How many days do you get out a year?

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1872 Posts XTreme Poster

more than 40, less than 100

carolb · Thu Sep 18, 08 6:23 am **170**

We did the math and using last summer we kited about 170 days. This summer we haven't kited as much because of all the work we've had going on.

SPI rocked for days on water last year!

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

This is a great thread, hope a lot of newbs and soon to be kiters see it.

Kiteboarding is a lifestyle more than just a sport.

Some people consider going snowboarding/skiing 10 times a year a lot... but in kiting terms that's really low! With the varying conditions and complexities built into kiting, you want to go as often as possible to ensure you can be confident and safe.

Most people I see on the water on busy days have a death grip on the bar, wide eyes focused on the kite, and look out of control in general. In fact I've been tomhawked on twice this year (thanks.) But truthfully we were all there at one point, we just got over it because we kept going as much as we could and then got competant.

I think 90% of the people out there aren't ready for that dedication, or they don't have the time.

Sol-flyer · Thu Sep 18, 08 6:54 am

at first i thought this thread was a "LOOK HOW COOL I AM" kinda topic,..... Rolling Eyes

but there is some merit to knowing how many days it takes to be at a certain level of progression. I've been marking everyday i ride on a caleldar and its nice to see how many days outta the month are riding days. I'm looking forward to the snow season. I probably get just as many days in on the snow as i do water.

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

If I were to keep a calander It would have to be ultra top secret. If the wife saw how many days I kite I would never here the end of it.

Chooch · Thu Sep 18, 08 7:07 am

endoshred · Since 22 May 2006 232 Posts HR Stoked

kited about 60 days this year. planned to kite 80+ days. thought about kiting everyday. i mean everyday!

already trying to plan for how to medicate my post kite season depression. drysuit acquisition comming soon. maybe kite trips in november, december and february. still not enough. is it ever enough? then again, is it ever too much? my wife hasn't left me yet, so i still think i am ok.

windobsessed · Since 07 Aug 2008 120 Posts Vancouver Stoked

>> "is it ever enough?"

That's the thing, before kids in the early 80's we had a van and every week on friday my wife and I would leave work, go to the gorge sleep in the van, windsurf all day on Saturday and all day on Sunday and then go back to Portland for work on Monday. We did this starting in mid April at Rufus till Oct at RR. But even then it was hard to get more than 50 times. There are always dead weekends or other commitments.
We even started going to Baja in the spring but "it is never enough" and there is always someone getting more. The funny thing is that that person who is getting more is still complaining that they are not getting enough Smile

Had some friends back then that quit work and lived in hoodriver so they could windsurf every day but problem was you could not (or want to in light winds). So I guess you have to be happy with what you get and make the most of it Smile

Winter is going to be tough now that I'm obsessed with this sport Sad

redbird · Since 02 Jul 2008 25 Posts Â

i agree that kiting is more of a lifestyle than a count of days on the water, when people ask me how long i have been flying kites i am always reminded of how many years i have been hopelessly obsessed with this sport. kind of pathetic really as my happiness depends on ridable conditions. i readjusted my entire life to kite as much as possible, last year between the gorge, the coast, seattle, BC, fiji, new zealand and australia i probably had close to 220 days on the water. i cant just be a weekend warrior, i have warned many friends who have expressed interest in this sport that they should be ready to re-evaluate their priorities and become full time kitebums. windward to mexico i go!

vangondc · Thu Sep 18, 08 9:51 am

I thought about it and I think that I will have around 100-125 days by Nov. when the season ends for me. I must say that I started this year the last week of Feb. in my dry suit and I work nights so I can go kite every day there is wind. I also helps to keep life simple, have no kids and have a sweet girlfriend who is just as addicted and has the same priorities as me; kite together and/or with friends, kite alone if necessary, just kite and then think about the rest of the world and its many problems. I have to say though it’s not so much about how many days your out, everyone wants more, but to have fun with the ones you have, the people you are with and most of all don't take it to serious!!! Remember it’s about having fun.
Well, gota go the winds coming up here!
Ciao

carolb · Thu Sep 18, 08 9:52 am **time of the the water in a session**

Besides the 170 days kiting, we average 2 hours on the water and that's because many of our sessions are after work and the wind dies. When given as much time as we want, we usually will spend 3 hours on the water in a single session.

Kiting lifestyle? The verizon mobile wireless just arrived and we're getting ready for the roadtrip down the Wa, Or, and Ca coast for a month in a motor home Very Happy

before arriving in SPI.

If anyone is planning a trip, Neil who did the announcing at KB4C has an event in the Bahamas Nov 12- 16 that should be an awesome party and event. Also the LaVentana Classic in mid January is a killer party and fun event.

Redbird - You rock!!!

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

never have kept track
no intrest
it's exercise for me
but I enjoy running when no wind for that also.

For the first 5 years I chased wind on the waves ,full time (fried) Embarassed

last 3 years some snow kite,
mostly snowboard in the winter (Flatular season pass) Mad

this year not sure Laughing

central MX. is very nice in the winter Rolling Eyes

It would be a lot easier to count the days when it blew,
that I wasn't there Laughing

from May to Nov Wink

kristina · Since 14 Mar 2007 27 Posts The Hood Â

alleycat · Since 29 Jun 2006 176 Posts Portland Stoked

I have to guess between 55 and 75 sessions. I am not sure of the actual number but should be pretty close. Everywhere I go I bring my gear like Dominican Repuplic 2 weeks, Cuba 3 weeks (Cayo Guillermo was awesome) my home town in Kelowna BC, cross country trip to visit family. I picked up an assignment in California and now I am living about 5 minutes from the Sherman Island launch getting in 15 days since I arrived mid August.

So really, I have to ask is it the number of times we kite or the number of different places we kite? I still suck though, I can't turn with good control while unhooked, I can't land anything more than 15 feet high, my pop is more like a poop and my wave riding needs major improvement but damit I can go upwind better than anyone out there... The wind here at Sherman Island is blowning at 20MPH right now so I am out of here.

I feel my name should changed to the "Travelling Lawn Mower"

I have to throw this one out there...if anyone is going to the DR this winter I will be there Feb 14th to March 27th lets hook up for great all day sessions and late night beers...

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

I discovered that if you haven't kiteboarded in almost 2 months you nearly forget what you're missing out on Sad

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

eli_anderson · Since 04 Jun 2007 507 Posts Addicted

I'm from the coast...and I've only rode in the gorge maybe a 12 times...but when I rode stevenson all alone...wtf...I thought something isn't right...