So, I picked a pretty bad time of the year to take up Kitesurfing, I know... anyway...

Did two two hour lessons in the last couple of months, tried for more, but they kept getting called off because of wind and storms. At this point the kitesurfing school I started with is closed for the season, can't really hold that against them, the wind has been crap.

As far as expertise goes, I've gotten as far as setting up the equipment assisted launching, flying the kite to a given position, body dragging and upwind body dragging. (apparently I did pretty good at this for a newbie, in that I didn't go upwind, but at least I didn't go downwind)

At this point I'm thinking of doing one of two things. First, I can just ride the winter out, maybe take up surfing for the board skill and hit the gym to work myself into better shape, pick up the rest of the lessons I need at the start of next season and go from there.

Option B is I pick up some gear, and work on what I have learned, spend hours just flying the kite on the beach in the few days of decent kiting weather that don't fall on a work day, maybe some upwind bodydraging, maybe even try to take things a little further, get up on the board etc if I am feeling really confident.

So, is the second option a really bad idea, would I be better off playing it safe and waiting for the next season? Either way I'm probably want to get my IKO card when I can get the lessons in for it...

Regards,
Mike

Use a 3m trainer kite and fly it in the park (all you need is a few knots) until you can do back and front roll kite loops in both directions with your eyes closed.

When the wind comes, you'll be an ace.

The trainer I have is an Airush 3m. It's got the open air cells so I presume that makes it a foil. Only two lines, how does that compare to controlling a 4 or 5 line? Is the depower all that is lost?

First time I tried to get it flying I was actaully trying to launch it backwards , second time it felt like I was about to lift off.

Perhaps I'll try to get a few hours with the trainer in and see how I'm going.

great idea learn how to kite from the internet.

then once you can get up on the board.

start telling everyone else what to do on the internet because you will be an expert.

you will know it all after 4months of kiting. I guarantee.

you have been to aks, no doubt on a dna. It would be dangerous for you to step out on a second hand kite that was not an SLE kite without additional lessons. Not too many good ones second hand out there at the moment (DNA, Boxer SLE, Switchblade 2 are the ones i would recommend). Definitely don't go a bow kite or a C kite.

What i would do.

1. Buy a trainer kite from a kiteshop.

2. Use it to buggery.

3. Buy at the start of next season get an 07 new kite which will be on special (~$900-1200), so much less hassle then second hand, (warranty, you know its history, no slow leaks etc) and it will only cost you a couple hundred dollars more. If your lucky the kiteshop will trade your trainer back (windforce and airborne do for like 70% of its cost i think)

4. The kiteshop should include a lesson for free with the kite purchase (some do for aks). Go out and take your lesson

5. Go out and tear it up.

quote:

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Originally posted by Overpowered

So you have not had any professional lessons and yet you recommend them?

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yep.

Is that strange?

Maybe it is.

But is there a reason?

Yes, because i firmly believe it is by far the best way to get into the sport of kite surfing keeping EVERYBODY (the noob, other kiters and the public) in mind.

Overpowered, good to see you have come round! I always tell people to get lessons from a pro. Firstly because the pros teach it all the time and can do it best, secondly because I cant be stuffed teaching them myself! (Especially emergency packdowns!)

Mike, I'd definitely practice with your trainer kite through winter. Tends to be all or nothing in terms of wind.

On another note, where can I kite on thursday morning to take advantage of the gusty NE winds forecast???

Hey mate, i started kiting with a 3m kite, buggy and a mountain board in the off seasons. You should become a pro with kiting at the park with a buggy and mountain board(its lots of fun!) first then you'll find your skills when you start kiting will have improved 10 fold.
All the chicks love watching you when you do 360's in a buggy!!

Good Luck

quote:

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Originally posted by carbine

great idea learn how to kite from the internet.

then once you can get up on the board.

start telling everyone else what to do on the internet because you will be an expert.

you will know it all after 4months of kiting. I guarantee.

you have been to aks, no doubt on a dna. It would be dangerous for you to step out on a second hand kite that was not an SLE kite without additional lessons. Not too many good ones second hand out there at the moment (DNA, Boxer SLE, Switchblade 2 are the ones i would recommend). Definitely don't go a bow kite or a C kite.

What i would do.

1. Buy a trainer kite from a kiteshop.

2. Use it to buggery.

3. Buy at the start of next season get an 07 new kite which will be on special (~$900-1200), so much less hassle then second hand, (warranty, you know its history, no slow leaks etc) and it will only cost you a couple hundred dollars more. If your lucky the kiteshop will trade your trainer back (windforce and airborne do for like 70% of its cost i think)

4. The kiteshop should include a lesson for free with the kite purchase (some do for aks). Go out and take your lesson

5. Go out and tear it up.

---

Well done Carbine, normally you make sense but this reply was pointless.
Firstly Kalavas is not learning how to kite from the internet, he's merely seeking knowledge to be better prepared.
I also think your trying to insinuating that myself and overpowered are only 4 months into kiting and we are know it all's. Well personally yes I've gone through the learning stages more recent than you and I do have an opinion also about the steps I'd take if it was me starting this time of the year.

I don't even think you have read the thread details. For starters he states he's already got a trainer. He's had lessons and is sort of body dragging upwind so also knows all the safety systems as that's the first thing you learn isn't it. It's winter not so much public around and as I and 99% of the forum always state safety is a priority and advised him to have 100m downwind buffer zone.

BTW your 5 steps are the same as what I said, just different wording. Why not a bow for learning on? I'm sure if Kalavas goes to Darrens website he will find a wealth of knowledge to stream line his learning curve whilst always focussing on safety.

Anyhow GL Kalava's apparently youronly allowed an opinion if you've been kiting years

**** it.

just listen to the guys on the beach who cant even go upwind (there are plenty on this forum aswell). They will help you out, they are experts.

they won't help you out when you lose your board or need your kite towed in though.

Nice dummy spit Carbine!!

Face this fact, there's not many technical topic stuff noob's can comment on right. So as you'll see from my posts I don't instruct people on how to do kite loops.
But I do reply to newbies as I've just done all the research myself and most the stuff is still fresh in my mind as I'm one.
The info I do absorb as accurate are from Ian and Darren. The rest of you maybe good at kiting and wealthy in knowledge, but these guy's are proven.(as in do it for a living in the area's I kite)

Gruezi if your offended by the pointless comment to your mate then have a read and quote what he wrote that was not already in the thread. All it achieved was a negative on others opinions, to go on and reword what was already said.

Yes I will help you out if you lose your board or kite. Mate upwind takes all of about 2 weeks to master and kiting one handed the same. But if you got any pointers for landing the backrolls a bit softer I'll listen.

quote:

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Originally posted by Blaster

Nice dummy spit Carbine!!

Face this fact, there's not many technical topic stuff noob's can comment on right. So as you'll see from my posts I don't instruct people on how to do kite loops.
But I do reply to newbies as I've just done all the research myself and most the stuff is still fresh in my mind as I'm one.
The info I do absorb as accurate are from Ian and Darren. The rest of you maybe good at kiting and wealthy in knowledge, but these guy's are proven.(as in do it for a living in the area's I kite)

Gruezi if your offended by the pointless comment to your mate then have a read and quote what he wrote that was not already in the thread. All it achieved was a negative on others opinions, to go on and reword what was already said.

Yes I will help you out if you lose your board or kite. Mate upwind takes all of about 2 weeks to master and kiting one handed the same. But if you got any pointers for landing the backrolls a bit softer I'll listen.

---

i could go and reply to every one of your points like i have done in the past. but i've lost interest and seriously can't be assed anymore.

I resign to the fact that i am totally wrong. You have got it on me on this subject. My 4 1/2+ years of kiting experience is useless to me, I will also now tear up my iko intstructors card. I am no longer fit to give my advice to learners.

I will be passing on your advice of how to get into kiting from now on.

go buy a second hand bow kite (get a turbo diesel), go out in a nice 15-20knot day in winter, with no bow experience (and 2hrs of kiting experience). when the front comes, fully depower your bow, wait for it to invert, then bow tie. But you will be safe coz you got a 100m buffer zone, lol.


maybe i just err on the side of caution with advice. I think that when your in a position of legal liability its a better position.

Thanks wildstyle tried that unitentionally already, didn't seem to work maybe when I'm older and wiser like all the other hero's I'll give it another go.

Harden the F*** up, what the!!
That's a classic, does that actually anything or did your brain relapse's or something. Dah I can't think of something so I'll write what the last idiot wrote.

I'm sure Kalavas will disect what he needs, then say to himself I'll never do that again like so many others.

OP. Looking at the forecast I think you'll be too sick to go to the doctors in the morning, probably best if you go in the arvo.

That way you also you get to chat with other kiters in the waiting room.

pretty much every one has summed up everything on this post all good info

overpowered....looking at the amount of posts you've got, you should be almost as qualified as ian is. Do you have a job??

Not sure this has been covered in this thread, so for all you noobs, wearing boardies over your wetties will lift you cool factor to 10 (you too Blaster). For those that feel they can attain Jedi level in under 3 months, wearing you budgie smugglers on the outside of your wettie will see you well on the way. All of the above, matching in red, with cape attatched will see you crowned HERO.
Matching kite, matching board, cape!
What the F%#k???