How to not be "That guy"

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

So now that I have enough experience to actually be able to do what I want on a board, as opposed to going wherever the kite takes me, how do I avoid being "that guy". You know the guy who no one likes to kite around because he is always in the way or tomahawking his kite into people on the beach or whatever. I haven't been around long enough to know what all the faux pas for kite boarding are yet so let's hear em Smile

On a side note I was out at SI on Saturday and had my sister do some recording of me trying to do jumps. Sadly it didn't turn out as good as I hoped. Jumps feel a lot bigger when you are doing them than they look on a small not very good recording. Anyway here is a capture from the best jump that got recorded and as a bonus I actually rode that one out. Not bad for my first season!

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

you are making some sweet progress for your first year. Spike may have to pass the torch for rookie of the year Wink

i dont think there has been another r.o.t.y. Award since his first season. But u got my vote.

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

Thanks. I'm just gonna keep going out there and pushing my limits. Hopefully by the end of the season people won't believe me when I tell them it's my first. The Sauvie crew can attest to it though. They all saw me out there body dragging after my board for most of the first few sessions lol.

pdxmonkeyboy · Sun Jul 25, 10 2:40 pm

Diggy was awarded newb of the year as well. Them he vanished off the face if the planet.

The only thing that annoys me when I'm on the water is people that don't put their kite down low when they are down wind crossing paths.

If you really want to jump the first step is to stop kiting at sauvie and ride a smaller kite in the gorge. If you find that your getting more distance then height you are not edging hard enough and releasing from the water too soon.
If you fins you fall straight down your not sending your kite back in the window soon enough.

Next time your moderately powered, pull your bar hard at the apex or slightly after the apex and loop your kite. It's a perfect way to land softly and with forward momentum. When you get bored with that, loop it on the way up and feel the POWER!

Cheers
pdxmb

jcohenx · Since 28 Aug 2007 250 Posts Portland Obsessed

Welcome to the stoke.

Steps to avoid being "that guy."

1. Don't be afraid to ask questions on the beach. Everybody is mellow and everyone was a newb when they started.

2. Keeping the kite aloft is higher priority than staying on the board, especially in low wind. You can always body drag back to your board.

3. Choose your gear for the conditions, when in doubt what to fly see rule 1.

4. When in doubt yield to the other guy.

5. If you have an accident don't be afraid to apologize. More importantly, think about what happened take steps to avoid it again.

noobydoobydoo · Since 15 Jan 2010 20 Posts