hi

.It looks so cool .I have never flown a kite in my life but I'm sure I can pick it up .I have next Sunday available between 11and 1.30pm (catching up with friends after that ) Sorry but the rest of the week is out .I am a workaholic and don't really finish till 6 (but that is why I can aford to kitesurf) .As you can see I am really pressed for time.I don't understand why everyone keeps saying "get the kite automated before you go adding crowded beaches ,high winds ,,boards and all that kind of stuff" I just want to get out there and do it ! .PS my confidence in the surf isn't very good .Can I do it on the lake?

set him on fire?

If anyone ever asks about kiting, there's a simple answer:

"It's expensive, dangerous, and really just a dumb fad that's already going the way of rollerblading. They don't even make kites anymore. I don't know how I got involved but will probably quit soon as my kites are wearing out. It's nowhere near as fun as it looks. I hear that power-walking and home ab machines are the way forward for lifestyle goodness. Sorry to disappoint you."

P.S. If you make your living out of kiting you're in a difficult position eh? I guess you could diversify your income stream so that you aren't tempted to encourage douchebags into the sport because you need their cash.

You all looking at this the wrong way, this is the perfect candidate to sell some over priced second hand gear to!!! He will pay some one some good hard cash for some gear that will sit in the cupboard for the next ten years so he can tell all his rich mates he is a kitesurfer, give me his number I´ll sell him something!!

stabber said...

I asked you never to repeat that Lockie..... I was young and neive!


You forgot to add the part where I said I did not have the cash and could you consider my ass as a form of payment.

Wot but the seat cover and the uggies were nice and still goin strong

Has anyone kite surfed off niagara falls yet? - everything else has been done before...

tim111 said...

Has anyone kite surfed off niagara falls yet? - everything else has been done before...

I was there 4 days ago and said exactly that to my wife.

Seeing the top of the falls, the level surface disappearing, I could imagine boosting off the top and floating down to ride away in the gorge. I think the thought would cross any kitesurfers mind.

She, understandably, called me insane and kite obsessed.

Here are the issues as I see them.

There are two falls there (I didn't know till I saw) the Canadian side called horseshoe falls (shaped like a horseshoe, yeah, really) and the American Falls. They are about 400 meters apart and the border runs between the two.

The American falls fall onto exposed rock. It would be very dangerous to jump, if you didn't get enough boost or float, wow, it would make a spectacular video.

The horseshoe falls fall into deep water, really deep.

There is plenty of wind in winter anyway, but I'm not sure of the prevailing direction in summer. You would need to hit a pretty small area to make the jump and landing. More research required here.

I imagine the water is freezing cold. I didn't touch it. The outside air temp was around -5 celcius, I had 4 layers, thermal underwear, gloves and a beanine on. Summer would definitely be the season to jump the falls.

The water moves quickly and accelerates as it approaches the top of the falls. This would obviously affect board speed, apparent wind, line loading and edge. Also, I assume there would come a point of no return, where, once passed, it would be impossible to abort and kite back upstream. Getting serious now.

The mist curling at the top of the falls indicates turbulent air currents there. I imagine it would be wise to clear these to avoid canopy collapse and subsequent spectacular video.

Assuming we made it this far, the drop is pretty large. The kite is going to be used as a parachute, don’t want any gear failures here. Lot's of time to go off course and land on the rocks or in the falling water itself. Something like 200, 000, 000 litres of water a minute go over the falls, Imagine getting dragged under by your kite in that. Better practice the safety release. Landing on the rocks wouldn't be much fun either. Precision steering and landing needed.

The legal aspect. There are border guards, police and plenty of uniforms around here. No standing zones all around the place. I got a parking ticket for being away from my car for a few minutes. I'm not sure how pumping up would go.
This is America however, (well, American and Canada) and they love advertising up here. If you were prepared to use your kite as a banner, you may get official sanctioning.

That's the falls jump as I see it. I'm sure someone will do it one day. I think I’d like to have a go, but I'm not sure I'll be the first.

Who's up for it?

Haha I was just kidding, but since we are entertaining the idea now...

The falls in the photo above are the canadian ones. I dont think they ice over so no way it'd be done in winter. As far as wind shadows I know nothing about gliding really but I figure as long as your lines are loaded up you should float alright - in theory, anyway! It would be pretty nasty if you didn't have enough forward speed to get well away from the cliff and some rotor sends you back into it.

I am sure some nutter will do it one day. If given a choice of kiting it or going over it on a jetski or in a barrel I know what i would rather.

I definately won't be the one to try it though - that's for sure (i dont have a deathwish!)

Joe - dont be soft. Just have a crack

This idea is starting to consume me.

Imagine riding over the edge, clean into the air. Not necessarily even boosting, just on the water one second, and in the air the next.

Maybe not Niagara, but a smaller waterfall to start off with.


Can anyone suggest a suitable waterfall in NSW

Ignore that -
Just do it - youll get famous, get the chicks and get the money

I claim fake

How hard could it be !!!