krankyd

HI Mate, I think the extreme academy is based down there - try them out. http://www.watergatebay.co.uk/

>>hooked in to the chicken loop I meant this of course I wasn't powering up at all - just floating kite up around the top of the window, practicing sitting down / getting the kite to pull me up standing, etc. I had visions of you ppl thinking I was flying around a grass field fully powered up on my ass - I've been flying my blade for over a year, and I wouldn't be that stupid

HI, Just thought I'd write a small piece about my first experiances of kite-surfing down in sunny dorset Booked a lesson through http://www.thewaterboard.net (my local kite shop, only about 300M from my house!) and managed to bribe the day-off last friday. Turns out a perfect day, light / medium winds, and sunshine! Headed off to baiter park with the instructor, and started getting all the kit out. I've been a land kiter for about a year, so most of the procedures are sencond nature for me. Started off with a small (2m) LEI, had a quick blast then started hankering for more - finally got more serious with an 8m 2 line LEI. Being new to LEI's, the power is much more progressive than my blade. The blade is really an `on/off` kite, either pulling really strong, or not much at all. The de-power system takes a bit of getting used to, but it's a real easy way to maintain control of the kite in more powerfull conditions. Finally got onto the big beastie - 12M 4-line LEI. Now I know the meaning of power! Much more gentle pulls than the 8m, but so much more power if you want it. Since we were on grass I didn't go to crazy, let alone drop far down into the power zone, but was still pulling off some nice 10-12m scuds hooked into the harness. If you're a learner, I would suggest taking an extra hour and really getting to know the emergency-loop system of your kite. The kite I flew was brand new (boxer I think?) and the quick-release system was very tight. I think I'd prefer a loop-type pull thing to yank, rather than the small toggle you've got to pull forward. If I'm overpowered, I think I'd find it much easier to grab a massive loop rather than having to try to fumble for a small toggle to yank forward. the instructer was pritty cool, and rekioned that just a morning was sufficent because I had shown enough control of the kite + kite systems. Unfornatually, the wind was blowing from just the wrong direction for poole harbour (westerly) and I was not able to finish the afternoon on the water. But I managed to re-book the other half day later on in april - I've started praying for wind already! Overall, was quite impressed with the training. The instructor (forgot his name, soz!) was cool, knowledgable + stressed the important aspects of kite safety. It was esp. good that he was not constantly micro-managing what you are trying to learn, but letting me hook things up, and run over any stuff I was feeling fuzzy about. Not daunted by the failure to get soaked + freezing, I headed off to Poole sandbanks on Saturday to catch all the other kiters flying about. Spent a nice hour or 2 just watching people jumping about, feeling nothing but envous that it was not me on the water! One poor bloke even managed to rip his kite in half - not sure how he managed that (I think he just took it from the top of the window straight down and smacked the water) but I hope it was only a newbie.. Probally, as a ******-off helper was carrying one knackered kite back to the beach! well, I'll be flying about poole in a couple of weeks time, and the only thing that is certian is that as soon as my lesson is up I'll be down the shop, credit card in hand, placing my first order for a kite If anyone wants to meet-up and help out a noob at the end of april, just let me know. Either that, or just watch me on the news - dorset's first astronaut!

wow - I only asked the question! well, the lesson was canned, cause 25 knot winds do too much damage to the newbie like myself I've got the lesson re-booked for next monday. Weather is looking good sofar, no rain and hopefully some wind! I'm not really put off by kitesurfing in the cold / wind. I've been waiting ages to try it out, and I'm not going to let one day lesson affect my whole lifetime enjoyment the lesson is 100 quid all up, for a hole day. Seems pritty good to me, and since there doesn't look like anyone else going on monday I'll have the instructor all to myself - woo! just as a footnote, I saw a couple of people down at sandbanks last w/end.there were 2 poor guys (looking like they weren't too experianced) and a couple of pro's storming about the bay. must have been 18-20 knots and they were flying! oh well. It'll soon be me I expect

Hi, hmmm - 5mm wet suit. I'm using the shop's gear because the training day is all-inclusive, including the equipment (I hope this included the wet suit though!) thanks for the reply. Hopefully I'll be up and about in the new year, with a load of spanky new kit!

HI All, Just a quick question - I've got my first kite surfing lesson booked tomorrow in poole harbour - woo! The forcast is nice winds, but some rain. Is it OK to go kiting in the rain? are there any problems, apart from the cold? taa

Yeah, the gusts are bad. Back at dunstable downs, the wind is really steady, a constant stream. I was managing to get a few jumps of a couple of feet, all under (I think) perfect control. at least my legs have stopped aching! The first thing I did after I wiped out - made sure I could wiggle my toes. Hopefully that means no broken legs

Just been for a quick fly down sutton park way. Had to battle in because of 6 police cars for some reson! so I get me blade out, and start having a fly. Nice wind, getting a bit gusty now and again. I think it's alright, because I was down dunstable downs last w/end, and I was doing some nice jumps... well, not enough steady wind for any jumps. I was preparing for another attempt, when the wind suddenly guested and blew me off my feet, a couple of feet in the air and about 10 foot along! Managed to get the kite under some control, and started scudding along for about 20-30 feet. I thought I had it, then another gust, more powerfull. ended up flying for mile.. seemed about 6ft in the air!.. had to ditch the kite into some reeds in the middle of the park, after sliding 20 foot on my leg. I never knew you could get grass burns! so todays lesson? be carefull when the wind's gusting. Be prepared!