pumping kites and start launching in 40 + gust on shore (opposite than normal) wind on tiny rocky spit I realized many of those kiters shouldn’t be here, including myself. People start kiting in total chaos, some people were 1000m downwind while the boats still at the spit and crew helping others with launching. Some people pump 10m kites “they think they are Ruben Lenten” Dan said and went to talk to them 😊. I pump 7m Crazyfly Sculp and went on twintip and boots. The wind was crazy strong near to spit, so I went to the open water as soon as possible. Fully depowered still getting beating from the wind. Holding edge with my entire weight not even going up wind when the gust kicks it pulls me over the edge. The first jump, probably the highest jump on 7m,  was terrifying so I try to survive with just cruising. Further downwind, near Murine park I saw kites in water due to lack of wind in that stretch. Looking upwind I saw kiters everywhere with boats trying to assist. When I reach the section with no wind I had mix feeling, happiness than I survive that shitshow and sadness because this is over. A few minutes of floating with kite down give me some time to rest than the boats arrived. Message was:” you can self rescue or try to make it”. Well little puff of wind from direction 90 degree to the down wind direction lift up my kite and I was able to kite thru this may be 750m section with no wind. I still thought this is it, but I saw two kites downwind, so I went to see what they are up to. Cruising down around Britannia in light wind get me back in mood to try some silly stuff like backroll kiteloops ( failing every time ). Than Will show up on the support boat and stayed with us.

Wind get bit stronger and it was just blast to kite down the sound, jump everywhere and have fun. At Furry Creek will get radio message about three more kiters coming down who get lift on other boat. We wait for them for long time just going back and forward. Hour later they showed up and we continue to Porteau Cove. Quick little session near to beach than carry on down wind to Pam Rock. Where Loren and Curtis climb on the biggest rock and jump of while I admired the beauty of this place.  Follow up by 3km long tack to Brunswick Beach with another quick jumping session. I thought the tiny beach at Lions Bay will be our final destination but Curtis still going downwind. Going along Bowyer Island and looking on “affordable housing” on the waterfront bring us to Horseshoe Bay, where we strike another show off session of the wave behind BC Ferries boat. When we approach West Vancouver I was sure that’s it, the wind drop but Curtis, Loren and Matt still going down across the Burrard Inlet. Last bit took us almost 45min with wind below 15 knots. I was very tiering doing pretty much two loops on one side than two loops on other side. I am very impress with wind range of Sculp kites! Good job Crazyfly. The feeling when I touch a land after more than 8 hours lock in boots was epic!! No food or water, no check in with my wife ( I told her I will be gone for 3 hours), but we were happy, we have done something what never been done (at least I think). 

We chat with local foiler whom did not believe what they saw. The answer to his question “where did you guys lunch?” “ At Spit” left him speechless for little while.
On the way home on small zodiac, tired, cold, hungry, thirsty, beat up, but happy we made to horseshoe bay. The outflow was still on, the wave too big for the boat, so we park at marina, Will get us coffee and pizza and we wait for Dan to pick us up. We get back to Aerial around 9:30 pm, the beers were ready and hot tube on. Getting out of the wetsuit after 12 hours was the second best feeling that day!

(c) photos Will Elias