Cable, wake or surfing seems to be the best crostraining you can do. Skate boarding doesnt really build any muscle in the areas that you would need for kiteboarding, but is a lot of fun to roll around the car park when there is no wind.

there are a heap of us in sa who hit the skate park at west beach once a week the only way it will help with kitesurfing is leg strength and balance but at least your always havin fun

try a smooth star awsome fun skate boards that feel like surfing

My kiting has improved heaps (from really bad to bad) since i started skating again.

I think it helps balance and core strength riding the bowls- it is definitely a workout.

I run, do martial arts and ice skate. I find they all help quite a lot

hey Dave- a few of the sa kite crew are hitting up West Beach tonight at 7 thirty if you feel like joining us....nothing too serious- some tunes and a skate - hope ya can make it.

Street skating and park are definitely going to improve your kiteboarding skills.
If you can hit a handrail skating you can hit any slider kicker there is for kiting.
Not to mention skating is alot more precise, you actually have to land stuff or you get rolled, so you might actually grow a sack if you skate a bit.
Skating will also dramatically improve your balance, lets face it you don't really have to balance kiting at all, you just lean against it.

You will probably start skating and realise that you can go skating wayyy more than you can go kiting... Not to mention it's a hell of alot cheaper.

if any of you are into skating you should check out www.ozrampz.com they make the best mini halfpipes, quarters and pretty much anything you can think of and they make flatpack kits aswell so they can send them everywhere!

tripple post noooooob.

jacksemken said...

if any of you are into skating you should check out www.ozrampz.com they make the best mini halfpipes, quarters and pretty much anything you can think of and they make flatpack kits aswell so they can send them everywhere!

Oliver Semken.....are they a relation maybe ? is this advice biased ?

caveman said...

Thanks for all the info, fellas! I used to skateboard about 30 years ago and am thinking of getting back into it as a way of spending time with my son and improving my board skills. Someone had suggested using a longboard skate as it helps with surf-style riding. The only problem is, after 3 decades of not skateboarding, attempting to get going on a skateboard resembles a blooper highlight reel and the wife just rolls her eyes.

Lastly, are there any skateboard-specific forums a la seabreeze? Thanks again for all the input and tips. Cheers!

I did much the same to hang out with my son until he's old enough to kite. But that concrete stuff is HARD man! I have a mate same age, same story. He managed to rear one of his knee ligaments & was on crutches for months!
I think you're not quite so bouncy after 30!

caveman said...

Thanks for all the info, fellas! I used to skateboard about 30 years ago and am thinking of getting back into it as a way of spending time with my son and improving my board skills. Someone had suggested using a longboard skate as it helps with surf-style riding. The only problem is, after 3 decades of not skateboarding, attempting to get going on a skateboard resembles a blooper highlight reel and the wife just rolls her eyes.

Lastly, are there any skateboard-specific forums a la seabreeze? Thanks again for all the input and tips. Cheers!

Hey mate- check out Charlie Dont Skate for the local aussie scene, Old man army for the international happenings and Silverfish for longboard reviews and discussion.

Longboard mainly, as the others have said helps out your balance a fair bit.

Longboard orientated aussie site: www.skateboardracing.org.au

Enjoy
Matt

Methinks, I shall go the longboard route as the prospect of sliding down a stair banister with a plank of maple does not really appeal to me (I'm sure that 30 years ago, I'd have thought this to be the best thing ever).

I'll probably skate pretty much the same way a grandpa drives a Statesman but, hey, it's all good. Thanks again, fellas.

Jr Walks said...
i see alot of people doing this past mullaz when i come off the beach
looks pretty sick but, How do you brake??? especially when your going at pace.

Footbraking.
www.liveabout.com/footbreak-on-skateboard-or-longboard-3002973

Seems the Canadians are keen to find more ways to hurt themselves whilst longboarding