Well I made my way out today for my first water attempt. The winds started out at about 15-18 mph. Setup my Scorpion got the wetsuit on and once ready launched and walked out to the water. Very soon after I sat in the water the winds died and no matter how much signing of the kite I did it wouldn't pull me out of the water. After a half hour of fighting that I gave up and laid down my kite. Well I tried anyway..... when I lowered the kite and flagged it out the shifting wind would blow the kite into a taco position and soon it would take off without any inputs from me. Finally just released the safety and gave up trying to land the nice way. Figure a steadier wind will make things more successful. Learned today though that my hood is way too tight, as after having it off I still feel like I had the circulation in my neck cut off. I have a large which fits my head but my neck is too tight. Don't know if anyone else had this much struggle when learning, if so be happy you're not alone.

Shaggs

Read my confessions of a kitesurfer.... I am a noob too and am struggling also... Mostly from not enough kite, and big waves...I have a bigger kite coming, then i'll have to find another excuse.................

Keep trying, progress is slow, but fun:singing:

Even if there's not enough to get ya out of the water, always good to body drag when your first learning. Helps buld confidence, it's fun, and it's a great way to get back to shore or go upwind without a board (or when your searching for your board after a wipeout).

Don't forget the arcs work best in the upper 2/3 of it's range ... and sometimes, you just have to wait for the wind.
Yup I had a struggle learning too - damned C-kite hindenburging 4 times in row in lulls :flaming:

Oh yeah... watching a 20m C kite decide it would rather swim than fly is always fun for those watching.

Thought I might get to try this weekend also. On the lake. Good wind with plenty of sheep. Took the boat and headed to the big open water.

There's was plenty of small sandy islands just above the water last year but this year there all 4 to 5 feet under water. Didn't want to tackle the kite and lines without firm ground. I would have tried something anyway but it was sooooo cold. I sat on the back of the boat for awhile with a foot in and it came out blue looking.

Got some sun, had a few Buds and just enjoyed the day. After the terrible drought I guess they are keeping a little more water on the upper side of the dam. But it always drops during the summer so I'll have some sand bars later on.

When I get to where I can get out on the water with a board, I could save some cash by going to the beach. Less gas for the car than the truck and boat going to the lake, just a couple more hours sitting behind the wheel.

its a difficult purrsuit... and im sure more hard times are to come... but when it comes together, it will be worth it!

I've been in the water a few times, some under the watchful eye of an instructor, some on my own and must say, although I love the frustration of trying to get it together I equally love static flying in the water - you can hold back a lot more kite and let it loft you if you want (you'll feel the limits of yourself and the power).

Just enjoy it - no matter how good or bad things are going. Even lack of progress is progress.....at least that's the thought I take comfort in ; )

Hearing lots about Saskatchewan lakes lately......is it worth a trip?

Thanks guys!!

At least I know I'm not alone with this lol. Watching my buddy taking off in the water with little difficulty today was really hard, but he managed to go like 100 yards and the wind would drop. Yeah Macboy Saskatchewan has an amazing selection of lakes in the province more as you head north. I gotta check out some of the lakes by Saskatoon and Regina, I hear they are amazing. Where we are going now there is not a soul around, and you can stand about 150 yards out and still be around 5 feet deep. Kinda hidden and seems to get a good wind direction, nice beach for buggy too!! I did notice today how much more I could hold back the power, on land I would easily scud without diving too much, but in the water I could loop it with only leaning back away from the pull. The hood thing is driving me nuts though cuz someways it feels right others it is too tight and my neck and jaw hurt, so I guess I gotta try a bigger one. I think I'm hooked on this though, especially once it gets nicer to not have to wear all the gear to stay warm. Anyway thanks again.

shaggs

Took me a bit to get water-starts clicking but I got it now ... I think we'll see next time I get into the water :D

The only thing I've really been able to take from all my trials is the power I was holding while under the watchful eyes of an instructor. It was such that with the kite fully depowered and sitting at the edge of the window, you could walk upwind but you felt the pull of the kite positively. I've yet to put up a kite here at home and feel the same amount of power - always way less.

Where am I at? I can get up and ride (usually) goofy - my natural stance. Can rarely get up and riding switch. Can take more water up my nose than I would have thought possible and hate choking while fighting to get the board on / setting the kite right.

Best advice I've gotten to date: Start EVERY attempt with the kite at neutral (easy for us arc fliers). Swing the kite to the direction opposite that which you want to go and then back the direction you want to go. This is key since swinging the kite the opposite direction automatically twists you and your board such that your board is now pointing downwind, in the direction you are about to try to go once you swing the kite back. If you don't get it, reset back to neutral, collect your thoughts and go again. AS SOON as you feel the board rock up onto the water you should be swinging the kite back and getting ready to wind it back forward for the next power stroke.

There's way more to it but these were a couple of the "measurable things" I could self assess whether I was getting right or not.

gotta have the breeze to ride, 15+ is gonna work.

10-20 hours more of that and things will change.

THE most important elements .

-FLOAT PLAN!, then your attention can be on the fun parts as brief as they may be at this stage.

-breeze, light air will be frustrating.

the neck thing .. split it, cut it off , sell it, forget it. use something different.

be very critical of the breeze, are other riders out?

this is by far the hardest part, the first 20 hours on the water . it gets easier

drag around if is not enough to get up. upwind drag is essential. even if its only a 20 min . drag it will add in to the experience you need

There's always a lesson to be learned though regardless of the wind. I've found many people are wholey unprepared for anything but perfect conditions. If nothing else, hopefully you learned how to pack your kite up in the water in case of emergency. Self rescue is critical to learn, I just hope you never actually have to use it

Good point re: the float packing. I assume on a PL you'd flag it out, wrap the extended leashed line around the bar (once you got to the bar after hand over handing your way to it along the leashed line), wind the lines up on the bar until you reach the kite and then start rolling the kite one end to the other around the bar? (Never thought much about this)

For a twinskin I'm not sure how you'd water pack. Couldn't find much useful info on the net.

I assume you would flag it and wind a few turns o nthe up wind side then wind as is so that thedown wind side has more slack. the I doubt you can use it as flotation and it would seem hella hard to push the air out of the kite rolling from one tip. I'd probably tie of the lines and swim back, mattress in tow.

I guess now that I might threaten to use twinskin on water, I should figure this out :D

I saw one self rescue video. Not sure which kite but it was wind the lines on the bar all the to the kite and fold the kite into a taco then use it like a sail to drag yourself to shore. Would be tough if the wind was blowing the other way.

float plan

short trip (<100yds) ... swim and kite will ride downwind at same direction out on safety line flag. keep up with the board. 15min or so..

long trip (>100 yds) ...from the safety flag out, wind up lines on the bar ( bar stop comes in handy @this point), keep up with board (if you have it, or short swim to it), if it possible untied bow, tie off bar /lines , place tip to tip roll with bar inside (tidy will save your life folks ) use as sail and keep rolling tension so water stays out and roll is tight. at this point rest is welcome , ride the breeze to float out direction. having the board to lay on is comforting esp. its gonna be an hour or 2. it will hold up for about hour + keeping it tightly rolled and finally all the way and on to the board. in the roll up wrist bungee! if kite takes on water trouble is coming stay clear of lines and know your limits and when to let go. stay with board . SWIM, a good float plan is essential and mother nature will deliver you ashore ALIVE!

know BEFORE you go

There's a self-rescue in the PL video - as Phree describes ... do you not have the vid?
I'm thinking I should upload it ... to torrents maybe ...

Here's the online google vid ...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2752930869302000363

and it may already be up on torrentz but I can't see that page from work ...

just a clarification point

described above is the self-rescue with an arc.

"float plan" is the staying within the region where all the elements will (with high confidence) flow to shore tide, current, wind ...and take you with it.

Quote:

Originally posted by PHREERIDER just a clarification point described above is the self-rescue with an arc. "float plan" is the staying within the region where all the elements will (with high confidence) flow to shore tide, current, wind ...and take you with it.

Thanks for the tip here much appreciated. Funny thing about all this is when I first got my wetsuit and board, I was thinking that I should spend some time practicing water relaunching, body drag, and in shallow then deeper water learn the self rescue. When I got out to the lake where it is only like 5 feet deep 150 to 200 yards out, I just went for the board and tried to go for a ride. Luckily for me though that the wind died before I got up and riding in the middle of the lake (not that I would have been able to stay riding that far upwind). Next time I head out I'm gonna put some time into learning these skills. I think too that just like staying refreshed with safety releases it would be good to practice this frequently. Ordered myself a larger hood and the Progressions beginner dvd today; so, maybe next time out I will have a clearer understanding.

Thanks
shaggs

Also a note about shallow water... make sure you know if there are underwater obstacles (rocks, ships, rebar, old docks, ..) etc down there. Less of a problem with deep water. I can't recall if it was here or somewhere else where they had a horror story of body draging in shallow water and caught their leg on something. ick.

ok enuf with the downers! Let the wind blow!

I went to the south end of Lake Michigan on Saturday. I got up on the board maybe a dozen times and sank back in the water. After some buddies were telling me to point downwind and not so much sideways as to say starting off edging.

This was my fifth time in the water. The last time I had to do a self rescue THAT WAS SCARRY!! When I got to the kite the leading edge was deflated ( the valve had partially popped off. After kicking it to the beach for a few minutes someone came by a towed me to the beach that was a relief.

EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW HOW TO DO A SELF RESCUE IT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE

Wow. Words from the wise. Thanks for sharing!

Shaggs - My first time in the water I wished I had a chase boat because I KNOW I woulda got it but was too reluctant because what I also knew was that I'd not be able to get back (riding the other way).