OK... well I know there are several of you who have shared your knowledge and your experience and your wisdom all in the hope of helping a new guy (me) catch the wind and be reborn - as a kite flyer. It happened! I never did like to kiss and tell but..... well it happened kinda sorta. She said she'd meet me tomorrow though! All day if I could handle it! That's good, right!

Worked late so got out late. At 6:45pm I am at the park with the kite laid out and all these lines and handles and KKs and the wind and the 'lessons' in my head. So I read and re-read the basic instructions to make sure I connect everything properly; don't want to hurry but I have to! I am running out of time.
And oh what's this? What was a slight breeze seems a bit more now than before. I never really paid much attention to the wind before... well not as much as I am now anyway. What do I know is it too much or is it OK? I think it's OK I mean I don't think I am gonna plant my face into the ground but hell if I know. I am looking at a Beamer IV 4m for the first time ever. Is she too much for the first date... possibly too hot for me? I just dunno.

I think we're only talking about 10mph?? I guess. Like I said I don't know yet. It was enough to have me thinking I wish it was a bit less for Day #1/Flight #1. I'm a virgin! Gimme a break! The flag I saw was not straight out but it wasn't flickin' straight down that pole either. I'd say it was blowing about 3/4 to 4/5 horizontal out from the pole. The Stars and Stripes were not screaming but they were starting to show their pride, let's put it that way.

Ok so 1st time, by myself, getting late fast, that flag sure is blowin' harder than before but I don't know that equation yet so here we go. I hear everybody's comments, I see quotes from the forum flashing in my mind's eye. I give a little tug, a little tug, she moves up and slides back and then perks up a bit more and then slides back again, then up again but then BING! she's all puffed up and heading up! Now the voices in my head (BeamerBob, Angus, Bladerunner, macboy, et al) "watch the power!" "don't launch right into the power section of the window" " be safe" "start slow" "run to the light" I mean "move her to the right" ...... well I felt this steady tug like I ain't never felt from a kite. So I'm thinkin' WWAD, WWBD (What Would Angus Do, What Would Beamer/Blade Do). So I pull right but I gotta pull more than I imagined to the right; I mean I didn't realize the differece between moving this big beauty compared to my little $30 2 liner that now seems like a gnat. Well she moved so far to the right that I felt the power drop and she folded over kissed the earth.

BUT, Ok I said let's be positive now. I did learn something here, didn't I? I set up again which isn't exactly a quick transition with a total Power Kite experience of 5 seconds under my belt. A tug, another little pull and she's up! I pull to the right and dammit, I did it again... too far and I think the term is "bowtied"? but this time the wind kinda flips her end over end 2 maybe 3 times. Again, total flight time for 2 flights now at approx 9 seconds. It took a while to get set up but this time I say OK, I'm NOT going to go right next time!

So here we go again. I gotta tell you I am chuckling right now about what I am about to describe. I took a deep breath, repeated the mantra to let it go - let it go - let it go in case of emergency. The KKs will do their thing; I hope. So, another deep breath, I puffed up and then she puffed up and this gorgeous creature came alive and gave me a good pull. I see this mathematical flash in my mind and it says, "her force > my force" and I started giving way a bit and then I hear my feet slamming the ground like clunk clunk clunk, clunk. I was clunking forward like Frankenstein trying to sprint. I guess it was about 15 ft - 20 ft and I think I got so excited and so overwhelmed, I tried to bring her down lower in the window and I smacked her right into the ground! It was a good jolt to both of us. Man I ran over there like I was going to have to give CPR to a kite. She was fine - the surface is soft grass.

Now.... NOW... I am feeling this adrenaline rush, my palms are sweaty, I am ecstatic like a child with a toy that exceeds his wildest dreams of delight! Now maybe I'm just a romantic here but eventhough our relationship is starting out a bit rocky, I am starting to think we might make a nice pair. I think this just might be LUV! Where is my Barry White music? I think I know what she needs is a gentle touch. So I get her off the ground nice and slow. I think "I'll try these breaks." "This might not be good technique but I think these breaks might just help me keep her down low." By the way guys, by now I'm not hearing your voices anymore. I'm only listening to hers xoxoxoxo....... I get the kite off to the left, I feel the edge of the window, I see a little 'weaknesss' in the structure so i bring her back right... she starts to go right and pick up speed faster than before but this time I AM GOING WITH you babe! I brace and lean away from the pull and Ohhhh, it was a moment of purity. This bright 4 square meter orange beacon of ecstacy just cut from left to right and gave me a steady smooth firm pull, it made a sound of cutting through the wind, and then it softened up as it moved to the right edge. I am sure I looked as clumsy and gawky as a boy on his first date hoping for his first kiss but this went on for I guess a good 5 minutes just right then left and right and left and then I hear "honk honk". I pull the kite down, rather easily I might add, and the park attendant says it's time to go! Gotta lock up the gates! I realized it was 7:50pm and getting pretty dark. Wrapped it up and off we went.

That was day 1. It's 1am; I can't sleep, so I sit here and write this long account of my very first albeit brief day with my new kite. Tomorrow Wendy and I both go out. She is really in for a treat. We'll fly her Flexi Sting II 2.4m, I'll work my way up to the Beamer all in good time. To tell you the truth I wanted to fly the 2.4m today but I wanted Wendy to be the first to fly it. So I engaged the Beamer and oh yes I have plans for that kite but I hear your voices again and they're saying "take it slow" "get experience first" and that is exactly what I intend to do in < 7 hours... but who's counting? :singing:

Heh,heh,heh......B

Quote:

I ran over there like I was going to have to give CPR to a kite

AH! HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!! Thanks for that! A great big chuckle to end the day. The rest of the story made me all warm and fuzzy inside. I think I'll kiss the wife on the forehead before sleep tonight ; )

Welcome to a whole new addiction!...........WAIT!.........was that wind? Gotta go!:wee:

That was a great read! You need to have a nice long post for every session as your kiting prowess progresses, I know I'll read it.

That brought back the memories of the first time I really felt the pull, the terror/extacy is interesting and addicting mix.

I have a feeling you'll have a whole pile of kites in no time! Thanks for sharing, and keep up the great posts.

And the best part is that feeling never goes away. My belief is that the secret to eternal youth is to always be able to find joy in even simple things. While the power of the kite and the wind is always to be respected, it still makes me feel like a giddy little kid on Christmas eve every time I go out. Keep us posted, DonaldLL, and never be afraid to ask questions here- the people on this forum are eager to share.

"My belief is that the secret to eternal youth is to always be able to find joy in even simple things"

THE MEANING OF LIFE!!

well said.

Yeah, thanks for the play by play. I was both first timer and teacher the whole time. I was feeling your anxiety and also the thrill of feeling the power. When you were having troubles I was thinking "PULL BACK TO THE LEFT" and "take it up to the top". I can't wait to hear how the date goes with the 3 er uh 5 of you next time. Welcome to the club Donald.

I was feeling jealous for Wendy there for a minute. But she will have her chance today. Sounds like it will be a long day with two tired addicts at the end!

Fun read. Brought back many memories of my own first experiences. Thanks for the write up. Sounds like you are well on your way to a new addiction. :D

Great post! You're going to love your new addiction!

RIGHT ON !!!!

Here is what I try and tell people to do to get started: Choose the right wind + location .

Be fully prepared for that 1st jolt of power as you pull on the front lines and the kite takes off. KNOW ahead that when it reaches the edge of the window power will decrease. Run toward the Kite ( it will feel like the lite ) as it shoots to the top.

Job one is to spend a good few minutes just trying to keep the kite calm and overhead. Avoiding big and jerky motions. Avoid applying any pressure at all on the back lines . Feel how you can make it go left and right .

Once you are comfortable with it overhead like that start flying farther to the left and right carefully. Avoid dropping down into the wind window. Whenever you get in trouble try to get back to that calm, overhead position again. Start to fly figure 8' across the top of the window.

Now and only now are you ready to start flying the kite lower in the window. Feel how it comes and goes again as you hit the edge. Avoid diving right down in front until you feel prepared to slide it out or at least hold the power.


Take that time to SLOW DOWN those 1st few steps of making the kite calm. You are setting important memory reflexes that will help you react proper as things get bigger. The temptation to FLY the kite all over is HUGE and it's important to NOT do that at 1st.

Just try and be safe about things and everyone will be sure to have fun !


It is true what people are saying. You can have that 1st time thrill over and over again as you progress at this ! Your life has just changed. You are now our Brother !!!!!


P.S. in light winds the kite will not sit at the edge of the window. You must keep it moving. As soon as the kite sits quietly overhead you have a " good " wind for that kite.