So I got a stunt kite for christmas, and loved it much more than I ever expected. Recently I went and got a "parachute" type kite. When I was flying this kite I met someto be learning, so Ione flying a seven meter power kite, and we spoke a bit about the sport. I got really intrigued and decided the next time it got windy in town I wanted to get a power kite. I was at this surfing store today, and the guy offered to sell me an old kite of his for about half off, there was a little tear and I was going to tear it up anyways. So I got it.

So to continue my long story. I guess I would just like some suggestions. The kite I got today was two lines tied to a bar. The guy I met was flying a four line kite. I'm wondering if I should try and jump to a four line flying set up quickly or not? I'm thinking I will probably be buying a harness rig, and don't think I wanna get both a two and a four line rig. I've heard that if you are going to be surfing, then you really only wanna use a two-line kite.

Like I said I'm new, so I would appreciate any ideas, thoughts, suggestions, etc.

Thanks!

Can you give more detail than Parachute like for your kite !

Does it have a brand name and size on it ? 2 line kites are NOT at all common on water. Not sure how you got that.

Can you get lessons anyplace close? They are the best money you can spend at 1st !

I'm pretty sure he just wanted to ensure that I was capable of controlling this kite, since he doesn't know what I have flown, and I was talking about getting onto a big kite. I don't know.

All the kite says on it is BEST and below that kiteboarding.com, it's about two meters. I guess it could be three, but I don't think it is that long.

By parachute I just mean no solid fram (my first kite was a framed stunt kite). It looks similar to the one in your avatar, yet much smaller.

Unfortunately it doesn't appear as if there are any lessons around. The guy I was talking to said if he was confident I knew how to fly that he would take me out and put me on some of his kites on the lake in the area.

I don't think he gave me the kite with the intention of me using it on the water. I think it was more for getting used to flying it on land before getting into water.

So when most people get out on the water do they have a four line set-up with a bar?

Trey
sounds like a trainer set up. You really have to master the kite before getting to the water. once you master the small rig then master a bigger rig. now into the water body dragging. An understanding of all the wind/water elements, conditions selection, etc. Set up alone and rigging can save your neck along with knowing safety steps. If you have not educated yourself on the basics with application you will need an instructor. Set up, and safety reflexes, float plans all are critical in taking this show to the water a school environment usually is best and safest. there is a mountain equipment out there, you need to check it all out before you buy and realize a certain skill level for each. It is a kite powered board sport. if you have board skills, focus on and take the time to master the power source.
peace

thank you for those words. That is what I am doing right now, and feel very confident with every kite I have flown for an hour or more. I would like to get into larger sized kites and into four string bar flying, but was hoping to get some advice, as austin, texas isn't the best place to find the equipment and i can't shop online

YUP,
It sounds like you have the 2m Best trainer kite. Not a bad way to start ! Learn to fly that kite BLIND .


Look for a used Bow kite around the 7m range for your next kite. Best Waroos are plentiful and cheap.

Take that fellow up on the training !

take a trip down to corpus christi, contact sam@atomickiteboarding.com and he'll hook you up with lessons and kites and info

Quote:

Originally posted by Bladerunner YUP, It sounds like you have the 2m Best trainer kite. Not a bad way to start ! Learn to fly that kite BLIND . Look for a used Bow kite around the 7m range for your next kite. Best Waroos are plentiful and cheap. Take that fellow up on the training !

what do you mean by flying that kite BLIND? I'm quite adept so far, but want to get to where ill be safe boarding. what should i do??

What are the different types of kites? what type do i have now? is it a bow kite?

And when you have time have a look at Angus' web site in the tutorial section. TONS of great info there. I think it's coastalwindsports.com

Quote:

Originally posted by trey Quote: Originally posted by Bladerunner YUP, It sounds like you have the 2m Best trainer kite. Not a bad way to start ! Learn to fly that kite BLIND . Look for a used Bow kite around the 7m range for your next kite. Best Waroos are plentiful and cheap. Take that fellow up on the training ! what do you mean by flying that kite BLIND? I'm quite adept so far, but want to get to where ill be safe boarding. what should i do?? What are the different types of kites? what type do i have now? is it a bow kite?

You don't have any type of kite you can use on the water
I imagine you have this: http://www.bestkiteboarding.com/TrainerKite;jsessionid=0a000...
or something similar...

A bow kite looks like this: http://www.powerkiteshop.com/images/productimages/kites/slin...
A Hybrid / SLE kite looks like this: http://www.kitesurfari.com/img/Link.jpg
A C kite looks like this: http://www.kites-kites-kites.co.uk/images/180_slingshot%20fuel07%20(240%20x%20260).jpg

They are the main inflato categories...

Thank you sirs. Now I just need a windy day to fly some more and get a bigger land kite . Hopefully the guy from chorpus will email me back and I can go down there

Hey Trey, I live in Austin,TX and have experience with the same kite you're using, and with bigger foil and inflated kites. If you want to meet soon and fly so I can give you some pointers, just let me know. I fly at Zilker Park whenever there's wind.

Edit:
I'm going kiteboarding in Galveston this weekend at Texas City Dike. I'm leaving tonight and will be back on Sunday night, so next week would be cool with me.

By blind I mean not looking at the kite AT ALL for long periods of time while flying.

Practice flying it while sitting on your butt. Then fly it blind sitting bacwards on your butt. It sounds silly but it's a position you will end up in plenty so better to figure it out with the trainer.

Go through the motions ! Start sitting , dive the kite as though doing a water start, let the kite pull you up and then run with it like you are riding the board. When you start running take a step or 2 downwind before running cross wind and sining the kite up and down a couple of times. This will help you figure out how to keep tension on the lines when you actually get going.

http://austin.craigslist.org/spo/632972797.html

Do you think this would be too much for me? Obviously I am going to be getting more than one kite, since I'm already at two stunts and one trainer power, but would this be wait to much for me, even in low winds (cause that's all I seem to get lately??)

I wouldn't jump at it.

That is a huge kite to learn depower on.
C kites go pretty cheap and that board is probably only worth $400.

Look for a Bow kite. It will give you more range and is generally easier to learn on. With Bows you can get away with 2 kites. With C kites you will prefer 3

okay, cool. I was just thinking it might be a good quiver kite. Are bows essentially an upgrade of C kites?

Bow kites are a slightly different shape so they generate + spill power a little different . 5 line C kites aren't bad and are a very good deal these days. A 17 is just a huge jump to get started on. It wouldn't allow you much range either. Basically a kite 05 and newer is better. Naish and some others had a pump leash attachment pre - 05 that works for 5 line. Avoid older 4 line set-ups. As I suggested. You can get away with 2 Bow or Hybrid kites when you will want 3 C kites so that is a consideration.Not unlike foils you can get more range out of a smaller kite and it is easier to figure things out on one as well . If you are only buying 1 water kite to start out. Start with something much smaller than a 17m C kite !!! Good quality second hand boards = $400 say, Naish sol . A good 05 C kite say, 9m Boxer $200. Harness $200

You can match or beat that $850 easy !!!

Is the fifth line essentially a depower liner?

NO !!!!

The fifth line doesn't really come into play when riding ( accept a quick recovery move )

It attaches to the nose and spills the power fast and effectively when you let go. Recovery and relaunch are MUCH easier using the 5th as well. With my original 4 line if I let go it was 80-20% that I'ld have messed up lines by the time I got the bar back. The kite flapping away on one wing had obvious issues. Much easier recovery with 5th line.

Trey, I'm about in the same boat (board) as you are. I'm looking for a step between my foil and Kite boarding. My boss right now is a kite fanatic. He and his wife own a wind shop in Oswego, NY. I'm stuck in Starkville, MS and it sounds like at least you have someone to fly with. Mike (my boss) dismissed me when I inquired about Kite boarding, he said I'd kill myself (he offered to give me one the other day when I pissed him off). Finally I hounded him enough, had enough vocabulary, and kind of knew what I wanted that he told me this. "If your going quad line don't start out with a bar, you going to move up to a bar, but you want to have handles and learn the kite. You want to understand the brakes...master them...flying backwards and tacking before you move to a handle." I don't know if thats the consensus He also saw this forum's for sale site yesterday and was very impressed! This dude is to kites what Yoda is to a lightsaber. I just wish I could get more info out of him. He'd kill me if he knew this is all I did at work.

I don't necessarily agree with learning on handles, i mean, i did but there's nothing wrong with learning on a trainer with a bar - especially if thats the direction you want to go anyway?

I myself didn't think of it as moving up to a bar - in my mind i moved DOWN to a bar - i find them way way easier than handles but then i guess thats the point... learn on something trickier and i do get that they teach you about flying the kite backwards etc. but that only applies to certain kites... you cant fly some C kites backwards...

Just my 2Cents

Quote:

Originally posted by steelydan He also saw this forum's for sale site yesterday and was very impressed! .......... .......He'd kill me if he knew this is all I did at work.

If he's been known to browse this forum then don't you think he might find this thread......know immediately who you are.......and be able to quickly identify how many of your posts were made during work.......

I'm just saying.........