Something New for No Wind Days?

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

I've never seen one of these before, and it looks a little goofy, but maybe on one of those no-wind days, and u are starting to jones pretty bad....

http://www.wakekite.com/

The part of the concept that looks most sketch to me is that there's no harness. You ride unhooked and the tow line is attached to the bar. No power/depower to control angle of attack and altitude? Let go of the bar and drop?

Seems like the folks on this forum could make some major improvements to the concept!

DROCK999 · Since 31 May 2007 852 Posts Left Coast Opinionated

there was one of these for sale at G.I Joes. They cost abouyt as much as a real kite if not more. the most fun i could have with one would be shooting a bb gun at it.

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

I'd rather try to fly a foil, trainer (even if it wouldn't stay in the sky at all), crash it in the water, and swim in from halfway across the river. That's how much I want one. Surprised

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

I thought these were covered under that tow behind boat flying things ban... Guess not if they're selling them at Joe's.

NateDogg · Wed Jan 16, 08 7:06 am

Gay. We had one here for awhile and it was a piece of shit. The novelty of it was fun for about ten minutes, and then it was just a hassle to work with.

Seriously, if you have the boat just go wakeboarding

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

Yeah, I would have to agree with the novelty thing. Sure, busting a huge raley is cool a few times, but you can't do any inverted flip moves because the handle doesn't spin. Sad

....boring

Sol-flyer · Wed Jan 16, 08 8:50 am

so the ski rope is connected the the kite handle?...ever see a tow up gone bad?

if you ask me, this is just going to get anything kite-related banned. Why do companies insist on making a cross-over for wakeboarders? Dont these people realize kiteboarding IS the cross-over?

I've had the local sheriff drive up on his jet-ski to say kite-tubes are prohibited, And i have to explain that i'm "windsurfing" Embarassed

.

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

I don't think it's considered a raley when you're hanging underneath it... Laughing

NateDogg · Wed Jan 16, 08 10:09 am

Haha...about the tow up thing, there's a release built into the handle that will automatically eject the kite if loads become too heavy. Once you get thoroughly bored with the ridiculousness of the kite all you want to do is tow up and the thing won't let you. Lame...

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2619 Posts The 503 METAL

The wake kite was developed on our own Lake Zero (L.O.) Which is second on the list (behind Fanno Creek) of future kiting venues.

Laughing

Katina · Since 29 Dec 2005 10 Posts

I tried that exact model up here on Lake Washington. Darren Wiley (Wiley's Wakeboard and Waterski Pro Shop) let us borrow it, unfortunatly I broke it Embarassed

He had it fixed under warranty. It was fun while it lasted I couldn't stop laughing, couldn't hold an edge, and felt like a orangutan the whole time! I would do it again on a no wind day, not to get anything out of it for kiting, but just for fun.

Katina

Rollo Tomasi · Since 17 Mar 2005 983 Posts Attractive

I've been watching a wakeboard crew on the willamette from my office window over the last year or so riding that unit.
Looks like nice floaty jumps but seems like a piece of work to get going again after every crash.
These guys/girls are die-hards riding in the winter too.

NWrider21 · Since 23 Jan 2008 1 Posts The Dalles, Oregon New Member

Friend got one of these, was a major hassle to deal with in the wind... then, we realized we should be out kiteboarding!!! Went back out when the wind died, and it was pretty fun. Limited on spins though, and couldn't go inverted. Still though...on a windless day, better than wakeboarding for sure. Thinking about getting one...any other folks tried it yet?

Also, have seen the riders on the willamette...think they are testers cause they're often out on the crappiest of days.... Saw them one time though, which caused my friend to get one... pretty fun, if you can get past the curve of figuring it out...

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert