I have this little used Naish 1.2M kite I bought for $30, the problem is with only two lines I need someone to help launch and relaunch.
Now I see the value in 3 lines. Mrs. Beaglebuddy isn't always around or keen to help.
I'm getting the hang of this thing pretty well but I feel I would like a bigger kite to practice with to closer replicate real kiting and to be able to launch myself.
I think 4 lines so I can harness in with my windsurfing harness.
I was thinking perhaps just buy a used 4 or 5M kite with bar and attach the back of my harness to a metal bench that's concreted into the ground at the park so I don't get launched.
The winds are fairly light, 5-10 knots. Of course I plan on lessons once I get past this stage.
Is this a crazy ill conceived idea?

try a shallow beach area if you have access to one if you get a bigger kite , and practice out in knee deep water , that way when you inevitably get dragged its a much softer landing , just remember to pull the safety if the kite doesn't crash .definitely get lessons it will save you some pain

I suppose what I'm really asking is after I've mastered the tiny 2 line trainer should I get an in between size kite to continue dry land training on or should I step right into lessons on the water with a kite capable of getting me up on a board?

My traner kyt woz a 13 meetr fuool in wyntr frontal gust condishons.

I turnd oot fyne.

Beaglebuddy said..

My main concern is safety, I'm a 50 year old windsurfer, I'm fit but not as durable anymore Getting seriously hurt is not an option.
The winds are light and sideshore, conditions near perfect for kiteboarding, usually not enough wind for windsurfing.
Paranoia about getting hurt has kept me from kiting until now but I've finally had enough of the lack of appropriate windsurfing conditions.

Hi Beaglebuddy, I have certainly been dragged about by a kite a number of times in an uncontrolled manner when I first started (cause you have a tendency to grab things tightly when you panic!!), but I have certainly been punished more times on a windsurfer.

I am 50 in March and one of my great disappoints in life is I didn't know about kiting earlier. I am doing everything I can now to make up for it!!!!!
My advice is to get some good lessons on kiting safety, a fat surfboard and then go for it. Being tea-bagged around the ocean is almost as much fun as getting up on the board.

I agree with all of the above comments about foil trainers and small LEI kites for learning BUT- ultimately the kite is king and it will spank ur ass if you aren't the master at all times.
Foil trainers help you to understand the wind window and the bar inputs to place the kite where you want it - Ive been kiting for 4 years and still play with the Ozone imp I bought years ago with the kids on the beach when the wing is light- its fun to aim for precision flying - like pin pint precision in terms of flying figure 8's, boxes, looping etc etc. Lots of people say they can fly a trainer but really cant fly it intuitively - like take it to 12 and dive it to the ground and at the last minute call which side they are going to pull it out to - and do it consistently!!
I reckon once you have the trainer seriously mastered there is little point mucking around with tiny / small LEI kites - simply jump onto the correct size of LEI kite for the wind and your weight and lean on your instructor to help you QUICKLY convert - its not like its rocket science!

Not practical. Go talk to the local mafia guy and get him to custom make you some cement shoes.

I sincerely suggest not tethering to anything as it always goes bad. I had my father teaching me by holding on to my harness with the handle at the back and the force of the gust was so strong it ripped the harness in half and launched me. Landed in seaweed with only a few bruises but could have been much worse. We learnt the hard way so you don't have to :)