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Newbie saying hello

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Created by vaas20 > 9 months ago, 10 Jan 2020
vaas20
SA, 39 posts
10 Jan 2020 8:08AM
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Hi all,
I'm very new to kiting, few lessons and a couple of "sessions"(more crashing myself and kite ??)
Live around semaphore SA down goolwa now for a few days.
To be honest I need to nut up and go out in a bit stronger winds. I'm 6'6" and 105kg on a 12m switchblade (old kite 2008)

KiteAddicted
59 posts
10 Jan 2020 10:06PM
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Hi, welcome to an awesome sport. Learning is an amazing journey!

vaas20
SA, 39 posts
11 Jan 2020 7:54AM
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Yes agreed I am really enjoying it even getting slammed into the water its still a lot of fun

KiteAddicted
59 posts
11 Jan 2020 11:42AM
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i kept a diary and it took me 20 hours to get up and going. it felt like i drank about 2 litres of seawater innone session. Once you do get going it is so worth it. They do recommend smaller dives of the kite to get used to the power and also ensure you point the board downwind....will hurt less and faster setup to try again! fyi i learnt this afterwards...my instructor used to laugh at the boom when my kite crashed into the water (note he was mate before i started kiting)

listery
QLD, 103 posts
11 Jan 2020 11:33PM
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Bar in or out, kite on down stroke. Bar out, kite on up stroke. Keep front leg straight when you dive the kite to water start, it helps to stop faceplants.

vaas20
SA, 39 posts
12 Jan 2020 7:49AM
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Thanks all
Spent 3 hrs yesterday dragging myself around constantly reminding myself to stop watching the kite and learn to feel it. Still loved every second of it

VRBones
130 posts
13 Jan 2020 5:56PM
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Select to expand quote
vaas20 said..
Thanks all
Spent 3 hrs yesterday dragging myself around constantly reminding myself to stop watching the kite and learn to feel it. Still loved every second of it


Feeling the kite and predicting the power it will deliver are very valuable skills, so kudos to you on keeping up with these. Another way to work on these skills is to plant your feet and try not to move them as you fly the kite (best done in knee-deep water if you're prone to being pulled off your feet). To keep your balance you need to lean back against the pull of the kite. Predicting how far to lean back according to the position of the kite and the direction it is going is what you're working on and will make it much easier to keep balance when on the board. Once you're comfortable flying the kite around the wind window, move your feet closer and closer together. Each time you are forced to move your feet, reset and start again. Once you're used to getting your feet close together, try the same game while not looking at the kite. This trains your body to predict the pull based on the current position of the kite and its trajectory through the harness and bar. All these skills are very valuable as they allow your eyes and brain to focus on other things while still maintaining control of the kite.

vaas20
SA, 39 posts
15 Jan 2020 12:46PM
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Wow VRBones that was so well written, thank you so much for tips
Will try this avo although winds are getting above 24knts. Might be a bit strong for me while learning

NorthernKitesAUS
QLD, 1061 posts
15 Jan 2020 4:46PM
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Yeah it's all muscle memory - like riding a bike!

vaas20
SA, 39 posts
21 Jan 2020 9:22PM
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Got up the other day
Thought the winds were too much but great encouraging comments from p thers had me out and I got riding for the first time
Absolutely love it
Tha k's to all

KiteAddicted
59 posts
22 Jan 2020 12:08AM
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Well done!

VRBones
130 posts
22 Jan 2020 5:31AM
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Select to expand quote
vaas20 said..
Got up the other day
Thought the winds were too much but great encouraging comments from p thers had me out and I got riding for the first time
Absolutely love it
Tha k's to all


Good stuff!

When starting out you'll be pretty inefficient, so having more wind/power makes it easier to get up and going. It also means a bigger spanking when things go wrong so know your limits, but it's worthwhile getting used to the kite in stronger winds and expanding your wind range. As a general rule you probably need 1-2 kite sizes higher than everyone else.

Almost any time out flying the kite or being out on the water will be valuable though, so even really light wind days can be great learning experiences.

Rusty01
23 posts
22 Jan 2020 6:31PM
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The key to my water starts I found, was not kite watching obviously, but looking at the horizon as I stood up.
Keep that front leg straight to avoid being pulled over the handlebars and look straight ahead. As you stand up, you can then check to see where you kite is if you can't feel it.

vaas20
SA, 39 posts
3 Feb 2020 8:21PM
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Yesterday got up, 4 runs furthest and faster then ever gone before....... . .loved it so much
Loving this stuff. Can't wait for the state title comp this weekend at wallaroo

Gateman
QLD, 409 posts
4 Feb 2020 5:59PM
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Good on you Rusty and Vaas, keep the stoke happening. If you get a good group of newbie's sharing their successful sessions and milestones it's a great inspiration for other new kiters. As long as it doesn't become a monotonous sledging farce then I'm sure you will get helpful advice from some of the more experienced kiters when you ask for help with something you are struggling with. I remember a thread started by SaltySinus a few years ago that had about 5k comments. keep it up

NorthernKitesAUS
QLD, 1061 posts
5 Feb 2020 9:55AM
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This should be a sticky (oh danm, no stickies on SBRz)



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Forums > Kitesurfing   Newbies / Tips & Tricks


"Newbie saying hello" started by vaas20