Hey dudes, I just bought my first kite (Beamer III 3m) and I plan on flying it static for awhile and I'm wondering do you suggest some sort of pads? I am planning on going into kite-landboarding and I know I will definitely need pads then but For static do I really need a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads? Suggestions? Thanks! : )

You would only need pads for static flying if you feel (or should feel) that the conditions are extreme for your skills. In which case, just don't take the kite out. When your skills increase, and you start jumping, scudding, taking a kite out in its higher wind range, then the need for pads will become more necessary. My new favorite local field has fertilized, and watered bermuda sod from corner to corner. I don't wear pads there because it is so soft with no soil or rocks exposed. Sometimes I wear my helmet if I think I'm pushing it at all. (Blade 6.5 in 17 mph gusts)

lol, nice! Thanks man.

I'd agree, just wear what makes you feel safe in the conditions you're flying in. Helmets are the only ones which are really necessary in any extreme conditions... but having said that, they often dont come out with me, rarely static.

I put my helmet on before my kite goes up NO MATTER WHAT !!!

Now it feels like a safety belt in a car. I feel incomplete without it. In my books, that's a good thing !

You can always learn the hard way... Without them.

lol...no thanks . I'm actually thinking of just ordering a pro-tec skateboarding helmet(the classic) and using that. Waddaya think?

A ways back I got spanked by a 3.5 m kite one day when I did not notice what was essentially a mini-squall line coming off the water behind by back (dumb). I had a helmet on only because I had planned to jump in the bug, but after getting swept off my feet and dropped on my head, I realized it was was a good idea under any conditions.

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Originally posted by f0rgiv3n lol...no thanks . I'm actually thinking of just ordering a pro-tec skateboarding helmet(the classic) and using that. Waddaya think?

Sounds good. Just make sure it fits well. If not you won't be as happy with it on. Look up and see if the helmet pushes back or doesn't sit right. My 1st helmet felt good but didn't stay put and it was a pain.

I find that I become a bit less scared with all my pads on- then I tend to try riskier things, and have more fun. Pads=More fun for me.

Like that time i took my blade out in 25- 30 mph winds- static flying. Dumb... but fun as hell. Lots of pads.

Happy kiting.

Static flying you need more protective gear ,when on skis a board or a buggy the force the kite produces gets turned into motion and if your just trying to fly the kite the force of the kite still usually turns into motion only this time its you. I had a 4m blade pick me up off the ice about 12-15feet in the air and then went downwind about 20-25 feet instantlyneedless to say I packed the kite up as soon as I caught my breath and grabbed a much tamer kite.

I got a concussion last weekend. I hit the back of my head on the sand -- I did a nice tumble and landed on my back. Luckily, I was wearing my helmet which got a nice blob of sand stuck to the point of impact. I also had all my pads (knees and elbow) so the limbs were protected. Kite killers which brought the kite down as I was on the ground.

Wear your safeties, folks. You never know.

I also always wear a helmet static or not I found my OBEs I always got a mouthful of sand and switched to a full face. Whatever you get make sure it is comfy and fits well I would also add that get one you like the graphics of. It doesn't make it work better but if you like it and don't feel like it makes you look like a geek you will be prone to use it. I personally an a geek and don't care I am a lost cause!

I was flying static with a full set of elbow and knee pads (and of course helmet) this weekend and it was a blast. Like Dylan said the pads kind of made it more fun. I had less fear of injury so I was able to push it more. I tend to be pretty cautious because I don't want to have to explain to everyone I know that my (fill the blank) is broken because of flying a kite.

With the pads on I ended up on the ground but rather than deploying the killers I just let the Blade drag me until I got back on my feet.

I was mainly wearing the pads because I was trying to get going on the land board but I think I'll throw them on anytime I'm in gusty or challenging winds.

If you plan on jumping, I would suggest ankle braces

Alway's wear gear.