It gets better and better
The next day begins much as the first but we are obviously no longer subject to a dawn beasting up the dune from drill sergeant Joe.The tandem has dried out and been given a good shake to relieve it of its cargo of sand,the sea breeze is a welcome bit stronger today and I decide to invest an hour in mastering kiteing and launching the tandem solo.This turns out to be time we spent and within half an hour I become proficient and confident.The boys and girls in the meantime have been having a ball on the sandy slopes and I decide to join them.The dune must have a hundred pilots with skill levels ranging from experts flying backwards and performing huge wingovers with wingtips in the sand to total novices toppling over, being dragged and spitting out the sand.Professional tandem pilots fly a constant supply of tourists sending them home with once in a lifetime photos and experiences and planting the odd seed of thought here and there too no doubt.Half a dozen young Jedi probably no more than 10 or 11 years old are also dotted around learning the ways of the force with small training wings and hurling themselves down the dune under the instruction of their parents.They all have the kind of smiles that will ensure the sport will continue with more skill and bravado than ever in the future and I envy their head start.The sport is enriched greatly by these familys.I have been flying my trusty freex arcane and a light comes on after practicing kiteing for a while with the rear risers and I begin an enjoyable time flying backwads up and down,lying down,powering back up and upon coming a little low down the dune using the wing like the spinnaker on a sailboat catapulting myself back up it running round its outside.Fun fun fun.We shoot loads of photos and some video and generally run around under our wings like schoolkids.Joe and I spend some time coaching poor Nicky who is having a bit of a hard time as she hasnt flown in ages and was pretty inexperienced even when she did but she comes on leaps and bounds.He however provides the biggest laugh of the day by insisting I watch and film his next set of wingovers.Hes says hes got skimming the sand with a hand and a tip sussed after hours of practice and flies headfirst into the dune.”did you get that...?”oh yes mate
The seabreeze becomes a perfect speed in the afternoon and a tremendous time is had by all.We eat at a resturant and return to the skylark with a huge stock of beer and wine cementing the reputation of Brits abroad by parting into the wee small hours.