Who is Everyone???

[SHEPPO3930]

G'day,

I'm Dave. I'm 23, a Mechanical Engineer (work on big robotic things!), and into anything with wheels, an engine, or simply goes fast.

Kiting history:

when i was 10 i got a Delta kite and have been into kites on/off untill 04.

In late 2004 a mate of mine got into kitesurfing and i went along to watch. I didnt like the idea as i couldnt figure out how you'd go upwind with a kite, as i have a long sailing history, it just didnt make sence....

Anyway, once i was informed it was do-able, and going up wind is possible, i sold my last (4th) boat, a 16ft Mosquito catmaran and bought a 2004 Co2 Cabrinha kite and a board from SHQ and got into it in feb/march 2005. I did my knee at work in late 2005, and never really got much kiting in untill last summer, and with work and other commitments, it was a poor effort.

Some time around 2005 i met Justin (schultzie) and he corrupted my ways and got me into Peter Lynn kites, and it's been that way ever since. I've corrupted him with turbo Subaru's equally, so it's all fair and neither of us are complaining.

Fast forward to this summer, i'm out on the water weekly weather permitting, and the buggy is gathering dust. Looking forward to some new kites from PL, thinking the new Synergy is a go-er!!

Other boring facts of my life:

I own one of 110 genuine Subaru RS-Turbo Liberty Wagons, it fits all my kites and gets me where i need to be, fast. I ride a Suzuki Bandit to work most days as it's cheap on fuel, and traffic is a breeze! I have a dog, his name is Mack, he's a staffy. Yolanda is the lady in my life when i'm not thinking about my car, bike, or if i can go kiting...... i'm sure if she read this i'd have to re-arrange that order somewhat. Lastly we bought a house about 9 months ago and have been enjoying the life of a home owner, interest rate rises, rates, bills, etc.

Anyways that's me done.

Over and out.

[koma]

'owdy.

I'm Jason. 24 years old (or 11 as i'm often told) and by day i'm primarily an architect, but also an IT tech who dabbles in photography. Either way, the thing that pays for all my toys is the architecture. I'm 6'3" and 80kg but have spent the last 10 years trying to gain weight so i don't look like a lanky twig; still not there yet.

Favourites...

Toys: Suki GSXR1000, Nikon D70, Ozone Instinct, GT Avalanche 1.0, & my computer.

Drink: Strongbow Dry or Smirnoff Double Black.

Food: almost anything spicy; oh and La Porchetta Mexican pizza with extra ham.

Sport: Motorcycle track days, kitesurfing, cycling.

Kiting History...

Still have my first ever two line kite from when i was a little tacker (~6y/o) which is a little orange and black diamond with a tail. Learnt to fly and had a fantastic time chasing sea gulls with it. Graduated onto a ~1.5m delta stunt kite with adjustable bridles when i was ~10. Have kept that in the closet flying it occasionally for the last 14 years and haven't broken a spar yet! Flew a few small traction kites with a mate over the last year or two before going up to Cairns and seeing some people kitesurfing and deciding i'd like to give it a shot myself. Got a few lessons then bought a Naish Aero 2 12m and a nice big Airush Switch board which after a few poundings taught me some respect for old-skool C-kites, before buying my '06 Ozone Instinct 11m. Bought myself my Naish Sol and finally started making some serious progress on the learning curve. Am now just working on a few basic tricks and trying to nail the timing on jumping the Instinct.

Am thinking i'd love to give a landboard another shot as i've spent a bit of time riding unpowered and powered ATB's.

Best kiting memory...

On a recent holiday to Rockingham, WA; getting to ride the Safety Bay 'Pond' all by myself at a dusk session with butter flat water and ~18 knot solid wind. I spent the entire time carving through the shallows (~6 inches of water) and popping little jumps as that's all i'm capable of!

Other stuff...

Have been living in and around the CBD for the last 5 years whilst going to uni. Have always lived in share houses with friends and my girlfriend and am still enjoying it. One day i guess i'll have to grow up and buy my own apartment but for the time being i'll keep enjoying the freedom. My folks live up in Cairns so that makes a great excuse to go visit them up there (and go kiting). Get shuffled around a fair bit for work so manage to take my camera and kite gear almost everywhere coastal.

[ilovemyvanmost]

Hello,

my names Martin i'm 33, and i live in safety bay a la rockingham. ive been into kiting since about 1996 when a mate of mine let me have a go on his flexifoil stackers, i think at the time he had two ten foots stacked together, anyway, after doing a good impression of superman and getting dragged across a field i kinda got the bug, in fact we both got them, what with him being a welder and me being a machinist it was the only logical thing to do!!.

Three buggys and a stack of libre boras later (which still scare the crap out of me) I moved over to Australia, been here now for nearly three years, I miss the kiting community and events/races that i used to go to in the uk, but having said that, ive got a whopping great lake about five minutes from where i live which puts a huge grin on my face every time i buggy on it, which is generally about once a week. To my Knowledge there is only two other guys that i know of that buggy over there, shame really as its the most perfect place you can go to do this sport other than the beach or desert.

This season im going to try to do three things, 1, go faster than 74kph (P. 2, give kitsurfing a go (ive been advoiding it for far too long) 3, get a respectable placing in the Farr 9.2 state champs (sailing).

The other things that brings a grin are my wife, my little girl, my two dogs and bombing down snow covered mountains on my snowboard, which just doesnt seem to happen as much anymore, reckon a move to the east could solve that.

Thats some of me.

[Dudhit]

Hey all.

Troy..

31.

since i hit my mid 20s have been looking for physical activity to prevent the 30yr spread.

lived by the sea all my life, and had a lot of coast to myself living in north west WA.

had my lessons in Sept 04 while on holidays visiting the relatives in QLD.

definately got hooked. until i nearly got dragged out to sea the following Feb when i missed judged the wind.

have gotten some confidence back since May.

quit my job and moved to Adeliade in Jun06 after meeting my partner online.

Fitter by trade. quit my other job in May to go back to school to get into IT. (and go kiting when all the pedestrians are at school/work.)

currently looking for meaningful work to pay for my toys.

[lickedysplit_au]

Some more interesting stories, keep them coming!

[Devoted]

Hi,

Im Mischa, 36 years old ( or 16 years young when I''m kiting), living in the Netherlands and working in a daycenter for Drug/Alcehol addicts and humans with phychological problems. Verry often it's an combination. Still studieing on the side to get more knowledge.

I'm kiting since 3-4 years now. Started with the good old Pepper, worked my way up by Gin Yoz to Flexifoil Blades and currently I'm flying Air Evolution kites. There are a lot of things what I like about Air Evo's. Same as with Gin Yoz...they hit me and I liked them immediatly. I will however try to be as neutral as I can be when it comes to advice and comments.

My homespot...not that great but it's the best I have in the area. Wind can be crappy, it's inland and not too big a size, but there is always coffee, fellow kiters (Les Hombres), and a lot of fun. I board but give me a buggy and I will try to ride that as well. Sometimes I do.

I am also member of FBC. (Flying Beach Cross). We organize kitemeetings for the periode of 4 days and keep it as cheap as possible. (Non Profit) This years costs are 50 GBP for 3 nights of sleep including the food. Can't argue with that one.

And once a while I will sell gear which I don't use anymore, cause letting it stay in the closet is not an option for me. 3 Kites are more then enough, so when I buy gear, I also sell some.

For now...rock on. (Fav bands Depeche Mode, Cure, Joy Division, 30 Sec. from mars, but hit me with some old Jazz or French chansonnes and I'm happy to)

Greetz

[timw]

Hello Everyone else,

I am very new to kiting of the four stringed variety, just bought an Ozone 4.5m IMP in November before my wife, 2 kids and I holidayed in Calounda (Nice Spot!!).

I am a Registered Nurse, doing shift work so am able to pick days when the conditions are right to fly my kite.

I previously enjoyed flying kites from an early age (earliest I cant remember flying was age 5), making and then flying sled kites.

Later (approx. 5 years ago), I became interested in kites again when I saw a bloke flying a foil kite on Coolangatta beach, and another bloke surfing behind a kite, I thought that would be unreal to do...

We have Lake Burrendong nearby to Dubbo and am looking in the near future to taking the plunge and getting lessons while in Sydney and purchasing the gear necessary to kiteboard on Burrendong.

I glad to have found this forum and site and look forward to sponging information from alot of you along the way...

Tim

[JKS]

It almost so old its RETRO .... lol. .... .. . . . . . . ... but I think its time to pull this one out again tell us all your deepest secrets we promise we wont tell anyone

Happy Days

[Goz]

Hi All,

Thought I would take some time out to add to this thread and properly introduce myself.

Name: Jamie Age: 35 Location: Rockhampton QLD (formerly from Hervey Bay)

Occupation: IT Technician (fix all manner of broken technology)

It all started for me about 2 1/2 years ago when I bought a 2nd Hand Ozone Imp off ebay for $30

Flew it a couple of times before relocating to Rockhampton to start a new job about 2 years ago.

Discovered the beach at Yeppoon not long after moving here and bought myself a 3m PKD buster.

Flew the pants off of that for about 9 months until I stuffed my back.

After 6 months of the worst pain you can imagine the doctors finally worked out what the problem was, after my legs stopped working one morning. Apparently I had ruptured a disc into my spinal canal and the pain was the disc rubbing through my spinal cord. So after a quick trip via the RFDS (top service) to BrisVegas and a couple of weeks in the Royal Brisbane Hospital plus a further 6 months learning to walk again (not fun). The doctors let me go kitting again which has proved to be the best Physio for strengthening my back.

Recently bought an Ozone Cult 4.5 to add to the quiver (more power lust) which I hope to get time to write up a review on in the near future. Will be ordering a new buggy soon to add to the growing list of equipment (it's never enough). You can catch me most weekends down at Farnborough Beach weather and work permitting. Plenty of kite surfers here but have yet to find anyone buggying although during the winter months most of the guys migrate from the water to the beach and onto landboards (counted about 5 the other day).

I have enjoyed going through the EK forums and trying to soak up as many tips and hints etc. as I can. It would seem kite sports are finally starting to really kick off here in OZ with more kites appearing at local beaches and parks and more and more new members joining EK each day. I know I'm doing my bit to promote it here, may have even talked the boss into coming down the beach and giving it a go on the weekend, guess he got sick of me talking about it at work all the time. Might have to see if .Joel has got any stickers and cards left in his bag of goodies.

Many Thanks for all the good advice and tips I have got from the EK members, may the winds always be favourable and the stacks few.

Jamie

[haydenz]

Hi

I'm Hayden Zylberberg, I'm 16 and I live in Melbourne

been traction kiting for about 4-5 months, before that i was using 1 line and 2 line stunt kites as i grew up. Started with a 4m Buster II on the beach, but after about 3 months and 2 accidents, one involving train lines and the other the roof of our local life saving club, my parents wouldnt let me continue on the land (they even went as far as to make my sell my beloved PKD buster II!) and so have just got my first set of kitesurfing gear, a 9m ozone instinct sport and a force flyboard. I still wanna land board and will eventually have to convince my parents to let me get one, I also want to give snow kiting a go.

I'm am unemployed, so broke on a permenant basis and just about to start yr 11. I'm a very outdoor person and try to be outside when ever possible

I usually kite on Hampton beach and I'm hoping the wind pick up so I can practice and get used to my new gear!

Hayden

[lais817]

Hi all, just joined, I'm Ash, 20, live in Darwin NT, I'm a Chef so I get most mornings off and then slave away all night so I get a bit of time to fly.

Only just got into kiting after seeing it on TV and on holidays and the like, so I got myself a little $28 Delta from the shops and got so totally hooked on the idea of getting pulled along by it that I've just got a 3m foil off ebay, and still debating what board to get.

Normally fly my Delta on Mindil beach at lowtide in the mornings so if you've got a chance, come say g'day and try not to laugh at my lil fishy kite =)

If you're from Darwin, PM me or something cos I wanna really get into kiting but I don't know jack

[.Joel]

Hi Mate,

Kneebuster (Brendan) lives up in NT. He is in Alice working at the moment but in a week or two I think he should be back up sunny NT. He is your local go-to man for weekend fun

Regards,

.Joel

[lais817]

Hi Mate,

Kneebuster (Brendan) lives up in NT. He is in Alice working at the moment but in a week or two I think he should be back up sunny NT. He is your local go-to man for weekend fun

Regards,

.Joel

Awesome, if you speak to him could you mention I'm looking for some help? Thanks heaps man

[Melissa]

Hello hello hello I'm Mel and I'm Joel's GF. I'm 21 years old and have 22 kids under 18 months (i work in childcare so there all my babies ) I started kiting about 3 and a half years ago when i first met Joel but have only just shown a real interest in the sport. But i can buggy and I'm learning to kitesurf so I'm working on it, and i have to say my only injury is a bruised ego, thanks to my darling boyfriend who watched me slide along the beach towards the water (while he was pissing himself laughing) and let two elderly people jump from there car (one had a walking stick) and run to my aid coz they thought i was going to drown!!!!! but aside from that nothing yet!!!!!

I would like to see more girls on the forum as i don't fell that 4 of us is enough so come on guys get those girls into it....

Mel

[SoutherlyBuster]

Hi my name is Norman,

Got the first hint of the kiting adiction after doing the Overland Trail in Tasi years ago --- saw some awsom stunt kites. Years later when I moved from the Souther nHighlands NSW to Port Phillip Bay VIC, saw the guys doing kiting surfing at Altona --- this really sealed my fate.

Built some stunt kites, 2 linears, then some foil NPW5's 4 linears. Then once the house was built got my self a Peter Lynn Venom II 13^2 (I'm 70 kg) (late winter 2007) and a CardBoard board. Remember the first day I took it out, as it was luffing up with air and moving around, thought hmmm better stop here and get some lessons. Got some lessons from Goshen and away I was. Definetly hooked.

Yep I have the same problem as others, looking at trees.

Work as a Mechanical Engineer for an aircraft design company, speciallising in finite element analysis, determine whether it's going to break. Also do a bit of that for a hobby, guess what ... kites. Have the aerodynamics software developed, still trying to beat Nastran into submission to analyse the structure side for the foils.

I (mid 40's) am married with one child of my own (7) and three step kids (studying/working/away from home). God lovem for their patients with my kiting adiction!

Regards,

SoutherlyBuster, Norman Freund, Port Phillip Bay, VIC, Australia.

[Luke]

hey Ill hop in a slinky summer dress and take one for the team so make that 5... no 6, i reckon schmik is frothin to get dolled up also!

Regards

Rockettes

[Nato]

well all im just like everone else here on this fourm.

ok my name is Nathan im 25 live in geelong when im at home but i travel quite a lot for work and pleasure.

i work as a construction electrician all over australia and the world if i get the right job.

i started kiting oct '06 when i went kiting with some friends in geelong out on the bay my mate said can you fly a kite and i said sure but i was wrong.

he hooked me up to a best 7m and said here you go have a fly well i have never been so wrong in my life after bieng draged dumped looped and the rest of it i said i want one so thats how i started and i brought a new samari2 3m the next day to learn to fly properly.

now i own a few kites a 10 frenzy 6m access and a samari 3m and a slinshot link 9m

now i have just returned from austria i was suposed to be snowkiting for a month or 2 but 6 days into the trip i broke my collarbone so i came home early.

now im waiting till i can recover and get back into kiting again and buy some more kites.

my home kiting place is point henery geelong as i live very close to it.

well thats about all for me anyways

[Luke]

my mate said can you fly a kite and i said sure but i was wrong.

he hooked me up to a best 7m and said here you go have a fly well i have never been so wrong in my life after bieng draged dumped looped and the rest of it

Good thing your mates checked out your experience when handing you a 7 meter

[jdhot]

Hi All,

My names John, am not the oldest by reading this thread but not far off 48 for another 7mths, I run my own business sales, service and installations of hot water systems, hence jdhot - initials+hot, I don't have tickets on myself as it's often been suggested, as I use jdhot for most electronic communication.

I live in god's country of Sydney, Sutherland Shire, other's may argue.

I'm married 25yrs, been with the good women for 30yrs later this yr, keeping up the Aussie population with 5 kids and a 3yr old grandson

Definitely a newbie at kiting only a few months, introduced by a mate who's only about a month in front, tried it and was hooked straight away by the same reason as everyone else the power and pull of them, brought a buggy recently, maybe a bit early possibly need to improve kite skills a bit more but I'm an adrenalin junkie for speed, been into go-karts, mountain and road bikes, top speed 102k's on racing bike down Mt. Sugerloaf (Newcastle), 87k's down Bulli Pass (Wollongong) overtaking cars, speed rush great, but really prefer ATM bikes, no car fumes!!!, more bumps, jumps thrills. Had a few spills but nothing serious only serve bark removal.

Into fast cars, all V8's, present 01 Mustang, and all manuals not an auto man

So going to get involved with the buggy, anything that low to the ground like a kart and the speeds you bloke's have been posting in another forum is up my alley, hope to meet up with the Sydney guys soon to get some tips, unfortunately can't make Canberra.

So that's me for now,

Cheers John

[SoutherlyBuster]

Good to here some posts from my old stomping ground, Bulli where I grew up as a kid (as for push bikes, approx 72km/hr down Mnt Keria that's my record, --- seems to be a trend here, Outdoor sports, extreme sports, then kiting ).

Say jdhot, passing cars down Bulli Pass, awsome, but what did you do when you came to the hair pin turn half way down? Plough into the sand pit, tight turn, heavy on the brakes?

PS. Don't go hell bent on the bike any more, have a family to worry about.

Regards,

SoutherlyBuster.

[jdhot]

Hi Southerlybuster,

The Bulli speed was actually from the hairpin down to the bottom hairpin, and yes that was very heavy on the brakes and almost laying down goin' around the bottom.

Interesting story with the main hairpin, was with a mate (the driver) 20 odd yrs ago on the whacky tobacy (thought we we're indestructible) and rolled a V dub into the hairpin goin uphill, slid across the apex, somehow end back up on it's wheels, we got out, accessed damage pulled the 2 passenger side mud guards back out off the tyres and drove off like nothing had happened.

Johnno

[Oooo]

well where to start HI I'M MR WOLFIE (opps) i 'm mike i live in brisvages 43 not long been in to power kites but have done a bit over the years from NZ moved here 6.5 years ago operate machines(diggers bobcats dozers an trucks) married 4 kids to my aussie wife (good when da footy is on ) just getting in to buggying an loving it (more power mr scott aye aye captin) :Donly porb is work away alot ,but most weekends am at redcliffe,an the rest when i see ya ill tell ya :yes3:

[Andyfly]

Time to share my secrets.

I was born the middle one of three kids in 1964, yep 44 this Feb.

5'11"

65-70kg

I'm so skinny I applied for a job as a replacement spar on one of Bob Mooreshttp://www.kiterecord.org high altitude kites while at the harden kite Festival 2007

Official shots from Harden kite festival can be found here

http://picasaweb.google.com/harden.murrumburrah/KiteFestival2007

Father of four kids that I know of, 19yo m, 16yo m, 12yo fm, 3yo m.

My daughter says I must have hit every branch when I fell out of the ugly tree!

She also says my "office" smells abit after I have had a "meeting with Mr Brown"

Have worked in the automotive industry most of my life, inc mechanical and motor trimming.

Spent the 03-04 summer up a fire tower on the outskirts of town...great job.

Since then have been working shiftwork as a nightwatchman at the ANU

(lots of kite buyers here for the taking.........if only Kitepower had a Canberra shop....sigh)

since working here I have made a few influential friends.

I started with kites about 16 years ago, Harts (RIP) deltas first then 2 string trainer foils, as with everyone that touches the things I was hooked.

Bought an 3.5 Ace last year to take to Phuket.

Have since bought 2 other kites and Becs buggy and havn't looked back

So this is me.

Bed wetter, ex axe murderer, thumb sucker, kite lover

It'll be good to meet you all for a play some time.

[SammyP]

My introduction isn't that long

Found this website a couple of weeks ago after I was watching some people flying some kites on the water. My husband and I must have been watching for at least 4 hours and they were just amazing. One of the men there we spoke to helped us with a few ideas on how to get started and now we are just deciding what to get. No kids, so we have to act like kids sometimes and this looks like good fun. So the boring stuff my name is Samantha live in a small apartment in Sydney, one husband and a bird that talks all day and night.

[Luke]

Welcome aboard Sammy P.

Fair few of us in Sydney to. You can also check out the land kiting also, do kite surfing, land kiting or both.

Im up on the Northern Beaches in Sydney

Regards

Rocket