little man downwinder: HR sandbar to HR sandbar

4Stringer/KipWinger · Since 27 Apr 2005 541 Posts Hood River Addicted

Thank you to those who pioneered this for the micro-bros. We're enjoying it;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBkEl5bSIJs&list=UU8RPaHSv6wvPTxm8Q4LwAEA

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Awesome

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 615 Posts Addicted

sweet ride! working the kite😊

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

Super sweet! Thumb's Up

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Nice! That's the way to teach kids IMO... safe, cheap, and teaches them good habits from the get go.

Nak · Sun Jun 15, 14 10:09 pm

kenja · Since 19 Jun 2008 179 Posts Stoked

That is sweet! Go Henry! Can't wait to show my boys. I need to work on reducing their trainer kite crash frequency before I try that though.

WINDUDE · Since 10 Jun 2010 558 Posts GORGE! Addicted

so cool, haha

hilton · Since 15 Aug 2008 803 Posts Opinionated

Great video!!! I just hope he doesn't decide to drop out of school and turn pro.

Sella · Mon Jun 16, 14 8:05 am

Nailed it! Thumb's Up

4Stringer/KipWinger · Since 27 Apr 2005 541 Posts Hood River Addicted

The steady wind and perfect water level created ideal conditions. Look for the west to east pool in the middle of the sandbar. There are few rocks and sticks, just sand and mud toward the east end.

BeerKite · Since 29 Mar 2011 471 Posts Obsessed

Super rad! May have to get my little Grom out there soon.

alien · Since 01 Aug 2006 114 Posts Portland Stoked

Sweet! What age? I can't wait to get my little man out there. I'm wondering how early you can get them going.

4Stringer/KipWinger · Since 27 Apr 2005 541 Posts Hood River Addicted

Henry's 5 years, 10 months. For skimming in fairly steady 13-18 mph-ish and and 2"-4" water with sandy flat bottom and 100 yard downwind stretch, with lots of land trainer kite time, and some practice rope skimming, everything came together. I'd never consider anything beyond this though, i.e. harness and connected to kite. The biggest surprise for me was his kite control and fine motor skill. He's not a kid that gets everything, i.e. not physical superstar, but has a lot of confidence (which is funny to listen-to as he's determined to "smack the lip") In terms of father-son sports activity, man... I don't know if I've experienced anything sweeter.

If anybody wants to join forces sometime at the sandbar when the conditions look prime, we'd enjoy a full-on micro-bro session. Henry will talk-his-mom's ear off about kiting while she's gardening, so I'm sure he'd enjoy talking kiting with his wind peoples.

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

My little groms are right behind you. Myles (pictured) just turned 6. He was 4 in that pic.

trayle · Since 06 Aug 2005 11 Posts

Awesome! That's exactly how my kids learned to kite. By the time I started them on a regular kite and harness, they picked it up incredibly fast. Sheeting in and out was the main new skill they had to learn.