I am withholding comment on the forum this is from but had to share it over here. There is enough "be safe, get lessons, start with trainer gear" etc already and the guy sounds like he's gonna do what he's gonna do. All I can do it pray for him.

Here's the post:

Topic: "Kite, Board and all related kit wanted"

"Hey Hey,

I posted up last year, then the winter came and I got busy on the slopes etc, so anyhow I am back..
I am looking for a kite, board, and all the other kit needed to start riding, I DONT want a "trainer" kite, or some beginer thing, I want an advanced, cutting edge, big big air kite...I am not too worried about the board(s) (thinking landboard and waterboard) as long as they ride tight and carve well..

I have a budget, i think its plenty to buy used (after looking at prices) so give me a shout if you have anything sutable and an idea on price and we can go from there..."


After some kind words about safety and lessons he then continues:


"I appreciate your sentiment and that you want people to stay safe, I thank you for your kind suggestions.

I wont be buying a "trainer" kite or taking lessons (I dont do well with instruction, I prefer to learn what works better for me) however I will be buying a fairly new kite, and yes I will be buying an "advanced" one....I do what many what would be considered "extreme" sports (I base jump, solo climb, freestyle MX etc) so I want the huge air from the get -go.

I totally understand what you are saying and why you are saying it, however I know my learning curve and abilities, I have transferable skills and if I go down the "trainer kite / lessons route I would be wasting money, the instructors and my time (there is NO WAY I wont be trying to get as high as I can as soon as possible) I am assuming (and from my research) that you cannot get huge air with a trainer kite? and that any instructor will expect me to go thorugh many basic steps before allowing me to hit huge airs? If so like I said its a total waste of my time.

Thank you for your imput and advice, however if you read my first post I specifically stated what I was looking for and why."



..........I'll watch for him out at the lake (this is local to me) and pray he keeps himself and others around him safe. Maybe he'll be OK but why on earth take the chance?

* Having flashbacks of my 3m "trainer kite" supermanning me......... *

One thing is true . Somebody like this is waisting time with lessons . He clearly won't listen to anybody.

I pity the folks who are going to be forced to ride with this guy. :megan:

Back in the good old days you could all just refuse to launch someone like that. That was how we handled it.

There seems to be quite a bit of this at times, people will change their mind when they get yanked and hurt. Its unfortunate that they have to learn that way. Hopefully he won't injure himself (or the kite for that matter :shocked2: ) and be able to learn something from the experience.

Everyone gets a few bumps and bruises when they first start, but you have to know your limits. No matter how much experienced people try to explain that its not a good idea to try jumping for massive air right off the bat, newcomers will always be looking for that big thrill, the instant gratification. Sometimes they'll get it, other times they'll get hurt.

All we can do is keep leading by example, taking safety seriously and being watchful and attentive when others are kiting around us. Prayer certainly helps too :saint:.

Hope all the best for this kid, but he seems to have a deathwish.

Send him over to Jonesband he will sell him anything:dunno:

Quote:

Originally posted by vwbrian Send him over to Jonesband he will sell him anything:dunno:

WAAAHHAHAHAAHA

I don't mean to sound like I want to increase the danger, but that was a really good one ;-)

Quote:

Originally posted by vwbrian Send him over to Jonesband he will sell him anything:dunno:

But it probably won't fly, which in this instance sounds like it might be a good thing. mac, you might point out that he won't be doing any jumping or kiting at all, with broken bones healing.

if he really is into all those other EXTREME sports then he should realize that safety is paramount. sounds like a croc of :wow: ...

I believe you hit the nail on the head cheezy.

Encourage him to keep base jumping ! Tell him how much better the airtime is. Paragliders clearly wouldn't have him so now we and the base jumpers are stuck with him.

How do you base jump in the prarries ?:P

Quote:

Originally posted by Bladerunner How do you base jump in the prarries ?

Depends on if there are any large holes on the prarie. Sometimes when you can't go up, you head down.



ATB,
Sam

I have a friend like this. He got his tax return and instead of going the right path he bought a 18m LEI, I was coming home from work and saw a big damn kite sailing across one of the feilds I fly at. So I stopped and saw him bouncing along the ground behind it.
Other than some scrapes and bruises he was fine. His pride healed quickly and he bought a smaller kite and took some lessons.
Maybe this other guy will only be semi thick like my friend.

You think kites are bad - imagine guys who buy 180mph, 150bhp bikes as their first ride

Kamikuza,

Right on the money, and with that you bring up an interesting point. This "guy" is not specific to kiting. He is everywhere. I have seen them in the motorcycle dealership, dropzone shops, local fast and furious car shops, etc. I cannot tell you how many guys I have watched buy sportbikes that end up dead or hurt because of an underling fact. They are an idiot.

You all are right, you cannot tell them anything. The major cognitive slip for this guy is that he thinks his skills are transferable. He is wrong. I am not saying this particular guy is an idiot....however he is displaying some of the signs.

While someone's personal skills used for some of these sports (balance, feel, ability to think ahead, etc.) are transferable from sport to sport....experience is not! Some people do have natural ability but that does not change the fact that they have not done the specific activity before.

I have also done some of these sports he mentions and know that while they may help you pick up a skill it does not replace experience and training.

Kiting has been a whole new experience which is part of what makes it so fun. Learn everything from the start again.

I hope one day I can get on a board and "air it out" but it won't be next week.

The US still does not see the value of tiered-licensing for motorcyles....Sigh. Not a cure-all, but....

ATB,
Sam

You are correct.....sad deal. To many "never done this before" riders exiting the dealership with 1000cc rockets.

I guess that is about the equivalent of a new guy leaving a kite shop with an 18 m kite. Bad idea.

Does El Nino promote the development of douche bags as well? Where are they all coming from lately?
Clearly compensating for something...

They naturally reproduce themselves at a much faster rate than normal people. We are quickly being out numbered.

the lack of skill for conditions selection will punish him. he 'll survive and he'll take his lesson from mother nature . the first snatch will introduce him to a mountain of foolish pride.... and he sounds like he knows how to climb...hopefully his body will allow it. the bill on mother nature's lessons has got nothing to do with $. careless moments are her specialty.