My Pop Was Hiding in Baie des Brises, Quebec!

[Andrew Trossman]

So we're doing this family thing at my inlaws in Montreal and I'm watching all the wind back home just losing it, when my buddy from around here says we should go to Baie des Brises. I think the last time I was there was 20 years ago windsurfing. I had some awesome days there when a big SW swell bends around the point making for sweet side shore conditions. And the gentle sandy bottom really kept those wave rolling nicely. Sometimes I thought you could ride a single wave all day long.

So I got a day pass to hit it. Mike and I got there at about 10:30 and on the water by 11:00. Mike went with his 11 GK and I went with the 16m xbow. It was sweet! Fully lit from the second I hit the water. I made my first one handed jump! In fact, I accidentally did several one handed jumps throughout the day. I did manage to get some pop going, but before long I was way over powered and a gnarly looking storm was coming through. Everyone came in to wait it out. And when it was gone, the wind kept kickin' it.

I rigged up my 12m xbow and went out for round two at about 1:00. It was working nicely and that's when I found my pop. I was purposely not sending the kite at all and I was getting some really nice air - pushing 10 feet at times. In fact, I think I was doing better on my bum hip. I was even landing a good bunch of em. Although, I also did the "let go of everything" "yard sale" kinda landings. One in particular really squared me from the back side. A couple rung my bell with a pretty hard landing on my back/head! I also had one superman faceplant that really rung my bell.

Before long, I was getting over powered on my 12! Well, I was getting tired and I wanted to keep going. So I came in to switch kites for the third and final time, reaching for my smallest and most recently acquired kite - my 9m switchblade. Best part about the little kites is they pump up quick!

I went out for round three and this was where things really started to rock. Well, not before I inverted the kite and got dragged through a death spiral while trying to fix my lines after unhooking my chicken loop. I could feel the kite death looping as I was being dragged under. I reached for my chicken loop and reached up to get a good yank. That killed the kite and saved my life ;-). I managed to fix my lines and make a real go of this session.

I was jumping one handed, popping nice air on demand and even some quick thinking jumps. Only in Quebec would you see 8/9 M kiting weather and somebody brings out a 1980's style 2-line kite! In fact there were two on the water! WTF??? Anyway, after chillin' in knee deep water for a quick rap with Mike, I jumped back up and saw some lady with, what looked like a white bed sheet dragging in the water. I thought maybe it was an old windsurfer or something. Anyway, I was rippin' along just downwind of her when I suddenly noticed that her kite, or whateverthefuckitwas, was slightly submerged below the waterline right in my path. Without hesitation, I popped like I never popped before and cleared that silly rag with a sweet speed hop. I was very proud of myself, but judging by the leering look that lady gave me she was none too pleased.

My pops were doing really well and even setting me up for some good clean landings. I also had plenty of hard, bone jarring, arthritis bitchin', codeine begging landings too. I tried a little toe side, but still pretty lame at that. Mike was boosting some nice 20 footers and pulling some back rolls.

I swear I had my best day ever! Nice swells, good breaking waves and lots of wind. My was so beat, so tired. My legs were turning to jello and making for some dumb wipes, but I couldn't just stop. I was definitely past my bed time, but I kept going till about 4:30. I probably had close to 2 hours on the 9 with a total of about 5 hours kiting! Best sesh ever, and I got pop. Thanks Josh for pushing me to learn this! I think it finally clicked.