ro_neclar - 19-3-2006 at 05:11 AM
I have a bullet 3.5, which i find nice and easy to control, and in higher winds it makes more of a challenge.
anyway, got a kite boardd (flexifoil airdeck) and i was dieing to try it out
so i go out, and launch my kite its all going well
untill
i get on my board.......
im on the left side of the window, now i try and fly my kite accross high and as son as i hit the powerzone
fling!
im have to step over the board
and this happens a few times untill wind pucks up and my bullet lifts me 5 ft into the air! corr blimy
and i land on my head lmao
it hurtttt =[
but basicly every time i tryed to get going, my kite moved through then window really quickly and i got pulled over my board. so does anyone have any
tips
or shoul;d i just go out in really low winds to start off with and get used to it?
thanks
xxx
Scoopy - 19-3-2006 at 05:20 AM
You need to start out in lower winds. Getting your balance on the board with the kite takes time. When in higher winds, you can actually sit on your
butt with your feet in the board and then bring your kite across, letting it pull you up off the ground. If your out in lots of wind, this is almost
how you will be positioned anyway, you really have to lean back and press your feet into the board. Dont forget to point your toes so you are not
trying to carve upwind constantly.
Scoop
Bucky - 24-3-2006 at 11:22 AM
This is a problem most beginners have with mountainboards. They see the tires and think that the board will only travel in two directions. They
think of them as oversized skateboards. The trick is to start thinking of them as snow boards.
What I mean by this is, most mountainboards have rounded tired are capable of sliding sidways quite easily. Most of your steering once you get moving
won't be done by tilting the board (like a skateboard). It will be done by applying pressure to the front or back of the board (like a snowboard)
Now I'm pretty sure you've slid forward on your feet before. Try doing this with your board attached (sliding sidways straight forward) Lean back
and push the board out in front of you to allow the wheels to slide sidways. It will take a little more pressure than just sliding on your feet, but
you'll get used to that. The trick is to always keep the board pushed out in front of you, and avoid the tendency to stand directly over your board.
Now the first few times, you may end up on your butt, but soon you'll find a nice balance between the kite's pull and your lean back. This is
actually your ideal riding position (kite out front - board out front - leaning back)
Once you get used to the idea of treating it more like a snowboard than a skateboard, you can use this in other ways. At the end of a run, or if I
want to stop quickly, I can power slide as I bring the kite up to a neutral position. Quick stop, and it creates a cool sand rooster tail!
Try this, it WILL work. Later
ro_neclar - 5-4-2006 at 03:06 AM
oh right cool, thanks guys, ill try those things and tell you what works =]
thanks again
Ro_neclar
xxxx
awindofchange - 5-4-2006 at 11:29 AM
Good suggestions have already been given but I want to add another.
When I first started out on the board, my biggest mistake was thinking it was going to be very similar to my buggy....wrong.
The buggy will slide sideways very easily, this is because the center of gravity is very low and the tow-point is also very low, allowing me to
transfer my weight easily onto the side rails of the buggy and slide it sideways. This is not the case of the mountainboard. On my board, my center
of gravity is very high as well as the tow point, making it a lot more difficult to get the board to slide. Now on a softer surface I imagine the
board will do some side sliding but where I ride the surface is very hard and the board has excellent grip so no sliding. Instead of sliding, I would
get ripped sideways off of the board (superman style!).
What I have since figured out and have passed onto many others who are starting out on the mountain board is to point the board at about 45' downwind
towards the direction you wish to travel. Once you launch the kite and put the kite at zenith, then step onto your board. With the board pointed at
this angle it is very easy to lower the kite down in front of you and you will then begin to be pulled into that direction. Take the kite back up and
if you get enough speed on the first dip, start edging the board across wind. If you dont have enough speed then dip the kite again until you pick up
enough speed to continue moving. Once you get enough speed up you will be able to park the kite in front of you and keep moving smoothly.
To change direction you will want to take the kite back up towards zenith (overhead) and start edging the board upwind. You will eventually slow down
to a stop with your board pointing well upwind. Simply rotate your shoulders and your stance and you should now be pointing perfectly at a great
downwind angle heading in the opposite direction. Drop the kite down in front of you again and reverse the above and you got it.
Basically, you will start out making broad U shape arcs across the flying field. Remember to stand on top of your board when you are going straight
(no edging) or you will edge yourself into a circle.
Take it easy at first and try to learn in lighter winds. Once you get the balance and control you can start doing some of the advanced take-offs that
have been mentioned above.
And I am assuming that you are wearing proper gear such as a helmet and pads.....oh, and make sure you have a helmet. One more thing, dont forget to
wear a helmet. 
jumping_jim - 6-4-2006 at 11:36 AM
sounds like you are starting at 90 degrees to the wind, ie crosswind. When startin out try pointing the board 45 degrees downwind then as you start
moving, turn back to 90degrees
ro_neclar - 10-4-2006 at 02:21 AM
its great to see so many of you replying!
haha i went out yesterday in lower winds and spent about 5 mins just getting all the balancing right etc, so the wind picked up a bit and i started
moving so it was cool. i was getting the hang of it and how to use the board and kite, and when to move, and how far to lean back, because your
strapped in, you cant step out if your going quite fast etc, so i was quite proud of my achivments, haha and at the very last second the wind went
crazy and i shot of downwind into tomorow and fell as i wasnt expecting it so i got pulled off. got up maunched my kite again and though it was jhust
getting to hard for me so i decided to call it a day
and then it started raining, so it was good timing!
thanks for all your replyes, they have all helped! and if anyone has any more tips i would greatly appreciate it!
Thanks again!
Ro_neclar