I had my first stab at kite boarding on the weekend and LOVED it! I'd really wanted to get into kiteboarding last summer but had to travel to Mt Isa for uni work over the whole summer! (no kite boarders out there)! But I finally bought myself a nice '05 12m Naish Torch a couple of weeks ago and under the guidance of a mate had my first go on sunday!!

I live on the central coast and the wind was somewhere around NW @ 15kts gusting then backing off all the time but no complaints here! We were the second people to turn up, and the first dudes were getting ready to launch ,I was pretty excited and nervous. My mate was showing me how to set up when the one of the guys self launched himself ending with his kite in a tree and me wide eyed with eyebrows raised ...what was I getting into! HA HA!

We went out at Long Jetty on Tuggerah lake, started off flying the kite around the window and was then told to go for a body drag "There and Back". On the "Back" and through the spray I noticed my mate walking back out into the water with a 150 twin tip and I was getting excited. I was told to sit in the water and slip into the straps with one hand whist keeping an eye and the other hand on the kite. So with directions to dive the kite to get myself out of the water I pulled the right hand side of the bar which dived the kite and got me planing straight away .....and upright! Not for very long but I was hooked!

The wind gusted for a while after that so I handed the kite over to my mate who "rode out" the gust making big boosts which only made me more eager to have another go. After the gust he handed it back and once again I dived the kite but I was distracted with my foot not being all the way in the strap, took my eye off the kite and when I looked up it was setting course for the middle of the power zone and I was "super-manned" in a big crash leaving me with my board somewhere back up-wind and me with a grin on my face, I'd learned to respect the power of the kite!
A few more goes then we headed in. A good first day! I next need to learn to get more of an edge in with the board. I met a few "fellow" kiteboarders aswell and thanks for the advise. See you boys next weekend!

Thanks Rich, perhaps i glossed over the more important things I learned in my recount! we did water realaunches with 5th line and the 4 line way, self rescue, quick release and lauchching, landing. NO worries, you won't be seeing me in the news!

Much appreciated mate!

Sounds like your a quick learner (prick)

Just remember that safety isn't a technique its a state of mind. knowing when your in over your head and knowing what the dangers are.

Most accidents are by experienced riders miss judging the situation and being over confident.

hows it going man im from the coast as well. i was gonna go to the lake as well but didnt bother coz it looked ****. who are ur mates?

Good on you full.contact. The Central Coast mob are a great crowd. If you enjoyed it in a Westerly, just wait till you go out in one the sweet nor-easters we get.