Beginner help :)

YellowKiter · Since 16 Jul 2009 34 Posts Spokane/Coeur d'alene

well thanks craz z. your post was more meaningful then all the rest combined lol.

i've thought about lessons, and if i could go down to the gorge and get a weekend lesson, i would... but is that all it will take? do people give one weekend only lessons?

craz z · Since 01 Dec 2008 130 Posts Montana Stoked

Cody,

In all respect to getting lessons will you be doing handlepasses and jumping 40ft in the air. the answer is NO.

The purpose of lessons is to inform you of what the parameters are. What you can get away with and what you can't. They are to inform you how to fly the kite in a manner that will progress you to the next level.

Lessons will teach you the proper way to setup a kite, How to launch by yourself, how to land by yourself, Where to hold the kite when moving from land to water, how to manipulate the kite to stay where you want it not the other way around. They will also teach you how to activate and rely on your safety systems.

Many beginers think if they pull the rip cord how do I get this thing back together? In the early days I was one of them. Now with innovation and newer technologies the safety systems are your number 1 line of defense without giving a thought to putting it back together.

More and more lessons and instructors are bringing this more attention then anything else you may learn. It is very important. It will save your life and you will use it I guarentee it. Sorry for going off subject

I think for you and anyone that truly wants kiting in their life that may be on a budget. Spend a little 1-2 day lesson. Go home and kite your ass off. Then come back and lesson up a little more.

Your at a stage where the habits you learn right now may carry with you for the rest of your flying days. If you learn the bad habits they are hard to break.

For example:
Setting up a kite problably the most easiest thing you will learn. This is your preflight list and if anything is off you could be in serious trouble right off the bat. There are so many kiters (self-taught) can't get the concept down. Lots of injuries can and will happen to unproper setup.

In the early days we were taught to pump the kite set it down leading edge towards you then line out in front of the kite.

The problem with this method is 2 things.
1. You must have an assistant
2. chances of inverted lines and tangles are VERY HIGH.

The proper way is inflate the kite leading edge face down into the wind line out from trailing edge downwind. Check everything so its nice and lined out no tangles hookup checking all your safety items are in place and hooked up. Walk in a big circle allowing the kite to catch in the wind and self launch

The good points of this method:
You launch yourself (noone else is involved)
You do a much more thoruough pre flight
You insure that there are no tangles
You have less or near zero chance of invert

As you can see the lessons will go through all of this with you.

If you your friend is a good rider and is patient enough to sit with all the preflight things you need to know. You can progress and maximize your lesson. If your friend is patient enough and you can fly the kites with him and learn the ins and outs of the kite. Your lesson will be that much better.

Bottom line there is a ton of shit to get past so you can just go out for a session. The more you nail and confidently pass each and everytime. Your lesson money will be stretched even further.

I will tell you. even if you can dance and fly your kite as if it was your third arm. the second you add a board and water and swells and oh my god talk about overload.

Have you wakeboarded decently?

Kiting is a skill of flyin the kite and riding the board while you pat your head and rub your stomach.

The more items you can scratch off your list of skills to have the money you spend on lessons you will at least feel as if you got your moneys worth.

Just so you know the gorge is one of the best places in the world to kite. You will find in learning that wind that is very consistent takes out another skill that you will need to master later on which is why the gorge is the best for wind sports.

One example is in montana if we want to learn on water it can take the whole summer to get what you may learn in a week at the gorge.

Mainly cause the wind here is so up and down up and down.

You'll get there just stay focused pay attention and absorb yourself with as much information as you can possibly get. The first time you get a ride in your hooked. The first time you leave the water on a jump YOUR ADDICTED.

The only bad thing I could say about kiting is it is a condition sport similar to gambling. Sometimes the payoff is big other times its frustrating and doesn't happen when you want it too. Get ready to see a leaf blowing and droping a hot date or blowing off your obligations.

Nak · Tue Aug 11, 09 11:30 am

Hey Cody! And welcome!

Sorry if my post wasn't the most informative, I was just trying to make a point with what passes as my sense of humor.

Great post by Craz z.

In response to you're question about the weekend lessons, the answer is absolutely yes. More is better up to a point, but you definitely need to get the basics to start progressing on your own. I would recommend learning all you can prior to your lessons. Watch your video like a hundred times. http://www.kitesurfingschool.org/ has a lot of great info. Learn the book side of the sport. Understand how to rig the kite, safety systems, the wind window, the different ways a kite generates power, different methods to control that power, self rescue, etc. If you've never gone wake-boarding, get a session or two in if you have access to a boat.

Once you feel like you've got a good handle on all of that info--and you can fly your trainer with complete confidence--then head down to the Gorge for some lessons. The instructor will teach you how to use that knowledge. They'll expand your understanding past the book stage. They'll help you with technique. They'll get you to a point where you can continue to learn--reasonably safely--on your own.

The time saved over self-learning will be immense, as will the increased safety factor.

Have fun!

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

OK One more 2cts ......
I took lessons in several locations South Padre TX , Hood river , OBX Hateras , Stlucia WI. and the very first at home here in Alberta Canada on a snow covered frozen lake.
Ask about the lessons from others , some people cannot teach and just go through the motions . I had no negative experiences from the mentioned locations .
You have to feel comfortable with the instructor , his ability to teach you his experience is very valuable and life saving . ( and can get you progressing way faster )
Patience at first so to learn safe procedures and practices before even getting near the kite is important so you understand why the kite flies the way it does .
You have seen the other excellent responses and I'm not going into any steps other than to stress the same , Take A Lesson , best thing is go on holiday to a good kite location for two weeks and kite every day , that would ensure you remember things . Taking a lesson and then not kiting for two months doesn't help as much but is still a must .
Have fun and stay safe

YellowKiter · Since 16 Jul 2009 34 Posts Spokane/Coeur d'alene

haha yes i'm very good at wakeboarding Smile

i'm practicing on my trainer everyday and i have a couple people that will help teach me Smile

i will most likely go down to the gorge and get some lessons later Smile

LOOP · Since 08 Feb 2007 107 Posts Ore-Ida

I think that sounds like a great idea. Get really good at setting up a good sized kite, flying in light winds in an empty field, maybe get some buggy time in. Then head down to the gorge and get a lesson or two to get you up and riding and teach you the self rescue etc. Or head out to Geogetown lake for some snow sessions if it hasnt happened locally by then. But whatever you do, despite his good advice, stay away from Craz Z and his crew.... Laughing

trouble, no really, I cant wait to make it out there this winter. Missed out last year and will be back out there this winter to make up for it.