Power Kite Forum

Check out this kite jump WOW!!!

Big Earl - 9-9-2009 at 08:35 PM

This guy is crazy!
http://www.myvideo.de/watch/2836162/Hangtime_am_Kite_ueber_2...

Houston AirHead - 9-9-2009 at 08:48 PM

WOW

did you see his spare chute, good idea!

cheezycheese - 9-9-2009 at 09:30 PM

that's insane... lot of trust in those lines....:eekdrull:

Kamikuza - 10-9-2009 at 12:46 AM

That's pretty mad ... I've seen something similar over snowy mountains but the guy used a bigger kite with a bar - not handles!!!

WELDNGOD - 10-9-2009 at 05:20 AM

S-T-U-P-I-D
Attn. Insurance execs. this guy does not represent us. And we would never engage in activities like this.
I for one wish people would not post things that could be detrimental to our future. This is just one more reason for lawmakers to "protect us from ourselves" .

lunchbox - 10-9-2009 at 07:50 AM

:thumbdown:

If you're going to use your kite like that, why not just paraglider and use equipment that was designed for stuff like that...Stupid is right!

kitejumper - 10-9-2009 at 08:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by lunchbox
:thumbdown:

If you're going to use your kite like that, why not just paraglider and use equipment that was designed for stuff like that...Stupid is right!
EXACTLY:thumbdown:

Drewculous - 10-9-2009 at 09:41 AM

stupid or not, well

I wont do it, and i dont advocate it, but it was still pretty cool, lol

indigo_wolf - 10-9-2009 at 11:05 AM

If you are going that far out on the edge, you might as well break out the

Wing Suit


or

Jet Pack


ATB,
Sam

trancein1 - 10-9-2009 at 11:23 AM

I posted this on my facebook

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=504720107&...

kandrey89 - 10-9-2009 at 11:30 AM

All who said its stupid and worry about insurance, are wrong :frog::cool:

If they went far enough to attach a parachute to the guy's back, that means they had the sense to worry about it, so you wouldn't have to.

Drewculous - 10-9-2009 at 11:39 AM

that jet was pretty damn sick!! Something else to add to my want list :lol:

WELDNGOD - 10-9-2009 at 11:44 AM

Obviously , you are not a NAPKRA member. And it is not just insurance cos. we ALL need to worry about, many localities are banning traction kiting ( your fav spot might be next). What would your opinion be then? Showing that kind irresponsible behavior can and does give the OTHER side more ammo to get local bans. Which side are you on? Personally, I could give a crap less if that Darwin award winner fell to his death. But I don't wanna not have a place to fly anymore because of it. You have no idea who peeks in this forum or what they are looking for.

when you have to go further and further to find a place to fly ,we will see who is wrong. You are very naive to think that kind of thing has no impact on us all.
WG

kandrey89 - 10-9-2009 at 12:00 PM

I am making a relational comparison between BitTorrent and Power Kiting.
Although BitTorrent is sometimes used for illegal purposes, people fight in court to protect the protocol\program from being banned altogether because the program in itself does not cause illegal action. Same thing in power kiting, power kiting isn't an illegal activity or sport, even though some people go far beyond what is reasonably safe, then again it's their fault and worry. So the way i see it is power kiters are playing defensively to protect their sport and in effect submitting to the will of the MPAA\etc if we were to use the relational comparison example.

Power kiting should be allowed, where there is enough room, (ie. a small populated beach is not it, or close to other objects such as power lines). If the person acts irresponsibly or gets injured that's their fault, no one else's. Guns vs power kites comparison? :spin: Well, throw aside the fact that guns are used for defensive purposes and etc, if you shoot yourself or someone, no matter what the reason or cause, YOU alone are responsible, that is if you obtained the gun legally (not talking about children shooting themselves or illegal activities). So whatever you do it's on you, not the state, the gun company, the developers of BitTorrent, the state park, the owner of land, etc... I hope you get my picture point of view...

WELDNGOD - 10-9-2009 at 12:22 PM

apples and oranges

kitejumper - 10-9-2009 at 12:28 PM

im getting out of the way!! i see a BIG battle brewing.......

Drewculous - 10-9-2009 at 12:49 PM

i see both points... both have really good points... but kandrey has a point in that kiting is not illegal, but WG has it where if too many people are too stupid, it could come to that... very easily...

But on the same token, millions of people illegally download songs... im sure most kiters, at some point have done something against their better judgement... kevin... (sorry i had to)--and neither is punished, really

Its just give and take, apples and oranges... stuff like this shouldnt be the norm, but i really doubt it ever will be... still interesting to watch...


.. i now back away slowly after placing my two pennies on the ground..

WELDNGOD - 10-9-2009 at 01:00 PM

not to worry I've said my piece. I have been a member of this community for going on 3 yrs., been traction kiting for 4 yrs. I have learned alot, and have seen the bans becoming more frequent.
And a vast majority of the folks here will tell you the same thing about protecting our "public image".

f0rgiv3n - 10-9-2009 at 01:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Drewculous


.. i now back away slowly after placing my two pennies on the ground..


*grabs the two pennies and runs*

WIllardTheGrey - 10-9-2009 at 01:28 PM

Now if you want to really go over the edge...

kitejumper - 10-9-2009 at 01:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by f0rgiv3n
Quote:
Originally posted by Drewculous


.. i now back away slowly after placing my two pennies on the ground..


*grabs the two pennies and runs*
LOL

Drewculous - 10-9-2009 at 03:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by f0rgiv3n
Quote:
Originally posted by Drewculous


.. i now back away slowly after placing my two pennies on the ground..


*grabs the two pennies and runs*


dude... not cool

:lol:

lynx69 - 10-9-2009 at 04:13 PM

Parachute and NO HELMET!

Oxymoron with emphasis on moron!!!

I wholeheartedly agree with Weldngod. I guess Kandrey has never been to beaches in Cali or Florida where kiting is banned or places where this is a very small area where you can water launch and land kites. This forum is all about promoting our passion for kiting and not destroying it.

Everybody has a right to their opinion and this is mine, which I standby.

Kamikuza - 10-9-2009 at 04:42 PM

I could see Penn & Teller getting in on this one ...

kandrey89 - 10-9-2009 at 05:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lynx69
Parachute and NO HELMET!

Oxymoron with emphasis on moron!!!

I wholeheartedly agree with Weldngod. I guess Kandrey has never been to beaches in Cali or Florida where kiting is banned or places where this is a very small area where you can water launch and land kites. This forum is all about promoting our passion for kiting and not destroying it.

Everybody has a right to their opinion and this is mine, which I standby.


*Thinking about how I could twist the Oxymoron analogy to respond with the following:*

I guess Ocean Beach, San Francisco, CA USA is not in California! :wee: I must be from the state of San Francisco... :roll::spin::wow:

I guess I have never been to the beach from which I live 10 minutes away from and on which I also body board. :wee::ticking:

If I didn't know better, I'd think you were saying I was trying to destroy power kiting "This forum is all about ... not destroying it". Personally to put it bluntly, I believe that if I don't want to wear safety items, then it's no one's business whether I do or I don't, and neither is it the government's decision to make me wear safety items. MY CHOICE, MY LIFE, MY RESPONSIBILITY.

And if people who are so concerned about the dangers of the sport on beaches are stupid enough to think they have anything to do in that matter, they can go jump off the cliff, the world would be better for it. :piggy: *blunt over* :rolleyes:

lynx69 - 10-9-2009 at 06:35 PM

Andrey,

Your response spoke volumes. I was questioning whether you have been to beaches that have had kiting banned or restricted areas for kite use. I would be very disappointed if a kiter acted in an irresponsible manner that banned kiting from the area I currently have the freedom to kite.

Should I use a kite and parachute when I "jump off the cliff"?

furbowski - 10-9-2009 at 09:25 PM

Folks who have had to deal with banned areas are a bit more aware of the sad fact that we don't actually fly alone, we represent all other kite flyers to the public whenever we fly. Folks who exercise that responsibility badly can often result in bans or closures which affect every local kiter.

I LOVE flying an area with nobody around, it's only then that I can push my limits without having to hold back a bit.

If you don't want to wear safety kit that is your decision. It's also quite often mine. But if there are people around and I'm not using safety kit I'm flying well within my abilities.

Bottom line: The choices you take, responsible or not, can indeed affect other kite flyers, so take it easy, OK?

You must be having a bad day and lashing out or something, TBH.

Telling other members of this forum to go jump off a cliff for all you care is kinda out of line, this is actually one of the most troll-free forums on the web. I hope it can stay that way.

I just hope I'm not actually feeding you or anything... We'll soon find out.

kandrey89 - 10-9-2009 at 11:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by furbowski
Folks who have had to deal with banned areas are a bit more aware of the sad fact that we don't actually fly alone, we represent all other kite flyers to the public whenever we fly. Folks who exercise that responsibility badly can often result in bans or closures which affect every local kiter.

I LOVE flying an area with nobody around, it's only then that I can push my limits without having to hold back a bit.

If you don't want to wear safety kit that is your decision. It's also quite often mine. But if there are people around and I'm not using safety kit I'm flying well within my abilities.

Bottom line: The choices you take, responsible or not, can indeed affect other kite flyers, so take it easy, OK?

You must be having a bad day and lashing out or something, TBH.

Telling other members of this forum to go jump off a cliff for all you care is kinda out of line, this is actually one of the most troll-free forums on the web. I hope it can stay that way.

I just hope I'm not actually feeding you or anything... We'll soon find out.


FEED THE TROLL :singing::mad::moon: (PS I don't consider myself to be a troll :P )

I actually agree with your post, if that makes any sense :yes:

furbowski - 11-9-2009 at 01:02 AM

Good to know I wasn't feeding the trolls then...





:frog::lol::evil::moon:

ps thanks for the agreement, very gracious of you...:thumbup::o

heliboy50 - 11-9-2009 at 01:39 AM

Like has been said- sucks when one dummy puts a kink in what we all enjoy- our kites and the room to play with them. I'm pretty sure from the site hosting the vid that this was from outside the US so at least we dodged a bullet on that one. It isn't fair that we all can be cast in the same light as those who do make our sport look bad, but that's really the way it goes most of the time. You can't legislate against dumb (that would make for a lot of lonely nights at work for me:lol:.)

kandrey89 - 11-9-2009 at 04:01 AM

Frankly you guys sound like you are worried about damaging the sport by anything that flies, even a parachute. You are probably true since paragliders and power kiters are not the same thing, but like the average concerned VENGEFUL Joe would know or care about that anyway... So I ask why worry anyway if the Joe won't care if he mixes up the sports, if he opens his mouth, and a politician doesn't know whats what, the vote is cast anyway, its not like you will educate every person who opens his mouth about the intricacies of the power kiting hobby\sport?

It's the effect of the blind leading the blind. You can't help after the fact when the blind pair got hit by a car. So if cars wheren't as popular we'd probably ban them :tumble: just like power kiting, noone knows much about them, so they are getting banned for not being understood and educated. But like I said, 90% of the people won't even care to be educated because they are not interested, all they can do is look at power kiting, see that it looks dangerous or etc and say it should be banned...

BeamerBob - 11-9-2009 at 04:19 AM

When a gathering of SoFKA guys found out we were banned from kite buggying at Fort Clinch State Park in FL, I sent a letter (originally was going to be handled by NAPKRA but they thought it was futile to mess with, and it was) to the head ranger. He cited quotes from an Australian site to illustrate why he didn't allow kite buggying on the state park beaches. It is a big world but it is also small now. What you do in one place can affect people across the globe.

Guns are inanimate objects that can do no harm by themselves but need a person to decide how they are used or not used.

Everyone should be able to decide what safety equipment they wear as long as someone else doesn't have to pay for any bad consequences. So if you don't have your own health insurance and then want free (to you) medical care to clean up your mess then you are out of bounds.

furbowski - 11-9-2009 at 05:07 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BeamerBob

It is a big world but it is also small now. What you do in one place can affect people across the globe.



yes... The UK is the lead kiting nation in the english-speaking world and they have lots of bans, I'm not sure whether there are less ban over time or more.

@k.. (sorry can't remember spelling) you keep saying it's individual choice, and yes it is in some locations and/or conditions. But not in all. You keep saying it's an individual right to take on whatever risks we choose and well yes i agree with you, that's increasingly becoming a compelling aspect of our culture for many, and whenever possible yes people can take their own risks.

But when those risks impact others, then it becomes an important aspect of personal responsibility to manage those risks. I don't have medical insurance. Here in HK I have access to a full range of medical services for mere few US dollars a visit, and I can apply for assistance if I can't afford the fees. If I were uninsured and living in the US, out of responsiblity to my family I'd minimize my risks, because they'd pay my bills.

So as kiteflyers we need to manage the risks not only to ourselves, but to the environment, other kiteflyers, and the public. If the public view of kitesurfing represents a risk to the future of our sport, then that is a very important risk to manage.

Bittorrent is another thing, it's much more individual, and it's far closer to being a global phenomenon with lasting consequences than kiting is, so it writes its own rules on the internet and on society. Not a good example, imho.

I'd suggest one better, but I'm plumb out of words for once! :o

soccerflyer - 11-9-2009 at 11:36 AM

Y'all just need to come out here to Kansas and fly with me. You can fly till your little hearts content and never see another person let alone kiter!!!! :lol: And no bans to worry about. I even have permission to fly on two different small airports around here on runways they aren't using anymore!!!

furbowski - 11-9-2009 at 11:38 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by soccerflyer
I even have permission to fly on two different small airports around here on runways they aren't using anymore!!!


now that's sweet... almost enough to make me move to kansas LOL!

no, but seriously, how big are these runways...???:o

soccerflyer - 11-9-2009 at 11:42 AM

Freaking huge!! You ever seen a runway? it is like I'd guess (bad at guessing distances) 40 foot accross and a couple miles long!!

It's WAY sweet. And the sucky thing is - I don't have wheels yet - just permission to use them.

I am taking donations though :smilegrin:

Come on out. There is an empty runway waiting for a Kiter!! Not to mention thousands of acres of fields. Wind is a little gusty but not too bad.

heliboy50 - 11-9-2009 at 12:04 PM

Same thing I have- 6800 foot runway about 2 blocks away. The owner is a little unstable but the cops stop by and are really fascinated with what I am doing. Now if I could get a little more N/S wind and a little less E/W.....

f0rgiv3n - 11-9-2009 at 12:32 PM

Well.... I'm just stoked about the two pennies I found on the ground earlier. I'll donate those to your wheels fund soccerflyer ;P

soccerflyer - 11-9-2009 at 01:09 PM

Sweet thanks!!! :roll: That's $300.02 I have saved up now!!! :yes: Now if I can just get about 40,000 more people to give me a penny . . . . . :ninja:

WELDNGOD - 11-9-2009 at 06:55 PM

* REPOSTED*
Hey Earl, It's all good dude. That movin thing happens every now and then, I don't think they would censor us like that.

(Earl this isn't directed at you personally, but it is my last post on this thread, so I'm gonna make my case)
What we do for fun, is an activty that is all to easy to be legislated away. For the simple fact ,that the US is the most letigious nation on earth. Not to mention our numbers here are so small that we would not stand a chance in a court of law. This isn't G.B. , where it is huge. And if they can go and take videos like that to show a jury or a city council . Next they would show that(A$$hole ) from FLA that decided to fly in a HURRICANE! And then you have no where to ride......

I grew up in the 70's, my generation drained pools to ride skateboards in. Now skateboarding is damn near illegal.
Go ahead , ask any skater teenager, they will tell ya how f'd up it is to be a skater anymore if you have no skatepark.
No skatepark + hysteria induced bans= no where to ride.

If the idiot had used a paraglider I could care less
, but he used a powerkite.

What is the name of this forum?

We should think of our future , or it may be decided for us.

WG

Kamikuza - 11-9-2009 at 07:15 PM

Oh I dunno, I reckon the UK would give the US a run for it's money in the "Stupid ass namby-pampy #@%$#! laws that spoils everyone's fun" stakes ...

WELDNGOD - 11-9-2009 at 07:17 PM

Kandrey, it's not about education, nowdays it's that quick perception:crazy: of what is going on.
What are you saying? That we shouldn't worry about what anybody thinks about what we do? Maybe clothesline a few old ladys? Run over a pair of 3 yr. old twins while they are building a sand castle? jump off an incline with a powerkite and make it 100 ft off the incline, and a powerline breaks!!! down you go, your only 100 ft off the ground at this point. Do you really think a chute will come to canopy that quik? I say splat!
Then other men have to risk their lives, to go rescue the dumbass. :thumbdown:


WG:puzzled:

Big Earl - 11-9-2009 at 11:05 PM

Hurting people or coming close to doing so is a world away from some guy in Germany climbing a mountain with his camera person and jumping off. He was in a very rural, not crowded area and he was wearing a parachute. I really fail to see how that is going to effect anything, and I don't see the harm in my posting the vid.

About the skate bans. I don't think the bans are because kids were skating in their pools, it's because street skating hammers the property they grind on and because the kids parents sue the strip mall little Johnny broke his arm at.

I hope my views on this aren't taken personally by anyone here. I love kiting and would be very upset if I got baned from my favorite spots. It is something I worry about because there are soccer practices there and it does distract the player. So far the coaches have been cool and I go out of my way to keep them happy, sometimes at great expense to my pride.

furbowski - 11-9-2009 at 11:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Big Earl

Hurting people or coming close to doing so is a world away from some guy in Germany climbing a mountain with his camera person and jumping off. He was in a very rural, not crowded area and he was wearing a parachute. I really fail to see how that is going to effect anything, and I don't see the harm in my posting the vid.



actually I have no problems with those vids, nor really with anybody posting crazy kite-related stuff on here...

BUT:

Let's say we build up a sweet collection of educational and riveting kitemare videos stories here, then it gets used against us? Maybe I'm paranoid, but that's a scenario which could have a pretty bad outcome...

One of the difficulties is that as a community we take on very different levels of actual risk from pilot to pilot based on experience, kit, location, and local support, but those levels of risk get perceived in very different ways by other groups of people as well as ourselves... if that makes sense. Makes it hard to build a common picture.... hence discussions like this.... Yeah I know some of the ikitesurf crowd would call this frolicking with franny foil of the five fingers or something such (excuse my lack of explicit language here :rolleyes: ), but whatever....

kandrey89 - 12-9-2009 at 12:21 AM

Quote:

whatever....


last word of the post, and it summarizes the thread so nicely :tumble::wee:
:lol:

furbowski - 12-9-2009 at 04:18 AM

:rolleyes:

Bucky - 18-9-2009 at 01:05 PM

On the positive side. For all those people who might be snooping on this site to see how irresponsible we are... The fact that we are actually having a serious discussion about this, rather than just cheering on the latest idiotic kiter doing something dumb, Actually speaks well of us.

I fully agree that we all representatives of this sport, whether we want to be, or not. And that we all have a responsibility in policing ourselves and putting our best foot forward in the public eye. (see my response to the recent "seagull" blog in the "Kite Buggying" section of this forum)

That being said...

Daring or extreme behavior is not what has caused the most problems, or what we need to worry about. This entire sport is considered by most, to be "daring" and "extreme". It actually evolved out of people "doing something stupid" with kites!

No. What has the potential to cause the most problems is "negative public interaction" and "negative public image"

Let me explain... Take a look at mountainbiking... What caused huge numbers of trails to be closed to mountainbikers? Was it the extreme "Vancouver Freeride" scene, jumping off logs? No! It was the negative public image that mountainbikers began acquiring because some weren't respecting other trail users or the trails themselves. Running hikers off the trails, Scaring horses, willfully damaging trails. They began being viewed as intruders...unfriendly... bad for the trails... bad for the environment! The result....BANNED!!

That is where we to be careful. We need to all be positive representatives of our sport whenever we interact with the rest of the public.

Where I live, we are fortunate to have a large expanse of beach to play on. It also happens to be a section of beach where the public can drive on. Luckily, kiters around our area are a friendly bunch that goes out of their way to talk with any curious person that happens to stop to see what we're doing. (there are days when I think I spend more time talking to strangers about kiting, than actually kiting.) I even carry a little beat-up starter kite with me, just in case someone wants to give it a try. (Remember, every "convert" means one less potential enemy.)

We're also very careful in making sure that our activity is not interfering negatively with anyone else's enjoyment of the beach. Also, we try to promote the fact that we are a environmentally conscious sport (It's quiet... We're not scaring the wildlife... We're not polluting... No fuel, fumes, smoke... We don't tear up the dunes or the beach) Consequently, locally, we have a pretty positive reception from the public. (I actually had a Oregon State Patrol "pull me over" on my buggy just to tell me that he "clocked" me at 40mph and said "that looks soooo cool!!!!")

That level of public interaction (or lack thereof) is what will ultimately make or break us. Sure, it might take away from some of our flying-time - But that sure beats having no place to fly at all!