Power Kite Forum - It's been a very long time! Who's still here?

It's been a very long time! Who's still here?

shaggs2riches - 21-2-2021 at 11:58 PM

It has been almost 6 years since I last flew a kite. We had a dry spell with 4 winters of little to no snow. Every winter, I pull my gear out to the front of the closet hoping to give it another go. I hurt my left shoulder about 4 years ago, and it has been still bothering me off and on. Any friends I had that showed any interest in kiting have definitely moved on. I looked at my gear in the closet today and realized my harness doesn't even stand a chance of fitting me in my current (lack of) shape. This sport had brought me so much enjoyment that at one time, I couldn't think of doing anything else. When I last spent any real time on this forum, there were dozens of new posts daily. I sure hope that there are a few folks still here from the days when this place was busy. I have thought about selling off my gear, but I keep telling myself I will get back into it. I guess that is the way these things go sometimes. We get a bit older, but still cling to the things that once brought us joy. I sure hope that one day, I will get the bug again to get my kites in the air. Thank you to everyone who has managed to keep this place running all this time. When I finally do get the urge to fly again, I hope you will still be here. This place feels a bit like coming back home for a visit. Good winds to everyone.

Shaggs

B-Roc - 22-2-2021 at 06:40 AM

I'm still here and kind of in a similar boat. After a series of frustrating outings and beach restrictions during my 2014+ outings, I started skateboarding with my son as it was so much more predictable and convenient. Then, like all things, time passed and I realized I hadn't been kiting more than 1-2 times per year for 5 years when normally I'd be out every other weekend for landboarding and sometimes a few times per week on skis.

I went to my local kite skiing haunt over the weekend that would, in times past, have had 6+ kiters on it and there was no one. I thought about setting up as the conditions were perfect but then I thought about how much I dislike the cold, the current hand and back injury I'm dealing with and I talked myself out of it. And I regret that but it seems my passion to kite is surpassed by my lack of desire to kite. I still love it, but love it more on sand and even when it comes to boarding I find myself making more excuses to not go then to go. I don't know if it's the loss of testosterone or desire or what as I age, but I'm just not as passionate about anything that feels like work and sometimes this hobby feels like work when you have to drive, deal with restrictions, shifting winds, dog walkers, cold temps, poor surface conditions, uncontrollable variables, etc.

I had always hoped to kite more with my kids but one showed no interest and the other was always in organized sports. Now they are both at college and I have no one here to pique my interest and give me a reason to get out. Add to that, the ridiculous price of kites and bars these days make it really hard to justify an upgrade for me. It would probably cost me close to $10k to rebuy the equivalent depower kite quiver I now have and many of the FB kites don't have current equivalents. I can't even tell you how many kites I bought and sold as I built my current quiver, now I know I'll get nothing for my kites and can't afford new ones. Plus, there is no "buzz" anymore. This place use to drive my interest as people would start planning on Monday for the next weekend session. Just like my kiting, none of that seems to happen anymore.

RedSky - 22-2-2021 at 11:53 AM

Waiting for lockdown to end here. Yeah it's been slow but there's much reason to be hopeful.
A sudden spike of interest was witnessed here last week with an influx of a guy joining up. So there's that. :D

I was looking forward to the arrival of the winter winds. I wanted to try my new camera and kite, but then "they" put everyone under house arrest in the UK.
I check-in most days hoping someone has snuck out but I guess most are in a similar situation. Only Juan, of course has diplomatic immunity.
Looking forward to spring and longer days. Hopefully there'll be less restrictions on travel by then so we can all finally post up something.

gilligan - 22-2-2021 at 12:42 PM

A sad post. In the Bay area in CA, it was always a struggle to find a place, get there, deal with surprises and bull#@%$#!; pray for wind. Even trips to El Mirage couldn't attract anyone other than my landsailing friends. Now I'm realizing it's been over five years since I've gotten a buggy out. Two race buggies and a #@%$#!load of kites taking up space in my garage.

That being said, anyone interested in an XXTreme Apexx buggy? :D Keeping the Libre.

markite - 22-2-2021 at 10:54 PM

still here and checking posts. In the area of the great lakes - specifically Ontario, Canada; water levels started rising about 5-6 years ago and took away the nice buggy beaches leaving a very narrow strip on a couple of beaches where you could only use them if you had your kite almost vertical the whole time. It really killed off the buggy vibe and other than being able to use one sometime in the winter with blades it's been sad for riding.
But kiteboarding on water and winter kite skiing and snowboarding is still going on. But it has also been a year of lockdowns so even some of those activities were limited at different times.
Still having fun, but not enough.

Kober - 23-2-2021 at 06:43 PM

More then 10 years of kiting for me and still happy when doing it ..... PKF was the place where I got alll my questions answered when I got my first kite . Not very active here ,but reading posts once a week and happy to see those few who help newcomers with getting into the sport ....
Good winds fellow PKFeres

jantie - 24-2-2021 at 01:26 AM

also here and active in the Crab. fortunatly the beaches are not locked here..

rectifier - 24-2-2021 at 07:43 PM

Similar story Shaggs, SK sure has had lousy snow for years. And I have bad shoulders too, they seem to be a weak point of the human body. At least I still have guys to ride with but we are all busy and fairly spread out, so on the rare day when the conditions are great we all usually just hit the fields solo close to home rather than waste the day travelling.

This year we got plenty of snow in my area, but with so much wind every time that it was in huge drifts and left bare spots. Couple that with rapid temperature swings from -35C to +5C, and the actual number of good kiting days was pretty poor. A lot of nice days were wasted doing snow control with the tractor, too, to avoid being trapped in the yard.

I only got out a couple times myself, and now it looks like the snow will be coming to an end - before I even get the new kite I ordered months ago! Big sigh. I'm tempted to get one last session in tomorrow on the slush, but I raise sheep and lambing time is coming quickly. With success in business, comes more business and less time to spend the money you're making.

I also don't visit the forum that often anymore, and I certainly don't build kites like I used to. I'm happy when I have time to fly the ones I have! Someday I'm going to have to get into buggying to extend my kite season. But spring is muddy, and then crops are on. Maybe right after haying or harvest a guy can get out with a buggy.

soliver - 25-2-2021 at 12:52 PM

I still check in from time to time. No lock down in GA, but I really only kite buggy when I'm at the beach on vacay or at JIBE (which didn't happen last year). I met up with Randy in May in lieu of JIBE and we had a fin ride at a big park here outside ATL. Last time I was on the beach on Saint Simons, there were a lot of cranky beach goers, so that made it less fun, and the fall beach wind was way crappier than the spring. I spend a lot of time in my wood shop these days building and playing Mandolins.

Excited for JIBE this year but my NS2s' bridles are still tangled messes that I need to sort out.

Good to hear (read) from y'all!

abkayak - 25-2-2021 at 01:10 PM

always around...lost my login for a bit
got in the bug 2 days ago for the first time since mid Dec
winds should be more enticing now...they haven't tempted for a long time
and then theres been some other stuff but hey! i don't want to bore you :thumbup:

bigE123 - 8-3-2021 at 02:48 PM

Similar story, had too long a break, threw a 7m single skin up last week for a bit of static flying, wind was only @ 7mph but omg I ached in places that I didnt know they were there, so new resolution is to get back my kite fitness! Ps I'm UK based and have a full quiver of home made kites plus a few which must be old school by now foils

Randy - 8-3-2021 at 03:02 PM

I think I got here about the time a lot of you folks left.....hope it wasn't something I said......

riffclown - 8-3-2021 at 03:20 PM

I do more Quad-line Stunt kiting now.. Very little traction Kiting.. But I still check in pretty regularly. I don't post as often though..

Cheddarhead - 9-3-2021 at 09:04 AM

I'm still here. I still visit the forums on occasion. I suffered a stroke. Not much kiting for me. But I'm doing fine. Was going to go back out, but afraid to. Maybe next year. I will be ready next year for sure. I suffered from Aphasia. Hard to write this, it is bugger for sure. Slowly I'm getting there. Hope you guys are doing well.

jeffnyc - 9-3-2021 at 02:49 PM

Wow Cheddar - glad you're doing better, that's a shock for sure. I was looking forward to the 2021 version of you chasing your kite across the ice with your truck! Take it easy and get better.

I've been lurking around here, try to check a couple times a week to see what everyone's up to. Been able to get up to Sacandaga a few times this year to snow kite, slow start, but been a great winter since the initial storms. and with almost no work, I actually had time to get up there. Air temp is warming up so hitting the water probably later this week.

slopecat - 9-3-2021 at 08:42 PM

I haven't been here for ages. When I started out about 10 years ago this was the place to be. After a couple years I got more plugged in to a local forum or two that have now become mostly inactive. I think the popularity of Facebook has been a bad thing for places like this.

As far as the kiting goes I may not have improved my skills much but I have been active since I first started. This winter and last I got out on the frozen lakes almost every chance I could. I am definitely still enjoying the sport, but my interest has ebbed and flowed a bit for summer and winter riding over the years.

The past two winters my wife as also learned to kite. She can now go out on her own and rig and fly either a foil or LEI kite on her own. Last time out we had crazy strong and gusty winds so we just took turns with the a wing and our skis on rapidly melting ice. This summer she is going to try to learn how to ride on the water and I will be helping with that, but she plans to start we a couple lessons from a professional instructor that we know.

My visit here today was to see what is going on and make a post in the classifieds. I am actually looking for an old HQ Montana 7 in 12m. If anyone reading this has one in decent shape that they no longer use, please contact me.

RedSky - 9-3-2021 at 10:23 PM

Yeah Cheddar, that's shocking to read. Take it easy my guy. Hoping for a speedy recovery. :thumbup:

thanson2001ok - 9-3-2021 at 10:30 PM

I am a certifiable lurker in the community. I'm sure I pop in here at least twice a week, living vicariously through those that are younger and still have the passion (and endurance) to turn wind into fun.

I'm right up here in @Cheddar's territory near Green Bay. Good to hear you are still kicking', big guy!

I lament every time I see my quiver collecting dust in the garage. I should probably find someone to mentor up here. Heaven knows I have a quiver to share and experiences that will keep someone in the fun-zone versus oh-pooh zone! (don't do what I did)

My biggest lament is the Peter Lynn Kite Cat that hangs in my shed feeling very lonely and neglected. This one came from Peter's pal in Hawaii that was developing kite-powered craft. Yeah, I paid to have two shipped to Wisconsin.

I keep saying I'll begin static flying now that the snow is melted. Will someone hold me accountable for that??

thanson2001ok

tomdiving - 10-3-2021 at 05:49 AM

i can tell you, but you already know, that your stings and viper are fabulous static wings.
accountability??? get your butt out there and fly them NOW!!!
there, that's a start...
this video was quite inspiring for me in the early days of kiting - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOhTkHfvEbo
tom

CHICKENKOOP - 10-3-2021 at 07:33 AM

Still here still flying. this winter has been good in southern Vermont.
don't believe I've missed a weekend flying since December. the local fields have been good so haven't needed to travel much.
hopefully lake Sunapee this Saturday.
my working quiver is now 5, 10, 15, for most all conditions.
i check the posts every day.
tight lines and fair winds everybody!

acampbell - 10-3-2021 at 12:16 PM

Quote: Originally posted by markite

still here and checking posts. In the area of the great lakes - specifically Ontario, Canada.

Nice to hear from you Mark! Are the borders still closed? We miss seeing you at JIBE, but of course we miss seeing EVERYONE at JIBE. My kite stuff has been in storage in Brunswick since we sold the house 2 years ago. Looking froward to crawling back into some normalcy. Joan gets her 2nd shot tomorrow and my 2nd is in three weeks, then we leave TX for New Mexico. Best to Fiona.

jeffnyc - 10-3-2021 at 12:19 PM

Heya ChickenKoop - been seeing you pop up on Squambats a lot, you (and the bats) have gotten some great days in! Was hoping to get up to your neighborhood at some point, but will have to be next year when things (hopefully) calm down.

pongnut - 16-3-2021 at 09:18 PM

Still here... swirling in the toilet bowl of dirty wind, aka South Dakota :lol:

SecondWind - 4-4-2021 at 03:33 AM

Hello all - It's been a really long time since I have posted!

I'm still flying kites as much as possible...mostly on water now, but I still break out my 16" Dirtsurfer and mountainboard occasionally.

As for my current quiver, I'm using Flysurfer Peaks, Souls and Sonics.

And I still have one old race kite (Yakuza) on handles.

For water, I use Twintips and a directional surfboard and am looking to start hydrofoiling soon.

Great to see that this forum is still going strong!

markite - 4-4-2021 at 11:11 PM

Quote: Originally posted by acampbell

Hey Angus I keep up on you and Joan by your F.B. posts.
Yes still closed border and we are currently entering another month long semi- lockdown in Ontario for the month of April. It's going into 16 months since Fiona and I have seen each other but hoping there will be a chance for travel to start to open by sometime mid/late summer but still so many restrictions, tests, quarantines etc all adding $$$ and still all an unknown. No trips to JIBE again this year but I'll watch for the posts from the gang and miss seeing everyone

cheezycheese - 5-4-2021 at 12:59 PM

Howdy :cool:

ColinW - 7-4-2021 at 12:20 PM

I am still here. Check in most days to see if anyone is giving away fixed bridles or Kitecats ( I haven't forgotten about you Aaron). Eventually we'll be able to travel and do the things we love again, right? Right?.... right? :ninja:

in the mean time, flying lots of quads (revs) in some beautiful local spots.

Wind_dog - 8-4-2021 at 09:05 AM

Still in Oregon!
We're progressing on the vaccines and looking forward to Sunset Beach and Alvord, SOON.

I check here regularly, mainly to stalk Colin.

eric67m - 8-4-2021 at 11:44 AM

I just lurk to see if Rick is still keeping an eye on Colin.

I generally check top post everyday to see if any items of interest are going on.

I miss you guys and hope to get some flying time in with you all in the future.

AlohaBeaches - 9-4-2021 at 07:34 AM

I just got back on after a long winters nap.

AlohaBeaches - 9-4-2021 at 07:36 AM

I just got back on after a long winters nap.

ColinW - 9-4-2021 at 08:40 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JQS6H2AXdM

macboy - 10-4-2021 at 10:01 PM

Shaggs! I'm still here from time to time as well. Like you, the kites haven't been out. I'm getting so busy in the winters with ice carving. I was SURE that this winter I'd have loads of free time due to Covid but I was actually busier than ever before. Go figure.

The wife still threatens to make me sell the kites. So far she's buying the "they're still perfectly fine and if I sold them I'd get pennies on the dollar I put in so I might as well keep them". I HAVE been seriously contemplating converting the ATB into a eSkate though. If the dollar exchange was a bit better it'd have happened by now.

I bought my daughters their first two line stunters last summer though so we're progressing towards quad lines. I know I'll have a kite in the air soon here. I've been really, really itching for quite some time now (likely why I'm online here tonight). I Know Canuck is still around. I see Ken (Snowbird) on Facebook once and a while. And Dieter - I believe he's still quite active even if just annually in the SOBB days.

krumly - 14-4-2021 at 07:51 PM

Cool to see updates from folks who posted like, daily - 10-15 years ago!

Been easily distracted with too many interests, and haven't flown or kite skied much. Don't get me going on how Climate Change/Global Warming has made for spottier winter kiting in MN. It's for real, for sure. Macboy, how have winters been up at your latitude?

Love this site and have learned a lot from folks here. This forum has slowed down like our local forums (Lakawa.com for example). A combination of the wave having crested and Facebook. Not a fan of 'social media', so I'll keep checking in here!

Cheers, krumly

macboy - 15-4-2021 at 08:19 AM

Winters have been good up here right up until this last one. Not a lot of snow this year but there would have been enough to kite.

I'm a chainsaw carver and in the winter that means ice carving. It's been getting steadily busier and busier each year with this last winter the busiest yet. I had been trying to run a few businesses (also run an animation and design studio - that's what used to pay the bills), I didn't have a lot of free time between the two primary incomes. But now with my focus switched 100% to carving I find I have free time "after work" once again.

The reason I've been visiting PKF more and more lately is twofold.....one, I miss the old "forum" format. Everything has gone Facebook and like you and many, I've had enough of being fed by an algorithm, getting lost in rabbit holes and forgetting why I came in the first place. And second, I've been finding myself bored with this extra time "after work" again.

And I really enjoy the company of all of you - even if I'm not flying.