9 meter kite used as trainer

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McArnof
McArnof
3 posts
3 posts
3 Apr 2012 11:52am
Hello,

I got a couple of lessons with a small trainer kite this winter. I also went snowkiting once but now winter is over.

I am planning to kitesurf this summer but first I want to improve my kite skills.

So I would like to know if I can use a 9 m inflatable kite as a trainer kite or is it too powerful or too dangerous?
My friend has a used 9 meter slingshot rev so I could use it.
I am planning to use it in a 5-10 knot wind range on a large open field.

I don't know if I need to buy a trainer kite or if I can use that 9 m slingshot.

Last question: what is the max wind speed for training with this kite?


Thanks!
NoBS
NoBS
WA
908 posts
WA, 908 posts
3 Apr 2012 12:07pm

1. dont use a 9m kite of a field/oval/park in any circumstances

2. The ground is hard, you are not.. you+hard ground+9m kite = you in hospital

3. Go get proper lessons in a water based environment.. You are planning to KITESURF ja??

KITESURF is around water remember the key work SURF.. If it were called Kiteoval or Kitepark then I would say go nuts and hit the park in your body armour....

Most training on trainer kites are 2-3m kites.. 9m is just plain dumb...
nigelw2
nigelw2
VIC
237 posts
VIC, 237 posts
3 Apr 2012 2:34pm
Dont do it mate, listen to NoBs advive and stay as far away as possible from anything hard while you learn. Also parks etc will have gusty and unpredictable winds - definately not good - go to the beach!
theDoctor
theDoctor
NSW
5786 posts
NSW, 5786 posts
3 Apr 2012 3:27pm

Those two guys are just soft

I say GO FOR IT..!!!

just make sure you get some on video to share
Chris_M
Chris_M
2132 posts
2132 posts
3 Apr 2012 1:34pm
Sounds like a good way to get your ass whooped.

Go find some waist deep water to fly it in, makes the inevitable face-plant that little bit less painful.
terminal
terminal
1421 posts
1421 posts
3 Apr 2012 5:09pm
If you want to practise kite skills, use a small trainer kite.

If you want to get into kitesurfing, think of it as starting again and go the recommended route - get lessons and then buy your gear.
Flying a trainer kite only reduces the amount of lessons you need - it doesn't eliminate the need for them.

Launching is generally the most dangerous time partly because you are going to hit land instead of water if it goes wrong. One of the other major reasons is that the beginner doesn't know enough to avoid all the possible setup and launch mistakes.
TomW
TomW
SA
63 posts
SA, 63 posts
3 Apr 2012 7:30pm
Hey McArnof

I too would suggest the lesson option. I had previously done a lot of kite buggying before getting into kite surfing. But the lesson on a full size kite was a great idea. I covered the safety systems on the kite, as well as a self rescue in the water. After that I felt I was able to go and fly a kite without being dangerous to myself or anyone else. My previous kitting experience meant my kite control was very good, but would not have helped me had I run into a serious problem

At the very least, go have a lesson to learn about how to deal with potentially dangerous situations. After that, you can improve on your own without being a danger to others

Tom
radman4
radman4
678 posts
678 posts
4 Apr 2012 8:52am
Theres a reason why a trainer kite exists for land use if your gonna use an inflatable always use it in the water waist deep and body drag ,on land unless your ultra experienced its a no go,once saw a guy playing with a 9m on the beach doing powerslides got a bit out of control and slid his leg under a log and the kite ripped him over it result was a couple of compound fractures ,never flew a kite again.
Chris_M
Chris_M
2132 posts
2132 posts
4 Apr 2012 9:32am
radman4 said...

Theres a reason why a trainer kite exists for land use if your gonna use an inflatable always use it in the water waist deep and body drag ,on land unless your ultra experienced its a no go,once saw a guy playing with a 9m on the beach doing powerslides got a bit out of control and slid his leg under a log and the kite ripped him over it result was a couple of compound fractures ,never flew a kite again.


That sounds like a pretty disgusting injury
radman4
radman4
678 posts
678 posts
4 Apr 2012 2:45pm
Yea it happened so quick that the guy had no time to react,was back in the days of C kites that had crap depower.
Plummet
Plummet
4862 posts
4862 posts
4 Apr 2012 6:51pm
ah! you guys are soft as babies bums.

of course you can use the inflatable on land!. sub 15 knots and you will be sweet.... learn the safety and pull pin if needed. make sure you have a buddy to launch and land you. and also no random people down wind of you.

is and inflatable the best kite to use? no!... it will be an expensive kite to learn on as you will damage it smashing it into the feild.

But the world wont end if you put it up in light winds.

PS radmans idea of flying it in some shallow water is a good one.
pss don't fly in the water in offshore winds.
DaGodfather
DaGodfather
SA
280 posts
SA, 280 posts
5 Apr 2012 10:02pm

McArnof, this is not a euthanasia forum...
danw
danw
WA
163 posts
WA, 163 posts
9 Apr 2012 8:39pm
I remember doing figure 8s with my 9m when i was learning to body drag in 20 knot wind.. I got launched a good 8m because I dived too hard.

It was a blast getting tossed out of the water and landing hard back in the water but i cannot imagine what would have happened if I tried this on land.

9m has alot of power and can lift you easily, I would recommend getting a small training kite, you can test the limits of kiting and kite dynamics without having to worry about being launched.

Good luck in the sport bud ;) have fun.


McArnof
McArnof
3 posts
3 posts
11 Apr 2012 1:23am
Thanks for answering my dumb question

I was just trying to avoid having to buy a trainer kite, but of course i am planning to get kitesurfing lessons, I know that snowkiting and kitesurfing is different.

I thought that training with a 9m in very light winds (below 5 knots) would not be so dangerous. I can't use that 9m in the water yet because it is still too cold (about 10 C/50 F).

So I am gonna get a cheap trainer kite and train on land until the water is warm enough for lessons in the water.
radman4
radman4
678 posts
678 posts
11 Apr 2012 6:43am
McArnof said...

Thanks for answering my dumb question

I was just trying to avoid having to buy a trainer kite, but of course i am planning to get kitesurfing lessons, I know that snowkiting and kitesurfing is different.

I thought that training with a 9m in very light winds (below 5 knots) would not be so dangerous. I can't use that 9m in the water yet because it is still too cold (about 10 C/50 F).

So I am gonna get a cheap trainer kite and train on land until the water is warm enough for lessons in the water.


Good idea most inflatable kites wont even fly anyways in sub 5 knots of wind ,youd have to be continually looping and running it back in the window so even worse,used trainers should be relatively cheap and a good way to hone your flying skills if your not gonna learn till summer.
BoardGirl
BoardGirl
QLD
248 posts
QLD, 248 posts
11 Apr 2012 3:24pm
Some shops let you hire them, best to check that out if you don't want to purchase. My instructor leant me his for a week before I then started in waist deep water with a 9m.
Peterdj
Peterdj
VIC
139 posts
VIC, 139 posts
12 Apr 2012 1:05pm
i have a 3.5 mtr trainer and it has slammed me twice while trying a couple of runs through the middle of the power zone. Its too late to pull the safety when you are already on the ground, it happens damn fast.

Good idea to ditch the idea of the 9 and go for something safe.
dusta
dusta
WA
2940 posts
WA, 2940 posts
12 Apr 2012 11:27am
McArnof said...

Hello,

I got a couple of lessons with a small trainer kite this winter. I also went snowkiting once but now winter is over.



are you really from australia as your profile suggests yet you state winter is just over ?


Subculture
Subculture
443 posts
443 posts
12 Apr 2012 12:58pm
dusta said...

McArnof said...

Hello,

I got a couple of lessons with a small trainer kite this winter. I also went snowkiting once but now winter is over.



are you really from australia as your profile suggests yet you state winter is just over ?



I wondered that too, turns out he posted this forum.kitecrowd.com/showthread.php?t=201905&s=79bc40286194b2dd7ca2a62f664be732&p=2344958#post2344958 on a UK forum the same day.
Oh well, maybe he has trust issues
icftoo
icftoo
TAS
5 posts
TAS, 5 posts
8 May 2012 8:08pm
And he says the water is still too cold

"I can't use that 9m in the water yet because it is still too cold (about 10 C/50 F)."
AndyEliotH
AndyEliotH
QLD
356 posts
QLD, 356 posts
8 May 2012 9:18pm
hAHA i have fond memories of geting SMASHED on a 3m trainere in 30+ knots haha fun but i have to admit it was a tad dumb, didnt crash it though.
McArnof
McArnof
3 posts
3 posts
12 May 2012 7:32am
Nope, no trust issues, I just didn't know which forum was the most active

And I just checked my profile, sorry it's not correct (I probably filled it pretty quickly)...
I live in the United States, in Northwest Iowa. Therefore the heavy snow in winter and flat ground (snowkiting), and cold water in spring in the lakes.

And last piece of info: I'm French
Subculture
Subculture
443 posts
443 posts
12 May 2012 4:21pm
McArnof said...

Nope, no trust issues, I just didn't know which forum was the most active

And I just checked my profile, sorry it's not correct (I probably filled it pretty quickly)...
I live in the United States, in Northwest Iowa. Therefore the heavy snow in winter and flat ground (snowkiting), and cold water in spring in the lakes.

And last piece of info: I'm French



French? Well, your English is 100% better than my French!
Iowa will be damn cold.. It should be starting to warm up for you now though. Hopefully with a few weeks of warm weather the water should start to warm up a bit..
Welcome to the forum - and good luck with your kiting
puppetonastring
puppetonastring
WA
3619 posts
WA, 3619 posts
19 May 2012 12:46pm
Nobs is spot on.
Cant be posted here often enough:
Always remember the most dangerous place to fly your kite is on the beach.
So many new kiters have this belief that "I wont go anywhere near the water till I know how to fly this kite"
WRONG WRONG WRONG
The ONLY place to learn to fly your kite is ON the water (or in it?)
Water is softer - its further away from hazards - the wind is always cleaner etc etc.
In the water you move with your kite instead of fighting with it on land. Your movement through the water - dragging or boarding - will make your kite control a easier and far smoother.
Dont be fooled into thinking you are playing it safe by practicing on the beach, or oval or carpark - and this applies even moreso in winter.
IT IS NOT SAFE PRACTICE.
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