I live in Central New York and I don't believe there is a single kite shop around but I really need to find a harness and bar, I don't want to just order them from online in case they don't fit or feel good. I was thinking that maybe some of you guys would know people around here or could help me find the closest shop.

what exactly is central NY?...someone may be around for you to try there stuff and then you can do the online thing
im sure there's no shop anyway....or you could hit Long Island which you pbly dont want to

Haha, Central New York is the Syracuse/finger lakes area. You just solidified our views of how non-New Yorkers forget we are an entire state not just a city!!

And a huge state at that. Just ask the two guys that busted out of prison weeks back (well, one of them anyway).

You won't find a lot of brick and mortar shops that carry true power kite gear. Most of the few "kite shops" out there carry a lot of single line, stunt and recreational stuff with maybe a few foils.

What kind of harness are you looking for? I might be able to help.

newb...that is so not central NY...might want to consider a Canada trip, i hear its lovely this time of year
sorry i cant help..maybe a local to you will step in, good luck!

Quote: Originally posted by abkayak

newb...that is so not central NY...might want to consider a Canada trip, i hear its lovely this time of year sorry i cant help..maybe a local to you will step in, good luck!

Ouch, that was harsh. As a former New Yorker, I think you're picking the fly crap out of the pepper.

Well here is the biggest problem I'm going to face. I just bought a 2004 16m rhino. The winds around here are usually pretty light, maybe 16mph max up around lake Ontario so I feel like the size won't be too overwhelming. I just need a relatively cheap safe harness. I need a bar that will fit a 5th line, I figured that would be the safest way because there are no instructors out here so I will have to train myself( I know I should never do that I'll die, but that's my only choice.) So basically I need a bar that is easily used with a 5th line and the safest cheapest(because I am a college student) harness. Clearly the most important thing I need is someone that can at least show me how to not kill myself. So if you or anyone knows of a group that kites around here that would be the most help.

There used to be a kite shop in Oswego, NY, but I'm not sure of the name or if it still exists. I know a guy in Clayton that used to deal in Ozone equipment, I will U2U his info to you.

Also there are guys in the Syr area riding Oneida Lake and also Ontario. If you are on FB, check the CNY Kiteboarding page.

i actually didnt intend any harshness...more like humor, but that just me and the long island upbringing
anyway more importantly we got an admitted newb looking to throw 16m up in the air w/out instruction
thats really a bigger issue than helping find a harness...kinda makes us an accessory to the fact

a_n....yes, you may die, really should get some help, even being on a budget

love the crap/pepper line, gonna put that one in my rotation

Loving this back and forth! :evil:

Full agreement that the crap/pepper line is an instant classic.

Newb - A fair number of us on PKF are into our 50's or beyond (I know I am). One of the ways we got that old is by not doing things like slinging 16M up into the air right out of the box. I'm with abkayak, it may sound dramatic but death or serious injury is one of those possibilities. Sure winds are usually "16 mph max" as you stated, but it is the gusts that can rise up out of nowhere and kick you in the seat meat like a mule that will get you in trouble. Just ask Spencer (aka soliver) what recovery is like from unexpected vertical ascension (actually the ascension was likely fine; it was the return to earth that proved costly). This is a WONDERFUL sport but things can happen quickly with some big consequences so please take care and consider getting some pointers before just slinging such a big kite up in the air and hoping for the best. Trust me, HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY.

We all look forward to hearing about your great adventures on these threads. Please be careful and have fun!!!

Quote: Originally posted by abkayak

anyway more importantly we got an admitted newb looking to throw 16m up in the air w/out instruction thats really a bigger issue than helping find a harness...kinda makes us an accessory to the fact

Kite... no bar.... Spidey senses tingling.

@average_newb - Without meaning to offend, what other kites have you own/flown?

Syracuse.... where young wolves purchase motorcycles having never been on one with the ignition turned on. Must be something in the water.

ATB,
Sam

Quote: Originally posted by abkayak

i actually didnt intend any harshness...more like humor, but that just me and the long island upbringing anyway more importantly we got an admitted newb looking to throw 16m up in the air w/out instruction thats really a bigger issue than helping find a harness...kinda makes us an accessory to the fact

Didn't mean to sound so snarky either. Of course we all know that "central NY" is somewhere along the 72nd St. transverse of Central Park. ;-)

I actually have spent a lot of time in many corners of upstate and love it.

Anyway yeah, the 04 Rhino is a bigger concern. I hope we can find him some good local guidance.

Sam - just read the fine print on your avatar - AWESOME! :singing:

Spidey graphic had me laughing out loud.

truth is Canada is closer than Albany....anyway someone get our new buddy safely in the air, and back to earth
thats the end game

As others have pointed out, red flags afoot. I think at this point the general consensus is that for most people and especially beginners nothing made pre-06 is going to be remotely safe to learn on. I say this not knowing what your background is but before purchasing bars and a harnesses for a kite that lacks the depower and safety of most "modern" kites you may want to reconsider using the kite you have to try to figure things out solo.

There's gotta be someone up that way that can give you some guidance. ???

Reading through this, I didn't notice what you intend to do. Are wanting to kitesurf or landboard? What's your previous kiting history? An old 16 meter LEI would scare me and I'd like to think I'm a self declared intermediate. Maybe someone can confirm that to swell my head a tiny bit? :D

Before " throwing up " an old 16m Rhino I suggest you search the closest brick and mortar emergency room.

The tried and true course of action is to buy a trainer kite and learn to fly it blind. ( take lessons at this point if at all possible. ) Move up to a moderate sized beginner friendly depower kite to perfect your upwind body drag, self rescue technique etc.. Trying to fly a monster like you have without knowing how to control it is a recipe for disaster.

Those who take the " go it alone " route usually end up either turned off by the sport or in hospital or ...

The guy who sold you this old kite is not a good friend! I had trouble selling my 16m 04 Aero II for $100 5 or more years ago? [ paid $1000 second hand for it in 05. My biggest loss in a single kite ]

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck

Just ask Spencer (aka soliver) what recovery is like from unexpected vertical ascension (actually the ascension was likely fine; it was the return to earth that proved costly).

Thanks for the shout out Steve, but my injury was nothing compared to others who have been way worse... comparatively speaking my broken foot was like an ingrown toenail compared to what Jeff (BigKid) went through... the worst part of it for me was what I put my family through all for the sake of my fun. I had to have several "come-to-Jesus" meetings before I finally pulled my head out of my posterior crevasse and tamed my urge to disregard everyone else if the wind was blowing.

Truth be told the sport is as safe as you make it. Certainly unexpected things happen, but there are a great number of variables we CAN and DO have control over. In my opinion, a decision to start out of the gate with a 16m Depower kite that is 10+ yrs old is a variable that newb should maybe have taken the time to take more control of, and thankfully he has not been able to put the kite in the air yet.

@Newb,... there will always be present the possibility to hurt maim or kill yourself within kiting, but when you approach it with the proper humility, caution and a healthy fear, it can be an incredibly fun and rewarding pastime. Unfortunately, there are a couple of troubling issues worth exploring here and please understand, newb that this is intended to help you.

A. It is not often that people start out with depowerable kites. If you don't know the difference between a Fixed Bridle (FB) and a Depower kite then look into that. The general procedure is to start with a 3m range FB "trainer" type of kite that will teach you the basics of how to FLY the kite rather than SURVIVE the kite. There are fundamentals of flying, kite dynamics, kite anatomy and control that can be learned and WILL prove beneficial to you before you move into the land of depow and locomotion. This is not to say that you cannot start your adventure with a depow kite, but I can tell you that there are many much better and much smaller kites to start with.

B. Not only did you buy a kite (North Rhino) that from the jump, I have read has been deemed a difficult kite to handle, but you have chosen a model that is over 10 yrs old and much too big to be a first (as stated above). Kite anatomy, control, depower, and SAFETY technology has grown leaps and bounds over that time period, and you will frequently hear it said that it is unwise to buy used LEI kites from production years previous to 2006 (primarily for the purpose of safety).

As a community of folks who love what we do, we are here to help you to be successful in your endeavor to get moving powered by the wind, so PLEASE, ask us questions and learn from our experiences. Remember that you are breakable and live with a humility built around that, but don't let that keep you from pushing yourself. And buy a helmet, because if you break your head it is exponentially more difficult to fix as well as to recover from on all accounts.

I don't care if someone wants to hurt themselves, or willingly does something stupid as long as it doesn't ruin MY fun. Too many kitemares tend to cause kneejerk reactions from people that hold positions of power in local government. That is why I help people I see struggling with kites in my spots. I am actually selfish, not really that nice of a guy.

Newb, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! Do not fly this kite unless you have experience with this type of kite. This is not a first kite. This is not even a second kite. This is a 5th or 6th kite after having a few years under some equally large ripstop. Get a smaller 3-4m fixed bridle and learn to fly it blind before you even attempt to put the Rhino up. Even then, you better spend months reading and understanding depower kites and their safety systems before you put lines on that thing.

Well said Demo... Really well said, i was at this exact juncture before someone saved me from myself...possible for their own selfishness...I don't care at this pt. cause I can kite like the dickens now....everyone be safe and have fun......then we drink:D

I am definitely not planning to just put the kite out with 0 knowledge. I have a 3m training kite that I have been trying to fly whenever there is wind, heck I even made my grandpa take me out on his boat so I could fly the kite behind. The kite is old but it is a 5th line kite meaning it will fully depower. And that was actually the main reason for posting was so I could find a shop to buy this stuff and to get guidance. I may not be experienced but I watched every youtube video and read just about everything on the internet. I definitely won't try to do anything until I have my trainer nailed down. Can I still do this sport if the winds are 16 max or so because from what I have gathered a big kite is a beginners worst nightmare? If a big kite is a beginners worst nightmare and I have moderate to low wind than how can I possible learn? Isn't a big kite needed when wind is so slow? I may be stupid but I'm not too stupid to launch a big kite like that with no understanding of anything, so don't worry too much.

Oh and I am looking to go on land and water, however not on land for quite a long time because there are more rock hard obstacles to break my skull on.

And honestly the guy who sold me the kite had no clue that I was new to kiting he had a clear statement that said if you are not experienced than don't buy. So hopefully he doesn't see this and you guys shouldn't be mad at the seller. Btw Abkayak I was not at all offend by anything

I understand your enthusiasm for the sport and big kites. I love my big kites! but even if you are a year or so in, an older 16m Rhino is a big danger! I fly a 2008 16m Rhino regularly (seen in my profile pic) and if you are not familiar with it, it will own you and cause a bunch of hurt. The lift is amazing and it is not by any means a beginner kite. Please fly with someone that is experienced and can help you learn safely.

Another quick update for all of you, I just got a 12m also so I will definitely be using that before the 16m.

A 12m what? What year? What size and model of trainer?

It is great that you understand folks on here are out for your best interests. + have twisted senses of humor.

I am confused. I didn't think fifth line came out until 05. With 04 I think folks used the pump leash attachment to upgrade to 5th line? 5th line does NOT improve your depower ! ( not until much newer versions ) It flips the kite on safety and makes re-launch a bit easier. Still re-launching that beast will be a PITA.

Your Rhino will NOT fly all that early ( I would guess 8 mph minimum ? ) and will overpower you well before 16mph. Low wind had not been figured out back in 04. A 16m kite was just a fat guys 14m. It didn't fly much earlier but had a ton more grunt. ALWAYS size for gusts! The 12m will be a much better size in the 10 - 16 mph range for learning assuming it is a good kite for learning? If you are looking for a REAL low wind LEI you need to look at kites newer than 2010 with low wind specific to the design. Or closed cell foils.

If that Rhino pumps up and you see how much kite it is, YES you are wise to be scared!! Dangerous scary! ( I predict a lesson in bladder repair is in your future! ) WHO will be able to ground handle that beast safely for you ??????? You will NEED a kite biatch with that thing! Especially during the learning curve. It's one thing to biatch a 7m. A 16m takes some talent.

Work on controlling that trainer kite you have without even looking at it. Work on doing this in a sitting position as well. Imitating board starts. If possible hook into the trainer and get a feel for taking the power through your core. If your trainer doesn't have a loop for hooking in you can buy one online cheap.

It's tough to learn on your own but not impossible. Keep listening to the advice on here. Buy a good quality training video and watch it until it runs in your head. Pay particular attention to self rescue and how to handle nautical travel. Check out www.kitesurfingscholl.org

You are right to wish you could try some harnesses. They become a very personal choice. One tip, a Dakine spreader bar pad will make any harness a lot more comfortable.

As folks have mentioned you are representing a sport that is fighting bans almost every place we go. ( happening to me personally at the moment ) Even if you are on your own if you mess up and media gets a hold of it our situation can be even further damaged.

DON'T get sucked in to cheap old kites and impulse buying! You get what you pay for in this sport!

Is this place to far away? http://nykitecenter.com/

yes too far away...and not not in his budget...anyway a/n, you seem to have a grasp of the seriousness of what could happen when you put any kite up...it doesnt matter if its a 16,12, or trainer....im self taught because of the $$$ as well
it can be done just be super cautious....imo your not really ready for the 12 till you lose a few teeth from flying the trainer
in too much wind....ask questions we will always help.....send me down a thb from Cosmos

Quote:

Another quick update for all of you, I just got a 12m also so I will definitely be using that before the 16m.

Curious...

After coming on here and being cautioned about kite buying ...did you just go buy another kite without asking first about it..? or did you get some advice off-lline from elsewhere:puzzled: