Welcome to the big ocean and the power of wind I to was a rc plane person but mainly pylon racing . I started kiting 4 years ago after giving the planes the flick took a while but stick with it .There is nothing like cutting up wind for the first time. Finshing wear you started from. The best thing is after the first cost it only cost is upgradibg because wind cost nothing. Good luck and happy winds and dont forget to talk to other kiters and watch what they do ask lots of questions you will find we are very approach able and helpful.

Hi Steve
I doubt it will ( click ) on your next lesson,I hope it does,but frustrating time on the water is what you need.
Maybe if you have a shallow body of water near by that is kitable use it as I found that if you can sit on the sand ( knee deep water ) life is sooo much easier to learn everything about keeping the kite in position while you get the board onto your feet.When you fall off you just walk back to your board to retrieve it.
I hope you are ready to give some of your 12 hrs work days up because once it does click you will be addicted and work just gets in the way.
Oh yea get the progression learner kitesurf dvd it will assist you heaps..
Cheers Finger.

It will click and when it does, the only thing you will be thinking about is how to get out of your 12 hour day to go kiting every time there is a wind.

Thanks for the words of advice guys. Can't wait to get out n get some more practice. Gotta find a learner friendly spot on the east/south side of Melbourne and keep on trying. Still got an hr up my sleeve, but that's at a set location, so if the wind is off then no go. So will be trying to find a spot elsewhere just to try work on getting the movements right before power stroking the kite and try work on not face planting as much.
Cheers Steve

Can't tell you how well it makes me feel reading about all of these experiences here, since I'm going through exactly the same frustrations. I'll keep pushing though.

sixfiddy said..

AND IM EXCITED(said like Big Kev from the ol' infomercials!!)

Cheers Steve

don't get to excited or you'll have a heart attack like big kev

also welcome to awesome sport of kitesurfing

I started back in april. One of the things that was great for me was getting a big board early on. Originally i started on a 137x41 @ 84kgs which came with my 12 metre kite. I really struggled to get going once up as i'd just loose speed and bob back down in the water or i'd try and do a harder power stroke and end up flying like superman face first into the water.
I bought a 2nd hand lightwind board 146 x 45 for a couple of hundred dollars. It was 8-10 years old and very flat so nothing fancy. This made it heaps easier to get up as the power stroke didn't need to be as full on to get me going which helped to get used to the whole motion. Plus it was alot more forgiving if i didn't quite get it right.
It also allowed me to concentrate on the kite once up as the wider board just cruises and you can then play with diving the kite, pulling the bar in/out etc.. to get the feel of it whilst up without tea bagging to much in the water.
I ride the smaller board now reasonably comfortably (still stacking plenty and making a gumby out of myself with the odd superman face plant for good measure), but have to say i think it would have taken me alot longer without using the bigger board.

Good luck though it's all worth it. There were some pretty frustrating days and i'm sure there still will be but it is extremely addictive and worth it once your up and going.

Cheers