just learning

honda1 · Since 11 Sep 2013 183 Posts Stoked

I have a dilema...I want to start hitting the river now but I do not have a 100 percent confidence in my ability to go upwind. I have all the right gear to go now so water temp is not an issue. I would ultimately feel better with a jet ski as a back up if I just happen to get in trouble. I would even go if I had some friends who would go. I just dont want to go alone. If I wait until the summer I miss out on a couple good months. Any advice or does anyone know of others I could go with or perhapssomeone who might be able to give a lesson or two now. I am right on the verge of putting it all together.

dwaynej · Since 09 Sep 2013 207 Posts Stoked **CGKA Member**

Wait it out. I have only been kiteboarding for half a season but I have had the opportunity to hit the water 2-3 times a week. There was a huge difference between being "not so sure" and "knowing" my capabilities. I would recommend waiting until you have full confidence in your upwind abilities through practical experience. As a side note, this also means good quality sliding turns, and easily and quickly retrieving your board if you lose it which should now be rare.

You will know when you have upwind skills... Its when getting back downwind to launch becomes a hassle.

Dwayne

ShiverMeTimbers · Since 26 Feb 2013 381 Posts Gig Harbor Obsessed

buy me a 5/4 wetsuit and I'll go with you tomorrow! Very Happy

forrest · Tue Mar 25, 14 7:17 am

js7, Riding upwind isn't hard, you just need to have the confidence to try to ride powered and recover from a crash. If you can body drag, you can get upwind. Assuming you have warm enough suit/drysuit, go out without your board and practice getting upwind via body dragging. Then you can add in your board with a body drag, by holding it out in front of you, inline with your body. You'll find that with this method, you can really rocket upwind. Once you've perfected those two techniques, you can learn to ride upwind with the confidence that if you crash, you're fine.

jerp · Since 22 Feb 2013 453 Posts Obsessed

Best advice I got (cheers Blaine at CKB) was to focus on leaning back in the harness and straightening my back, particularly just after water starting. Within the course of the weekend I went from falling in over my bar and losing a ton of ground to cruising around either side of the sand bar at the ES. I was practicing on the east of sand bar at first (mid-May timeframe ) in waste deep water which helped as I could walk to get my board but in hindsight this was perhaps a dumb move as the water is colder, wind is offshore etc.

ShiverMeTimbers · Since 26 Feb 2013 381 Posts Gig Harbor Obsessed

yup, just go to the sandbar and do laps (put in, sail north along the sandbar, when you get to the end, go in and walk back up). I did this for 4-5 sessions before I could stay upwind consistently. Good luck!

jerp · Since 22 Feb 2013 453 Posts Obsessed

the sand bar area only works well before lessons start for the season and before the freestyle features are in place. You shouldn;t be in that area say in June for example. If you leave it late into the session to practise I would go check out Jones beach which is much more beginner friendly.

ShiverMeTimbers · Since 26 Feb 2013 381 Posts Gig Harbor Obsessed

??? I think you misunderstood what I was saying. Go on the west side of the sandbar, away from the cold water and freestyle ramps. The upwind side.

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1489 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

if you're a beginner it's inevitable that you will become separated from your board or crash your kite and not be able to relaunch.
having a friend kiting with you would help with a lost board, but can't help you relaunch your kite. same with a jet ski.
you say you're ready for cold water - are you prepared to tread water while you try to relaunch your kite in 45 degree water?
try this - put your wetsuit and harness on and go for a swim at the event site. swim out 100 yards or until it's over your head.... then tread water for 10 minutes...... then swim back in.
you'll know if it's too early in the season or wait until the water is above 55 degrees.
http://www.fpc.org/tempgraphsnet/NETFullYear_tempgraph.aspx

ShiverMeTimbers · Since 26 Feb 2013 381 Posts Gig Harbor Obsessed

good point. I guess its all cold water right now.

jerp · Since 22 Feb 2013 453 Posts Obsessed

macgruber · Since 06 Dec 2011 490 Posts SE PDX volcano Obsessed

I learned in a Maui 3 day lesson 2 years ago an was able to stay upwind. Then I got my ass handed to me at the event site in early spring. Would have lost my board without other kiters retrieval. The sandbar was nonexistent with the spring flood and it was impossible to stand from the current. Super cold water too! I had some ok spring days when the sandbar came back but I never felt really comfortable until June when I had 2 great days at Jones Beach. After that, the sandbar was great except for weekend afternoon crowds. If you can make it during weekdays and get up towards the white salmon bridge you'll have a much better time. Jones is great when the coast winds are North or West and Portland is 75 or hotter and clear. It's better for beginners since it's an ocean-like sandy beach that's 100 yards wide and over a mile long. Not many people even on weekends so you might need to bring your own buddy on the weekdays or kite alone, which is not recommended. Jones is more even wind too, though lighter than the gorge, typically 9 & 12m. Air Pirates teaches there out of Longview too

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1691 Posts I give out bad advice.

If you have a good suit, booties, pfd, and hoody you might be safe. Only if you are able to relaunch your kite before your hands go numb or you get too cold and freak out.

If you have the ability to self rescue and your suit keeps you warm enough, long enough to get you back to shore you might be ok.

Spring is a great time to learn but you better make sure you have somebody watching you and they know how to help you. I'm not sure if anybody is teaching right now, but it's worth a shot.

I'll be back June 1 to start jet ski assisted lessons. I'm not trolling for lessons, but I'm gonna be back.

The advantage of taking a lesson is that you get the support and the review of what factors will get you on the board and back to where you started. If your not able to get back to point A you need to know about plan B.

My advice is to practice upwind body drags until you can get back to point a. Then do body drags with a board.

Good luck and pm me if you wanna jet ski assisted lesson in June.

Cheers,
R

ecameron · Since 29 Jul 2009 90 Posts PDX

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1691 Posts I give out bad advice.

I know that Mark starts teaching early in April. He's a great instructor and is up and running.

I'm not sure who is set up and running by April?? Anybody know of the schools that are up and running early?