Kite Surfing

[SkydiveNFlorida 0]

Anyone here engage in this sport? I was at the beach this weekend and saw a couple of guys kite surfing in the waves... it looked like a really fun thing to do on a day too windy for skydiving.

Anyone? How did you get into it? What size kite do you need to be pulled 10-15 feet out of the water? I was reading some stuff on Big Air Sports' site, but am curious to hear from any of you who have done this. How physically challenging is this?

:) thx.
Angela.

[bennyhill 0]

go to
http://kiteforum.com/
and look around.

It is a great sport, this one is addictive too, not that hard to learn if motivated and have good steady wind.
Kite size will depend on your weight.
Men, women, and kids can all learn, it is no more challenging than windsurfing or any similar sport.

Take a lesson from a knowledgable instructor.
Don't hurt anyone on the beach !!!

[SkydiveNFlorida 0]

Cool, thanks:)

Angela.

[kevin922 0]

i used to do kite buggying, still have the kites and the buggy.. they both look like parachutes, one is a parafoil and the other is a skytiger.. i think the skytiger was around 800 bucks and can easily lift me off the ground. The buggy is called a peter lynn buggy, 3 wheelend contraption.

See here

[JWVB 0]

Check with Wendy. She was sod surfing a kite in the landing area this weekend I think it was around 12 sq ft, but you might need something a bit bigger if you want to get off the ground.

[dropoutdave 0]

I had a go once, was really strange having the wind behind you instead of going into it. I think you start off with a 5-6 square metre kite and then upsize. Don't do what I did and have a go on a 14 square metre kite for your first go, do look so cool being dragged along the beach on ya face.

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May Contain Nut traces......

[Flare 0]

i still kitebuggy, it's fun..i do know 1 or two things of kitesurfing, people here say it's easy, believe me..it isn't hard to learn, but it also isn't something you just learn overnight...you start with a size kite which you're comfortable with around 12 square METER is reasonable for the windier countries. You better first learn steering the kite (no...the steering doesn't happen by pulling to strings...) once you learn that (and can do it quite well) you can try to start kiteboarding, this is the hard part, you have to be able to stand up, don't expect huge jumps when you just start, cuz they won't happen when you want to...those things are more powerfull than you think, the jumps u usually see are performed by people doing it for a long time and also who have practised alot

if you're not discouraged....go an take a look on kiteforum.com

[Skypup 0]

There are alot of variables in choosing a first kite. Average wind speed in your area, your weight, 2 line vs. 4 line, as well as the board you use.

What i would suggest is go to the local wind surfing/ kite surfing beach and talk someone into letting you fly one of their kites (while standing on the beach) Being able to drag yourself around on the beach is the first step, followed by dragging yourself in the water without a board. They can give you a sence of what type and size of kite might be appropriate for you. It really helps to have someone show you the basics, from there it is fairly easy to learn on your own.

I would also caution you against getting a 2 line kite. While they ARE simpler you will find the lack of brake lines limiting to your learning progression as well as the range of wind speeds you can fly in. Eventually you will likely have several kites for different conditions.

T.S.S # 5
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To dream great dreams is itself an act of daring. -Eric Shipton & Bill Tilman
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