Kitesurfing 101

Ok. So, I took 2 lessons. Bought some secondhand gear. Took it out last weekend, just to check all was well. Flew the kite no problem; light breeze, easy.

So today it was...well...a little breezy. Gusty maybe. No problem I thought. If I stand as I am supposed to, 90 degrees to the wind direction, I will be able to launch and hoist the kite well outside it's powerzone, and gently bring it to 12 o'clock above my head where I can then apply a little power.

Ok. Out onto gravel/sand in front of the mudflats and water.

Hmm. Quite windy out here. And I'm still pretty close to the shore.

No worries....

Launch as planned, then gently direct upwards....but the kite turns abruptly to the right (as I realise, much much later, because I was pulling on the control bar too much)....and directly into the FULL power area. While I am standing on the gravel/sand.

Uh-oh. This is bad.

The kite pulls me from zero to sprinting speed in about 1 second. As I find myself running forwards faster than I have ever ran before...I find myself thinking erm...how do I get out of this. I am literally running just fast enough to stop falling on my face. Which would be bad, because I am on gravel/sand mix.

Wind gusts and I nearly take off. Waaaaaaa. Then more running at top speed (while trying to reach the safety release) until I hit mudflats. I decide sitting down is a good idea.

Bad idea.

Kite pulls me onto my front at speed. Now I cannot see and am laying on top of the safety release. I roll on my side and pull the safety while still being pulled along. Nothing happens. I pull again, harder,...and it releases.

Still being dragged.

?#@?!!! I reach behind me for the 'total kiss your kite goodbye' release toggle that will detach me completely...bang...kite gone and still flying...and I come to a stop.

Spit out mud and start cracking up. Still sitting in mud laughing when a bystander shoots by, chasing my kite which is now working its way across the mudflat. He and his mate, who are unsure whether to burst out laughing or ask 'are you ok' run across. As they realise I am laying there nearly wetting myself with laughter, they crack up too. Great guys.

Fun day. I learnt something about kitesurfing today. Looking forward to my next time out

: )

The Powertread - Renewable energy generated from passing traffic!

Here's a great example of some home grown innovation from New Zealand... In an earlier life, I worked as part of the team to investigate the market potential for this technology, and co-authored a report into their market entry approach, and later, an investment memorandum for the company. It’s been, and continues to be a tough journey for the team; full of classic early stage company dramas, so its fantastic to see owner and inventor Justin Robertson (with strong support from the team at AUT’s Business Innovation Centre, including Enervate’s new CEO Kevin Ha, formerly the BIC’s incubation manager) celebrating a successful move up to Singapore as the first step in the commercialisation of the technology.

The Powertread turns waste energy from passing traffic into useful electrical energy. See the story on TV3's Campbell Live programme here....

http://www.3news.co.nz/Judder-bars-Turning-cars-into-energy-generators/tabid/367/articleID/165995/Default.aspx

My first (and definitely not last) skydive

Great art show!

Just back from Ron Mueck's exhibition in Brisbane's Goma Gallery of Modern Art - fantastic!

Click here for some examples..

Pingar featured on Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Solution Gallery

Remember Pingar? the company that I mentioned in an earlier post was 'one to watch'?

Well, Microsoft has just launched its SharePoint 2010 Solution Gallery. You can view it at: http://sharepoint.microsoft.com/topics/solutiongallery/Pages/SharePoint_2010_Solution_Gallery.aspx

Microsoft recently announced the formal launch date for SharePoint 2010. It is 12 May.

And Pingar's SharePoint Semantic Search layer and innovative PDF delivery of search query results platform for SP 2010 is ready and loaded..

Congratulations to the Pingar Team!
.

Changes afoot

The more astute amongst you have been hassling me about the lack of new material up here. Sorry! I've been a little distracted by a number of things that have been occupying pretty much all of my time of late..and so I'll be revamping this site and the content in light of that...so thank you for your continuing support and please, just a little patience..it will be worth it : )

Healthy conflict in teams can help acheive outstanding results

Good leaders can create managed situations where the best creative tensions are brought to the surface. In this case, between marketing and sales teams. Who can sometimes get engaged in finger pointing at times. Sound like your company? Might be worth a reading this then...

Jack’s Right Fight http://bit.ly/9pT8sH

The article in Business and Strategy follows the standard Hollywood plot:

- young potential hero's introduced
- find difficult challenge to face
- try to do it alone
- fail
- struggle then find a better way
- happy ending for all.

But it illustrates the challenges and fortitude required to go through this kind of process and get the best out of it - for the leader and the teams involved.

On being successful

I asked someone recently what had influenced their success, and what could one draw from their experiences. Part of their answer was:

"Believe in yourself 100%, take as much risk as you can, focus on what you are good at and farm everything else out, don't worry what anyone else thinks and f***ing go for it.You're a long time dead.".

I'm going to print that out and put it on the wall.

Like it.


P.S. Thanks Steve.

Nice quote and song by Luke Hurley

"The heart has reasons that reason cannot know"

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) French Mathematician and Philosopher.

Have you heard Luke Hurley play? You should. Visit www.lukehurley.co.nz for more info and links to some samples. Or have a walk down Queen Street on friday and saturday nights; he's often playing outside Starbucks one block down from the theatre.

What's the link with Blaise Pascal? One of Luke's songs refers to him and his thinking. Here's a link to the song....it's called "Pascal's Song". Hope you enjoy it; its a favourite of mine.