Power Kite Forum

Going out alone? Your thoughts?

erratic winds - 19-5-2013 at 03:02 PM

Ok. I've always ridden alone. Just the nature of the sport when there are so few people who do it. I learned via getting my ass kicked and watching youtube, after getting hooked with a lesson in Maui.

I'm now at a point where I don't really feel riding alone is worth it anymore for me, and it's really making me reconsider kiting at all. I've had serious injury before and actually had some stranger who was driving by who saw it run to try and help, as I was laying there seriously considering calling 911 from the phone in my chest pocket.

I barely walked away that day, and it took me some time to be walking right at all, afterwards.

I feel that my skill level now, in order to get "better", is significantly ramping up the danger levels. I fly my 15 in winds that I probably shouldn't, because I'm chasing big airs and tricks.

Last few sessions have really put it in perspective for me, and I'm comprehending that I have no one available to push me to get better, no local I ride with more advanced than me who could give me tips to improve, and usually no-one to call an ambulance if need be.

The few people who were more advanced then me and inspired me to improve had kids and I've not seen either one of them for a long time.

Stagnation of skills makes me want to do something else besides kite. Need progression to be fresh.

I ONLY go out alone because I do LAND ONLY. I would never go anywhere near the water alone.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT GOING OUT ALONE?

elfasa - 19-5-2013 at 03:24 PM

I buggy alone all the time ! I don't really see a problem with it to be honest, although I don't ride as hard as you! Worst comes to the worst I have my phone on my person when I go out. And although the beach is big I try and stay to areas that can be seen by walkers etc.

Is your main issue safety or your skills plateauing ? And do you board of buggy ?

I would probably agree about surfing alone. Although I do see surfers alone at my beach every now and then.

Tim

elfasa - 19-5-2013 at 03:30 PM

Orrrrr, try and get a friend into the sport :D

WELDNGOD - 19-5-2013 at 03:48 PM

Riding alone = 1 Broken shoulder = surgery= I don't ride without someone again. The "someone" can be a downwind driver or a beach spectator. If I find my self alone "it's time to go home!"

erratic winds - 19-5-2013 at 03:55 PM

Quote: Originally posted by elfasa  
Orrrrr, try and get a friend into the sport :D


Yeah, like I haven't been trying to do this every day for the past 8 years.......you make it sound like it is easy...maybe a thousand people who said they wanted to try it. Maybe 50 of them took my #. Nobody has ever called.


I want to get better, to the point where someone who is good at this might see me as an equal, I don't want to just be blowing minds of people who've never seen the sport before. I want to actually be good at it, not just "good because there is nobody else".

g-force junkie - 19-5-2013 at 04:22 PM

Nick
Just pull the trigger and get yourself a new bow kite, I'd say a 12 for you. fly it agressive in light wind and ramp it down in higher winds, they are so user friendly now.

erratic winds - 19-5-2013 at 04:33 PM

Quote: Originally posted by g-force junkie  
Nick
Just pull the trigger and get yourself a new bow kite, I'd say a 12 for you. fly it agressive in light wind and ramp it down in higher winds, they are so user friendly now.


I am unemployed right now, and even when I was making good money, a NEW kite was a laughable idea to me, I've never had that much disposable income.

New equipment won't make me progress faster or correct the things I currently do wrong, and that's what I really want help with.

3shot - 19-5-2013 at 05:32 PM

Rather have a friend or someone there or very near by.

Drewculous - 19-5-2013 at 05:53 PM

i gotta fly alone.... no kiters in the area...

When i take to the lakes this summer, i'll have my wife with me... but ya... ive been wrecked pretty good a few times all by myself. Its a risk i hafta deal with

bigkid - 19-5-2013 at 07:53 PM

Sounds like you answered your question already. I would like to meet you some day and let you know you made the right choice.

soliver - 19-5-2013 at 08:55 PM

I fly alone from time to time, but when I do it's in a park where there are people walking the track around my field,... And I scale back too (ie smaller kite, etc).

Lately though I get knkmanthey to come along when he can... Good pal and about the only other kiter in the metro ATL area that I know.

So yes, but rarely, and not TRULY alone.

Bigbear97e - 19-5-2013 at 09:12 PM

I have to go alone .... nearest kiters to me are the chapter 11 guys 10 hours south in Vancouver who I haven't met yet .... and the alberta gang ... Macboy, Revpaul 10 hours east who I have visited and flown with once ... so no choice for me .... I always have contact with the wife and the local farmer knows when I am on his land .... I would so much like someone nearby that I could learn from .... FB's weren't bad ... start small and build up size with skills ... still find I use caution and sometimes end up under powered with the bug... What I really miss is a teacher cause I got these two big twinskins I am dying to fly, but to be honest ... they don't see daylight .... I got this like new, never been flown, still in plastic phanny I am so itching to learn on .... gotta get to SOB soon or maybe a road trip to Alvord with Revpaul in October ..... I ramble .... fly alone because if I didn't, I wouldn't fly at all

shaggs2riches - 19-5-2013 at 09:36 PM

I understand your predicament even though you are light years ahead of me in terms of skill. I have tried to get tons of people in the sport to no success. It seems to me that people almost have to be drawn to it all by themselves, before they are willing to take it up. To my understanding there are a few kiters in town, but even with posted ads, no one has come forward to kite with me. I will never go to the lake alone, as I don't think the risk is worth it. Even though my wife and friends might be only on the beach, it is comforting to know that help could be sent for if need be. On land I stay near busy roads, or parks where people frequent, and I have my cell with me just in case. I too want to excel in this sport and believe that I will get there eventually. My wife and kids at home always reminds me that it isn't worth hurting myself over. Keep with it, and continue to listen to that voice inside when you feel things are getting too out of control. I'm willing to bet that even if you took it back a notch to stay on the side of caution, you will still progress even though it seems to be slower than in the past.

stay safe
shaggs

erratic winds - 19-5-2013 at 09:57 PM

For the record, today was most definitely the best wind day of 2013 so far, and I sat it out. I tried to go ride, but couldn't go alone, and life prevented schedules from matching up.

And progression is sloooow when you're on your own. I'm confident enough to throw frontside rotations in both directions, but not confident I'm riding away from every one of them, and learned spin a year ago....



Would love to keep hearing from more PKF'ers!

bigkid - 20-5-2013 at 12:05 AM

The wife and I were talking about this post today at dinner and a couple of things came to light that were not thought about until today.
Thought I would bring it up and see what happens.

My wife drove me to the hospital after my accident. From the time of the OBE to being wheeled into the ER was almost 3 hours. As it was the trip from the beach to the hospital was only 32 miles. If I would have had my way, we would have driven another 80 miles to the hospital at home. The 80 miles would have taken about 3 hours with all the screaming and pain I was in.
My wife never told me this until tonight, as she told the Dr at the Hospital that I wanted her to keep driving until we got home to Renton. The Dr and the nurse both said in unison, "he would of never made it."

My wife asked me if she wasnt there to drive me to the hospital, "would you have driven yourself?"
Well of course I would have, and I would have driven all the way home. Where I would have not made it and I would have died on the way. (I was not able to drive, but being a guy, I would have gave it a go anyway)

As for you that are asking about being flown out by helicopter, well it wasnt an option as far as I was concerned due to that weekend being an event where an accident of that magnitude would more than likely shut down the work of the WA. Beaches for ever.
Such an accident/event is always a hot topic for the news one way or the other.

stetson05 - 20-5-2013 at 12:17 AM

I feel your pain. As much as I want to go out more and go harder I am restrained by surface, locations, and the ability to go with someone else. I could be so much better if I could ride more and push more. The managers of the soccer fields I ride on would have kittens if they saw me slide on their field. The time between sessions is longer than I want and it seems to be just enough to get me back to where I was at the end of the last session. Graduate school has made it worse.

BUT, when I am riding, it is amazing. I love the feeling of being locked in and oneness of it all.

As for taking friends, I don't think there is a person know that I haven't invited to go try kiting. I keep a quiver of kites just for them. They can almost never go and again, I am riding alone.

beachrights - 20-5-2013 at 05:13 AM

I fly alone but don't fly in spots where I am alone- huh?

Funny, I hate it when I go to the beach and there are a decent amount of people there but I like the Audience part of the people being there.

I try not to think about getting injured since that will burn your confidence quickly but do listen to the little voice- so I guess I am not alone!

BeamerBob - 20-5-2013 at 06:28 AM

I have flown alone alot in the past, but riding at Ivanpah, my required conditions are more stringent and my choice of kite might be affected. I'm very conscious of being alone there where I wouldn't really think about it on a beach or field. On the lakebed everything is magnified and leveraged with the hard fast surface so it has to not be extreme conditions to ride alone there.

abkayak - 20-5-2013 at 06:42 AM

I just about only fly alone otherwise I wouldn’t get to fly..would love to have others out there for all the obvious reasons..but here too I know it wont happen…I’m real happy out there by myself, but it has prevented me from trying the water....I’m looking to have fun and no question that’s happening and its just up the block from home

shortlineflyer - 20-5-2013 at 09:08 AM

I fly alone but I always make sure someone knows where I am so if I dont return or call again in a certain amount of time they will make sure I'm ok.

kiteballoon - 20-5-2013 at 11:12 AM

I've kited without other kiters around, but never truly alone. I think I'd treat it the same way I did as sailing alone. Heh, I almost never sailed alone for all the reasons listed above and more. That said, I found out the hard way just because someone is with you doesn't mean you're not alone. I'll spare the long story, but it's something to consider. Just because someone is near where you are kiting doesn't mean they can help you should something happen. Maybe it's something routine that gets out of control and without backup your forced to make a poor decision (yes, this happened to me sailing). Just food for thought

However, if I did go kiting alone I would treat it the same way as I do with anything else. Play it safe, don't put yourself in bad situations, and don't try and do things that are uncomfortable or unfamiliar unless your in a good environment/setup to do so. If your always kiting alone, your awareness and decision-making needs to keep your safety and the safety of others in mind. It's no different than if you were kiting with friends -- you need to think about all the scenarios before you kite! Having people around makes it easier to have a safety net should something go awry, but you can plan for and create a similar environment for yourself even if it's only you. Just takes a little more thought :-)

going out alone

austexblo - 20-5-2013 at 12:41 PM

Yeah, I also feel your pain. However, I have found a large group of local guys here in the Austin area, and will have the opportunity to learn from them. I just got over a major illness that had me bedridden for over 6 months. I just purchased a Libre buggy, a 3M Rage and a Puls 2 8M. I also have a friend 7 miles away who owns a private airport, so I have been practising my kiting skills a little. I am going to use this sport to get back on my feet again, and NOTHING is going to stop me. I am 55, so can no longer take big bangs like I used to. My thoughts are, search long and hard for any kiters within 100 miles, hook up with them, and make the drive. It is only through persistance and passion that you will achieve your goal. Let NOTHING get in the way. I used to fly Hangliders, Sailplanes, and was a Pro big boat sailor for many years. ALL of these sports rerquired a burning passion to accomplish. NEVER give up on your dreams! That's my 2 cents worth.

lives2fly - 20-5-2013 at 01:08 PM

I kite alone quite often. There are a few kitesurfers here but I only get to kite with them at weekends. My weekday after work sessions are always on my own. I am aware of the added risks so i try to be cautious. I always wear a helmet and float vest and I only go to a freshwater lake right on the beach so there is always a shore to blow onto whatever direction the wind is in. I feel a lot safer in the water than i do on land. I definitely like having friends around when i ride in the sea.

There don't seem to be any other regular landboarders or buggy riders about. There are 2 or 3 people i know have gear and at least used to kite but i never see them at the beach. I'm always on my own land boarding and have had a few accidents. It does slow down learning because i'm scared to push it in case i get injured. I just wear a bunch of armor to try and learn new stuff.

Kiting is more fun with a friend or two to share the stoke but even a bad day kiting is better than a good day sitting at home so I would never not go just because i had no one to go with.

bigkid - 20-5-2013 at 02:20 PM

Heliboy50 wasnt alone last time he went out, Ce Ce was with him. I would say it saved his life, but thats only my opinion.

In the end we all have to reason whether an extreme sport is how we want to live or die, I choose to reduce the extreme to a reasonable risk that my wife, children and grandchildren can live with.
I still push myself and my skills, but in moderation and as the situation allows with as little consequence as possible.(a few times I have walked away and known that I was stupid and it didnt catch me THIS TIME.)

I learned to prepare and expect the worst, hope for the best, and be very very happy with the end result in the middle somewhere.(while everyone is out from sun-up to sun-down, I made one run up and down the beach and I was satisfied with the knowledge of my speed run as I passed everyone and I called it a day at that point :D )
You see, a day I can play and walk home is a wonderful day, I have seen the alternative and it wasnt good.
Enjoy the wind.

John Holgate - 20-5-2013 at 02:50 PM

I often end up kiting alone. And if it's at Sandy Point, I know there is a very good chance that there will be absolutely no-one within a few miles of where I'll be. I have to take that into consideration - smooth wind with a kite that's slightly underpowered for the conditions and I'm happy to cruise up and down the beach. But I have no burning desire to go really fast, or do huge powerslides. I feel that, providing I pay attention to the kite and the weather, I can be as safe as driving my car.

I have also, on occasion, turned up at the beach, stood on top of a dune for 10 minutes and said 'nope, that's too strong and gusty' and turned around and went home.

I rarely take, what I consider to be, unnecessary risks - that means I will probably never be a really good buggyer who can do all sorts of turns, spins and tricks. But that's ok with me, I'm having fun and at peace just cruising up and down the beach.

Having said that, I have still had a couple of mishaps that could have turned really ugly. My mistakes were duly noted and will not be repeated......hopefully.

It's not a risk free hobby but few hobbies are. Plenty of broken collar-bones from falling off bicycles for instance. We just have to make the best call we can.

Windy Heap - 20-5-2013 at 05:00 PM

I'm a scuba dive instructor.


I teach that "you always need a dive buddy"............heck, it's only dieing underwater I'm worried about, running out of air or drowning or entanglement............but a buddy system can save your assss sometimes.

Have I dove solo on easy dives? yes.

Have I gotten in over my head sometimes while diving? Welllllllll there was that Narc'd out dive at 150 foot deep in Belize, and the other panic attack at 110 feet in the Philippines, but did I use my experience and training to keep a calm head both times, yes.


I've also run out of air underwater, both time shallow doing 15' deep safety stops, but then again, my dive buddy wife was right there to bail be out. Buddies are good in that regards.


But to each their risk / comfort zone.

Mother Nature is not always kind nor forgiving, and un-like a game of Pinball, you don't always get "do overs"

g-force junkie - 20-5-2013 at 05:19 PM

Just get out there and deal with it, life is to short to ponder all the what ifs. a nice trip to SPI will change your attitude!

PHREERIDER - 20-5-2013 at 06:37 PM

interacting with the elements has its price. when watching is all you can do an appreciation as participant adds to the enjoyment. when doing is all you want you can't think of just watching. time will change your position, do while you can and deepen your future appreciation...dissecting the shoulds and the coulds is fumbling with reasoning.

safety?? come on, conditions selection is still a choice ...choose the fun ones forget the sketch , skip the weak, be more discerning to gain maximum enjoyment.


CHOOSING your last session is wise contentment. having your last session choose you is really not what you want ..hence the cell in the pocket.

Flyfish - 20-5-2013 at 10:27 PM

"There comes a day in every pilot's life that he walks to his plane knowing this is his last flight, or not knowing this is his last flight."

43patrick - 21-5-2013 at 06:36 AM

I kite alone 80% of the time and I feel better alone on water than land. I don't go as big when alone, I where a PFD and a Helmet, and I ride strapless a lot to keep it interesting with out big air. That said it is 45 degrees, raining, and blowing 40 mph and I am home drinking coffee because I don't want to go out and freeze to death at the lake alone. It is a tough call and not to be taken to lightly.

hellnferno - 23-5-2013 at 09:29 PM

I would ride alone on LANDboard but on water, you might need a buddy because the risk is higher on water.

Proletariat - 25-5-2013 at 01:34 PM

Totally sucks that our schedules are so out of whack (yet again this weekend... ). From march, 2012 until January, 2013, I flew alone. Ironically, the only time I hurt myself was while in was flying with others (showing off). I think its okay to fly alone with 3 rules:

1) always carry a charged mobile phone on your person
2) always make sure you tell someone where you are going and how long you plan on being out. If you're doing something dangerous/stupid (like, oh I dunno... Testing out your blade IV depower mod in higher winds), make sure to check in after the stupidity passes on.
3) tone it down a bit. Smaller kite, smaller airs, pack it up when gusty, etc.

For the record, I have never seen you under powered. Whether you wanna admit it or not, you get better every single time you ride, even if you're not "pushing the limits." That being said, it totally sucks riding alone, and we all know it. Is just another thing that makes our sport so challenging, but also so rewarding.

I know this isn't an immediate fix, but I've been talking to a few folks about setting up a snow kite expo here in Colorado. A lot of folks want to snow kite, but have no snow and so a number of people are interested. Plus, we have fantastic conditions for such an endeavor. Honestly, going to JIBE really alleviated a lot of my frustrations with constantly trying to juggle wind, schedules, soccer, gear, time and relationship pressure. Maybe doing something here would do the same for you?

Lemme know if you wanna help me plan it. I was thinking about the San Luis Valley or thereabout, or maybe up in south park up by Fairplay. Normal Coloradoans with land are typically very cool about using their land as long as we respect their rules.

soliver - 25-5-2013 at 05:59 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Proletariat  
Totally sucks that our schedules are so out of whack (yet again this weekend... ). From march, 2012 until January, 2013, I flew alone. Ironically, the only time I hurt myself was while in was flying with others (showing off). I think its okay to fly alone with 3 rules:

1) always carry a charged mobile phone on your person
2) always make sure you tell someone where you are going and how long you plan on being out. If you're doing something dangerous/stupid (like, oh I dunno... Testing out your blade IV depower mod in higher winds), make sure to check in after the stupidity passes on.
3) tone it down a bit. Smaller kite, smaller airs, pack it up when gusty, etc.



But don't you think it's a good idea to have a few buddies around to help you untangle the veritable birds nest that comes when your arc meets up with someone else's :lol::lol::lol:

Just kidding you Dave!! Good luck with the snow kite event!!

Proletariat - 25-5-2013 at 10:58 PM

Flying alone means no other noobs with which to tangle :)

Jesus that would have been a mess if you hadn't been there. Well, it was a mess anyway, but it would have been dangerous.

shehatesmyhobbies - 26-5-2013 at 07:38 AM

I fly alone quite a bit, when I do, my wife knows where I am and will know to come look for me if I don't return at certain times or not answer after a certain period of time. If I can't let my wife know where I am going, I call my mother, and let her know. That way someone always knows that I am out and where I am flying when I am alone. Gives me a little peace of mind. I also usually fly a size down in kite too so I do not put myself in a bad situation by going for broke when I fly alone! My local ride spot is right next to a park with lots of people generally there, as well as next to a major highway that has lots of traffic.

Even though riding alone is not the safest bet, it can be done safely. Although saying that you are minimizing your risk is not a true statement, if you fly smart and always be on your toes, you should be ok. As we all know Mother Nature can be a beotch when she wants and will always put us to the test if given the opportunity!