Hey guys,

As 2015 dawns, I'm pretty excited to get out into the water. I picked up the sport this summer with a couple of FB kites and a mountain board, and then grabbed an HQ Apex this fall. I haven't made great progress landboarding (pretty gusty wind and a somewhat small field) but I have had a lot of fun with the sport. From the get-go my goal was the water, I just couldn't quite afford it last summer/fall, so decided to wait for this coming spring. I just wanted to see what advice you all may have for my approach to this. For reference, I am also going to post to eastkb about this, where local kitesurfers seem to post regularly (they will likely be a better resource for local conditions and which gear is best for those conditions). I am in Baltimore, MD, so the local spots are primarily on the bay.

OK, so my plan of attack is the following:

1. Buy a wetsuit. It'll be pretty cold and I know from experience I don't like being really cold in the water lol. I peeked around eastkb and saw size recommendations so I'll use their input for what will be good for this area. Thinking 4/3 right now.

2. Take lessons. Current plan is to go down to OBX for 4ish days in the hopes of getting 2 days worth of lessons. I am really hoping this could be enough to get me going locally, and if not completely locally at least to the beginner-safe spots. I am also hoping the experience I have gained landboarding will make this process smoother. Similarly, having a decent understanding of depower systems and safety systems should help (one of the reasons I got the Apex).

3. Buy more kites. Always need more kites. Also more gear.

4. Have fun!

Now, one thing I have considered is picking up an LEI to get even more experience flying before lessons, and this would have the added benefit of giving me more wind range to fly a depower kite in with the mountain board. I've had issues learning on the apex, as I haven't taken it out when gusts were over 15, but if it's gusting to 15 it's usually only averaging about 6 around here. What I am currently considering is picking up a 7-8m LEI that would help with landboarding and end up as my high wind kite for the water (looks like 10-12 m is the average kite size for most kitable wind in my area). The only issue I see with this plan is that, once I'm comfortable in the water, I'd like to jump, so I think I'd want something capable of doing that. On land, however, I have zero desire to get lofted, and knowing how inconsistent my lovely inland winds are I am concerned that this could be an issue with a kite designed to give some lift. I'm also considering selling the 10m Apex to step down a size since it hasn't quite worked out for me so far (also it turns so slow and I don't have the largest amount of ground to work with. I think I'd rather work a smaller kite that can turn quick than try to park a large one).

So, after that dissertation, thoughts?

I appreciate everyone's input, and all the help you have offered over the past few months!

Eamon

Hello vaultingbassist!

It sounds to me that you have this well in hand - your plan sounds quite well thought out and very reasonable. Joining up with multiple forums and ultimately multiple people is a great way to go. Turns out everyone I've met and kited with are on pkf but your regional site may rock for H2O.

I started the other way - on water and picked up land boarding to give me something to do still kite related. Also immediately added snow kiting since I've had skis on my feet most my life.

I bought a 9 LEI first and did all three (snow/land/h2o) and then added an 8 meter then 5.5 meter Apex - and we too have horrible inland wind here (Front Range of Colorado). I don't jump much on land but water is much less dicey....and I am with you on the lofting.

I can say the Apex is a good kite but I found in gusty conditions they were really kind of lofting machines....with you having a 10 on a board in a tight field your approach and concern of lofting is a good sign. Any kite can loft but for me I find foils to be much more sensitive to direction changes and gusts (in general so lets not start THAT debate :D) then my LEI's.

More kites and boards will expand your capabilities typically at the same rate your skills progress - so a single LEI to start right in the middle of your target comfort wind range (probably what you encounter during lessons) isn't a bad way to go. I stayed with my 9 for several months before adding an 8 Apex and then a 5.5 thinking I just needed smaller and smaller kites for the non water...not really so much I've decided. Before long I added a 12, then a 7, then a 4.5 LEI as well as replacing my 8 Apex with a 12 Meter Summit and the 5.5 with a 6 meter FS Unity as my foil options. I like lots of overlap and kite options but using LEI's for everything is certainly common!

I am sure many others will chime in with their take as well.
Very small kites (like my 4.5 LEI) turn obviously quite quick but still can provide lots of lift on a small kite - not ideal.
Sometimes a bigger kite (slower) is actually the better choice starting out but sounds to me by reading your plan you'll be well positioned imho.

Jeff

more suit ! 5/4 semidry, you going to spend time in the water.

lei without lift ----> no stuff thing, it would never sell.

9m and 12m modern depower SS rally , cab switch blade , naish park/ride alot of range good all rounds units

if you can already fly the unit, set up, operate ,self launch/land.

you ONLY need water relaunch, drag up wind and self rescue lessons about 2hours tops of lesson time ----> then YOU practice the rest. next day add board 1-2 hours lesson ----> then YOU practice , and practice , and practice. 4 days in good wind an easy 20hours of harness time if its solid.

TT 140cm x 42cm

have good a time! , be ready to hit it when you get to good wind,

oh yeah gloves, beanie and booties can add more time if its hard cold, like 3mm +

Pick up a good quality LEI for the water. Not the cheapest you find for the size...there is a difference. For your landboarding, maybe something like a phantom (depowerable arc) that will absorb the gusts much better than your apex. there are several of us here using phantoms (mostly 12 and 15m) and the wind range is huge. Also, most of these kites are tuneable for tamer flying or more radical flying. you need to start tame and find your comfort level.