ride_wv - 27-8-2009 at 07:02 AM
Hi, I'm new. I've been reading this forum and have learned a lot from this community who seems very willing to help answer questions. Mountainboarding
is what has ultimately brought me to world of windsports, I've been board riding for many years, but just purchased a traction/trainer kite a few
months ago. Also took three day's of lessons on the water and was riding, but that was almost two years ago.
So I've been flying a 5.0 meter kite in 7-10 mph wind several times each week and I'm getting it, but have plenty of room to improve (probably 40
hours on the kite).
Am I ready to add the mountainboard into the mix?
Which board might be best to get started (I have channel trucks, skate trucks and bionic trucks - wood decks and composite material decks- multiflex
and ratchet style bindings)?
I struggle sometimes to understand kite terminology, but one problem I've encountered is the kite flying over my head and behind me from zenith. Is
there an adjustment that can be made or technique to avoid this situation?
There are several other questions that I might ask, but since this is my first post it may be best not to overwhelm.
Thanks in advance for any insights you might offer.
dylanj423 - 27-8-2009 at 07:08 AM
if you are really comfortable flying the kite, it is time to progress.... overflying can be helped by a little flick of the brakes... you will be able
to tell when it will happen a split second before it happens, and be able to take corrective measures... overflying will ALWAYS happen in gusty
conditions, just the nature of kites...
dont strap in too tight at first... dont be afraid to lean against the pull of the kite... start pointing a little downwind if you like to give you
less resistance, steer upwind... wear protection!... if you have a GI board, i like that one the best... in my experience, they are stiffer, and less
prone to wobble... when wobble begins to set it, lean hard on the back foot...
...gotta go, but thats the short answer
acampbell - 27-8-2009 at 07:34 AM
If your kite is on a bar and not handles, you cannot tap the brakes easy to keep from overflying, but you can steer the kite away from the edge to
prevent it. You can also tighten the brake lines to lessen the tendency. generally, the more wind, the tighter the brakes. If the kite is sluggish
to launch and the bottom skin puckers at the bridle attachment points, the brakes are too tight.
Drewculous - 27-8-2009 at 10:37 AM
wow... technical questions on the board stuff...
To tell you the truth, when you start out... it really doesnt matter.
As far as the trucks... the skate trucks will be fine, but im sure the more dollar you drop, the longer they will last. i looked up those bionic
trucks and they look pretty mean, if you have some around go for it, but i wouldnt drop $170 on trucks right now. The deck, i'd go with a
composite... im kinda big (230lbs) and i dont know how much id trust a wood deck on a 10' jump... plus the composits are usually lighter... the
bindings... well ive just had experience with the cheap 3 piece velcro... and they work well. Easy enough to bail (if need be) and strong enough to
keep the board on my feet.
Angus is spot on with the brake / zenith info...
If ya want... Go pick up a beginner kite-landboarding dvd, or grab a quick lesson... it'll get you going sooner, and make for less frustrations... the
'fatsands' dvd is what i got and its pretty good.
shoot us some more questions! we can handle it!
follow up
ride_wv - 27-8-2009 at 12:51 PM
Thanks for the speedy responses.
I'm flying on a bar with x-over lines and kite killer "leash". I'll continue to adjust the brake line tension to see how that changes the way my kite
is flying.
I'm fortunate to have a full quiver of mbs and ground industries mountainboards/gear to choose from (even an Earthboard). I'll hope to test each of my
boards then pick a few favs. Securing an instruction vid is sound advice. Lessons in my area are entirely unavailable so I'm likely to rely on body
armor, pads and good helmets.
I've got a waist harness, at what point should I add this harness to the riding equation?
Can I anchor the kite killer leash to the waist harness instead of my wrist, safely?
What's the minimum windspeed needed for land kiteboarding with a 5.0 kite? It seems as though I may need at least 9/10 mph.
Is there a windspeed to board speed rule-of-thumb?
Thanks again.
dylanj423 - 27-8-2009 at 01:14 PM
the order that worked for me was as follows....
1. Learn the kite and get fully Comfortable
2. Add the board and ride often, always pushing myself a little bit (wear protection)
3. After being comfy on board with no harness, add harness for static flying (No board)
4. Get comfy in harness, then get on the board... practice getting out of the harness frequently.
5. by now you should be able to fly the kite in all positions... backwards, upside down, behind you, beside you, while being dragged face down through
the grass.... etc :P
6. Get a depower (i like my arcs esp for landboarding)
7. After comfy with cruising, start JUMPING (current state of progression)
Yes you can attsch the killer to the harness, just make sure that it does not interfere with the operation of the safety or the kite.
Seems I need at least 10mph with a 5m fixed bridle, and thats on hardpack...
Bladerunner - 27-8-2009 at 04:54 PM
You can and should start getting used to a harness as soon as possible.
You will need a D-loop (strap) on your bar to hook in to. Hooking your safety leash to the harness is O.K. as long as it doesn't impair the D-loop
from going in and out of your spreader bar. ( hook )
At 1st just hook in when you want to rest up. Remain unhooked when you are pushing it and likely to want to let go. As you progress + feel more
comfortabe you will remain hooked in more and more. The big pay off right away is not tiring out as fast. More fly time means more learning.
Like Angus said redirecting the kite will prevent over flying. Try and anticipate it and give the kite a wiggle before it happens.
I might guess your stiffest board will be best at 1st. I bit less wobbly when getting used to using the kites power.
Kamikuza - 27-8-2009 at 04:56 PM
You'll probably progress a whole lot quicker than me, cos I'm a #@%$#! on the board - don't have that much experience, and get the willies when it
starts moving too fast cos I'm not confident I can slow down or stop quickly.
Key thing to remember is - kite won't pull you if the lines are slack 
To get started, point the board across and down wind, then start diving the kite in that direction till you get rolling. Once you're moving lean back
a little to edge the board across wind, then build some speed up until you can head upwind, so you can come back to your starting position ...