Hi everybody: Thanks for all your information regarding equipment and complexities involved. I have a 350 rush, three liner. I have about 24hrs on it and feel pretty comfortable maneuvering it around and keeping control of it from a static standpoint. I bought a prodigy board with some great wheels on it. I am a snowboarder and am pretty good at getting around on it. That being said, when I took the board and kite to Shoreline park in Mountain view I felt as though I was trying to pat my head and rub my stomach at the same time. One gust of wind ripped the bar from my hands and then proceeded on tearing the break line from my wrists. Yea, there was some head shakin' going on at the parking lot but hey, you gotta start somewhere ("Baby-Steps"). I am wondering whether a de-power kite would smooth out these transitions in the wind and also whether having a waist or seat harnessing system eases the pain in ones back and arms. After two runs across the field, all be it radically, I was spent.

what helped me alot in the beginning was going straight downwind till i got control of the kite while riding, then start carving while going downwind, seems like it helped me put everything together

I guess I need to find a place where I can go straight downwind without running into anything. Space seems to be limited around the Bay Area for Kite Boarding. But I get what your saying, It seems when you follow the kite it doesn't have so much pressure as when you tack. Thanks for the response.

Pretty much I found that you need to be able to fly the kite without looking at it, and get proficient at knowing how your board handles.

Then do what gforce said, and keep the board aimed downwind, and practice.

Good Times.

Definitely an important thing to watch where your going and see the gofer holes your about to hit. I was just so worried about wrapping my kite on one of those light poles.

YES a harness will be a good thing ! Not that you want to hook in while testing yourself but in between . You can fly for a whole lot longer by hooking in to rest up. Being hooked in will then become more familiar and less stress later when you get a depower.
Yes a depower is a good thing for variable winds.
Sounds like you are about on track for 24 hr in. ! The more familiar you get with the kite , the less you will have that 2 things at once feeling. Try and fly the kite without looking at it . Once you can do that thinking about the ride is easier.

... riding downwind will only frustrate you in the long run.... straight downwind is not only extremely inefficient, but the power will be erratic and more likely to collapse and overshoot... or accidentaly loop into the power zone...

... learn to fly the kite, put it up in appropriate winds... and try kiteboarding..... crosswind tacks is how its done... a little downwind aim will help in getting rolling, but once you are rolling smooth power will come from a cross-wind approach... if you need more power, sine the kite ... if you dont know what this means, fly your kite more until you do, then try again

if you are having trouble moving doing this, you may need a bigger kite... not enough power to roll

I understand that certain size depower kite can take on a broad spectrum of wind. As I had mentioned before I have a three line 3.5 m kite what size depower kite would take me to the next level without over doing it. I want to take that sucker to some of the frozen lake beds in the mountains and snow board with it. They say it takes alot more pull to move you through the snow. One guy I talked to said I would need a 7m min to accomplish this. Sounds like a pretty big jump right now. I don't have the money for two kites, one now and then a more expensive one later. Is there a kite such as a depower that I can grow a bit with that will keep me happy and sane. Should I get a smaller, used depower kite, if possible or should I crack it open and pop for something new.

addendum to last post. Yes. I know I have to crawl before I can walk, run, fly, but I am a quick learner and am afraid to get into a kite (an expensive one at that) that I will outgrow in a month. I mean, some of you guys have 5 or more kites. Kid is still in college and my wife doesn't like the sport. You get the point. So at this point I need to get into something that will handle a bigger range of wind and be somewhat stable while figure this out. Thanks for your responses, they have been great. Love the vibe.

FWIW, my first kite was an Ozone 3.5M 3 line trainer, and once I got that down, my next was the Ozone AccessII 8M. I am trying to learn the snowboard, so my skills there 'need improvement', and there have been winds that I felt were too much for my skills and that kite, but I am satisfied that it wasn't too much of a jump. I weigh around 200#, BTW. Good luck in your progression!

a 3m fixed bridle was fun for me at 16-20 mph winds... i weigh 195... 20+ was def top end on it.... in those winds now i fly a 12m arc...

to make a decent recommendation we need to know more about the wind/ specific sport/ terrain / your weight that yt=ou are dealing with

Quote:

Originally posted by cvkiter Kid is still in college and my wife doesn't like the sport.

Ouch. Take your time, is what I say. If you put lots of hours on the kite, you'll get fitter and stronger, the wife might see that and start to change.... :dunno:

Also... after flying for a year, you'll understand your local winds much better and that will help you know what depower to get.

And.... consider getting a used depower. The boys here will make sure you get one that will teach you well. You'll spend less money and take a much smaller hit if you have to pass it on and try something else.

You'll need a harness with that depower, and that's good to buy new at a good shop that lets you try a few on and clip into something so you can check the fit while loaded up. get it first, as BR says you can fly lots longer if you clip in between rides. That's also a good time to practice flying the kite blind. Cheapo harness will allow you to do this with your FB, but you'll need a good one for the depower.

Finally.... get together if possible with some of the boys who have lots of kites... try them out, most of us are happy to ee our kites flying, doesn't much matter who is at the controls as long as they are past the crashing stage, which at 24 hours in you are.

hope that helps...

Fixed bridle kites deliver more power per sq.meter than depower kites. If you end up looking at arcs they are even less efficient ( projected area ) so don't be shocked at the jump in size.

For a good over all size , depending on your typical winds , I would suggest a 10 - 12m Depower foil or a 13-15m arc.

You end up missing out on the highest and lowest winds with that size but they tend to be a nice middle ground and tend to be the Go To size for most people. A 7m Foil or 12m arc will need higher winds to get going so actaully become a bit less safe to learn how to ride with. ( unless it's always strong winds where you are.

Continue flying your 350 trying to fly without looking but feeling where the kite is and what it is doing. BEST 1st purchase is the harness. Get it and get comfortable being hooked in + taking the power with your core instead of your arms. You will be able to fly much longer and learn much more in the same session resting while hooked in then unhooking when pushing the limits.
Snow conditions can vari greatly. You can have deep slow snow one day then fast icey the next. Winds often change as you travel across a lake. Nothing is ever black and white when dealing with the wind !

Great information. I will heed the advice given by you guys especially about the blind flying and the harness purchase. One question, can I attach a harness to my three line 350 and if so, how, and with what?

Go to bar accessories at
http://www.peterlynnkiteboarding.com/
I think they call what you need a quick release line ? I call it a D loop.
If you buy a harness at a shop , odds are they will have a D loop. Be SURE and get one with a Q.R. . Windsurf ones don't come with one.

Angus has both the PL and HQ ones..... both have quick releases.

HQ Control Bar Harness Strap



Peter Lynn Control Bar Harness Strap



Hooking in with a fixed bridle kite, if something goes South, expect to commune with sand or grass for a little bit before your reflexes kick in enough to hit the safety release.

ATB,
Sam

I went out yesterday afternoon to the Shoreline parking lot. There was a bunch of sport kites and families with children flying kites but no traction kiters as I had witnessed the time before that I was there. Weird. I kinda felt out of place and wondered if somebody new something I didn't. The wind was going pretty good maybe not as smooth as the time before but do-able maybe 12 to 17 on average. I got out my dinky 1.5 two line to test the waters and it turns out that the wind was coming from a different direction than the last time I was there; it was blowing straight down the corridor of the field. Last time the wind was blowing across this direction creating longer unobstructed runs for the guys. Well, damb it, I figured It would be a good time to practice zig-zaging down the field and practicing transitions. Winds were gusty, but I managed to get some wheels rolling. My son, Had fun with smaller kite sailing straight down wind on the board.

Regarding the harness and bar release. I have got a lot to learn. Being hook-in, on is, like you said going to take some getting used to. From what I experienced Yesterday, that is no time to react once that gust hits your kite. My elbow is hurting along with my finger as a result of a gust of wind, again, ripping the kite out of my hands. If I were hooked-on I would be a giant scab complete with in-bedded glass shards mixed with some 3/8 inch aggregate. Scary. I need a softer medium like grass or sand to try this next step. I got to work the next day, if you know what I mean. Thank you guys for the info on the bar release. I am going to get it and find some grass to try it out. Baby-Steps!

Hello again: to start out, waist or seat harness? Cheap or expensive?

Cvkiter,
I have used both seat and waist harnesses. I think it comes down to personal preference and what you plan on using it for in the future like say... Landboarding & Kitesurfing, or Landboarding & Buggying, or landboarding only or all of the above.

"waist or seat harness?" -- IMO waist harness - I like the angle of lift (more vertical lifting) when jumping and getting air. I have tried with seat harness and feels like getting lifted while in a sitting position. Again this is just my opinion. I would try both styles before making a purchase of one.

"Cheap or Expensive?" -- IMO I would spend the money and get a good harness. Try out a low end harness and compare with a higher end to feel the difference for yourself. I have found that the more expensive harnesses have more adjustments, padding, and better support for your back.

PM me next time you head out to Shoreline and I would be happy to let you try out my personal harness.

Adrian--

seat harness is better for learning, a good size beginner kite is not a 10 or 12 m depower:shocked2: like was suggested by someone but a smaller 6 or 8m depower will be a perfect depower to start with its risky to learrn on concrete though dont u have a beach or a grass field near by to learn.

There is no way u can get away with only one kite though for landboarding or even snowkiting u will always need 2 kites a low wind and high wind kite a low wind kite for landboarding is a size 9 or 10 and a high wind kite is like a 3 or 4m . me personally i have 3 kites a 7.5m depower 10m depower and a 2m depower, i mostly use the 7.5metre though thats the sweet spot size for the wind where i live however i dont do jumping and the likes for fear of risk of injury and loss of time from work... i just like to cruise or make speeed runs.

I was thinking the same thinking the same thing in regards to the size of the kite, especially from the experience the last time i was out. Good info on the harnesses, I guess you get what you pay for. As far as the kite is concerned I will keep my eyes open for a used 5 to 7 m depower to eventually graduate to the next level. Adrian, I got your card from a guy (Jim, Tim) at Shoreline the first time I was there. He said it was him pictured jumping on your card. I might take you up on the offer of seeing your harness. I am in Castro Valley, so it is a "little" trip to get out there. If you can let me know in advance when you plan to go out to the park I'll try to meet up. I took my Son out there so he could see some of the experienced riders but there was not one power kite out there. Guess the wind was not good or something. Thanks everybody for welcoming me and being so helpful. GreG:-)