Introducing...the wife

jeffreyc · Since 23 Aug 2006 43 Posts

My friend and I are introducing our wifes Twisted Evil

to the sport of kiteboarding. They have been interested in kiting for some time and have decided to "jump in". One is an excellent wakeboarder and the other is a seasoned windsurfer. Both are snowboarders and have lots of trainer kite time.

Any suggestions. Run & hide is not constuctive... It's too late for that

Bettyboarder · Thu Sep 04, 08 1:09 pm

Pay for lessons.....it's worth every cent....plus then you guys can kite while they are in lessons. Maybe set them up with Tonia and they can do the lessons together she's an awesome instructor.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

No brainer...

http://toniafarman.com/

3 and 0 with teaching friends, 0 and 1 with the better half. The challenge is one of presentation - a third party is recommended - you may believe you are deliverying sage thoughful instruction - loved ones may just hear

blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, something, something, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah
(jeez he likes to hear himself talk)

vangondc · Thu Sep 04, 08 1:35 pm

To stay married, have them take a lesson or two before you teach them anything!

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

I would say Jackie def. had her breakthrough without me!!
Get a 3rd party lesson for sure..

Jackie: "Why are you yelling at me?"
Me: "I'm not yelling, I just have to talk loud so you can hear me through the wind"
Jackie: "What?"
Me: "Sheet-out, sheet-out!!!! "
Jackie: "I can't hear you"
Me: "SHEET-OUT"
Jackie: "Why are you still yelling at me?"

good fun.

mschulz · Since 29 May 2007 530 Posts Reno, NV Addicted

Bettyboarder · Thu Sep 04, 08 1:51 pm

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

if you insist on teaching the wife yourself, and not getting her lessons, here is my $0.03

first thing to do is get her a DVD and make her watch it a few times
after that
always stay positive while teaching.
be very careful with "constructive criticism" ie. instead of saying "this is what you're doing wrong", say "why dont you try this next time you're out there instead of...".
bring a surfboard to where ever you're going (if said place is not shallow water) so you can paddle out and get her or the kite if need be. just because she knows how to self rescue doesn't mean she will in a panic situation
life vest is key
seat harness may be a good thing also

lastly, even tho i didn't, i would recomend getting a walkie talkie headset set thingy, so you dont have the yelling problem chanson mentioned. Laughing

the only way i was able to successfully teach my gf, was to take a few trips down to floras lake until she got comfortable flying the kite and relaunching it where she could not stand because of deep water, etc. getting her comfortable relaunching the kite is key.
then we also made use of the klickitat sandbar a couple of weekends while she was learning how to ride the board and she is finally going out on her own now, with limited supervision Very Happy

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

Things I recommend after teaching my wife to kite.
1. Lessons from someone else besides you. (We both had two lessons before we tried it ourselves)
2. Get a jetski if you can. Not a very cheep recommendation, but the jetski is what finally got Janet over the hump. I was able to ride behind her on downwinders, and get close enough that I didn't really have to yell. It is also great peace of mind.

The windsurfer will pick it up super fast, and the wakeboarder probably fairly quickly once they learn the wind. The only problem I have as a windsurfer convert is always trying to just sheet in to generate power with the kite as opposed to sining the kite. This is a big difference with windsurfing to kiting.

Sella · Thu Sep 04, 08 4:05 pm

Two good things you have in your favor Jeff.....both wifes will help push each other and they both have good board skills. The kite comes easier I think and women have good balance and touch and don't try to overpower / fly it.

My GF's lack of board skills have been her biggest challenge and lessons are her next step because as Gman said all she hears from me now is "blah blah blah blah".

Aren't you going to SPI in Nov???? That will be an optimal situation for them...let us know how they do and what gets them "past" the learning curve because I would like to know.

Good luck !!!

holly · Since 09 Jul 2006 440 Posts Hood River Obsessed

ill teach your wifes to kite. you will prob skip over a tone of info as does everyone trying to teach thier friends/fam. or just get them lessons, then while they are taking lessons you can go kite and not get all stressed out yelling sheet-out-you sould pay someone to do that!

homerun · Since 12 Jul 2008 22 Posts

Try teaching her to dance. You'll only have to change a few words.

Instead of:

Jackie: "Why are you yelling at me?"
Me: "I'm not yelling, I just have to talk loud so you can hear me through the wind"

You be hearing and saying:

Jackie: "Don't yell at me?"
Me: "I'm not yelling, I just have to talk loud so you can hear me over the music"

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

Rob Devine

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

All that problems with your wifes learning to kite is nothing. Wait until you'll try to teach your mistress Razz

scottnorby · Sat Sep 06, 08 8:03 am

I would recommend a helmet walkie talkie.
Otherwise you are constantly yelling over the wind and I agree with Chanson......any wife hates it when you yell over the wind and make them feel like you am yelling at her...

Tami and I laugh about it now....especially now that she has been doing so good lately!

She is really stoked now----but I also agree that the lesson we gave her in Cozumel was really worth the money and saved a lot of stress.

It's really a scary thing when you think back.
And I hated putting my wife in a scary situation in the beginning.

So giving her an instructor to introduce her to the 'fear' can be a good thing.

But a helmet walkie talkie to talk with her, after the first few scary lessons, would have been a huge benefit.

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

I totally agree with Jim on the ski, you don't want to try to swim after your wife while she's floating down the middle of the Columbia.

Nicole was really struggling learning (even after lessons) until we started using the jetski.

3 seater Jetski's are around ~3k for one in good shape with trailer, you can probably sell it for close to what you buy it.