flapjack said...

hey guys noticed that people think wave riding is now the progressive side of the sport, is it really? i recall seeing the same riding of waves 5 years ago on awake.

Well that would have made you an observant little 13 year old if the age on your profile is correct. I think you are actually saying more about yourself, than the sport of wavekiting. It would be too easy to call you an ignorant young tool who needs to travel more. Instead I encourage you to fill this void of 'progression' you have noticed. There are some chunky waves down south oz. Have you ever seen anyone kite chinamans or ethels and smash some lips on a surfboard. I can't believe you would think you could do the same on a twintip; hence maybe I have taken the bait.
In answer to the heading. Yes I am continually impressed by (free) wave kiting.

If you knew your kiteSURFING history thats where it began.... KITESURFING......being pulled along on a surfboard by a kite in the surf,the rest came next....wakeboarding behind a boat evolved into wake style kiteing etc ,ask Jimy Lewis,Roby Naish,Pete Cabrina,Shannon Best, they will tell you the same thing ,they are all extensions of the same love....to be pulled along by wind by a kite, which on its own meritt is unique and contemporary.Snowkiteing is awsome too,try telling the average snowboarder/kiter that he looks lame being pulled by a kite in the snow,the same goes for land board and trike kiteing.Look at the big picture flapjack,the whole kiteing scene is a new world sport ,may this insane sport evolve into many facetts and give pleasure to all that indulge in it p.s,I converted a G.I Joe figureene into a kiter with a scale size kite attached to cabbab sticks that my young nephew plays with in the bath....he loves it,perhaps flapjack you could do the same and be as kool as a turd inda freezer,he is and only 3 yrs old,like you, he may end up a dam fine kiter some day

I am considering attaching a kite to me at all times, when the wind is over 5 knots, just so when I walk down the street everyone will think I am extreme walking. But I will only do it if I look cool, because that is obviously what life is all about. I have a bumper sticker that says, "Look cool or go to Adelaide." Not LOOKING cool is just NOT cool.

the funniest thing is flapjack doesnt even need to flame it anymore.. people are still going on about it!!!

watching people kite waves does not look that good, but smashing lips all day long is grouse fun. If you want to watch go watch something else, if you want to have fun smash lips on yer kite. Its that simple!

Hey Dan,

Check out:

kiteforum.com/viewforum.php?f=200/component/option,com_videos/task,show/id,2020/Itemid,30/

and



Don't know where you get that 30ft in front of the wave stuff. Both show a similar depth of bottom turn. The Tophat/Felix style also seems to enable the rider to get a better vertical hit on the wave. Either way, both camps seem to be doing a pretty good job at pushing the strapless front (although surfing still looks better).

Are there any "waves" in the metro area

As far I can see, Felix rides like he did when he was on a twin-tip (except now his moves are vertical)...he still uses his kite more than his board.
That's why I said I prefer watching the guys who use the wave. They're getting more vertical and they're using the wave. Sure, felix throws a lot of spray but he was only getting 8-9 turns on the wave I saw him on whereas I counted 14-15 from Paul j the following trip. Same with Ryland.
After talking to Toby Bromwich (who judged the PKRA wave final), this is why he didn't win. It's good for a photo but there's more to a wave than just a snapshot in time.
I'm not saying he's not a good rider (he is very talented and has massive swingers for taking the sizeable waves he does)...I just prefer another style of riding.

I guess it is all personal, however it does seem like sometimes there is a very fine line between simply wriggling your ass a bit and getting in a legitimate turn. Good surfing displays deep bottom turns with solid vertical snaps. I think that a lot of people get dazzled by a surface pass or a high speed carve and loose track of the basics. Each to their own though.

Im impressed by barrels.
Its hard to get the right conditions when its not too lumpy.

Once you have worked out how its done, basic wave kiting is pretty basic.

"how's his technique?"

I don,t think this windsurfer was impressed by this kiters wave skills.

flapjack

Is this comment cuase you find waves difficult?

Ben Wilson is giving lessons, take one and maybe you'll have your answer!!!

Just a thought.............

actually, if you look even closer, it looks like the kiter as come up from behind the windsurfer after the windsurfer dropped in.

you can see the path of the kiter on the wave behind the windsurfer

Ha Ha sliders and kickers i,v seen some of that, dosn't that go flat 3 another 3 oh look a 5 back to a 3 that's so hard core all i'v eva seen are flat spins or maybe a grab now that **** is lame.

Waves are the future and we are only at the beginning
paul