What are my chances of flying it without killing it or myself?
Am I crazy for even thinking about it with no instruction?
I just joined this site yesterday and have been reading lots of posts.
What would be the min. amount of wind I need to fly.
What would be the max. that I shouldn't even attempt?
We have about 6" of snow on the ground. Should that help or hinder? Any suggestions would be great.
"Crazy"? in Omaha

A 3m kite probably needs a smooth 7-10 mph for your first flight. Is there anyone you can have help you with some prior power kite experience?

yea you can do this......check out some vids first... as many as you can on launching, controlling and landing ...the snow will help hold down trail edge to launch and im thinkin 6-12mph tops just to play it safe....u have to learn to set up and pack up as well....so any time u do that it's one under the belt......damn wish i could watch..... go getem crazy

If you go out in reasonable wind, <10, mph not force, and you should be fine. Take it out when it's nuking, you'll hurt your self. Start in light wind; work your way up in steps. Remember, if the wind goes from 10 to 12.5, the available power has doubled. So make the steps in appropriate sizes.
Too little is frustrating, but you won't get hurt.
Gusty shifty wind is hard to learn to fly in and sudden bursts of too much wind can hurt you if you don't know what too expect. (Even if you do, it can still hurt you. Bladerunner has seen me cartwheeled by my 3m. The wind on the ground may be quite different from 20m up.
Have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale , you want to start at the high end of 2 to the start of 3. If the wind is steady you will have fun and not get jerked around too much at the start.
Snow can be fun or wet or dangerous. Is it fluffy fresh or stuff with an icy crust on the top? Snowman type or fluffy unpackable? If it slush on top of muddy grass, you will leave marks, harmless but visible for weeks after, if you scud much.
I am guessing Omaha has a lot of open space to play, away from trees, house and esp. power lines. So play safe, start small, work your way up, and most of all have fun.
S
If you can't find a power kiter, even stunt kite experience is helpful.
This is very important: In the diagram, linked below, at the top it should read Lower Power as it is not necessarily low power, just lower.
http://www.google.ca/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=...

I don't know anyone with experience. Yesterday I saw a kiter on skies on the way home from my daughters. I watched for about an hour and was amazed. I should have waited till he was done so that I could have talked to him. I have been looking to find someone in the Omaha area with out any luck. I will have my wife video my first attempt and see if I can post it. Thanks for the advice.
"Crazy" but still alive in Omaha

Try this:

Thanks to everyone. The links were esp. helpful. My kite should be here next week. Hope for good winds. I will post and let you know how it goes.

3.0 blaze was the second kite I ever bought . . I think it is a super little wing . . . Hide your wallet after the first flight . . lol

Your first flight should be fine in low to moderate winds. even if you cannot resist and take it out in gusty conditions, make sure you select your kite field with the thought of having to bail out without harming your fellow human being. remember, its a lot easier and less expensive to replace a kite as opposed to a arm or a leg or a lung. do not be afraid to bail out when things get hairy. While I may not have the experience of my new found friends here on the power kite forum, feel free to surf my previous postings on what not to do when you go out kiting with a monster kite.

Regards,
Cranky

Here is the best advice I have.
lOOK FOR A DRAWING AND UNDERSTAND THE WIND WINDOW.
When you start out DON'T try and fly the kite ! Try to CONTROL the kite. If there is a decent breeze the kite should fly up top of your head and sit there. ( the edge of the wind window. ). Just try and keep it sitting calmly up at zenith for a few minutes. Once you feel that you are correcting it proper and keeping it there then start rocking it slightly left and right a bit keeping it under control. Avoid diving it deep into the window. If it starts getting crazy settle the kite back down at zenith. After you feel comfortable with rocking it back and forth try figure 8's but keep them up high. Again if it goes bad. settle the kite down at the edge. Avoid big jerky moves. Give time for an input to be recieved by the kite . So always be thinking and acting ahead. Start turning BEFORE you get to the edge of the window.

Next, take the kite from zenith and feel how the edge of the widow extends down your left and right side. Feel how the kite sits there steady with minimal power . Whenever you get into trouble try and settle the kite down along this edge.

You should have been flying for about 1/2 hour now. If you feel like you are in control then start diving the kite into the power zone. Start with a small dip. Notice how the power comes on in the middle and lets off as you get to the edge.

Line management is another skill you will need to work on ahead. Look for a method that works for you. Possibly the simplest to start out is " parapacking ". Search it but basically you fold the lines into the bag on one side of your kite and then put the handles on the other side so they don't get mixed in.

The tutorials at www.coastalwindsports.com are great. I suggest you print them out and take them with you.

I own a Blaze not so much because I like how it flies but how it LOOKS! It is a good kite to get you going. Check your lines are all equal length before hand. If the kite won't fly up, too much brake. If it spins, uneven brake. If you can't back it down too long on the brakes.

Watch yourself at 1st. You will likely give brake input to the kite by accident. Just try and fly on the front 2 lines until you are in control. If your brake lines are set up perfect you should see a slight arc in them as they hang loose with no input.

P.S. I got my 1st snowkite runs in with a 3m foil and strong wind. It is a very good size to get you started. Work on it and you should be able to get going on skis or a snowboard soon! Be aware that you typically need 3 kites to handle the full wind range. That folks who snowkite usually fly depower kites. ( but they all have a trusty 3m in the bag ! )

I watched this one over and over again while waiting to be able to afford my first kite... And John Holgate's videos (above) are all great too,... Always loved his stuff



I watched almost all of the "video jug" vids on power kiting, then coming on the forum, I found that I also liked John's vids too,... Good luck!!! Be safe!!!

This is some excellent reading. Read it several times then again after getting to fly some. It will start to sink in in time.

Power kite tutorials

Thanks to everyone for all the info and links. I can't tell you how excited I am to get started. I'm still looking for someone in the Omaha area that has experience. Still no luck so I will go solo. I'm sure you all remember how excited you were your first go at it.

After learning to "control" the kite, where do I go to get the equipment for skiing or snowboarding? Do I need a harness and "T-bar" or can I use the "bars" that come with the Blaze?

P.S. I don't go back to work till the middle of March and my wife works for an airline so I fly for free. Are there any upcoming events that I could go to?

Learn with a teacher... will made you a better rider faster.

an instructor totally accelerates everything......but, u will this starter stuff done yourself... as long as the wind isn't blowing too hard when that kite arrives and you make it thru day 1:D...you have to go slow to start, that kite has more power than u can imagine.....u will see that quickly.. and slow down w/ getting on the skis "crazy"......even if you do this real quick you have plenty of air time to log before you want that temptation lying around the house...by then i'm sure you'll have met up w/ someone to give you some guidance....have fun!

Thanks for the advice, I will go slow and "easy". Stilll crazy in Omaha.

Flexifoil does one of the nicest land kite manuals and is available on line on line as a pdf - lots of good info in it

http://www.flexifoil.com/webdownloads/instruction_manuals/la...

Thanks Markite I will check that out.

great advice here, we all can learn something new......

There sure is. I'm surprised that there is not a Newbie topic or site for those just learning. It would sure help. There is some great info here and I sure do appreciate everyone for their help. I'm still reading the articles, watching the vids and soaking up all the advice.

Scoop's Guide for Newbie Powerkiters

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=23395

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=23482

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=23853

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=24023

If you continue to take the approach you are taking you will do just fine. I did not have anyone near me to learn from either but because of all the reading, helpful folks here at PKF, and scouring YouTube for kiting videos, learning on my own was no problem. The only issue I had was once I learned I couldn't stop buying kites and kiting gear!

Thank you Annie, this site has been a great help. From the east coast to the west, from Canada to Australia so many have contributed to my "education". So in reality I will never be able to say that I was "self taught".
My kite should be here sometime this week and I can hardly wait to put into practice all the info I have been absorbing. The winds have been a steady 7 to 10 miles an hour here the last few days. But hey this is Nebraska and they could be 20 or 30 by the end of the week.
I have another question that I have not seen covered. Can you tact into the wind with a kite the same way as sailing or windsurfing?
Thanks again to everyone, have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Yes you can tack and gibe.

On the point of finding a local to learn from/ with I found for you on the AKA website:
Midwest Winds Kiteflyers Club (have not figured out how to do links from the iPad, website is same w/ .org).
Breeze Catchers (shop) 5426 S. 185th (website is .net).
One or both of these ought to be able to hook you up with some flying buddies. Even those stunt flyers can probably help and you may be supprised at the knowledge sitting there (think Rev flyers). Or you can roll the wind dice and come to Denver and hang out with us (we are friendly).

Thanks Cerebite, I will try and look them up. I appreciate the heads up.