Right of Way reflection from newly upwind rider

> 10 years ago
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bfg
bfg
89 posts
bfg bfg
89 posts
14 Jan 2015 8:05am
I put this up in the Vic section but thought it should go here too


As a new rider, one bad habit I have identified in relation to "Upwind Kite up, down wind kite down" rule (which is the easiest way to remember for me anyway), is that sometimes when the gusts came through (the other day is was blowing around 30 and my kite maxes out in the mid 20s), with the depower / trim all the way in I would (sometimes!) take my kite up to neutral to let some of the pressure off.

This is

A/ confusing for other riders on a busy day because they can't tell what side you're going to pass on
B/ risky because of the potential for lofting.

I think it was a combination of

1/A confidence thing about digging that heelside edge in and leaning back to resist the pull of the kite (stance)

and

2/ A "Well I spent all this time getting here and getting my kite out of the bag and flying, I am not going to bail when the wind is blowing just a bit harder" attitude.

Remember - there will hopefully always be other days to kite. The smart thing to have done would have been to land and wait to see what happened to the wind for a bit.

Lesson learned : When you first start to go upwind it can be such a rush that it can be difficult to gauge the changes in the wind. Listen to what the kite is telling you.











RedclffRoss
RedclffRoss
QLD
45 posts
QLD, 45 posts
14 Jan 2015 10:30am
Yes I remember the early days when I was so pumped to have another chance to ride and my enthusiasm would sometimes override better judgement. Getting tea bagged, over powered and losing my board so cured me of that and I made the wise and inevitable investment in a second smaller kite so I could ride safely in a wider wind range. It was one of the best things I ever did and it's always good to have a good excuse to buy another kite!
SaltySinus
SaltySinus
VIC
960 posts
VIC, 960 posts
14 Jan 2015 11:42am
Good on you bfg.


kitcho207
kitcho207
NSW
865 posts
NSW, 865 posts
15 Jan 2015 3:26pm
Just remember to have other options open to avoid an incident.
Be prepared to tack back the other direction, but first check over your shoulder for other kiters coming up behind you.
eezeegowin
eezeegowin
WA
175 posts
WA, 175 posts
16 Jan 2015 9:46pm
I reckon that this could be posted in the general section too. Common sense is not all that common!!
pattiecannon
pattiecannon
QLD
593 posts
QLD, 593 posts
18 Jan 2015 2:03am
Great vid bfg
m8 one thing to improve upon there is when the dude riding is coming in for a transition, the chick on the beach just stood there with her kite at 12. It's good she paused but good etiquette is to drop your kite away from the rider, ie in this case to her left or normally away from the water.
It is because of this practice and situation that the IKO as apposed to the ISAF who made your vid, publish that the kiter on the beach has the right of way over ANY rider on the water, regardless of which tack or wave they're on.
This is because, a kiter on the land can get injured more easily than a kiter on the water, should a gust arrive or if a rider has too big a kite up.
This means you do not have to dip your kite but once you start kiting you will appreciate how nice it is when launcher's do this,
Often the bulk of your up wind is made 1-2 m off the shore line where the current has little effect.

"when the gusts came through (the other day is was blowing around 30 and my kite maxes out in the mid 20s)"

A) It's awesome you're so keen but when you're teabagging all over the place, everyone who can kite can tell you're a learner. They also will be wondering why you're in the middle of the circuit when you could be practicing down the beach a bit. In any case most rider's will be giving you a wide berth way before giving you directions to the next beach, which could well be a better option for all parties at this stage.

B) Try to get a smaller kite or some shorter lines for you kite. Both these will allow you a higher range.

1\A - when you're totally maxing out, just let off the heel and downwind it to the beach. You'll lose a bit of ground but you'll learn that downwind also is a new skill set, and with a higher wind tolerance ;) It's heaps more suited for big carves and stupid big airs. The real fun here starts when you have to self land it! Try to downwind with a buddy, just small runs at first.

2\A - ;p , we all know this one! Stay keen m8. Get some smaller kit and a buddy and stay out there, just not in the line up till you're hammering.

have a blast
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