Sun 28th Feb... beautiful kind people

Great day at work... all the kids happy and learning well.
In the afternoon, one new family tells me they cant believe how cheap the lessons are and obviously everyone wants to be there helping the special kids as there really cant be much money in it. I say that I think lots of families do struggle to afford all the special treatments etc their children need and I want to keep swimming lessons as affordable as possible so they are accessible to all who need them. I tell them of a family who didn't want to return this term even though their two kids are doing so well, as they struggled to pay for the last term and cant afford another term. They are still coming for now and i was hoping to get some council funding for them.
The new family then asked if they could sponsor the struggling family. How beautiful is that. I called the other family and they were so trilled, both to have the fees paid for and by the generosity from someone they don't even know.
What kindness there is in people :)

After work fitted in a short kite session and worked out some kinks with the radios.

Sat 27th Feb... weather forescasting

Deciding to over right the weather forecast and trust the Fawkner Beacon reading 2 days in a row might be considered foolish...
However with the kiddies doing circus in Port Melbourne and the wind saying it was 20Knots I thought a downwinder from Rickets to Port Melbourne could be fitted in before afternoon swimming classes.
Got to Ricketts.. looking a little light, ride out and have to really work the kite.. got to go out far to get enough wind to keep going but then get scared that it could run out and Im so far from sure.. so as I get near Brighton I make a run for it and get with in 100m of shore before kite falls out of the sky... feeling lucky for just the short swim and feeling warm in my heated wetsuit and I pack up and walk up to get a lift home.
Home in time to get Bday present for maddy afternoon party ... just...
then a good day and work and video and yummy food with the family after work.

Friday 26th Feb ... boat rescue...thx :)

The wind forecaster is trying to educate me in the mysteries of weather forecasting.. maybe cos I'm getting frustrated at not getting a day of wind that works....
I feel very out of my depth looking at highs and lows and basically lots and lots of lines on a map of Oz that tell me if a SW is on the way.
Anyway checking all the data I try to apply it to Brighton beach for practice runs. Bob thinks i can become educated enough to let my friends know when its a good kiting day... up to 7 days in advance. I don't share his faith... so I look it all and decide it doesn't look as though its going to be over 8 knots for the rest of the week. Then i go to the actual wind graph at Fawkner Beacon and it says 25knots... so I go for a kite. A good hour going back and forth... wave to the nice couple in their boat by the shore, careful not to get too close. The as I turn a km or 2 out the kite drops to the beautiful flat water, not a white cap in site. Bugger.... I calmly pull the kite in, wrap up the lines.. collect a muesli bar that escaped my pocket and was trying to float away and begin my very long swim.
Happy to swim, but worried about all the valuable stuff I have attached to me and the big fat ugly jelly fish all around. Then I see the lovely little white boat leave the shore and come my way.
They come and ask if i would like any help and I graciously take them up on a lift back. It was a lovely fast boat ride and I made it back in time to pack up drive home shower and pick up the kiddies from school... all is well. maybe that graph that said there was no wind just didn't account for the hour of goodness and was overall quite accurate!!

My spot messenger is now up and working and my training runs, with and without boat rescues can be seen here:

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0eZ8ESo8lzhLpm3t4ELR0hoMIRk8khapM

Thurs 25th Feb... ride ride ride

long bike ride during the day... kids to karate and then the wind comes for a good kite session in the evening... yipeeee

Wed 24th Jan ... Watch out for the Ocean Liner

Big big day...
Started with morning swimming training, then off to the diving comp then swimming comp with Maddy's school. Maddy was a super star as were the rest of her school team. They blitzed and won the Girls cup for the first time ever. I was a very proud Mum wearing all Maddys blue ribbions and a very proud school coach.
Weather forecaster predicted Monday as a good day for crossing...last report was mid week... arhhh closer got to sort everyone arhhhh.
Visit from Suzie when I got home.
Sorted donate button on the swim4all web page. There was a error in the paypal email so no donations went through. Sorry to those who tried but it should work well now!
Then sorted spot messanger so that it updates every 10 minutes when I set it not just when I press the ok button.. cool hey.
Then a call from Bernie... did I want to kite to Altona and back.. hell yeah.
It was such a great run.
Took spot messanger so Suzie and kids could watch where I was on the computer at home.
When I got to the beach I notice my phone had been cut off only able to receive calls ... dispute about amount owed on iphone, but Sam my Telstra hero got it turned back on during my Port Phillip Bay crossing today. How cool it that!!
When we left Altona to return to Brighton Bernie says to me...
Watch out for the Ocean Liner... that's the funniest bit of kiteboarding advice Ive ever got.. and yes even while listening to tunes and talking on the phone on the I did not run into the Ocean Liner!!!
Got to coaching only a little late to find my mighty Pirahnas doing a session they had worked out themselves.. how awesome is that!

Tues 23rd Feb.. 3AW, kite, parent teacher interviews

Picked up GPS software from Mulgrave and stickers to go on kites from South Eastern Sails in Seaford today... very cool cant wait to put them on. Thanks guys they will look great on the kite.
Didnt make it home in time for my interview on 3AW. They called me as I came off the freeway and so I did the interview from the MacDonalds car park. It went so well, Denis was fantastic, and thanks to Vicki for calling in.
Then dropped in to SHQ... and went for a kite.. Ivan had a go on my board, but didnt like it. Its not built for comfort!! Got in 2 hours practice ... graph says it was 15 knots which was perfect for the kite and board I had, a hell of a lot easier than yesterdays crazy wind.
Home in time for speed parent teacher interviews. Rushing from one school to the next. Both kids doing great, very good start to the school year. Maybe their mother should be preoccupied with her own crazy missons all the time, doesnt seem to be doing the kids any harm.
Wind forecaster says the right wind might come mid next week. Fingers crossed.

Mon 22nd Feb - 3AW tues at 1.20pm

Scanned mag and newspaper articles to go on facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=69706&id=1047049412&ref=mf
Wind picked up late in the afternoon... did a downwinder from Ricketts point St Kilda. It was a westerly.. around 25 knots give or take 5. The run from Ricketts to Brighton was really hard to hold on, on the 10m crossbow. I was airborne several times not on purpose. I was slower when it was so hard going trying to hold on only going 15 to 20km hour. After Brighton I traveled in a straight line to St.Kilda.. awesome run around 30 - 35km hour. My legs were tired going so fast on the exact same tack.
Great practice run.
Made it back in time for Training at Piranhas, although struggled to keep up today.
Is it old age kicking in or was I just tired after a bike ride and a kite today?
Couldn't make 20 x 50 on 45sec anymore... and Josh even beat me in Backstroke today.
Didn't let Dan beat me yet not even in Breaststroke today.. whew.... don't have to hang my head in shame yet!!!!!!!

Sunday 21 Feb

At MSAC for the All Juniors Swimming Competition this morning.
All the mighty Piranhas did well. Lots of PB's. Matt made the finals for 3 events and Maddy for the Breaststroke.
Swim School ran well in my absence... and I was back for the afternoon shift.
Some new kids happy to be there which was nice to see.
Finished the day at the beach trying out the new footpads and new kite cam. Still some modifications to do for perfection.. lucky I have all this extra preparation time!!

Saturday 20th Feb... more training and swim school

A few hours in a strong and very very gusty northerly this morning. Tricky coming into the beach and trying to hold an edge on my toe side going 40km hour. Pretty much everyone who came out promptly packed up and left, but it was good practice for me in crazy wind. While I was out wind went from 15 knots to 35 knots. The 10 m crossbow I intend to use for the crossing handled it all well. It was tricky to hold on at the extreme end ... felt like my arms were being extended. Might get back into competitive swimming after this, I will have quite an advantage when my arms are longer.
No great sea life today... unless you count the jelly fish. Whoever is giving them steroids please stop they are huge and horrible. Surely they are a delicacy in some culinary culture and someone can come fish them all out? Got a sting on my bum.. how the rotten critter got up my shorts is beyond me. Serves me right for not training in the full wet suit. But it was 40 degrees and I did have everything else on. It takes me 45 minutes to get kite up and dressed and I look like a walking gadget.
I'm looking forward to putting on some bathers, boardies and going straight out for a kite on my lovely twin tip when this is over!!!
Very hot at the swim school today.. had to get in for a swim to cool down. All the kids, teachers and parents were great as usual. Thanks to Maria who was receptionist while I took a dip.

Friday 19th Feb - dolphins, rays and penguins

Great training session out on the Bay.
After 2 hours of just going back and forth I was getting a little bored with my own company... and yes I know i have to do that 6 or 7 times over, but when I do the crossing it will be heading in one direction to a new destination not just a km away from beach and then back and over and over and over...
Anyway back to being bored with myself.. I spotted a little black fin a few metres away.
Part of me was saying go back to the beach.. take no risks and the other less sensible but stronger willed part says lets just go see what it is.
The crazy part payed off as I got closer 5 little dolphins jumped out of the water.
I squealed so loud I scared them off... bummer.
A few runs later I saw two bigger ones, but wind was dropping and they were traveling upwind so I couldn't catch them.
Then an eagle ray swam under my board... so graceful. I think I would like to be an eagle ray in another life.
Then I saw a little penguin.. he was so cute that I got a little close to the reef and lost a fin.
Big big board turns way faster without it so I think its actually a good thing!!!
After a good day on the water was home in time for Maddy's school BBQ... where her class stayed partying the longest ... till the last teacher had to kick us out so she could lock up. Did we go home then... no back to someones house to party on..
go grade 5!!!

Thurs 18th - Today Interview

Very cool being on the today show and having my hair makeup done while sipping coffee and could have been eating muffins, but too nervous!!
Had a good kite in the arvo.. keep the makeup and hair looking ok for Bays school bush dance that night...
great day.

Wednesday 17th Feb

Had a short run yesterday with all the gear on. Think I spent longer getting dressed than kiting. Worked on using the radios, still haven't got it down pat yet. Did come home with dry hair gotta love that.
Today I spent the day organizing photos and footage requested by the today show.
Pretty excited about being on it tomorrow... it was at 7.15 but now i get an extra hour in bed as its now at 8.15 am .. yeah!!!
Also scored an interview on 3aw next Tues at 1.20pm.
So thats all good.
After a wind free day ... the wind has now picked up in time for me to go swimming coaching.
Better go though as I don't know when i will rush off to Tassie and am sure to miss some sessions when that happy day comes along.

Feb 16th - TODAY Show Calls me!

After a brief appearance with Stevie Jacobs during the weather segment on the Today show last week, thye show rang and asked if I could come in to the studio on Thurs for an interview. Interview is a 7.15 and I have to be there an hour early for hair and makeup ... how exciting.. wonder how good they can make me look!!!

Feb 15th Bass Strait practice run

Went out on Calypso 11 for a practice run in the lovely rough washing machine called Bass Strait.
Took sea sickness tablets and did not throw up on the way out this time (unlike the previous 2 times!)
We went out through the heads and drove 10 miles out over big waves. Glad I had my wet-suit on already as I got completely drenched on the way out. It was a nice warm day for it.
Did another sketchy boat launch.. very hard to pump up your kite on a boat with fishing stuff everywhere and then jump off with enough line to make it to the water but not too much to get tangled on the metal pole things that hold the fishing lines.. then to unwind lines while boat moves and non kiters try to hold onto kite. In the end I signaled to throw the kite in the water and i spent about 10 min trying to sort it all out. Only had one twist in lines so not too tragic!
I then kited back towards land. Experimenting with the fastest directions and riding the board toe side and goofy and natural. Being a SE my most comfortable stance and direction to ride was way off where we had to go.
The new radio worked OK - I could hear the boat but they couldn't hear me very well. They think it may be the wind interference but it may also be my lack of skill. I took the radios with me so i can practice.
I rode back in through the heads, like I did on Australia day, but as I got further from land the boat signaled to land the kite and come on board. Almost as tricky as a boat launch is a boat landing. I got the kite on the boat on the 3rd or 4th attempt and only took out one of their antennas!!
Wojtek the photographer came along for the ride so there should be some great photos of the day to come. Apparently there were some dolphins around the boat half way through the trip. Unfortunately I wasn't near enough to the boat to see them, so I will have to settle for looking at the photos like everyone else :(

Feb 14 - Happy Valentines Day

Lovely start and end to Valentines day with Dean and the kids.
Had to spend the day at work as we had one teacher away. That always make things hectic.
But it all went well.. didnt get to go into StKilda for the last day of week of wind and the festival, but you cant have everything.
Bob the weather forecaster confirmed that the wind just isn't going to work for the next week... bit sad but leaves time to fine tune preparations.

Feb 13th ... Nationals call back

Head judge calls me at 11.40am to say the last 2 minutes of my last heat will be re-run can I be ready at 12pm.
Drive from home to StKilda with wetsuit on over whatever i was wearing when he called... pump up kite run into comp area and do 2 min worth of tricks. Just did ones I knew I would land.. obviously not enough to impress. Should have done my F16 to revert with a handlepass.. but was so rushed and nervous I thought I wouldnt land it and then I would get no more points. Ended up not mattering as I didnt get through. I did appreciate them giving me the second chance though. Maybe next year I will do better when I can practice and I dont have Bass Strait to worry about.
Had a great day at work after that .. everyone very supportive and excited about my pending crossing.

Feb 12th - Nationals On... crossing might be delayed

Not a good day today...
Started with Bob telling me wind forecast for next weeks crossing has died right down... I'm still optimistic that it will change again though. If its not on next week the boat is unavailable the week after and it will be postponed til the first week of march. Not an outcome I'm hoping for!
Then the Nationals.
Lets just say I didn't have a great run, but I am totally stoked with all the girls I met and for the support from them, and all the crowd, including world record kiter Kirsten Boesse. Having her say I was the best out there and being willing to put in a protest for me totally made my day.
I hope I get to catch up with all the girls again and that those jaded by the experience don't give up :)
Over the last 3 days I have really enjoyed being around so many sporty girls with the same passion for kiting.
I've never seen so many girls kiting in one place, and even though Im really happy kiting with all the guys at my local beach it was really really nice to spend the last 3 days chatting to girls about kiting and comparing tricks that most of you Brighton Beach guys cant do!! ha ha....

Feb 11th - No wind for Nationals

Frustrating day at the beach... waiting for wind.. then getting a massive storm but without wind. Sadly Melbourne has not put on a good show weather wise with so many kiters traveling from all over the place to be here for the Nationals.

I got to chat to Dan Ziffer from the Age who said he would do a story on my crossing so hopefully that pans out.

Maddy had an awesome day at her school swimming sports... won all her individual events. Got 3 records and won the year 5 trophy... I'm sooo proud :)

Feb 10th - No wind for girls kite clinic but lots of preparation for crossing

Garmin sent a new waterproof GPS as the last waterproof one got water in it!... Worked on fins and kite colours at SHQ... Bob gave a more promising wind forecast - southerly on Wednesday which is better than the SE and maybe even SW on Thurs arvo... Stuart from Calypso 11 got a satellite radio and a spot messenger delivered...
Its all slowly coming together.
Planning this is harder than a wedding.. at least with a wedding you know what day its going to be on!
Tomorrow morning I have an interview on 89.9 Light FM at 7.30 am.
.. then it off to St. Kilda for the Kite boarding Nationals

9th Feb Today Show and Girls Kite Clinic

Day started oh so early... at St Kilda beach introducing the week of wind and talking about my crossing on the Today show with Stevie Jacobs... that kite lesson Ivan and I gave him last month paid off!

Week of wind didn't start well with next to no wind. Nice to see 25 girls ready to kite on the beach though... never seen so many girl kiters in one place.
Hope tomorrow brings more wind.

Bob the wind forecaster predicting SE still for Mon - Thurs next week... not ideal.
Will see what tomorrows update brings.

8th Feb Deans Birthday

Quiet day for Deans birthday... nice but no wind to use his new skim board in.. shame..
just a bike ride to keep the fitness up

Sun 7th Swim School and filming for KiteLife

Great day at swim school. All kids back from holidays now.
Kite life came to film the lessons for their show.
First one airs on Feb 16th on Foxtell.
Got to go get yummy take away for Dean birthday dinner now...
Lucky it isn't windy hey!!! :)

Sat 6th Feb - Swim School and 35+K Easterly

Swim School today until 6pm... good long day.
No wind in the morning when I was free, but picked up when I went to work.
Then was ballistic by the time I got to Ricketts point ant 7.30pm. Wanted to see if I could hold on to the 10m kite on the big board in big wind.
A guy offered to launch me which is great as the take off is a little dicey at Ricketts.
As I got to the water there was a seagull with an injured leg unable to get away from the incoming tide. Wanted to help it but guy had kite up and i didn't know if he could hold it so had to launch and then had to go.
Did a few runs but was getting pushed down wind and closer than I liked to the reef. In the interests of keeping my face the way it is I thought it safer to stop.
Had trouble holding the kite when i came in so used the IDS system.
Worked like a dream... straight down, kite sat nicely in the shallows.
Was able to get to the seagull before it drowned and put in the shrubs.. at least it has a chance to recover and squawk annoyingly at beach goers with food.
Opted for a bike ride as a better form of exercise instead of pumping up a much smaller kite than I will use for the crossing.

Fri Feb 5th - Great wind day

Unfortunately I wasted half a day with Doctors to make sure the paper cut in my eye (that's got to be the blondest thing I have done to date!)doesnt get infected and blind me.
Then fitted in an hour and a half of kiting at Brighton just going back and forth practicing turns on the big board and chatting on the phone... got to love multitasking!!!
Then fitted in a downwinder from Ricketts Point to Port Melbourne in between school pick up filling in camp forms and Piranhas night coaching.
Had to go pick up the car at 10pm after work but great to get the downwinder in.
It was a perfect 20 - 25 knots SW all day.
Bob, my dear weather forecaster... if you are reading this can I please have that day on the 16 or 17th for the crossing?? Please :) Thank you :)

Kite Bass Strait for Swim 4 All - Feb Update

Kite Bass Strait for Swim 4 All

After being chased through Port Phillip Bay by a 5.5 metre shark in early January, Kite boarder Natalie Clarke is taking on Bass Strait for a world record crossing between Tasmania and Victoria. Natalie has been training in the Bay with some of the less friendly local wildlife for months and has set herself this challenge to raise awareness and funds for a pool to teach swimming to special needs kids.

Natalie Clarke will be attempting the world record Kite Board crossing of Bass Strait from Tasmania to Victoria mid to late February.
The one day crossing is scheduled to take place on a day between 16-20th of February 2010 depending on wind. Check on twitter for updates.

https://twitter.com/NatalieSwim4All

Bass Strait is notoriously known as one of the most dangerous bodies of water in the world with strong wind, huge waves, and big sharks.

By crossing Bass Strait Natalie wishes to raise awareness and funds for a swimming facility to teach Autistic and other disabled children to swim.

Natalie is ranked 1st in Victoria and 3rd in Australian kite boarding.

Donations can be made to the Swim 4 All Foundation via the website. www.swim4all.com.au
It will be an extremely difficult challenge which mirrors the difficulty children with disabilities face in realising success. Natalie believes the difficulty of the endeavour and the associated risks are well worth the cause. Being a mother of a child on the Autism spectrum she understands the need for specialist classes to improve the physical, mental, emotional and social lives of these very special children.

Natalie Clarke
Phone:0411 131 641
www.swim4all.com.au

Feb 3rd - Weather forecaster and Doctors OK

Met with Bob Leighton today ... legend weather forecaster who says the outlook it looking good for my proposed date.
Hard to believe looking out at the wind free Bay now.
I have requested a 20 - 25Knot SW wind with small waves and Bob said OK... that's good enough for me!
On Monday he will give me the 10 day outlook, then he can give me a very accurate 4 day outlook. Thats when we book the flights to Tassie... just writing this give me butterflies in my tummy... its very close now.
After school pick up finally remembered to go to Doctors to get blood test results.
Iron was finally in normal range (nothing to do with the iron tablets I took) and tonsilitis confirmed but getting better and apparently I have had Epstein-Barr ... didn't know but don't have it now.
In short the Doctor declared me fit enough to kite all the way to Antarctica... doesn't he know how cold it is there????
Did a swim session with squad and lots of time on the bike today.
Actually starting to feel fit!!!

2nd Feb - hard work not much joy

Hours on the computer today working on details for the crossing.... so much to do ... so little time...
thanks to those who are helping with this :)
At 5pm tried for a short kite...
Went out at Brighton on flat water kite didnt stay up.. I prayed for it to come up and then i would ride back to beach and pack up, it did come up but couldnt make it back to beach only to rock so keep going in scary too light wind - had to go out a bit to keep going then it picked up enough for a steady run back into Elwood beach ... tiny beach stacks of spectators so dropped it in the water near shore and pulled kite in, then dealt with all the seaweed in my lines, but it was a nice day to pluck seedweed from lines on the walking track.