hi guys

i am done with my lessons
did my research
bought my gear

however every time i think of going to kitesurfing i am scared ??? i am scared of being mocked as in i see all these ppl doing awesome tricks and stuff and me on the other hand can barely stand on board.

i am scared i might land my kite on someone or crash it into someone else's kite ??

i hate this feeling

1. Well done on realising that your learning curve is a steep one and for taking the responsibility for your own actions. Your one of the rare few beginners that come to that realisation before an incident/accident.
2. Take your gear along to the beach that you learnt at, have a chat with your old instructor and mention that your having trouble getting the courage up.
3. Everybody starts at the beginning. Get a couple of successful sessions under your belt and you'll never look back. By the end of this summer you'll be crusing around wondering why you found it so hard to begin with!

Find a kite buddy
It is so reassurring to know some one is looking out for you and vise versa

ther'es nothing like a light wind day for a beginner .My advice to my students is don't be afraid to take a step backwards and really nail your kite skills before adding the board .Light wind days will challenge your flying skills and you will develop great kite skills that will transfer to the higher wind days and the board .You will have the place to yourself or other beginners and probably make some friends and find fellow noobs that you can hook up with and not feel so alone you will be much less likely to neck yourself or someone else too .Good luck

You'll find someone else just like you on pretty much any day down at the beach. Find a couple people you like to kite with and you'll be fine. You'll be riding along and boosting in no time.

Have fun and be safe.

Gday Mate..I know exactly where you are at..I have had some some lessons, got some gear and actually had some short rides which was pretty cool...but then went out on a day way too strong (away from others as usual) and got smashed. Lost my nerve after that...Not keen to be in the general vicinity of other riders, always making excuses why I cant go out....even though there have been some fantastic days since for guys at our level I have not been in the water for about 6 weeks. Looking to pluck it up this weekend as weather looks good.

Be interested to see how you go...I will post on my progress...Maybe inspire each other a bit..

Cheers

Where is your local beach?
I'd say practice kite flying as much as possible, body drag, walk back and repeat to get used to the kite movement - really helps with kite flying.

introduce yourself to some people - let them know you are new and they will probably appreciate the heads up and let you know the best spot on the beach for you to ensure you are safe and not going to get caught in the middle of heaps of kites.

We all started at sometime - in fact some of the best sessions I ever had were learning on downwinders.

^^^ What they said.

Remember that every single person kiting was a massive newb once, then chuckle to yourself as you picture the person who just threw down a massive trick being kooky in his "earlier days"

if in doubt, in medium winds get a smaller kite [you can use it later in strong winds]
or if $$ strapped set up in less power mode .
go the lighter conditions
be safe 1st
keen 2nd
we all need courage if theres enough wind

lol glad i'm the not only one.....i am so god damn keen but so friggin nervous at the same time especially of being mocked or just generally stuffing up majorly...i certainly am not in the frame of mind that this sport is easy, i know how dangerous it is, thats why i have spent countless hours watching from the beach and will watch many more. I also joined our local WACK's and feel that I will get some much needed confidence through the girls there also. As a newbie I think it would help for you to definately find a buddy, start going out in the quieter times till you are really confident and before long you'll be having a blast:0) hope it helps:0)

Hey kkoc,

In a similar situation, just had my first 2 hour lesson in which I flew the kite but wind was light.
Hopefully get a bit more breeze for body dragging etc. next time.

I am 82kg and have a BIG learner board and harness and am currenly looking for a 8-9m kite to learn on.

The hardest thought for me is needing to be on a beach with other kiters to help launch/land but dragging my kite through other kiters while getting the hang of it!!

RF

Never feel unsure about asking for a launch or land as thats what kiting is all about. Everyone looks out for each other to keep it as safe as possible.

rumblefish said...

Hey kkoc,

In a similar situation, just had my first 2 hour lesson in which I flew the kite but wind was light.
Hopefully get a bit more breeze for body dragging etc. next time.

I am 82kg and have a BIG learner board and harness and am currenly looking for a 8-9m kite to learn on.

The hardest thought for me is needing to be on a beach with other kiters to help launch/land but dragging my kite through other kiters while getting the hang of it!!

RF

Hey kk,

Persistence pays, so get out there. Going back to where you learned is best; a familiar setting, people, and guidance. Getting out in light wind also helps, you can learn heaps in light wind.

I remember my first month. My harness ripping my ribs skyward, hours untangling lines, legs on fire from horrendous beach walks of shame, struggling to see my lost board through burning eyes, and salt water pouring out of every orifice for days! I even got air body dragging and hit the water so hard that my boardies blew apart - still have 'em as a memento - it was so much fun!

I used to think the lesson book one should be re-written:
1. Add 5kg of salt to 10l of water and drink.
2. Place ten kilometers of string in the washer and then untangle.
3. Squeeze a tube of sunscreen into your eyes hourly.
4. Wrap barb wire around your ribs and run a marathon.
5. Do all the above naked at a public beach.
When you can achieve all this, simultaneously, with a huge smile and boundless excitable pleasure, then consider a kite surfing lesson.

The moral of the story is that you can overcome whatever it is you want to overcome, but you have to give it 150%! You are so engrossed that fear is transcended. You will find yourself in the moment, with the dolphins, wind, and a setting sun and realize 'hey, I am just so happy, there is nothing but this moment'. A super awareness prevails. And then one day you forget you are even flying a kite as all becomes one in time and space...!

Just do it! Cheers

BennyB12 said...

everyone goes through this. its natural.... my advice is fly your kite as much as possible and one day you will realize that you control the kite and not the other way round.. this is the first of many awesome moments that you will give out a involuntary hoot and cause post session perma- smile..

I dig how you said one day you'll realise that you control the kite not the other way around. I was thinking about this a few weeks ago, wondering about this as I can start to feel it.

I am a noob as well, spent a good few days out at Brighton and Altona. I started back in March with a mate of mine who has been kiting 3 years. So he taught me, and sold me his old board and 9m+12m X-Bows. It's totally awesome to know someone who can teach you, and have the patience to teach you! Now he's overseas and I have another kiting buddy who I met, and has been helping me out. I only go out when we go together, as I need the confidence of having a mate with me.
And 2 weeks ago we were out at Altona, had the whole beach to ourselves, it was awesome. I was carving back and fourth, practising turns and going 'left' (I am goofy on my snowboard and find going 'right' (goofy?) at Altona way easier). It was the first time I've really kept it going and I felt this juice flowing which I loved. I'm totally getting hooked now.

But yeah I didn't go at all from about May-Dec last year as one day at Altona I had been trying to stand up on the board, then was standing on the beach recovering (muscles) and I caught a gust, kinda lost control and cut myself loose in panic. Kite fell toward the power lines so I cut the safety loose. Kite fell off the power lines went on the road and got hooked onto a car which drove off and cut my lines (I was on the other side waving my arms around). I felt **** after that and pretty nervous to go out again, so I got KBV membership (PL insurance) and got some balls back and learned not to stand on the beach for too long!

I think geting over your own fears is the hardest thing about kiting. It's been a decent challenge for me, more-so than learning to snowboard. Having a kite strapped to you which (referring to my first paragraph) you feel like is controlling you, and could pick you up pretty easily, is hard to get used to. kkoc3: keep at it man, I am slowly getting there and it just comes down to persevering and practice. As time goes on you get over your own fears. I've also found other kiters on the beach to be amazingly approachable and friendly, never had any complaints. My mate is always going off and chatting to some other unknown kiter. It's a real community spirit out there. That's also what I love about it.