Wakeboarding + Kite = new invention?

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

My friend who lives on the Upper Willamette said he saw some guys out playing with this device he hadn't seen before. He described it as a normal wakeboarding setup, except attached to the handle was a 2 line kite that had an inflatable LE but no struts. There was a couple of big fins on top which seems to be there to keep it flying straight.

Apparently the wakeboarder was able to get huge air and glidey landings just by hitting the wake.

Anyone heard of this? is this some type of new invention being prototyped in the Willamette? or is it just some guys goofing around with an old 2 line?

NateDogg · Tue Aug 22, 06 8:44 am

I forget what they called it, but I have a friend at school who contributed to the business plan of the company that developed the whole setup. I think they're out of Lake O. When I first heard about it it seemed like just another way to kook out wakeboarding and kiteboarding at the same time...

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

J.P. · Since 10 Mar 2005 638 Posts Addicted

http://www.wakekite.com/

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Wow, that's neato! Amery did that! Wink

jbruxer · Since 24 Jul 2005 398 Posts Beaverton, OR Obsessed

At first, I thought "what the hell are they thinking," Confused

but after I saw the video it looked pretty cool! Surprised

Having said that, I would still like to be able to drive the boat at the same time! Very Happy

I wonder what the price will be? Here's what I figure:
$1000 - wake kite
$50000 - X Star
$1000 - gas for the summer

or

$1800 - 2 kite quiver
$200 - gas (depending on where you live)

hmm....decisions, decisions Rolling Eyes

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

jbruxer · Since 24 Jul 2005 398 Posts Beaverton, OR Obsessed

As sad as this is to say, $200 might even be a little high. I just have been to busy to do much riding. Crying or Very sad

Once the main into loads, click on the "Video" link under the main picture. I think they have an extremely slow server though. It took me forever to load.

Doing any kind of handle pass looks a little difficult since you would actually have to pass it over your head!

jbruxer · Since 24 Jul 2005 398 Posts Beaverton, OR Obsessed

Lake Nike does have its windy days! Cool

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

man from the video it looks goofy... I think you guys are right its like the worst of both worlds... very complicated, very dangly, not much air. I thought they'd be going way bigger than that.

And was it just me or was that boat hauling ass? It looked like it was going faster than wakeboard speeds. Probably needs to go pretty fast to get a lot of height out of that (relatively) small kite.

Teague · Since 10 Jul 2005 114 Posts Really Windy Places Stoked

Not very eventful from the vid. Doesn't look like they can do any tricks either but dangle at low altitude. It's obvious the inventors of that thing have never seen the footage of people towing kiteboarders up 70+ feet in the air with a jetski or snowkiters up even higher with snowmobiles. Shocked

kt · Since 16 Mar 2005 759 Posts Portland, Or Opinionated

if i remember correctly, this thing was banned on lakes/resevoirs out in eastern oregon because someone was seriously hurt from them.

http://www.boatoregon.com/News/2006/KiteAccident.html

kt

borely · Since 05 Jul 2006 23 Posts MN

teague, there is only 1 snowkiter going 70ft+ AP.

Teague · Since 10 Jul 2005 114 Posts Really Windy Places Stoked

Teague · Since 10 Jul 2005 114 Posts Really Windy Places Stoked

crucifunkin · Since 31 Aug 2005 37 Posts

If you had the ability to trim the kite it would make jumping way better. I'm sure most kiteboarders could make the necesarry modifications with old gear to make that thing go really big.

Sol-flyer · Thu Aug 24, 06 9:52 am