Introducing...the wife

tonyb · Sat Sep 06, 08 8:30 am

I'll second having a chase vehicle. We didn't have the money for a ski when we started out so we got a sit on top kayak. Carol and I used it to help each other through the learning process, I used it to teach all of my kids body dragging and through the first few sessions using the board. And it still gets used to rescue wayward gear and other beginners. Not as fast or easy as a ski but it is a whole lot cheaper.

Tony

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

I taught my significant other to kite even though everyone recommended against it. She is now riding by herself and doing progressing just fine. She can stay up wind and is now working on her turns.

We both learned a lot from it. But to be honest - I really don't recommend it either.

There was a lot of things that I had to adjust to and could not figure out. The two of us are very different in certain respects.

I have been an adrenaline junkie since I was a kid - always chasing that short term burst of excitement.

I remember when my first kite picked me up and dumped me on my head in waste deep water - that was the coolest feeling. I remember turning around and yelling back to my instructor with a shit eating grin - "Did you see that? Did you see that? It picked me up and dumped me on my head" I was totally stoked and couldn't wait to do it again. I was never really afraid of my kite or the wind - I definately respected it and knew the power it had - but I wasn't really afraid of it.

My SO on the hand didn't like getting picked up and dumped on her head - go figure Laughing

it was a whole different ball game. I had to stop and figure out how she worked - what made her tick. Why was she doing this? I got into it because I knew that it was be a hell of a lot of fun boosting 30 feet in the air - adrenaline rush. My SO - well, she got into it because it gave her something to do that was fun.

It takes a lot of patiance and a couple of times I blew up. We figured out we had to talk about what was pissing me off and frustrating me after each session - otherwise I would just stuff and when she would do it again and again it would just eat at me until I would explode. however, if I could talk about it - it would diffuse the situation for the most part. To be honest - this is a very critical skill in any relationship. Talking about something and dealing with it before it becomes a reall issue.

So now we have a wonderful experience that we shared together and I take a lot of pride in watching her ride - it puts a huge smile on my face. I am proud of her Very Happy

seriously I am.

She is now totally addicted - it makes me laugh. I remember when I first started and the jitters and butterflies that were associated with it - she has it - she has it really bad. Only bad part is that she calls me up and tells me about her sessions as I am sitting at my desk working. That sucks. She has taken my passion and made it her own and I can't enjoy it with her. That is tough to deal with. She is down at lake Floras this weekend I would have loved to have gone - but I am working all weekend. I am actually working from home now and decided to take a break and waste time on nwkite Smile

but alas - I must get back to work.

Blue · Since 03 Jul 2007 469 Posts I used to be Obsessed

pdxmonkeyboy · Sun Sep 07, 08 12:11 am

EdG · Since 19 Dec 2005 425 Posts Just a Kook that's Obsessed

tonia · Since 15 Jun 2005 209 Posts The Gorge Stoked

Reading this thread, I thought I would chime in here...

It's a no brainer that it's 100% worth having your wife/girlfriend take lessons from a professional instructor.

Other than for the obvious reason of the psychological/emotional challenges present when teaching your S.O., the biggest reason is that women learn differently than men do. Women are more responsive to learning in steps and require a more calming, patient approach to learning.

Put your S.O. into a lesson right away versus trying to teach her first and later putting her in a lesson. You want her to have a positive introduction to the sport and walk away with a successful experience and a smile on her face... instead of throwing the bar down and walking away in tears. Fortunately, I've had women come to me on their own to learn after walking away from their S.O. in tears. And in some of my students' cases, after a series of lessons (I hesitate to mention this) the woman/girlfriend turns out a better kiter than her S.O.

I actually have a policy of not teaching couples together unless they each have no prior kiteboarding experience and are entering the sport at the same level. It just works better for everyone's self-confidence, progression and overall happiness!!!

Gman and anyone else who was interested... note my new lessons website address below.

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

jeffreyc · Since 23 Aug 2006 43 Posts

Fantastic suggestions.
- Yell louder 'cause she can't hear with water in her ears
- Buy A New Jetski!! Awesome, Ive always wanted one.... and she's worth it.
- Cool helmet electronics, maybe an ipod
- Seat harness for her.
- chase kayak works too
- instructional DVDs. Reals video sucks by the way...
- you'd think life jacket was a no brainer. It was obvious AFTER her first serious dunking. The jacket turned fear to fun.
- I bought her a 7 warroo and a 10 bull instead of using my C-kites (that was my idea!!!)

I'm really surprised no one suggested professional lessons .... Wink

Progress Report:
We move at her speed. Huge focus on the basics, how the kite works and safety. She has a tons of time on the trainer, she is becoming very proficient with both larger kites, great at launching/landing her kite as well as others, and she is enjoying short body drags and learning to fly one handed so she can go up wind.

Next steps are deep water self-rescue (she has done it on land many times) and going up wind without a board. there will be no leashes! We are talking about jetski rentals and I love the kayak idea!!!

Pepe has talked us into a bigger starter board, maybe a 134 or even bigger.

Lastly, She gets lessons when ever she decides she wants them. It will have to be someone patient, who will take her at what ever level she is at and focus on what she wants to learn.. She might take them in SPI in NOV

Any suggestions how to deal with the show-offs at the spit that continuously torment the beginners. Wow, I've heard about how bad it is, but I never realized how difficult it is to try to learn something safely when people are jibing around you for no better reason than to buzz the beach. Makes you want to pack a gun.

Thanks again

tonia · Since 15 Jun 2005 209 Posts The Gorge Stoked

newgirl · Since 03 Sep 2006 16 Posts Beaverton

How come no-one ever asks about teaching your husband?

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

jeffreyc - the people buzzing the beach at the sandbar have as much a right to be there as the people trying to learn. It may seem to you that there's not much point in people riding right around the sandbar, but truthfully its some of these areas where its possible to do flat water freestyle on a high level.

The reality is to teach you need open space and open water all by yourself. The best way to guarantee that is by getting access to a jetski or small boat that you can teach from. Or even better get professional lessons for you or your S.O. until they can stay upwind and no longer need to crowd the shallow areas of the sandbar.

A couple weeks ago I was just coming into the sandbar to land and a kite tomhawked into me. It was somebody teaching their friend (not a pro instructor.) I let the guy know I was pissed and moved on. It happened to me just that one time, but in reality it happens all the time. Its not safe, and its not really a productive way to teach.

Teach / learn / thrive in open water with a PWC or boat support!

jeffreyc · Since 23 Aug 2006 43 Posts

First I must say that we only practice at the sandbar early and as the wind is building. We live close so it is convenient and easy to plan for it. As soon as it gets crazy we pack it up.

Thanks for the list of alts. We practiced at a couple of other spots and I'll try some you suggested. I agree that the spit is not ideal, yet, it does have alot going for it. The wind is there more that most, the launch is flat open, relatively free of hazards, a long side shore stretch and bridge pillers to catch your kite if you leave the playground.

pkh - I totally agree with you. Everyone has equal rights on the spit. When it gets crowded everyone is impacted in what they want to do. It is known to most that the pond is not for beginners and we stay out and leave it for the flat water riders. However, I'm not the first to bitch about the close riding that is obviously unnecessary. One example, we were standing ~25ft off the north stretch of the spit, well west of the opening for the flats, sandwiched between other beginners when a riders threads his kite up & over ours, jibs in the small space behind us, throws the kite hard and blasts out below us. No need, no thought, no concern for others.

While I'm bitching, soon after that incident, the wind picked up and I got a piece of sand in my eye. It was a small piece, but it hurt really bad. Crying or Very sad

Guys, don't take me to seriously, I truely dig the spit crowd. I have meet so many awesome people there. It's one of the best parts of HR
Cheers

pacifichigh · Since 11 May 2005 1004 Posts ATX Texan

Dude that nots how you introduce the wife