Power Kite Forum

How often do you get to ride?

BeamerBob - 12-1-2012 at 10:55 AM

Just curious how much the rest of you are getting to fly. Life keeps me at bay except for maybe a session every 3 weeks or so. Now that I'm done moving for a while at least, maybe I can get to weekly or better. I have a great place to ride of course but its 45 minutes from my driveway to unloading the car. I used to have marginal places to ride that were 10 minutes away. I think I prefer to have great sessions every time I can get out.

martinipro - 12-1-2012 at 11:01 AM

Depending on wind conditions, I have OK riding spots between 40mins - 2hours. Some spots I can't ride, leaving me with static sessions.
I've been able to go out and fly maybe once a week. Riding less often, maybe 2-3 times a month.

cheezycheese - 12-1-2012 at 11:03 AM

I don't get out nearly as much as I would like to. If I get 5-6 sessions a year I'm happy. But as my skills are increasing I am trying to get out more.

(p.s.) disqualify any of the Nahant Crew from this poll. They ride so much its sickening.

dylanj423 - 12-1-2012 at 11:05 AM

it really depends on the season... spring has favorable winds usually... its def THE SEASON... summer may be okay now that i have the 21m.... fall is good, but usually the winds are unpredictable... winter because its cold (good for buggying, tho- empty beaches)

i voted once a month because my avg year has 12 good sessions.... i expect that number to go way up soon... my season is almost here, but even then, between work and school its hard to find ANY time, let alone time when its windy... :/


its okay, tho, cause when i make the big bucks, im taking a year off to travel round the country in an RV and kite it all... ivanpah, the gorge, florida keys, OBX, south padre... oh yeah...

bobalooie57 - 12-1-2012 at 11:10 AM

I try to get out at least once a week. Sometimes the wind doesn't line up for riding, but then I will find a place to fly static. Gotta feed the need!

BeamerBob - 12-1-2012 at 11:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dylanj423
its okay, tho, cause when i make the big bucks, im taking a year off to travel round the country in an RV and kite it all... ivanpah, the gorge, florida keys, OBX, south padre... oh yeah...


That's what I'm talking about. :yes::thumbup:

shehatesmyhobbies - 12-1-2012 at 11:35 AM

I get out a couple or three times a month! Problem here is when flying inland I need NW, SW, W winds. Usually when we get good winds from those directions, it is accompanied with rain! I have gotten out more lately with my son and his buddy constantly pulling at the pant legs to take them flying! Glad those kids are around and into it! I flew on New years day, and three times since. That's pretty good here for January!

labrat - 12-1-2012 at 11:36 AM

I clicked a few times a month.
Truth is from several times per week to once per month this time of year.

Then there is summer…

lunchbox - 12-1-2012 at 11:47 AM

I'm pretty fortunate....I can get out every day....I go during my lunch hour...with driving there and getting out of the slacks and dress shirt, it's only about 25 mins actual flying time, but man, I've had some pretty magical sessions during those 25 mins. L.A. is definitely not as windy as some places especially during winter, but it's usually at least 5-6mph and that's all I need with the Vapor 16.1!
..and then I try to kitesurf in the ocean on Sat or Sun depending on conditions.

Quote:

im taking a year off to travel round the country in an RV and kite it all... ivanpah, the gorge, florida keys, OBX, south padre... oh yeah...


This is what I think about everyday on my way to work when I'm stuck in traffic..."To know is nothing at all, to imagine is everything" ;-)

Telestrat - 12-1-2012 at 12:38 PM

I get out usually twice per week. Once per week on kite/landboard at the beach (about 15 minutes from house) and once per week static fly here at big field near work. It gets gusty at the field but it's still good practice (I just started kiting this summer so need all the practice I can get).

I have the PERFECT snowkiting lake less than 5 minutes from my house but it's not frozen solid yet. We need some colder weather!! I bought a brand new 10 meter Ozone Access depower kite about a month ago for snowkiting and all we have gotten so far this winter is rain!!!

Pray for cold!!!

burritobandit - 12-1-2012 at 01:13 PM

Just letting you guys know that there's a site out there to help you track your sessions:
http://www.trakdat.com/

It'll track the day you kited, the duration, what gear you used, any notes you want to mention, and will show the realtime stats from your closest IKitesurf/WindAlert sensor so you can see what the wind was like during the session.

It's got a friend list so you can add buddies and see what sessions they've had.

AD72 - 12-1-2012 at 01:21 PM

It depends on the season. Summer is the best for me due to the delta thermals. Other seasons it is storm chasing.

awindofchange - 12-1-2012 at 01:34 PM

With work and family, it makes it hard for me to get out as often as I want. If I could, I would ride every weekend - but truth be told, I am lucky to get out once every 1-2 months.

Life can be so cruel sometimes and it sure interferes with your wants. :)

alasdair macleod - 12-1-2012 at 01:43 PM

Just not getting out like most life, weather it get dark here about 4pm so when I get home from work it's dark. :(

wheresthewind? - 12-1-2012 at 05:48 PM

gosh, it depends on so many things, work, how im feeling, how long its been, weather, etc.....its always a blast when i do get out though......

Bladerunner - 12-1-2012 at 06:49 PM

So hard to answer.

Kiting is so seasonal around here. Our fields are too soggy to ride from about Oct to May. Even those who snowkite will often be stuck for months between seasons + sessions. Green Lake has yet to freeze this year so I have only had 2 snowkite days ( 5 attempts ) . On track for another dismal 6 session season.

I used to get out to my local park riding light thermals about 4 days a week in summer but they haven`t been as present the last 2 years.

Global warming is really putting the screws to my total number of kite days per month !

WELDNGOD - 12-1-2012 at 07:50 PM

Used to be a couple times a wk. Now it's more like a couple times a week.

stetson05 - 12-1-2012 at 09:39 PM

I usually average at least once a week but with a couple of 2 month dry spells this year it is probably more like 2-3 times a month average. Better equipment has certainly made a big difference. I would guess my 19m has almost doubled my ridable days. I focused mainly on water this summer which also limited my days. those sessions I do get after a dry spell are so sweet though and the water time really helped me grow. Spring is the best time here and I plan to be riding a ton. Summer is better in the Gorge than here.

rtz - 12-1-2012 at 11:11 PM

I'd buggy everyday if we had the wind and weather conditions for it and either it got dark later or I didn't have to work or could get off work.

It's like this around here:

Jan, Feb - Often cold(too cold), no wind, random good kite days.
Mar, Apr, - Dealing with rain, some really windy days.
May, June, - Prime buggy time.
Jul, Aug - Wind shuts off and it's 100+ degree's everyday.
Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec - really random weather and wind. Here and there and unpredictable.

Looking_Up - 12-1-2012 at 11:14 PM

I couldn't vote
because there is a big difference between kitable weather
and getting out to do it
wind is favorable usually 2 to 4 times a week after work or on the weekends year round
so this guilt thread and my desire to be sponsored have spured me on to kite at least once a week
that is if i can manage to put aside some of my other hobbies:dunno:

pyro22487 - 13-1-2012 at 02:40 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rtz
I'd buggy everyday if we had the wind and weather conditions for it and either it got dark later or I didn't have to work or could get off work.

It's like this around here:

Jan, Feb - Often cold(too cold), no wind, random good kite days.
Mar, Apr, - Dealing with rain, some really windy days.
May, June, - Prime buggy time.
Jul, Aug - Wind shuts off and it's 100+ degree's everyday.
Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec - really random weather and wind. Here and there and unpredictable.


AMEN to that lol. I really think this summer will be better with some larger kites in our quivers. Now we need to find a way to beat the heat. Lots of water and….. thats all I can think of.

arkay - 13-1-2012 at 03:27 AM

depends on the season... 3-4 times a week in the summer and meh in the winter

Feyd - 13-1-2012 at 05:28 AM

Either once all day or I'll ride in the morning, eat lunch and run errands, then hit the ice for the afternoon.

I didn't ride yesterday. But I was out for 11 of the last 13 days.

I will be riding everyday we have wind and ice or snow.

mougl - 13-1-2012 at 05:54 PM

Need a personal assistant...

doublespeed360 - 13-1-2012 at 06:37 PM

sorry to make cheezy sic but in the spring and fall i can do multiple times a day and multiple times a week.i should be better at it,love the brits when they come to sbbb,nabx what a show.

wheresthewind? - 13-1-2012 at 08:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Feyd
Either once all day or I'll ride in the morning, eat lunch and run errands, then hit the ice for the afternoon.

I didn't ride yesterday. But I was out for 11 of the last 13 days.

I will be riding everyday we have wind and ice or snow.

i used to be like that when i first started--couldnt get enough of it, think my record was like 153 hrs in one month--i know it was at least 150.....

g00fba11 - 13-1-2012 at 08:38 PM

Between traveling for work and the wind patterns here in Wisconsin it is either feast or famine..... no consistency at all.......

macboy - 13-1-2012 at 10:13 PM

Glad to see I'm in good company with very limited opportunities!

shaggs2riches - 14-1-2012 at 03:48 AM

I put once a month, just if you average it out thats how it should be looked at. Last June I kited 4 days a week. I had some real good sessions in that mix all on the ATB. The thing that blew my mind was how good I was getting over that month. I was no pro by any means, but with consistent riding, on the days with the right wind direction my riding was solid. Last winter gave me three riding days mostly because it was -40c all winter. If the Catholic School Board hadn't tore up the field I kitelandboarded in t build another Catholic school, I would have been there a lot the past month. Its been just that warm. Hope we get a good dump here soon cuz I got a lot of sessions to make up.

Feyd - 14-1-2012 at 05:51 AM

I used to measure my riding levels in hours but now I measure in distance since we ride mostly on lakes and at a fair clip. Last season, inspite of how lean the season was, I still managed to get almost 3000 miles in.

So far this season I have just over 700 miles in. A few 80 mile days and a few 30-40 mile days and a couple single digit days when the wind was uber light.

2 hrs of light wind riding is a lot harder on my body than 4-5 hrs or high wind riding. I hate light wind days but I hate being at a desk or sitting on the couch more.

shaggs2riches - 14-1-2012 at 03:25 PM

We have a 10cm snowfall forecast for tonight......not much I know, but if there looks enough in the fields in the morning then I'm going kiting. I don't care if its gonna be -30c with the wind chill. Waxed my snowboard 2 months ago and its been taunting me ever since.

Scudley - 15-1-2012 at 03:48 AM

Not as often as I would like.
S

djinnzfree - 15-1-2012 at 03:22 PM

Very bad flu keep me home... please i need assistance!!! Nice nurse please!

Drewculous - 16-1-2012 at 11:02 AM

Depends... Winter wind here is terribad... So once a month during the winter

Spring is my season, nice even winds almost daily... Mid 70s... Multiple times a day for sure!

Summer and fall depend on the wind, usually a few times a week till the winter cr@p winds roll in

Mainekite - 16-1-2012 at 11:25 AM

I get to fly almost every day that there is wind and the tides cooperate. I drive by the beach in the morning, lunch and at three after work. If the wind is up I make something happen. Not always the best direction but who cares (other than my wife, she thinks I'm obsessed)

dylanj423 - 16-1-2012 at 06:33 PM

got one today.... ahhhhhh...

Houston AirHead - 16-1-2012 at 09:00 PM

its been over 2 months for me, it sucks pretty bad...... im waiting for the SE wind to come back.. i have my spring suit board kite ready to rock.....


I miss kiteboarding....:dunno:

MDK - 16-1-2012 at 11:53 PM

I have only been flying since last July and I would say I get about 3 to 4 sessions/month. The only thing holding me back is that I work a lot cuz I can just step out my door to fly. And when I get my buggy there are some nicely groomed fields just minutes away. I suspect I will travel to the beach (8 hours) once/year, Lake Alvord (4 hours) once or twice/year and of course NABX (12 hours) every year.

ChrisH - 17-1-2012 at 01:09 AM

Whenever I can....the wind here almost always comes with rain. It's been an extremely mild Winter this year and it has been dead calm for much of it. We didn't have a windy day for over a month! It's getting better now I just need to get my ass out there!

PHREERIDER - 17-1-2012 at 08:40 AM

i voted but, question the "multiple" times , as i session at a daily rate and do doubles all the time. not sure daily and multiple are a separate class.

for example on the ATB at low at 1pm stop/break at say 3/4, then get on the water til sunset ..is that one 6 hour session or 2 3hour sessions ??? this is common, but like last friday we did 9am water session til 11am, and then back on the water at 4pm that is not so common but definitely 2 sessions( and a midnight run at low would make #3.)

and how to (physically) make it through multiples ...HOT TUB!

BOB i humbly submit as better class category the "HOT TUB required" to encompass daily/multiple as one rather than two separate because without a hot tub time machine your bones won't allow it!