[MeanOldUncleJeff]

Okay, first of all, I have to say that I am actually getting PAID an obsene hourly rate for this next adventure, which is a part of one of my forensic engineering investigations. You see, I have been retained by a client to analyze an emergency release mechanism that alegedly failed and caused injury to an individual who was kite surfing. In order to properly analyze and understand the kite surfing equipment, I decided that I needed to take a kite surfing lesson. So, tomorrow I am off to the beach to learn how to kite surf. Miss Rebecca is not at all pleased. So, chime in with your bets on the outcome...

A) Jeff comes home on crutches
B) Jeff comes home in a pine box, we have a funeral, and Becca becomes very wealthy on the life insurance policies
C) Jeff has so much fun that he shows up at home having purchased his own surfing kite
D) Jeff winds up a vegetable and spends the next five decades hooked up to machines
E) A few scratches and bruises, but nothing major
F) Jeff gets so scared that he is glad that there are no cameras rolling when he starts crying like a baby

I'll chime in later in the week and let you know how it goes! This, my friends, is why I spent all those years and dollars on my college education!

[catsroomie]

I'm betting on option C!! Have fun and be careful! (Is it possible to do both?? Hmmmm.....)

[Papa John]

Or....

G. Jeff gets an interesting and valuable lesson from a qualified instructor and comes home to perform his duties like the true professional he is. I got faith in ya buddy!

[Sandi]

None of the above, professor. I think that Jeff will pull a hernia on this crazy contraption! I would be sorely disappointed however, if you did not go after this case from a practical standpoint and not a theoretical one. Carry on, but be careful out there! I'm afraid that one lesson will not be enough "data" for you to form a fully "scientific conclusion". Saints preserve us!!! We must be scientific at all costs!

[~Jane~]

John took G, I'ma take H...

Jeff likes it. He likes it a LOT. He doesn't spend the money on his own stuff but does spend his next 3 family vacations teaching the kids how to do it (and on lessons for them.) Then the 3 vacations following the family lessons they'll all be looking for cool places that they can kite surf as a famdamily.

We'll be expecting pictures.

[smiles93536]

E---hehe

Have a GREAT time and let us know the results

[Denise72]

I vote you have a great time. Two of my sons did this while on vacation in Mexico on vacation a couple years ago. One of them had so much fun his next adventure was to go skydiving. I think you too will go on to bigger and greater adventures.

[kitten76]

F followed by C!!! have a blast..you can do it!!!

[Julie S]

I'm going to be a FLY on your head going WEEEEEEEEEE!! LOL


I think your going to have a BLAST But Becca will WIN by not allowing you to purchase one!! Although, you will explain to her that you have to TEST IT AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN! LOL


HAPPY TRAILS!! lol..

WHO LUVS YA BABY!!!

[songbirddiane]

I say E and maybe F, depends on the wind and the waves. It looks like fun but I watched a show about it and I see some doing it on my frozen lake but they have a snowboard....I know it isn't easy but the people who are good at it make it look so fun and easy!

[BeJean]

I vote John's G with a little E thrown in.

[Sareena]

EEEkkkk!! I have butterflies just thinking about it!! can't wait to hear how exciting it is!!!

[MeanOldUncleJeff]

Here is how the tally came out...

A) Jeff comes home on crutches ZERO VOTES (Thank you)
B) Jeff comes home in a pine box, we have a funeral, and Becca becomes very wealthy on the life insurance policies ZERO VOTES (Thank you even more)
C) Jeff has so much fun that he shows up at home having purchased his own surfing kite TWO VOTES
D) Jeff winds up a vegetable and spends the next five decades hooked up to machines ZERO VOTES (Thank you EVEN MORE than before!!!)
E) A few scratches and bruises, but nothing major THREE VOTES
F) Jeff gets so scared that he is glad that there are no cameras rolling when he starts crying like a baby TWO VOTES
G. Jeff gets an interesting and valuable lesson from a qualified instructor and comes home to perform his duties like the true professional he is. THREE VOTES
H) Jeff likes it. He likes it a LOT. He doesn't spend the money on his own stuff but does spend his next 3 family vacations teaching the kids how to do it (and on lessons for them.) Then the 3 vacations following the family lessons they'll all be looking for cool places that they can kite surf as a famdamily. ONE VOTE
I) None ofthe above. THREE VOTES

And the correct answers are:

• C: This one is here on a technicality. I acquired a harness and control bar because it is these components that I am evaluating. I also purchased a "Training Kite" which is used to learn how to use the kite controls, but is small, and will not propell a surfer, or drag an engineer down the beach.
• E: Actually, not so much scrapes and bruises, but the worst part is that I sunburned the tops of my feet and the backs of my calves. Glad I'm dressed up today and can wear loafers (actually not wearing them right now... they are kicked off under my desk).
• G: Well done John!

I don't have intersting pictures because I was harnessed to a 21 square-meter kite. Think about 21 square meters. It was about 2 meters in width (about 6-1/2 feet), so it had to have been about 10.5 meters (34 feet) in length. I only did kite flying... no surfing (thank goodness). It was pretty hard to fly the kite properly. It took me a while to learn how to use the controls, and I kept crashing the kite. Having attempted to fly one of these rediculously huge kites, I can't imagine ever learning to maintain balance on a board skipping across the surface of the water while flying the kite. Seems like an activity for somebody much younger than me! There were a couple of times where I accidentally guided the kite the wrong direction in the wind and it ended up dragging me down the beach until the kite crashed... okay, I never left my feet, but the kite was flying MeanOldUncleJeff... MeanOldUncleJeff was not flying the kite!

If you are unsure what kitesurfing is you can do a Google search, or go to YouTube and look for videos. Here is a link to a pretty good video on YouTube:

Kite Surfing Video on YouTube

You basically harness yourself to a huge kite, put your feet into a kitesurfing board, and let the kite pull you around. Expert kite surfers can jump over waves and catch air while the kite carries them for a while. It is a pretty extreme sport, but looks like fun. I did decide that if I end up having to go to court and testify as an expert witness in this matter, I will take a full series of lessons prior to testifying in court. I don't think this matter will get that far. Anyway, it was kind of exciting and fun.

[Papa John]

G: Well done John!

No problem, Jeff. Just send the check to the usual address.

[kitten76]

whoot!!!!