Power Kite Forum

Old Kiters

Hardrock - 5-6-2009 at 07:29 PM

What I'm seeing here is that several of you guys have been around awhile. I like this idea of guys my age doing such a thing. Even better seeing the kids into it.

I've been in some kite heavens and didn't have a clue as to what I was missing. Now thinking back,,, makes me sick LOL

I'll be 46 on the 29th of this month. Got hooked by the pull less than two years ago.

Just how young are you boys? i know the girls won't tell...
How young was you when you got hooked into this insanity?

Bladerunner - 5-6-2009 at 07:33 PM

50 and :crazy:

I think I have been at it 7 years but I got off to a slow start.

kitemaker4 - 5-6-2009 at 07:39 PM

I do not have a problem telling my age. I am 52 and started buggying in my mid 40's so I have been doing this now for 8 plus years.

Susan (npw goddess)

Todd - 5-6-2009 at 07:43 PM

Just turned 43 on the 3rd and got hooked like a junkie 6 years ago :roll:

bigkid - 5-6-2009 at 07:46 PM

My mind is 22, and my body is 75, and I'm suppose to be 54.
Been kiting for more than 30 years I think?

mougl - 5-6-2009 at 07:50 PM

33 and counting!

indigo_wolf - 5-6-2009 at 07:51 PM

I was going to say 46, but then just realized I had a birthday a couple of months back.... so 47. Does that count as senility? :puzzled:

Kites for about 2 years.... power kites for about a whisker over 6 months. Wind junkie for much, much longer.

My avatar is cropped from a print called, appropriately enough, "Howling Wind." :smilegrin:

ATB,
Sam

nhlrule56 - 5-6-2009 at 08:07 PM

I'll be turning 40 on the 14th. Got hooked 3 years ago...

lad - 5-6-2009 at 08:09 PM

51...I never really went for much active stuff, (not to mention "extreme sport"**) until now - when the ole joints and bones are getting other ideas.

Playing with kites in the dirt and sand restores childhood glee, especially when you throw some oversized skateboards and tricycles into the mix.

(** no interest in "extreme sports" - unless you count boomerang throwing! I always bring them along in case the wind dies down. Because the very moment I pack my kites and lift a 'rang, the wind will start up again! They're magic don't you know!) :rolleyes:

Kamikuza - 5-6-2009 at 08:11 PM

36 going on 13 :lol:

BeamerBob - 5-6-2009 at 08:19 PM

Kiting since probably 7 years old, turn 47 this fall. 4 line kiting for just over 2 years. Buggy for the last 14 months. Hooked till I can't do it any more.

canuck - 5-6-2009 at 08:21 PM

57 on Father's Day:wee:

Can't afford a Ferrari so I bought a quiver for my mid-life crisis. More thrills and it helps keep you in shape.

kitejumper - 5-6-2009 at 08:39 PM

47 yrs old-been at it only a year now,but i usually average over 100 hrs a month(making up for lost time,i guess) i used to push cars around for my cardio,and i still powerlift--thats lots of head banging the bar before a big lift--having to dump a bunch of weight while trying a very heavy squat(it hurts alot) snorting ammonia caps and a whole bunch of other crazy s@#@,so getting dragged around by a monster kite isnt a big deal:wee:

ripsessionkites - 5-6-2009 at 09:01 PM

30

kiting since i was a kid, and still a kid.

Jaymz - 5-6-2009 at 09:16 PM

44 on Tuesday. Started kiting last fall. Been using a Kitewing for 5-6 years now. Helmet and pads have helped the falls.

sunset-Jim - 5-6-2009 at 10:12 PM

53 I think... I always forget. All I know is it's always time to go play..smile

Been addicted now for about 7 yrs.

kitejumper - 5-6-2009 at 11:57 PM

i think its awesome so many are over 40.....never would of guessed that......i figured it would be lots of 15-25 crowd

johnnylaing - 6-6-2009 at 12:08 AM

47...started flying trainer in October, took first ride in bug Dec 31!

been windsurfing 25 years...the kitebuggy really compliments windsurfing with little overlap...it's usually clear which to do when I hit the beach after work...With DST, some days I do both...and have supper late

elfasa - 6-6-2009 at 02:06 AM

well, im one of the young ones.

im 18, and started kiting.......4 days ago :)

vwbrian - 6-6-2009 at 02:14 AM

36 been traction kiting for 10 months. had stunt kites back into the 80's but only flew them a few times a year and some years not at all.

beachrights - 6-6-2009 at 02:51 AM

First off...can we change the title to "Seasoned kiters?" sounds nicer!:rolleyes:

I am 42 - have been flying powers for about 5 years

tridude - 6-6-2009 at 04:18 AM

Im 62, gay, with a subtle lisp. My life partner and I have been in this activity for 3 yrs now, (kite flying), if you know what I mean.....wink wink:lol::lol::duh::duh:

Hardrock - 6-6-2009 at 07:27 AM

Extremely interesting and explains a lot when it comes to the data base of knowledge in this forum .

Seasoned kiters ? Your right, didn’t give that much thought. Guess you can tell when there is a hillbilly on board. Say seasoned kiter up this way and someone would toss a match on the grill. :yes:

Tridude, that just stopped the replies cold. ROFLMAO !!!!! If my girl ever leaves me, I shall ask to be your partner myself, and when I go, I’m taking half them kites. Zigging and zagging of course. Hey, send pics and please don’t ask about my past. Hahahaha. :rolleyes::smilegrin:

Jovver - 6-6-2009 at 08:47 AM

I'm 22. Started kiting about a year ago.

Young-ish Kiter!!

Drewculous - 6-6-2009 at 08:49 AM

24 WOOT!!!
25 in August, picked up my first stunt kite when i was about 13, my first power kite when i was well... 24 lol! So ive been a wind junkie for the better part of my life.. and after getting this deep into it this early, i have the feeling ill be the 50 year old junkie later!!!:singing:

And since this is kind of a wacky personal too:
Im a straight leo, my girlfriend doesnt care for 'extreme kites' she just likes the pretty ones, and because im from Nebraska, i have no accent nor lisp whatsoever... look it up, Nebraskans are weird like that lol

coreykite - 6-6-2009 at 11:12 AM

Hey Sailors,
Mid-way through the 50th anniversary year of my 8th birthday.
Kited as a kid but didn't get into serious power kiting until that first stack of Flexifoils in 1978.
Did drags in fields and beaches and did tethered lifts.
Tried a surfboard with a stack of 10'ers - That was back in 1981.
Heavy wooden surfboards didn't work too well so we also tried slalom skis (2)

First saw the buggy at Wildwood in 1989 with Sue Sedgwick riding up and down the beach under her Rev stack.
First rode in Bristol England in 1990 when Peter brought Proto#3 (later sold to Martin Lester).
Bought my first buggy in the early spring of 1991.

So 32 years of power kiting and 18 years on the buggy.

You'd think, with all that practice, I'd be better by now.


Safen Up! Buggy On!

"Often wrong... Never in doubt"

the coreylama

windpowered - 6-6-2009 at 05:40 PM

Hi Everyone,

I turned 40 last month. Flew kites as a kid. Started playing around with stunt kites about a year ago. As windy as it can be in Las Vegas, I figured I would start kiting as one more thing to do with my kids. I got my first 4-line power kite earlier this year.

Looking forward to getting into a buggy within the next year. Just practicing flying the kite as the work schedule permits for now. Matter of fact, I'm headed to the park for the last couple of hours of daylight right now.

Going down to Ivanpah for 1 day of NABX was inspiring. Got to talk to a lot of nice people and I got to try out a couple of BloKarts, which was a blast.

Sandman - 6-6-2009 at 06:06 PM

Started when I was 28 and I just turned 29 on the 3rd. Did some single line stuff over the years but nothing major till about April of last year when my neighbor (harddrive8) bought a 3m beamer. He let me try it out and I was hooked. Now I am just trying to get the Government to give me a kite quiver Bail Out !!!

tdmc96 - 6-6-2009 at 06:24 PM

47 and have been kiting for almost 2 years now...just wish I found out about this sport a lot longer ago.
The workout I get from this is great as I usually don't use a harness in our small park...so 5 hours straight in the buggy gets hard on the arms and mid section.:spin:

Sunset Jim....are you really that old?...lol(old man)

Cheers all!
Ken(K3)

bobalooie57 - 6-6-2009 at 06:57 PM

Bobalooie is 52ie,(next month) Kiting since I was 10, single line diamond (homemade was best!), and storebought delta's(I think I enjoyed this more than my kids) up until 2 winters ago, when I saw snowkiting, and it was all over. Got my 3.5m Imp trainer, then another, and another...When not out kiting in the a.m., ( I work 2nd shift ) I'm often sitting here, soaking up the 'seasoning', and this is because the weather isn't cooperating. It's good for my soul. B

PHREERIDER - 7-6-2009 at 07:55 AM

after a head injury at 8 yrs i really haven't progressed much.

but 41yrs in this unique dimension...i think

and i have been struggling with my kiting disease for almost 2 yrs.

Sthrasher38 - 7-6-2009 at 10:57 AM

42 flying for just over 2 years. Hummm tri-girl W/a lisp. got pics?

treblehook - 7-6-2009 at 11:06 AM

50 yrs in body 25 yrs in mind , 2 yrs in power kites/buggy
have a 26' dim. para sail I bought back in" 96" for behind the boat.
always loved these kinda things...feel lucky living close to the coast.
Herb:singing:

Wallwalker - 8-6-2009 at 06:10 AM

37 with the knees of a 90 year old, hands of a 80 year old and the brain of a 21 year old. I was very abusive to myself when I was younger (in a fun way). I fly with the knees strapped down like a trailer in a wind storm and feel it in my hands for days but I love the sport.

Age is a state of mind and pain just lets you know you are still alive.

ragden - 8-6-2009 at 06:31 AM

33, been flying since last October, and loving it. :)

Soylent - 8-6-2009 at 06:51 AM

34 and have been at it for 8 months.

WadoGal - 8-6-2009 at 07:31 AM

Looks like I may have many years of kiting ahead of me!
I just turned 27 and have been kiting for about 3 years.

pbc - 8-6-2009 at 07:36 PM

I'm 45 years old. I kited as a kid but didn't get the bug 'til summer of '85 when I bought my first fabric kite--a small Jalbert parafoil. I started building kites and kiting became my regular after-work past time. I saw Peter Lynn with a buggy and a Peel in Jacksonville in the Fall of 91 and knew I had to do that. My first day in the buggy was July 4th, 1992 at Anastasia State Park in St Augustine. It's been my favorite sport ever since.

Philip

Scudley - 8-6-2009 at 11:02 PM

Soon to be 52. Played with fighting kites when I was a kid. Picked up a stunt kite in the mid 90's to kill time when it was too windy to kayak surf. Got my first power kite six years ago. Started to buggy two and half years ago.
Significant other is XX old and has been buggying for two years last as of last week. Her other "extreme" activities are knitting and spinning wool. She is not a cruiser. She is working on spins and riding backwards.
She is also trying figure out how to get a Libre special onto two wheels. She would appreciate any pointers.

S

speleopower - 11-6-2009 at 07:01 PM

I'm 39 and 1/2 and have been kite flying since I was around 14 and power kite flying since I was around 27. Started kitesurfing when I was 28.

Scott

f0rgiv3n - 11-6-2009 at 08:52 PM

<---- 22 and i've been flying for just over a year. i started in march last year :)

awindofchange - 11-6-2009 at 08:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Scudley

She is also trying figure out how to get a Libre special onto two wheels. She would appreciate any pointers.

S


That's easy, major huge kite, tons of traction. Problem is not getting it up on two wheels but more of how to stay in once it gets up there. :)

For me....42 years old. Got into power kiting and buggying in the 90's and been having at it ever since. Flew kites when I was younger and played around with a team Hawiian way back when. Been flying pretty much anything that goes in the air now days including single line kites, dual line stunt, Quad Rev's and power kites. I have accumulated a quiver of kites that is too big to list (and remember) LOL My largest kite that I personally own is a Peter Lynn Mega Ray, it is appx. 80 ft long, 45 foot wide and inflates to appx 8 feet high on the inside. :)

WIllardTheGrey - 12-6-2009 at 12:21 AM

22

first kite at 3 plastic delta

first stunt kite at 8 DL sport trainer

first quad line stunt trainer at 19

Got to use a beamer 5m at 20

Then went nuts and bought a 12m LEI three months later (cheep on craigslist)

Having a BLAST

fogg62 - 12-6-2009 at 08:41 AM

Late bloomer..Started flying last year. Now only 63.

rdavis - 12-6-2009 at 12:25 PM

Always loved the one liners as a kid and have had a fascination of all things flying for as long as I can remember. I'm 30 now and have been doing the power/traction stuff for about 3 years and plan on doing it for A LONG TIME!

Taper123 - 15-6-2009 at 06:25 AM

I'll grow up one day... if I ever figure out why. I'm 44 :singing:

WELDNGOD - 17-6-2009 at 05:01 AM

45 in sept.:ninja:

kitedog - 17-6-2009 at 05:51 AM

At 45, I'm going on 4 years of living with this debilitating powerkiting affliction. At least that's what my my wife thinks. She thinks I'm bonkers but she likes to ride and drive horses so she can't say much (her hobby costs WAY more than mine).

In a movie called the Darwin Awards (which I recommend), there is reference to a statistic that men in their early 40's are the most likely to 'check out' due to some kind of sporting accident because they finally have enough money to buy the toys to kill themselves with. I'm very happy to have found myself still intact at the tail end of this delicate period in my maturation process.

Greg

bwebb78 - 17-6-2009 at 06:56 AM

I'm 31, flew single line kites as a kid, got a stunt kite about 3 years ago, and about to get my first 4 line kite.

jellis - 17-6-2009 at 07:57 AM

63 going on 20. Kiting since the early 80's bugging since 95.

BeamerBob - 17-6-2009 at 08:03 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by kitedog

In a movie called the Darwin Awards (which I recommend), there is reference to a statistic that men in their early 40's are the most likely to 'check out' due to some kind of sporting accident because they finally have enough money to buy the toys to kill themselves with. I'm very happy to have found myself still intact at the tail end of this delicate period in my maturation process.

Greg


Well, since I'm almost 47 I don't see why I don't just order that 24m Synergy? I thought I was still in danger and I've been safe since right after getting my first Beamer. Wait till I tell my wife! :roll:

markite - 17-6-2009 at 05:20 PM

Got back into building kites in the early 80's. Had stacks of big flexi's that I used to stand on my windurfer doing downwinders late 80's. Started to follow the teachings of the lama and other pioneers and purchased my first buggy early 90's soon followed by my first broken bones.
Anyway, on the doorstep of 50 - just a few more months.
Can always go faster and higher...!!

furbowski - 17-6-2009 at 10:32 PM

discovering the pull, power, and endless learning curve of kiting was the best thing about turning 40.

that's 40 wasted years, IMHO...

i'm 43 in a couple months.

i once heard of a 77-year kitesurfer in norway or sweden, up north around the baltic (brrr!) Arne Rasmussen, i think. He's been a role model since I first heard of him...

Kamikuza - 17-6-2009 at 11:49 PM

We've got a kitesurfer here who's well past retirement age ... I'd say he's pushing 70 too. Go the old guys! :wee:

bobalooie57 - 18-6-2009 at 07:32 AM

I met an old school X-C ski instructor/patrolman this past winter, who at 83 was out cruisin' on his X-C skis with a 3.5M Imp! I can only hope to still be out there at 83!

B-Roc - 18-6-2009 at 09:28 AM

38 years old.

Flew a lot of kites as a kid.

Started flying dual line sport kites in the early 90s.

Started kite skiing / landboarding 4 years ago.

coreykite - 19-6-2009 at 10:41 AM

Hey Sailors,
It started simply enough.
I like to fly kites and buggy with friends.
So I learned how to teach.

I have been spreading the joy of kiting most of my life.
Not really paying attention to the who, what and why.

When I read something like this from Markite:
"...Started to follow the teachings of the lama and other pioneers..."
I can't tell you how satisfied that makes me feel.

I know we're doing the right thing.


Safen Up! Buggy On!

"Often wrong... Never in doubt"

the coreylama

gbrown - 21-6-2009 at 08:03 PM

I was trying to think of a term rather than "old" kiters but "mature" doesn't seam to fit and "aged" is better used for whiskey. "Seasoned" is what I do to meat. So I will say I am kiter for about 6 years with 62 years of other experiences. Really don't get to buggy much but recently bought a house with enough land a clean enough wind to fly revs and stunt kites. My neighbors think I am nuts.

Kamikuza - 21-6-2009 at 11:08 PM

I like the expression "salted" :)

... and I hate you Americans with your enormous backyards :lol: I've got a list of net buddies whose gonna have a Kiwi camping in their gardens when I go live in the States :lol:

deanaoxo - 24-7-2009 at 06:35 AM

Started in second grade, didn't know adults did it till late 80's.

Power kites started in 1988 courtesy George Baskette. First Flexi's and then man lifting and then i stole Dodd's buggy!

Now i can't fly often enough.

I'm happy to say that i've met a whole bunch of the peeps on here!

aoxomoxoa

bugymangp - 24-7-2009 at 09:35 AM

51 yrs young. i started flying kites in the early 90`s when i got a into the wind catog. there are times i wish i never got it. but the friends i made flying,buggying made up for that.
saw my first buggy in 94 at wildwood and knew that was for me. picked one up later that year and rest is history.