Hi, just starting out - booked my first Kitesurfing lesson for the 4th of next month.

I've been flying 2 and 4 line land kites since I first saw then In Cape Town in 1993, mainly stunt kites like deltas and small foils etc and would say I was reasonbly confident flying my "toy" kites in all conditions. All my kites have handles as opposed to the bars used on Kite surfing kites. Do surf kites even use the brake lines ( rear lines) to control/stop/fly backwards or is it just like flying a two line kite.

I was wondering is anyone had a simple diagram of a kite surfing bar, which lines goes where, how the pulleys and swivels work etc so I could rig up one of my 2m quad line foil in a similar way to a kite surfing kite. I was thinking of making something out of aluminium, with a few pulleys, swivels etc and using a small waist belt to simulate the same conditions so I can practise flying kite surf style, like flying one handed, pulling the bar in for more power, spinning the lines as opposed to looping the kite to untwist lines etc.

Thanks

Iain

hi iain_b
experience with stunt kites gives you an advantage in the first lesson as some spend half of it crashing.
the rear lines control attack angle (depower) and steer the kite, these lines are generally not under tension while your riding.
the center (leading lines) can be shortened or lengthened as well to adjust the trim.
it hardly takes any time at all to adjust to 4 lines especially if you understand how it works

quote:

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Originally posted by Iain_B

my goal is to get the hang of the body dragging bit on the first lesson, then get on a board on the second one.

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That's funny.
From zero to hero in two lessons.

Learning the art of kitesurfing should not be measured in hours,
more like weeks or months.
For some newbies, seasons.

The main hassle with the learning curve is that the weather needs to be totally compatible,
with your current skill level at the time and your available equipment.
If these factors are a little off, the whole deal feels wrong.

Good luck Iain,
Regards slave.

Thanks for the replys, Steve, unfortunatley the 4th was the earliest time I could make it - got other commitments almost every weekend up till then.

If I find the body dragging bit easy, then I'll ask for a board, I don't think that I will be able to stay on the board for long first go, but considering that I was able to get up on a single waterski and stay up after only 10 minutes despite the boat driver doing his best to pull my arms off with each start, I think I stand half a chance getting up on a board with an hour or two, espeically with someone showing me how.

If the wind is not good on lesson day's, then I'll have to wait - I've waited 10 years since I first saw then in action in Cape Town, so what's a few more weeks. I've got nearly each weekend free from then on and I'm 20 minutes from Wellington point where the lessons are held so I can get there quick if the conditions are right.

I will buy a kit once I've done a few lessons, not sure of what to buy yet, the only guy I know who kite surfs ( an ex-South Aricans) swears by "Wallanair" kites, which I think are Arc kites, says they are much easier to fly, less tempremental than a "C" in gusts and can take a hammering better.

Each kite shop seems to direct me to whatever their favorite brand is, some say Naish, other Best, other's say GK's Some say get a Bow kite, others an Arc, some say buy second hand first and only buy new when you've stopped crashing the kite, - it depends on who you talk to - anyone know where I can buy a kite with a big "L" on it

My first buy will be the safety gear (impact vest/harness and helmet) - I'd rather buy a second hand board, or even a secondhand kite but have proper safety gear - I'll leave the hero stuff to the young and dumb. I've broken a rib before - not something I ever want to do again if I can help it - $300 is a small price to pay if it will minimise that risk.

Whilst I would love to spend all day, every day, learning the kitesurf, someone has to pay for all the dole bludgers and fat politicians and I think I'm doing more than my fair share at the moment. I will be a "once or twice" a month guy, so progress will be slow I expect, but the water is warm up here in Brisbane, warm enough nearly all year round and there's always a wetsuit. I recon you would learn better in cold water - more incentive to stay up

Waveslave, I'm not expecting to be able to do much more than sail around, won't even attempt jumps until I can control the kite and board properly, so you won't have to worry about me stealing waves from the windsurfers. I'm doing it for fun, who know, maybe I won't even like it