Sandrino said..
That guy that got body slammed on Hampton beach (twice) yesterday... Hahahaha Mmm that was ME! Sore ribs today... I wish I had a go pro to show you guys how intense it was but it would probably have been imprinted on the back of my skull. Feel like I been in a 5 vs 1 fight and the 5 guys won hahaha. Man! I CANT WAIT TO GET OUT THERE AND DO IT ALL AGAIN!!! ( no body slamming though, No. No. I said no, ribs are blue lol. Newbies... Got to love them! Plz hahaha

How'd it happen?

Aaah the death grip scenario a reflex action that even seasoned kiters can fall for

Lol, my instructor is great! It's my natural reflexes which is the problem lol

Sandrino said..
You know when you're on the beach (before the water start taking lessons) and they teach you the principal of taking the kite to 2 then fast to 10 and pull the bar back to get you on your feet... One thing I learnt was when coming up you NEED TO PUSH THE BAR BACK OUT slowly. Not hang on for dear life as the 10m BEST ts is hurtling it's way from 2 to 10 and a hundred meters later feel Mother Nature slap you in the face and kick you in the ribs through the medium of a beach and strong wind lol. Mission accomplished. Next lesson... Water start

I'm a beginner so perhaps I'm wrong on this, but I thought anytime you bring the kite quickly through the zenith you're going to get lifted? Why would that ever be done on land unless you want to get boosted? Or am I reading this wrong?

Sandrino said..
Lol, my instructor is great! It's my natural reflexes which is the problem lol

Nah mate. Your instructor is a tool, for teaching you on LAND. Seriously, land kiting is a different sport and not very similar to water kiting. Get another instructor man. I recommend KSS in Altona. Great steady crew.

It's not uncommon to need to bring the kite from 10 to 2 on land... sometimes just avoidance of other kiters, or getting from the launch spot to the water etc...

Letting the bar out is key, do it slow, but not so slow it hovers at 12, and get to the water quickly and head out. Take care.

Oh alright! Lesson learn't! Get in the water as soon as possible. A little nervous to head out again, but love the sport so much!

Thanks for all the input guys... Happy to take positive criticism on board to better myself. Hopefully I'll be able to join you all out there in the future. Long and frustrating learning period though.

Over 10 hours now and still weary of my kite ??

DanWilson said...
haha did you kiteloop on the beach?? I've done something similar with a power kite and some old guy picked me up when I had a face full of sand.

Now you know what sort of things can go wrong, and how fast they go wrong.
Make sure you have some water between you and the land next time.
Keep at it just Make sure you learn from your mistakes ;)

Naah, didn't kite loop, but wind was pretty strong and it sure felt like I did. I'll keep at it and hopefully get it right one day...

I'm just glad you asked before going out in Brighton in a NNE.
It's probably a good idea to ask other kiters about spot-specific dangers/rules if you're unfamiliar with the spot.

Sandrino said..
Okay... Let's clear the air by stating facts... It should have been done slowly, bring kite to 2 slowly through 12 pull bar slightly from sitting and feel how it helps you to stand up. I brought kite to two, pulled to go left, nothing happened for about 2 seconds then pulled really hard and can't remember much after that, except for the fact that I was way further from where I started with sand in my ears and a sore chest. not here to moan, just share experiences and glad I can talk about it coz I survived lol

This is definitely not an IKO standard. I'd find a new instructor

I always find these threads funny. On the one hand, we have a noob full of enthusiasm that wants to do nothing but share the stoke about starting in the best sport in the world and then getting smacked down by the experienced kiters talking about how stupid and dangerous he is.

On the other hand, what he's doing sounds pretty stupid and dangerous but probably not much more different than what we did starting out.

On the other other hand, while most of the time we get away with being stupid and dangerous and then just progress and end up being OK, 1/50 beginners get slammed into a car windshield and now can't even write their own name on a piece of paper with a crayon. I wanted to post the picture of that car windshield after the accident at Altona the other day but can't do it from work for some reason.

So I'm torn and have no opinion. Like most people the noob will probably just stop posting because he doesn't want to be attacked anymore and will just end up shutting up and kiting :)

Like I should be doing.

I'm just intrigued as to why instructors would think it's better to practise this on land than in the water in a body dragging session.

Don't want to get wet? Seems bizarre.

Sandrino, dude, that's not kiteboarding/surfing... kiting. That's just suicidal.

finn12 said...

DANEgerous said..
I don't think I've ever seen an instructor teach like that at StKilda. On the flip side, I don't think I've seen the instructors get in the water at Hampton (admittedly I haven't been there much lately). They just use those radios strapped to the students helmet.

I think I have seen it at St Kilda when the wind is too light for anyone to actually be kiting, it'll be 10 knots, sitting having a coffee and wondering why classes are being run. In the last month or so, the class is on the beach and you'll see them sitting down and getting pulled to standing.

As a newbie here, not quite sure how it's MEANT TO BE DONE...but this is what I go through on a regular basis, no matter how light/strong the wind is... What's right? What's wrong... Who the **** knows? Just want get on that board already...

Sandrino said..

finn12 said...

DANEgerous said..
I don't think I've ever seen an instructor teach like that at StKilda. On the flip side, I don't think I've seen the instructors get in the water at Hampton (admittedly I haven't been there much lately). They just use those radios strapped to the students helmet.

I think I have seen it at St Kilda when the wind is too light for anyone to actually be kiting, it'll be 10 knots, sitting having a coffee and wondering why classes are being run. In the last month or so, the class is on the beach and you'll see them sitting down and getting pulled to standing.

As a newbie here, not quite sure how it's MEANT TO BE DONE...but this is what I go through on a regular basis, no matter how light/strong the wind is... What's right? What's wrong... Who the **** knows? Just want get on that board already...

You don't need wind to have your first lesson, at least on the basics of the wind window and possibly flying a light wind trainer kite. I think that is quite normal, well should be. Teaching a total beginner in strong winds over 15knots even with a trainer is just plain stupid. And don't get me going on trainer kites themselves. Some are not even worth flying.