I think it depends on the kid, some you know have the reactions to cope.
Another option to teach is tandem
I have done this with my daughter and she loved it.

There is a 8yr old at my local who rides, and does rolls, transitions, and raleys in both directions .

Was that Prymbi? Looks like she did great!
Kids are all different, I would not teach my kids because I know there would be friction. I would however let another qualified teacher teach them if that was what they wanted. They don't seem too interested, the prefer to just surf every now and then.
I think 12 is a pretty good age to start, bones are getting strong enough to deal with the bouncing around, mentally they are getting more focused too. But seeing some of these really young kids like 8 and 9 kite and rip does mean that all kids are different. As a parent you would know if they could handle it or not.

As already stated it depends on the kid and their 'sportiness'. My son14, completed lessens a week ago (think important for independent instructor at least to start with so they listen) had 1st independent goes this long weekend... I was shocked, He was up and riding both directions for 400m runs in 25kn no problem.
Best thing is I now have an excuse to buy more kites etc.
he is 58kg and on a 6m rpm 25kn and loving it

Freddofrog said..
My 9yr old son is interested in kiting but I told him no way. I'm sure I could find the right size equipment but I don't think kids are mentally mature enough to deal with life threatening situations. I'm concerned if the ****e fit the fan, he won't react fast enough and it will cost him his life. So I told him I'll teach him windsurfing instead.

What do you think, fair call or am I being over protective?

... warning, watch out man, it doesn't take them long to learn and soon they will be kicking your a r se! If your prepared for that,,,, let it rip man, best thing ever for your kids, they will curse and thank you for the rest of your life!!

When I taught my son (and missus for that matter), I made safety the highest priority. He could setup, self launch, self rescue, land and packup even before he could even kite on the water. We used to do safety drills over and over and over again til I felt it was in his DNA. I used to drive him to school and I test him in reactions to "punch out". Grab a helmet, PFD life vest and get them used to it right away even on the beach with a trainer kite. Let him paint the helmet himself to bling bling it so he reckons its just the best thing ever so he "wants" to wear it, little things like that.

The hardest thing is explaining kiting details to kids in words they understand. You can not take anything forgranted. A little example was "Upwind". I said walk up wind,,,, "but whats up wind?" "Ummmm, upwind is like up hill, its harder to walk up hill isn't it, sorta feels like your being pulled backwards". "Down wind is like walking down hill, its easier to walk down hill". You'll see when they understand so you have to put it into details they understand.

It will test your patiences and your metal but they will love you for it so go for it!!!!

cheers,

Robbie

Do it man. Why hold back? follow puetz advice and it will be awesome.

My kids aren't too interested yet. but when they are i'll be in boots and all. when the kids want to go kiting that means some family time can turn into kiting time!

oh yeah.



PS My kids do fly kites. He's my oldest (9) landboarding for the first time.

I'm 13 and started kiting last year. I thought the best decision my dad ever made was to let me kite, just starting to give him a run for his money

My boys 6 but started him on trainers at 4 and a half. He's still only kiting on the beach on a small ozone foil trainer, but he sets it up, rolls the lines out, does the lark heads, puts the harness on, launches, lands.

Have him walking upwind with kite, dragging downwind etc.

He's only 23kg so I'm still a little tentative on getting him the next small lei and taking the next step. I want a bit more meat on him first and to be able to swim 1 to 200m in the ocean by himself of which he can do if I'm swimming next to him.

My plan is to get him say a small ozone uno, teach him all the basics as puertz pointed out, but I will then take him to Jason's for a few independent lessons. He should be up and riding by 7/8 I think.

eppo said..

My boys 6 but started him on trainers at 4 and a half. He's still only kiting on the beach on a small ozone foil trainer, but he sets it up, rolls the lines out, does the lark heads, puts the harness on, launches, lands.

Awesome pics there Eppo! Your son looks just about the same as mine. Yep I think it's time now.

Puetz said..

Freddofrog said..

My 9yr old son is interested in kiting but I told him no way. I'm sure I could find the right size equipment but I don't think kids are mentally mature enough to deal with life threatening situations. I'm concerned if the ****e fit the fan, he won't react fast enough and it will cost him his life. So I told him I'll teach him windsurfing instead.



What do you think, fair call or am I being over protective?

... warning, watch out man, it doesn't take them long to learn and soon they will be kicking your a r se! If your prepared for that,,,, let it rip man, best thing ever for your kids, they will curse and thank you for the rest of your life!!

When I taught my son (and missus for that matter), I made safety the highest priority. He could setup, self launch, self rescue, land and packup even before he could even kite on the water. We used to do safety drills over and over and over again til I felt it was in his DNA. I used to drive him to school and I test him in reactions to "punch out". Grab a helmet, PFD life vest and get them used to it right away even on the beach with a trainer kite. Let him paint the helmet himself to bling bling it so he reckons its just the best thing ever so he "wants" to wear it, little things like that.

The hardest thing is explaining kiting details to kids in words they understand. You can not take anything forgranted. A little example was "Upwind". I said walk up wind,,,, "but whats up wind?" "Ummmm, upwind is like up hill, its harder to walk up hill isn't it, sorta feels like your being pulled backwards". "Down wind is like walking down hill, its easier to walk down hill". You'll see when they understand so you have to put it into details they understand.

It will test your patiences and your metal but they will love you for it so go for it!!!!

cheers,Robbie

... p.s. you might have seen these before,,, couple of vids of the kids:
... p.p.s watch out for the last one,,,,M15+

Some great photos Eppo! I'm pleased to see a couple of Horrocks pics made the cut...
Last weekedn, i took a couple of Kim on his kite, towing his boy behind him on a wakeboard. Be about same age as your son, maybe a year younger. Then he towed Matt on the biscuit into the waves, now that was funny!

Adrian Roper said..

I think it depends on the kid, some you know have the reactions to cope.
Another option to teach is tandem

I have done this with my daughter and she loved it.

In this video, she is hooked into the kite - how is it that she isn't just getting pulled off the board? Is there some kind of tandem harness you can buy?

Another factor that always gets overlooked by parents teaching the youngins - is that you let them kite in busy mainstream traffic areas...
They maintain "Tunnel vision" for a long time, regardless of skill and your enthusiasm.

Teach them 'One on One' dropping their kite low under and high over - passing you from head on and also stopping dead in the water with kite to the opposite side of someone whos crashed their kite in front of them.

Also teach them what the Bombing area is and not to ride under someone setting up to Trick...

that applies to most anyway but at least give them a Great headstart

Kiting, like any risky pursuit, should not be age dependent. All comes down to attitude, aptitude and a parent's ability to gauge those factors in their children. I lived in Tarifa for many years and I was blown away by kids as young as 3 and 4 ampin Playa los Lances with foil kites in front of laughing parents. One parent told me that it's important to get em young because young bones heal fast. Ha. I suppose it's all perspective.

My boy's got water smarts. He rode his first wave on the front of my SUP at 11 months old. If at 3 or 4 or 7 or 18 he shows me the right signs I'd like to think I'll have the same attitude as the Andalucian father I spoke with. I wont be subscribing to the 'nanny state' and it's growing numbers of over protective parents. Age is just a number.

Break maker it's a flying objects harness I think (I bought it off Jason at Westoz). Just an old bar with a chicken loop tied on and yes it does have a donkey dick.

But I also get hi pm to fly it a lot unhooked and taught him the basics of handle passing the other day...my evil plan bahahahahahahahaha

Don't want him to end up a mainly hooked in kook like his dad!!