Trick: Back 2 blind with airpass

Yesterday we decided to go to Perth and Freeo (Freemantle) to check out acouple of things.

1. We needed to fix the window and backdoor of the car and refill him with radiator cooler
2. We needed to find a new board (since my fixing did not hold up)
3. My girlfriend needed a wetsuit and harness
4. Check out the SOS kiteshop
5. Get some supplys for the car, so it’s sleepable.

So off we went a 9 a.m in the morning, first thing we saw was a couple of kangerus jumping across the road right in front of us. They where not as fast as we had orginally feared. After about a 2 hour drive, we managed to find the Auto store we had bought the car. The friendly mechanic fixed the window with ease, but the back door we was unable to save. We had a look at the engine, and he gave us some info about how the engine worked and we needed to look out for. Then the manager of the shop came running, and asked if we could give him a hand acouple of minuttes. Offcourse, we replied. So we where informed we had to have a drive with him 5 minuttes down the road and help him pick up a couple of cars … amazing. So off we went, picked up a car, drove it back to the Auto shop where our car now was done.

Off we drove to the shopping mall, had a bit of food and did some shopping. Found a couple of pillows and a blanket. Then off we went to this kite store I had found on the internet to check out some boards. They had a used board for 650 bucks … and after some bargaining they had a new board I could get for 850 bucks … guess witch one I got? Thanks honney! Guro got herself a nice harness, and shes good to go now. All she needs now is a wetsuit.

Then we went to Bunnings to get some hardware supplys to lock down the back door, I bought some locks, chains and wire. As it turned out all I needed was the wire … but now the boot of the car is securely locked all the time.

SOS kitesurfing shop was just a 10 minute drive away, so we decided to pop in there too. Nice shop, not to much gear tho. Nick was out having lessons, so we didn’t see him.

We where orginally going to go the Xavier Rudd concert, but after a day like that we figured we just scoop on home, have a bit of wine and chill out. And so we did. Guro did some amazing navigation today, and we found every place we where looking for. Great job!

Now I’m super psycked for the winds to pick up at noon, so I can go for a kite!

Yesterday we went off to Perth together with Nick and Michelle, we had a shopping list that looked something like this:

1. Foam glue
2. Expoy
3. Clamps
4. Car

We got the foam glue, epoxy and clamps in one pit stop. All of this is to try and fix my wrecked board (don’t have money to go and just buy a new one, and I’m pretty picky with my boards …).

After that we stopped at this one car place that I had picked up on the internet at carsguide.com.au. We where originally going to look at the “1983 Toyota Hiace” for about 2000 dollars (around 10 000 NOK). But that car was looking horrible, and was allready sold to a german backpacking couple.

But on the side of the Toyota was this beatyfull “Yellow submarine”, it was a “Ford Falcon 3.9″ from what year I have no idea. But it’s a mega station wagon, with plenty of room in the back for a madrass and all the gear. The windshield was cracked and the windows did not work as they should, but the engine looked to be in prime condition. After a test drive, we bargained abit and got them to replace the windshield and fix the door windows. The final price … 1400 bucks (around 7000 NOK).

So, off we drove, happy with getting a new car that looked nice. After some good navigation from Guro we got out of town and onto the freeway. Suddenly I noticed that the water was getting way over the “Normal”-level, and stopped. I was right, the water was boiling, all theese lamps where starting to flash red. Oh, shit …. we hit up the GPS and found the nearest gas station. Rolled up there, filled the car up with gas and filled up the water-level on the car with 6 liters of water. That did the trick, the car was now running fine and no red lights. We just had to little water in the radiator I guess.

Now the time was 6:30 p.m and it was suppose to get dark at around 7:30 p.m. You don’t wanna drive the way up to Lancelin in the dark cause of the kangeroos. But we went for it, and sure enought we made it back just before dusk.

We decided to give the car a name, so we gave it the international name “Freddy” and the Norwegian “Bjarne Freddy”. Hopefully he will take good care of us and we will take good care of him.

As feared, my board has snapped …. so I now have no board to use. Luckely I have been able to borrow the new Flexifoil boards for a couple of days, and they are wicked!

Last couple of days we have had some house guest, Damo and his Swedish girlfriend Eve and the Swede Nick with his Aussie girlfriend Michelle. Had some barbeque and launghts going on, allways fun to meet new cool people.

Nick and Damo is really rippin on the water, Damo has some insain huge kiteloops going on and Nick is the king of grabs. Sooooo much to learn ….

Today, we are hitching a ride down to Perth with Nick and Michelle to try and get a car and maybee some glue to try and fix my board. So off we go, hope all is well back home and that everyone is enjoying themselfs!

After a couple of nice days with wind and sun, we have gotten pretty used to the slow and nice lifestyle. Wake up at around 9 a.m, eat breakfast, go to the bakery, eat the second breakfast. At 12, the wind usally starts to pick up. Walk to the beach with all the gear, stay for around 3-4 hours, walk back home. Eat dinner, watch alittle tv, eat second dinner and then go to sleep …. life is gooooood.

I have been talking to the nice guys at Flexifoil design team, and yesterday I gotten to try the new Flexifoil Ion4 8.5m2 kite. It was super sweet, very predictable, very grunty, yet easily controlable with a huge amount of lift! Hopefully I will get a go on the new AH Pro (they only have a 5.5m2 size with them), will report back with how it feels. The new boards look killer, and they have finally added a widen stance (so tall guys like me can use the boards). Wicked! So Flexifoil will have 4 kites coming out next year as far as i understand, can’t wait to check em out.

I’m working on getting into the groove, but it’s hard. Haven’t kited for a while before I got here, so I’m trying hard to get back up to my usual level (it sucks so hard, that when you don’t kite for a while you almost have to start at ground zero again).

Well, after arriving at the airport at 4.am in the morning. I called Damo (Damian Gough) at around 8 a.m, and asked if he could pick us up at the airport. He was still sleeping, so I guess I woke him up. Apparently that was no problem at all, so after a few hours of reading he showed up.

We dropped by his place, meet the Flexifoil design team. Packed up all the cars, and headed for Lancelin. After about 1 hour and 30 minuttes, we arrived at the most beatyfull place. Glass clean water (with white caps), green forrests and beatyfull white sand dunes … we had arrived at Lancelin.

After getting all our stuff into the appartment, we rushed to the beach. Blowing around 30 knots (I was maxed out on my 9m2), we had an awesome session. The Flexifoil design team tested out some of the new kites for 2009, and nice to see them rippin!

Yesterday was another awesome day, blowing around 20-25 knots (perfectly powered for my 9m2). I started to get in the groove again, it was just fantastic to be back on the water!

Guro and Me have been for alittle bit of shopping today, and I been told that I’m worse than a girl …. I have to take my time when I’m spending what I consider to be alot of money. I got myself a shorts, a shirt, cap, hooded sweater and a pair of thongs for about 1000 NOK.

Well, this is me …. from Perth, Western Australia. After a few days of travelling.

It was a 2 hours flight from Norway – Frankfurth, then a 5 hours wait.
Then a 11 hours flight from Frankfurth – Singapore, then a 2 hours wait.
Then a 5 hours flight from Singapore – Perth, and here we are.

I sleept thru the most part, but my girlfriend didn’t catch much sleep. So she is sleeping next to me at Perth Airport, to try and get aleast 4 hours sleep.

You can tell this is a windy place, we had to attempt the landing twice to get in right due to the strong gusty winds. There was some low altitude manovering just before the touchdown to try and striahgten the plain, but we where coming in sideways. So we ended up taking off again, and going for a second attempt. Thant ended successfully.

I have emailed with a local Flexifoil rider, called Damo. He has been super helpfull, and has offered to pick us up in the morning and drive us to Lancelin. You gotta love the Australians, they don’t take 2 cents to help anybody out. I remember now why I love this great country so much …

All our bags arrived in Perth with us, so all the gear is in place. Now I’m just gonna get some shuteye, and we will see what tomorrow brings (hopefully we will get some wind, and get settled).

After a rally of getting all the right suppliments to our trip abroad, my suitcase is finally getting organized. I’m offcourse only bringing “useless” items as kites, boards, boardshorts, bars, pumps etc (maybee I’ll throw in a toothbrush).

My final piece to the puzzle got done today, my old new board. Got some nice stickers on it to promote the sponsors (thanks to Brede for creating them for me), and I think it came out looking killer.