did your instructor give you the 3 indications of wind strength?

12 , 15-18, 20+ and tell you how to judge the strength or what was needed to kite in?

If he did you wouldn't have gone out in 10 knots. If you thought you there wasn't enough wind then there prob wasn't. Also a 13m for a learner after 1 lesson is asking for mega trouble!

Next time take your medicare card with you to make it easier at the hospital when you get lofted into the trees/powerlines.

mmmmmm............ my instructor did not say anything of the wind indicators, although I know if there is white caps on the water i has to be at least 12knots.
Thanks for the heads up with the kite, my instructor said i would be ok with the 13m just to be careful (keep bar open), and it will be more powerfu. Hence why I went out in light winds. After today I now understand how hard it is in light wind.........
The beach we were at (kirra) was very deserted and very big, this is why I thought I'de have a crack
Cheers for the feedback guys, very helpful!

Always good practice to set up gear anyways,

It gets harder when its windy, its surprising

I guess youll be gettin pretty hard when the winds up to, judgeing by your profile name, that could make it a bit tricky

I'm about 85 kg.

I have alot of respect for the elements! Just though it sounded catchy......because I do plan on doing exactly that once i get some experience.

Yeh, was good to set up my gear and practice launching even though it didnt happen. Really keen to get out an practice as much as possible although lessons at $200 a pop is not pocket change for myself.
I got the 13m with harness and board for $800 so very good deal there. Will not be able to afford a smaller kite for a while so have to make do wit what ive got....

Thanks for the comments guys much appreciated!

If anyone around the tweed/cooly/tugun area would like to be kind enough to show me a thing or two please let me know as im keen as mustard to learn.....!

money the route of all evil

Indicators of wind strength change from area to area particularly at the Goldie. Kirra really can't be described as an isolated beach. Be careful!

You really shouldn't be flying alone until at least one more lesson.

Your launching technique obviously needs work and you need more understanding of the wind window and why we launch where we do.

It's good to practise the set up and get familiar with your gear but don't get too far ahead of yourself. The forecast for the weekend is looking good for a lesson but not for your 13m. Don't be tempted!!!

HAHA at least my names original disco stu, go get funky with your retarded afro elsewhere......

Cheers Jared at least some people have a sense of humour.........I have attached the approriate pic I feel.

Bigwavedave: Thanks for the advice, I will heed the warning and resist temptation until I have another lesson or two. North Kirra is fairly deserted at the best of times, there was literally no-one around where I was at 4 o'clock in the avo, I made sure of this!

So is it possible to fly my kite in around 10knots? It felt alot like my outside lines were way to slack, as i had to pull the bar in fully to get any kind of tension in them at all........

Thanks Guys!

Get a smaller kite as soon as your budget allows. 8 or 9m. The last thing you want is to go out in +20kn on a 13m with little experience. My first experience with a kite was a 15m slingshot fuel C kite a few years ago. I wish someone told me not to use it. It didn't end badly luckily.

Truth be told, it's pretty quiet at Kirra and the beach is wide. So flying a 13m kite in 10kn is fine. Just steer clear of people and don't be silly. As I say though, get a smaller kite. Even sell your big kite for a 10m or something. It's much better to be underpowered rather than being overpowered when you are learning. And trust me, once your flying skills are up to scratch and a solid wind day comes up you will most likely go out on your 13 because it will be too tempting.

Good luck

Skyrapist said....So is it possible to fly my kite in around 10knots?

Yes, most kites will fly in a steady 10 knots....might sound strange but keep your bar out 90% of the time only pulling it in to initiate a turn. Back lines always look slack in light (10 knots) of wind, pulling your bar in will only choke / stall your kite.

If you watch someone having their first lesson, the instructors are always yelling for their students to.................... LET THE BAR OUT !!!!!!

hahaha yeh my instructor kept yelling OPEN OPEN OPEN!!! was great fun........

Skyrapist said...



So is it possible to fly my kite in around 10knots? It felt alot like my outside lines were way to slack, as i had to pull the bar in fully to get any kind of tension in them at all........

Thanks Guys!

You're answering you're own questions. Use your commonsense.

RPM said...

Skyrapist said...



So is it possible to fly my kite in around 10knots? It felt alot like my outside lines were way to slack, as i had to pull the bar in fully to get any kind of tension in them at all........

Thanks Guys!

You're answering you're own questions. Use your commonsense.

No..... If i was answering my own quetions I wouldn't have started this thread!


Anyway.... thanks for all the positive advise guys (those who have half a brain and can just give me an answer), definately cleared a few things up for me.