Hi, Im totally new to kite-everything. I just bought an HQ hydra 350 trainer kite (3.5m) to learn and a used MBS core 90 board. Im planning on using
the trainer with the board once I get used to just the kite itself. I weigh 180lbs (81kg) and am about 6 feet (181cm) tall.
Do I need to get a harness for this setup? how bout a helmet? I need to fit this stuff in a suitcase to go down to the beach before the end of the
year. I know its probably better to wear a harness, helmet, protection, etc, but unless you guys think that I will probably do some damage
landboarding or get some air with a Hydra 350 kite, I'd rather not take a helmet. Is this setup gonna be hard to handle without a harness?
Any suggestions greatly appreciated! I would need to buy the harness (or any protection or accessories) asap if you guys think its necessary so its
gets here in time for my trip..
Thanks NJLandboarder - 12-12-2010 at 07:39 PM
can that kite even pull you on that board?
and since your new its better to learn not hooked in helmets are always a necessity wind is very unpredictable and can gust up fast and knock you
over... sand is hard i hit my head once while riding a 2m kite and the next day i bought a dirtbike helmet and have worn it ever since
kites are easily repaired... your brain isnt so wear a helmet, if i didnt wear a helmet i may not me alive todayelnica - 12-12-2010 at 08:10 PM
Hey!
Wow, 2m kite and it threw you on your head... I'll look for a helmet on craiglist or playitagainsports then. Were you kiteboarding or just training?
I think the kite would pull me at least a little if the wind is strong enough. I saw a video of a guy succesfully kiteboarding for a good 10 seconds
with an HQ Hydra 350 in strong winds:
Im not really looking for anything super exciting yet, more on the safe side. It's usually pretty windy at the beaches Im going to so I hope it'll be
strong enough to pull me on the board.acampbell - 12-12-2010 at 08:22 PM
yeah it's the little ones that spank the hardest because you let your guard down. Save the harness for later when you always will know what the kite
will do next in any kind of conditions. But get the helmet on always.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.Kamikuza - 12-12-2010 at 08:33 PM
Welcome
NEVER buy used helmets, especially anything the composite ones like motorbike helmets. IMHO they're so cheap new that you don't need to risk brain
damage by buying a used, possibly stuffed, one.
You don't need a harness at this stage as you want to be able to just let go the bar and have the kite flag out.
But I'd definitely recommend elbow & knee pads and perhaps, wrist guards and padded shorts if you feel like seriously kitting up. Sturdy boots
with ankle support would be good too.
See how he's looping the kite continuously, around 9:47? He may be up and riding but he's headed straight down wind ... which sucks you'll need a good blow to get riding on the smaller kites ...bobalooie57 - 12-12-2010 at 08:41 PM
Like everyone has said, a harness will come in handy later on, after you've learned how to fly your hydra inside and out. You'll also need a "D" loop
with Quick Release, both PL and HQ make these, to attach your bar to the harness. The problem with the 3.5M is that in order to really have fun on
your board with it, you will need strong wind, and if you are not certain of what your kite will do at all times, that is when you get
spanked, and lets face it, there are a lot of us who have some experience, and we still get spanked on occaision. Don't let that deter you
though, just be prepared by really getting to know your kite. Good luck, and have fun!+1 on wearing a helmet!van - 12-12-2010 at 10:03 PM
My neck is still soar from my fall yesterday. When I got up from the fall , I felt a little dizzy. Luckily my helmet was on my head at the time. A
car on the beach got in my path so I reverse the kite trying to stop. The kite and I stopped but not the board so bam right on my back. I felt a
popping sound on the back of my head when the helmet hit that hard compact sand. I thought I crack the helmet it was just the sound it made because
the sand was so hard. So the first thing is get a helmet!!InvertedForce - 12-12-2010 at 10:05 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by NJLandboarder
can that kite even pull you on that board?
kites are easily repaired... your brain isnt so wear a helmet, if i didnt wear a helmet i may not me alive today
Well said, CJ!elnica - 12-12-2010 at 10:19 PM
Thanks guys!
I'll get some knee and elbow pads, maybe some wrist pads too. Do you think a bicycle helmet would do for the trainer kite? or what other helmet aside
from motocross? I have motorcycle helmets and they are kind of big for my suitcase so I dont think a motocross helmet would fit. Im not sure Im gonna
be able to take the board on the plane, Im looking at the specs and it says the board itself is 36" long, so its longer than any of my suitcases.
Maybe I can take my suit bag (business suit) and stick the board (no wheels, etc) in with it so I can just carry it onto the plane, the stewardess
usually hangs the bag up in a closet so it doesnt need to be folded or anything. Anyone taken a landboard on a plane before? Maybe I should just leave
the board here. It probably wont be much fun with the trainer kite anyways.
Invest in a brain bucket!! All it takes is one mistake or ill-placed fall and you have head trauma. As far as taking the board on the plane goes... If
you really want to bring it, I say just bring it as carry-on. Although I don't think you'll need it... The most important thing you can do right now
is really get to know your kite. I mean REALLY know it. To the point where you can fly it in all safe conditions (40+ mph winds in the kiting world
are generally deemed unsafe, even for advanced riders), and be able to pilot it without looking. It doesn't take long to catch on. A little bit of
dedicated practice can go a long way.
Good luck!
Seannyelnica - 12-12-2010 at 11:20 PM
Thanks Seanny,
I decided for the protec wake helmet with ear flaps so I can use it once I get into kitesurfing. Seems like it is a pretty strong helmet from the
reviews. Im leaving the board here, I'll get to use it this summer when I get a bigger kite Kamikuza - 12-12-2010 at 11:23 PM
NO not a bicycle helmet! The shape is all wrong ... the Ace is much better. The Gath is ugly and overly expensive IMHO Bern is another company that springs to mind ...
I've taken my landboard on a place - put it in a snowboard bag with the wheels off, then checked it in :DSeanny - 13-12-2010 at 03:55 PM
ProTec is fine! Any skateboard style helmet should do. MBS also makes a decent helmet for $30. Motocross helmets would probably offer you the best
protection, but are heavy and limit your movement and peripheral vision. I wear a ProTec skate helmet. I covered it and stickers and put it on over my
super cool Element visor beanie
Cheers,
SeannyBladerunner - 13-12-2010 at 05:53 PM
Helmet - FOR SURE
Knee + elbow pads - Yes but I don't always wear them.
Hip Pads - I use these and really need them with my boney butt.
Spine protection. Don't have it but it's a great idea.
Wrist guards- I used them when I was starting out on tarmac but don't use them now.
Harness - It isn't exactly safety equipment. I am of a different school. I think hooking in early while not pushing yourself is a big advantage. If
you get used to a harness you can use it to rest up when walking upwind etc.. This means more fly time so faster learning curve.
From what I here the Hydra is not a great upwind kite. Don't be surprised if you struggle with that when you start riding. Don't get too stressd and
enjoy the ride even if you end up having to walk upwind again. Once you are skilled you will hold your own with this kite .NJLandboarder - 13-12-2010 at 05:55 PM
i have this helmet
but its all stickered and it doesn't effect my vision much and its a little heavy but totally worth it i paid like 79 or 89 at a local motorcycle
shop
WELDNGOD - 13-12-2010 at 06:05 PM
Pro tec skate lid for board , full face atv helmet for buggy. deffo on the pads . And welcome to the PKF!van - 13-12-2010 at 07:27 PM
I got the Protec Ace Wake helmet and it has worked fine for kitesurfing, buggy and ATB. Only issue I have with using it for buggying is that it
doesn't protect my mouth from flying dirt ( whatever crap that gets fling your way). I am thinking about getting a separate full face helmet like
WeldingGod suggest for buggying.elnica - 15-12-2010 at 03:43 PM
got my protec wake helmet with ear protection today! its so light! weighs 1.25lbs (570g) looks much nicer in person than in pictures. Decided to go
with yellow cus its the most visible in the water and on land.
WELDNGOD - 15-12-2010 at 03:45 PM
nice! Be sure to wear it faithfully.DHKITE - 15-12-2010 at 04:36 PM
Respect the wind....
I cannot stress this enough, I lofted myself 30 feet into the air with this kite And broke my ankle badly because I did not pack it in when the wind
became gusty and strong.
It is a great kite though, and Now on my 7th week post surgury I am looking forward to Flying Not seated again.... Have been flying In light winds
while Healing, But when Wind is 20-30 kmh This kite is fun as hell, and Capable of Scudding ( on bike Shorts and Seated ) fast and as long as you have
field left... I havn;t tried it with a board or in water yet But I can tell you that the hydra Does Sit on water for some time and re-launches
easilly, had mine sitting on water for 4 4 minutes one day and it didn;t sink at all .Bladerunner - 15-12-2010 at 05:04 PM
Good buy !
I make a point of not putting up a kite without my helmet on. It has become like the seatbelt in my car. If I don't have it on something doesn't feel
right. I find it simplest this way rather than deciding if I need it or forgetting it all together.elnica - 15-12-2010 at 05:06 PM
DHKITE: I wish you a speedy recovery! hope it didnt cause any permanent damage. :shocked2: wow, you lofted yourself 30 ft in the air with the hydra
350?
I'll make sure not to fly it when its gusty! How strong were the winds? I bought a windmeter (cost 40$ if anyone wants one) cus I have no idea what
wind speed numbers mean in reality.
Glad to hear I can scud with this kite! Maybe it'll pull me on the landboard after I get comfortable with just the kite. HELMET IS ALREADY IN THE
SUITCASE!!! Still need to get the pads... shouldn't have given them away last year.WELDNGOD - 15-12-2010 at 05:12 PM
thanks.. I walked today for the first time in 2 months So Recovery goes well and I'm stoked.
Winds that day were 20-30 Kmh and I was learning jumping but really only gettin floaty style swings on the kite and only 2 feet or so off the
ground.... Then the wind changed which I observed in the downfield windsock but ( stupidly ) decided to do one more jump and slide down the field, I
was off the ground maybe 6 feet ( bigger than any other jump that day ) when suddenlly instead of coming back down I felt the kite go of and I was now
looking down On tree tops... Later that day i looked at the weather report for the area I was flying in and it said that at the time of accident the
winds were gusting to over 60 kmh...
Windmeter is an awesome idea, and as for permanent damageto myself.. I now sport more titanium on the ankle.. but I will heal.
:singing:DHKITE - 16-12-2010 at 10:54 AM
Sorry for the double post but wanted to add that You may not get going upwind but You will haul ass going downwind on a board as I was hauling just
ass scudding..Kamikuza - 16-12-2010 at 05:17 PM
It's always the "Just one more ..." that gets you :o glad you're healing up DHK!!!DHKITE - 17-12-2010 at 10:09 AM
yup, twas the same when I did in the femur,hip and shoulder and also when i did the heel ... "just one more..."
Healing up well and looking forward to Kitesurfing in the summer ( will get a bigger kite then ) and snowkiting this winter with the hydra ( prolly
just shuttle runs across the lake one way.. lol.
glad to own this hydra while healing though, is a fun kite to fly while broken... seated and in light winds of course.... there is just something so
captivating and beautiful in kites and wind power...Seanny - 17-12-2010 at 10:27 AM
It's always the small kites that get you! Although, I'd be kind of scared to jump high with a large FB also... Ha, I think my Twister II 4.1 gets me
more floaty jumps than my 7.7 does... the 7.7 is a monster... if the wind isn't absolutely perfect with the 7.7, don't even THINK about jumping it.
The Twister II is a very lifty kite, and I know I could not jump like I can in the same winds with an HQ Beamer or something. I guess it all depends
on redirect, because I rarely have hard landings with my 4.1. It's also perfectly happy trying to plink you off the ground when parked at the zenith.
As a general rule, I would still never recommend jumping with a small kite, especially in gusty winds. 60kmh is insane! At least now that you're on
the road to recovery, you have a wicked story to tell :D
you'll need a good blow to get riding on the smaller kites ...
