New Kiter Questions - quiver/kites

PieroPDX · Since 22 May 2006 109 Posts Stoked

HELLOO!
Love that this community exists and stoked to be a part of it!...regardless of the inherent BS/conflicts you see everywhere humans interact. I'm a pragmatic misanthrope, so it doesn't shock me. It does make me a sad panda though....

BEEN LURKING a while and already recognized some of you at the event site(Dangler). Sat there for couple days before lessons just picking brains and watching. I helped the Paddle BOB launch his board in fact. Unsuccessfully tried to make him break character...he held fast like a champ in the face of my Full Sail-fueled trolling. Kudos to you, sir!

LONGTIME BEGINNER WINDSURFER. Just never got fully strapped and hooked in...lived in HR 98-2000 so some conditions familiarity. I'm 39/M/175lbs/ 5'8". Familiar with four-line stunt kiting

TOOK 4 HOURS OF LESSONS. first day on a 9m felt too easy. Never got slammed, was controlling kite in the window with one hand in minutes. Body dragging minutes later...

- second lesson on a 12m was much more frustrating(reality check). Got my ass wooped and it hurt, and burned, and left me beat up, but ready for MOAR! Maybe it was my comfort level and experience with other water/board sports, but i feel like the instruction was less structured and safety-oriented than I would have liked. I'm generally a self-taught everything guy and have also taught sailing, First Aid, Diving, etc to kids so familiar with teaching techniques and student psychology.

NERVOUS ABOUT SAFETY though(kitemares), so want to be responsible and take it slowly and responsibly. Also terrified of pissing off the locals with my noobery not knowing what I'm doing.

LOOKING TO QUIVER-UP with 2 OR 3 KITES that will evolve with me, but obviously not jumping in on Fuels.

LIVE IN PDX now, so Sauvie and Jones beach will be on the scedule, as well as the coast, but mostly Gorge riding for now.

- Any tips appreciated! Thanks in advance. Very Happy

QUESTION:
I understand the sliding range from c-shape <<---to --->>swept/delta shapes. I'm assuming I should look for a hybrid delta-type (Rally?)

Still trying to sort the marketing hype from the legit feedback though, and I'm one shrewd consumer generally.

I don't understand how marketing says something is a 'light-wind' kite...Isn't that just based on size?

I'm thinking 9, then 12, then a 7

pollywog · Since 07 Aug 2009 291 Posts Obsessed

7,9,12,good choice. Maybe consider 7, 10, 13 or 14 (thinking sauvies). Be wise about board choices. That can make all the difference.

Welcome to "crack"of water sports. It may change your life....for the better of course.

Sella · Fri Jul 13, 12 11:50 am

Longterm....8m Gorge, 12m coast/SI, Jones....will probably get you on the water the most but you're at a point now where a 7,8,or 9 will make little difference. Get your safety, body positioning and upwind board skills dialed in first and once you're 10+ sessions in a whole other world opens up so pace yourself and most of all.......enjoy.

PieroPDX · Since 22 May 2006 109 Posts Stoked

Gotta admit had a few worried looks on my face on second lesson. Instructor was helping me finally try getting the board under my feet, but in like 12 inches of water with sandbar everywhere I was terrified of getting launched and landing on my head, digging the nose, etc. felt like a situation primed for neck injury...

Still need to work on my upwind body drag. That shit ain't fun practice either but I know it's important.

Hoping to be out this weekend. Stoked!

PieroPDX · Since 22 May 2006 109 Posts Stoked

Recommendations for PFD? Thinking kayaking PFD' s are perfect because they ride high and won't interfere with my waist harness.

I'm assuming my skate helmet can do double duty?

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1865 Posts XTreme Poster

Kayak PFD is awesome
Skate helmet is fine
8 or 9m is $ for 1 kite Gorge, if you have the cash add a 6 or 7m
You'll need a big kite for SI
Any hybrid 2008+ is fine
Quality of instruction is all over the map. Ask folks who have taken lessons recently
Body dragging upwind with one hand is important. Practice it a lot.
99% of the kiters are very cool and will be happy to give you tips of you ask.

Welcome to the addiction

JeffT · Since 07 Jul 2012 238 Posts Deep Southern Portland Stoked

Pdxgeek - you sound like you are in the exact same stage I am. I was super comfortable on the first lesson and got my ass handed to me on the second.

It's end of season for kites and there are some great deals if you can buy 3 at once. I'm looking at Naish (20% off right now) and Liquid Force Envy (pretty much sold-out at 2nd Wind).

I really leaning towards just taking lessons this year and waiting until next to buy gear.

dancingwind · Since 18 Jul 2007 321 Posts Obsessed

Save your money. Get a 2010 or newer 9m SLE, Bow or Hybrid kite. You'll be using that size most of the time in the Gorge so it's the perfect learning tool. Once you feel comfortable going up/down wind and transitioning, venture out to smaller/bigger kites. 6,9 and 12 is usually the money. See you on the water!

Slappysan · Since 13 Jun 2012 309 Posts Obsessed

I would suggest getting a kite that's sized for the place you'll be riding most, but get one that has a really big range. I'd suggest a 2008+ naish cult/bolt 9m or 10.5m.

Get a decent bar/lines, then pick up another kite that can fill in what that kite is missing.

I like this approach because you can then use your go to kite in most conditions. You don't have to guess "should I pump up my 8 or my 10???", you don't have to come in mid session to switch sizes, etc. I went with a 9/12 setup and I wish I had just one 10.5m (I'm still new).

I liked going used for my learning kites because when you are learning the kite has a good chance of taking a beating.

As far as light wind kites go, they are different. Normal kites wont even stay in the sky under 10 knots, but light wind kites are built to keep flying in as low as 6 (2-3 for foils).

The main difference is weight, the LW kites are made to be a lighter kite so they don't need as much wind to support their own weight while pulling you.

For LW I'd go with blade fat lady 17m or give the naish fly 15m a try.

At your weight a 10.5m bolt would cover 16 -> 25 knots (you could probably even hold it down in 30 knots without issue). Either of those LW kites would cover 10 -> 18 knots but you'd be pushing your luck riding them in anything past 18.

I would also suggest you go out without a board for a bit and just body drag around. Sure you look stupid but it'll be a less stress way to learn than trying to master it while you're zipping down wind and your $500 board is nowhere to be seen.

Aeolus · Sun Jul 15, 12 7:07 am

Don't forget about longer and shorter lines sets... (Or with some 3m line extensions) you can extend the range +\- half kite size. Pretty small $ investment for some adjustment.

The good thing about being poor and being a one/two kite kook in a three kite world is that you learn how to manage the conditions that are not optimal for the kite you're on. And if you kite a lot you're going to see it all. You're going to choose the wrong gear one day, or your downwinder is going to pass through a 6m wind AND a 14m hole...... Laughing

and you're on your 10....good times!

Get yourself a surfboard. Maybe a 10m and a twin tip won't work but a 10 and a surfboard gets you out there. You have such good terrain on the Columbia to workout board skills. Then when you go to the coast you'll be ready to rock. Plus they're outrageous fun.

Let's face it early....we'll be body dragging our entire lives if we push ourselves to learn new things.. Twisted Evil

...might as well dial that Mark Worth board retrieval mojo in right away...

Hit it!