There is so much going on when you first learn to kitesurf that I think so many crew make it much harder for themselves by tying to learn in the choppy ocean.

It seems they spend most of there time trying to negotiate the chop and swell and therefore can’t seemed to set them selves up to learn the basics.

If they learnt on flatter water first and then brought those skills to the ocean I think it would make for a much better kiting journey.

On flat water you have time to learn how to edge harder, ride up and down wind, do some back and forward rolls, do these with transitions and learn how to jump big.

I think that this is such a great part of kitesurfing that so many people are missing out on in there eagerness to get to the waves, which are quite often over rated anyway (well especially in Perth)

Sure some people just want to ride the waves and that’s ok, or maybe they have not access to flat water – but for most of the people coming on stream - get the basics first as that is where the best initial stoke is and it is also going to make you a better rider in the end.

p.s

I am biased as this is how I first learnt – on a flat water estuary and then progressed to the ocean. – 8 years latter and still loving it !

Yep, Agreed!

We'll be sending all of our noobs to Woodies to enjoy the butter.

Make room!

Good winds,

This is Ozzies "keep-outa-my-f**g-way" campaign. [}:)]
Poorly disguised as well meaning advice.

I had 2 lessons on flatish water. Then straight into the ocean. Its not that bigger deal. Plus waves are fun

lotofwind said...

I learnt in the ocean.
For the first 12 months had never been in flat water.Now if I do go somewhere with flat water I get bored in about half of rideing,waves are sooo much more fun to boost off and play around in.

Amen brother.

Jimmyz said...

lotofwind said...

I learnt in the ocean.
For the first 12 months had never been in flat water.Now if I do go somewhere with flat water I get bored in about half of rideing,waves are sooo much more fun to boost off and play around in.

Amen brother.

yeah I agree flat water is pretty boring now after hitting the waves,but flat water is def easier to learn

Learn in the chop, messy as possible. You will be able to ride in most conditions then.

Kalavas said...

Is Pinaroo considered choppy?

Dude, even choppy would call Pinnaroo choppy!

It's the worst place in more than 20 knots and even worse still if there is a bit more west in the direction The thing is, if you can ride and trick at Pinnas, you can ride anywhere and make it look good.

Cheers,

graceful said...

Jimmyz said...

lotofwind said...

I learnt in the ocean.
For the first 12 months had never been in flat water.Now if I do go somewhere with flat water I get bored in about half of rideing,waves are sooo much more fun to boost off and play around in.

Amen brother.

yeah I agree flat water is pretty boring now after hitting the waves,but flat water is def easier to learn

Cool, u dudes hang in the chop/surf and leave the butter water 4 us. ( If only? )

i don`t think waves and chop are the same thing . waves are like ramps with flatish water inbetween , chop is just messy and totaly boring only good for pounding your knees definately easier to learn in flat water and will speed up your progression . spend 3 weeks in the flat be the equivalent of 3 months in chop. just try to stay out of the way

poor relative said...

I agree
All newbs should go to woodies flat

Whilst I know you are joking and trolling, I thought I would share a story.

A couple rocked up at Woodies offshore, walked across the dunes and set up mid way down the point. Obviously begginers. I watched them set up and try and launch, it took them about 5 minutes to work out where the side of the window was and trying to launch the kite backwards inside out. Once they eventually figured it out and got the kite in the air I rode over and asked them if they knew what they were doing. They replied I know its offshore but she doesn't like learning in the waves (beach 2 is small to moderate chop especially in 15knots), she is begginer to intermediate she will be ok.

I went out did a few runs watched her try and get on the board, she could barely plane, getting in the way of everyone riding at sub planing speed slowely downwind. I went over to the guy and said, look no offense but she is clearly a beginner she would have a much better time on the other beach with no crowd to deal with and not potentially blowing out to sea ruining her experience. He agreed and called her in, she stood on the beach for about 1 minute, obviously ignored my advice and continued riding. Later on she crashed her kite and too no suprise she couldn't relaunch her kite. So she released it and called Simon to go drag it in for her while she swam in.

During this time her partner was pumping up on the beach and getting ready for his own adventure. He followed suit, marginally better at riding, crashed his kite and proceeded to drift out to sea. Dan went over to take his board to the shore since he was already at his kite ready to swim in. He said just wave your arms if your in trouble you should be able to swim in. By the time Dan was on the way out the guy was waving his arms claiming he was going to release his kite because he couldn't swim in with it. So dan took about 1 hour to slowly drag this guy and his kite in.

To think that one of these people won a kite at kitestock angers me. Selfish people that are blatant liars. Flat water is great for learning but not when it is offshore.

Spacemonkey! said...

poor relative said...

I agree
All newbs should go to woodies flat

Whilst I know you are joking and trolling, I thought I would share a story.

A couple rocked up at Woodies offshore, walked across the dunes and set up mid way down the point. Obviously begginers. I watched them set up and try and launch, it took them about 5 minutes to work out where the side of the window was and trying to launch the kite backwards inside out. Once they eventually figured it out and got the kite in the air I rode over and asked them if they knew what they were doing. They replied I know its offshore but she doesn't like learning in the waves (beach 2 is small to moderate chop especially in 15knots), she is begginer to intermediate she will be ok.

I went out did a few runs watched her try and get on the board, she could barely plane, getting in the way of everyone riding at sub planing speed slowely downwind. I went over to the guy and said, look no offense but she is clearly a beginner she would have a much better time on the other beach with no crowd to deal with and not potentially blowing out to sea ruining her experience. He agreed and called her in, she stood on the beach for about 1 minute, obviously ignored my advice and continued riding. Later on she crashed her kite and too no suprise she couldn't relaunch her kite. So she released it and called Simon to go drag it in for her while she swam in.

During this time her partner was pumping up on the beach and getting ready for his own adventure. He followed suit, marginally better at riding, crashed his kite and proceeded to drift out to sea. Dan went over to take his board to the shore since he was already at his kite ready to swim in. He said just wave your arms if your in trouble you should be able to swim in. By the time Dan was on the way out the guy was waving his arms claiming he was going to release his kite because he couldn't swim in with it. So dan took about 1 hour to slowly drag this guy and his kite in.

To think that one of these people won a kite at kitestock angers me. Selfish people that are blatant liars. Flat water is great for learning but not when it is offshore.

ahhh gota love the ignorant kooks.. if number 2 didnt learn from number 1s mistake you should of just let their **** drift away and they could retrieve it themselves. if i warn someone about obvious hazards and dangers and they go out against my reccomendation i sure as hell am not going out of my way ruining my session to help them as they will not learn. every1 should know how to [bold] SELF RESCUE [/bold] and if you dont go learn before you even go out in any spot! listen to advice from local riders whom know the area well and dont go out more than your prepared to swim..

completely different when an experienced rider goes out and has gear failure or something, then i have no worries about helping them out as its just curteous but when people who cant even plane go out and intefere with flow of a spot as well as ruin other riders sessions i feel no pitty.

nooooo def not safety bay!! thats small enough as it is
and the poleys are agro

chop really isnt that much harder to learn in i think, we teach at pinaroo which is chop.com and people learn to upwind fine, butter flat water is nice to learn in though, when i learnt i had combination of a flattish with slight chop lagoon and open ocean with 2 - 5 foot swell on most days.

river is flat enough to learn in aswell imo but then you need decent kite skill to launch land so thats kinda a no no.. soo just stick with choppy spots and man up.. im sure thers more flattish water around than that?

Charl dv said...

nooooo def not safety bay!! thats small enough as it is
and the poleys are agro

chop really isnt that much harder to learn in i think, we teach at pinaroo which is chop.com and people learn to upwind fine, butter flat water is nice to learn in though, when i learnt i had combination of a flattish with slight chop lagoon and open ocean with 2 - 5 foot swell on most days.

river is flat enough to learn in aswell imo but then you need decent kite skill to launch land so thats kinda a no no.. soo just stick with choppy spots and man up.. im sure thers more flattish water around than that?

Shoalwater is pretty flat and learner friendly with lots of room.

vishy said...

Whats the go? I'm sure the guys riding at these current spots(not me) don't appreciate everyone on the forum sending truckloads of beginners to these specific spots, which are usually already tightly packed and operate on some form of local system to keep it flowing properly.

The majority learnt in choppy water, or will ride in choppy water at least once in their lifetime, so HTFU and deal with it,

Enjoi
Matt

Heh, WA's idea of crammed is nothing compared to St Kilda or other places I have ridden in Europe...

Love the flat - high winds and flat water, show me where it is and I will give up the Vic chop.