So I'm wondering, can a GoPro be somehow mounted to a open cell kite to face back at the rider? I've see it done on inflatables, which is simple enough since they have a more rigid structure, has anyone figured out a way to make it work on a open cell kite? (without damaging the kite of course). Perhaps rig up a harness to hang it within the bridle somehow?

Kite performance will suffer a bit, but it would make for a cool angle. Seems like it would be hard to keep it steady enough to have usable video....

Best I've been able to come up with so far is somehow suspending it just above the trimmer in the "y" formed by the front lines. Should be able to build some sort of rig that holds it in place relatively steady. Trouble is, that's the safety line on the PLs and I don't wanna mess with that.

I'm thinking along the lines of that little "roof" that slides down the lines of your typical parachute......it slides down because the splay of the lines forces it down but once it reaches it's resting place it stays put.

I will try to rig something this weekend

I just ordered mine, so it'll be a while before I can start tinkering, but I thought I could start scheming.

There was some discussion about this a few months ago....

Go Pro Kite Hero.... spendy (for what it is)...

Product page is here.

Discussion on OES and pictures of the setup here.

Guy on NWKite named "Stringy" has been making his own mounts since the summer. Discussion thread can be found here.

Hope that helps.

Note: The setup discussed in the references above mounts the camera between you and the canopy, but not actually in the bridle lines. The farther away from you you mount the kite, the more inertia the camera will be carrying during directional changes. The camera would also have a front row center seat to any terranean incursions. :o It would get shook up in the lines but might not impact sitting on the lines, unless the mount lets go.

ATB,
Sam

I glued a 3x4 piece of Velcro to the center of the kite and glued the other half to the back of the camera, (ordered a second case to use). If I crash the kite it will not take to much abuse. Can't say how it works yet with the camera running, dead batteries, but the camera rode OK with out any mishaps.
I used an old P.... kite to do the filming on but I need more wind, or another chunk of Velcro for another kite.

foilzone covered camera mounting to foils a year ago..... might have to search a bit.

Thanks for the info everybody.

Sam, after looking at the videos I think the camera mounted closer to the rider yields a lot better video. Definitely more of a feel for what its like to be riding under a kite. The kite-pro mount looks really cool but my most used kite is the Montana IV which has a Y line configuration, putting the camera about half way between me and the canopy. Maybe I can rig something up to mount the camera just past the cam cleat and use some spars with rings on the brakes as stabilization. I'll have to figure out how to do it without compromising the safety features of the kite...

Another idea I had.... I have a backpack with a rigid frame (for trekking), I also have a small carbon fiber tripod that is really light. Perhaps attach the tripod to the frame of the pack and get that angle of a third person feel...just a thought. I can't help but imagine getting impaled with a carbon fiber tripod leg....risk/reward I suppose, use it on light cruising days.

bigben that would be really cool with it attached to the backpack I really like seeing the kite in videos

I'd love to know how PB Kiteboarding gets his rider-view shots that look like the camera is mounted to an outrigger that he has extending behind/beside him.

I think HE is actually holding the outrigger with one hand in some of the footage, i could be wrong though, been wrong before....

Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's using the camera on the end of a monopod or something similar. I've done similar for a Mini's on Top video I made, see around 3:30 for the shot I'm talking about :



The thing is, I don't really want have one hand tied up with filming myself, I kinda want to forget about the camera.

BTW, PBK has some of the BEST snowkiting videos I've seen, they are my favorite. I watch them when ever I want to get amped up to go out on the white stuff.

One of the instructional DVDs I have (the Naish one I think) has the dude wearing a backpack with a boom coming off it and the camera on that ...