I just got my first trainer kite and can't figure out where my arms are supposed to be. Should they be at waist level (I think this is what my instructor told me, but he was speaking mainly in Vietnamese, so I can't be sure), or should they be on an angle as though they are an extension of the flying lines.

Any help appreciated!

Hi
On a bar, it's really a matter of taste and comfort. If the wind is great, the bar will end up in front of you as an extension of your arms/ lines.
The important thing is that you steer the kite like handle bars on a bike (push-pull), not like a steering wheel on a car, where rotating the bar does nothing but twist the lines.

Dig your heels in and have fun!

I'm expecting that you were taking kiteboarding lessons and that your trainer kite is on a bar. ? Some folks fly foils on handles .
Either way arms acting like an extension of the lines sounds right, although it is not always essential. I think the most important thing my instructor said about your arm / bar is to get it into your head to hold the bar level with the horizon. Getting that to be second nature helps greatly when recovering from a fall.

The most common mistake beginers have is trying to steer the bar like a car. That doesn't do a thing. It's more push / pull like a bicycle. ( looks like acampbell beat me to that one ! )

Practice controling your kite from above your head all the way down the edge of the wind window to your left and right. Try to keep the kite just above the ground. This is how you will launch and land with an assistant.

Generally learn to fly blind. Practice flying the kite sitting on your butt facing backwards with your eyes closed. It sounds crazy but you will find yourself in that position many times so best to work it out on a trainer before hand.

Here's a link to all my favorite links. www.kitesurfingschool.org being # 1 among them.

http://www.powerkitecanada.com/viewtopic.php?t=31

Welcome !!!!

Quote:

Originally posted by heather3 but he was speaking mainly in Vietnamese, so I can't be sure),

now thats funny
congratz on your first kite and welcome to the forum. i have never flown on a bar only on handles i start out around mid chest pushing and pulling the handles and by the end of the day my hands are where ever the lines are pulling and trying to use the brakes to turn.

The bar should be around shoulder level to outstreched in front of you could be eye level. The pull of the kite will have some tension to let you know where it should be. Relaxed. Your eyes and hands /arms will learn together with the movement of the kite reacting as you feed movement to the bar right and left, understanding where the "idle" positions of the kite are and where movement may start and finish from this gives a good feeling of where the kite moves faster and with more power. YOur body weight adds in to the mix as the rate of power and speed increase in a standing static position. then start walking UPWIND and continue to FLY the as you move. Your eyes at first will help your hands and arms so look and watch what happens. After feeling the power and movement of the kite reflexes will start to take over now it time to ride so look where you are going

Thanks. Can't wait for some good wind to try it out!

I just watched a vid yesterday called Kiteboarding 101 and while I'm sure the rules are somewhat different across disciplines they did specifically mention to keep your elbows down by your side. Now, this is flying hooked in so it's easy to hold your arms there but does one then learn bad habits if you fly unhooked with your arms outstretched?