I think it is same to assume that if you kiteboard, then you enjoy the outdoors.
For me, part of the fun because of the unique vantage of the outdoor realm you get to visit.
Gliding through space, your feet inches above the water.
The option to soar 40 feet above the water is ever present.
It is my favorite way to explore the waters and coastlines of our planet.
Kiteboarding aside, I am still a nature lover.
I like different weather, different skies, different landscapes.
Every new place I go thee are two constants; the sun and the moon.
Usually, the sun is the only one of the two that I kiteboard under.
It just happens that the wind is better during the day most days.
Or, I am tired from riding the day away, and I can't motivate for a night session.
But on December 20th 2010 I could not resist it.
To many amazing elements were aligned to pass over the rare opportunity.
Many of us know that the equinox and solstice occurs four times a year, twice each.
These days mark the turning of the earth in its axis, and for everything living on Earth they mark the turning of the seasons.
Being an outdoor lover, and having a birthday/equinox date, I get excited for these times of year.
December 20th 2010 was a solstice day this year.
December 20th was also a lunar eclipse in 2010.
The lunar eclipse, as you may know, is when the Earth, Sun, and Moon are aligned.
The Earth plays pickle with the sun and moon and we end up blotting out the moon with Earth's shadow.
You can watch them with your naked eye, there are often cool color shades of the moon associated with lunar eclipse ranging from purple to blue/green.
Many people believe that the planetary alignment creates an unusual energy.
Whether that is true I don;t know, but that night I had plenty.
With the Lunar Eclipse and the Solstice in my I knew it would be an epic session if all worked out.
I needed two more elements to make it happen.
I already knew that the moon was full that night, so my concern was for wind and for cloud cover.
As night fell I could see a clear night sky with not a cloud in site.
My excitement level peaked when the wind stayed good past sunset.
20-25 miles per hour, the perfect ten meter kite conditions.
I was ready to go.
I arrived at the beach around 11 o'clock, one hour before the eclipse was scheduled to occur.
Under the full bright moon I needed no artificial light to rig my kite, dawn my gear, or see the waters edge.
I self launched my kite half an hour till eclipse, ran to the water and jumped on my board.
Not another person for miles, not a boat or car or a horn.
Just the wind, the rush of water under my board, and my thoughts.
My eyes adjusted quickly and I was able to see everything.
My white colored kite was an incandescent glow against the moonshine.
My lines glistened and danced as moonlight splashed on and off of them.
The water ten feet around me had brilliant white silhouettes cast from the reflection of the moon, the rest of the water a deep dark black.
Minutes after getting on the water the eclipse began.
My Kite at ten or two o'clock and the moon at twelve, I just looked straight up to check on the status.
As the eclipse progressed the moon turned a stale amber color and the glint off the water dulled but was still there.
With no glare from moonshine any longer I could see the silhouette of the land and sand dunes, and buildings of South Padre Island, Port Isabel, and the water towers of several town much farther away.
Usually such aw inspiring visages makes me feel small in comparison.
But I felt large, happy, and free.
I started to throw moves from my bag of tricks and just had an amazing time out there.
I just wanted to share this experience dear reader.
Thank you.
Over all I give a thumbs up for the full moon, equinox, solstice, midnight ten meter madness session and I highly recommend that you try one.
You might have to wait a while for the conditions, but don't miss it and you will never forget it.