Power Kite Forum

One girl's noob adventures as she learns all about power kiting! (Formerly "New here! Referred...")

zooprincess - 14-5-2012 at 11:55 PM

This is basically a wall of text, so I will sum up at the beginning: Hi! I'm brand new to kiting. I basically got bit by the bug yesterday, and got bit HARD. I'm planning to pick up a Symphony 1.8 as a low-cost gateway drug to power kiting and am hoping to get a bigger power kite in the next month or two (or whenever I'm ready)! Not sure what I'm specifically interested in, because it all looks awesome! It's nice to meet you all :D

Also, random question: I have a very nice bike helmet that fits me really well (a Bontrager if you like bikes) and I was wondering if it would be okay for kiting purposes if/when I get a bigger kite. I don't really plan on doing anything super dangerous, but I'm sure a lot of people say that at first :P

-Wall of text starts here-

So I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked up some $1 Delta kites from Target on Saturday night on a whim while picking up some treats for my dog :P We flew them on Sunday morning until they broke (which took about two hours). My husband was like "Meh" but I was like "OMFG *_*" and so I dropped him off at home and went to Toys R Us! I got a $10 stunt kite and a $12 dragon kite with a spinning tail (which is amazing for the price btw, when I pull to get lift the wings flap!). A wonderful and very skilled pilot named Ann helped me learn how to launch and fly the stunt kite, and I found out how nice kiters (is that a word) can be! I spent three hours yesterday afternoon flying the dragon and the stunt kite, and only a weekly dinner with a friend pulled me out of that field :P

I couldn't stay away and spent a few more hours in the field this afternoon (forgot to put on sunscreen and got a bit crispy). I was doing pretty well with the stunt kite (managed to keep it in the air for up to 5 minutes at a time and recovered from some pretty close calls) until it SUPER bowtied during a crash (that means tangled, right?). So I spent half an hour trying to untangle the lines, and then some dumb lady comes up with her two dumb #@%$#!er spaniels and they start ROLLING IN THE CORDS and I was like "Noooooo :*(" So I spent another hour trying to untangle them, but now I have to replace the cords because they are hopelessly tangled.

So then I was like "Hey, power kiting sounds like a good workout and looks incredibly fun on YouTube, but it also sounds a little scary," so I called up SFKites and this really awesome guy chatted with me for a while. He actually referred me to this forum! I poked around on here for a while and decided that you all seem really nice, so I thought I'd join up!

I'm very not-fit-at-all, which is one reason why I'm interested in "fitness kiting" (if that's not a thing, it should be). I am not at all worried about being carried away by anything smaller than a 4.0 lol. I'm also a bit of a wuss, and this is the first "extreme sport" or whatever that has really piqued my interest. I actually first got interested in power kiting last summer when I watched some kite jumping videos on YouTube (don't worry, I'm not planning to do any jumping), but then I got a very intense short-term job and kinda forgot about it until now.

Also, kiting seems like a pretty male-dominated sport, so I wanted to join up to give a special shout-out to kiting sisters out there :D My husband has almost no interest in kites (yet), so I guess I'm in a kind of reverse of the typical situation. I'm hoping to lure him in with power kiting :D I showed him a few videos, and he's a little skeptical, but he agreed to get me a Tensor or something in a similar price category when I'm ready for it, as payment for entertaining his mom when she stayed with us for the entire month of April. :P

A bit about me: I'm 26, currently a housewife, have conflicting future interests in full-time parenting and software engineering, have a useless bachelors degree and two-thirds of a masters in sociology, moved to Silicon Valley/the San Francisco Bay Area from Orlando less than a year ago, my husband works for Google and I was a temp at Google briefly, I love animals and volunteer at the zoo, I have a dog and a cat, I've seen every episode of Futurama at least four times, and in my non-windy days I enjoy video games and crafting!

I hope to make some local friends in California, and also meet cool kite enthusiasts from around the world! I will probably mostly just lurk until I have something incisive to say, but I look forward to absorbing your wisdom :)

And I mostly just wanted to gush about kites to people who understand :P so...thanks for listening, if you made it through this wall of text!

zooprincess - 15-5-2012 at 12:05 AM

Oh, I also wanted to say that I know how dangerous kiting can be from reading some of your posts, especially Jeff's, and I was joking when I said I wasn't worried at all. I plan to be as safe as possible, even with just a 1.8. I know that there are freak gusts and stuff, even on normal/crappy days.

Kober - 15-5-2012 at 12:08 AM

Welcome to PKF family .... welcome to the addiction .... welcome to best outdoor fun ..... on snow, water or sand ......

zooprincess - 15-5-2012 at 12:14 AM

Thanks, Kober! Wow, you have a lot of kites :o

nocando - 15-5-2012 at 01:42 AM

Welcome from down here

Look for one of the members here DAKITEZ he owns a shop in GALT CA

Great bloke very friendly, you will find all are that inhabit this place.

For tutorials (printable) go to this site

www.coastalwindsports.com

They will be your kite bibles for a while, very consise and informative.

:bouncy:

WELDNGOD - 15-5-2012 at 03:29 AM

Welcome! Cut up your credit card now!!!!!:ninja: Wait until you get your four liner,it will be on big time. Hubby might like it a bit more when the power comes on. Keep us posted how you do,and if ya got ANY questions ,come see us.

rocfighter - 15-5-2012 at 03:49 AM

Welcome aboard the crazy train:wee: Donnie is right. Your hubby may change his mind when he realizes he can slide across the land on his feet (scudding) with a kite.:bigok:
As for the helmet I would go more for one that will cover the back of you head. A lot of the time you fall it is when a wind lets up and you go over backwards. Or as in my case you get yanked out of the buggy (OBE) and land on your back. So a skiing type helmet is better than a bike helmet to start.

mougl - 15-5-2012 at 04:23 AM

Welcome to PKF and the sport!!!

Tibi - 15-5-2012 at 04:37 AM

Hello from the East Coast. Welcome to the forum. You'll love the sport! :singing:

snowspider - 15-5-2012 at 05:09 AM

zooprincess, Dan at SFKites did you a nice service steering you here. Hold on tight , bend your knees , stay springy , and jump right in.
Welcome to the forum.

beachrights - 15-5-2012 at 05:57 AM

Quote:

I couldn't stay away and spent a few more hours in the field this afternoon


And that means trouble!!! Your all done for! Find yourself looking at flags lately? Thinking about turning your kids shirts into kites? HHHMMM?

This forum will give you all the help you need! If I do say so myself we really are a resourseful bunch of misfits:smilegrin:

Don't buy kites new- look at the forsale section to get some great kites at great prices. We are always selling and trading good products.

bobalooie57 - 15-5-2012 at 06:08 AM

Yep, another one bites the kite habit! When you get your 1.8, be sure to make hubby try it! Fun and zippy little kite, with enough pull to make him go hmmm.....(wonder what a bigger kite will do?) Buying used here is usually a great way to save a few bucks, and you can check the good sellers list. A lot of our sigs say it all, hide your wallet!

bigkid - 15-5-2012 at 06:26 AM

Welcome to the other Zoo. I gather from your name you have a crazy life at home. lol
I can so relate when my son and his 6 kids leave after a visit.:shocked2:like a hurricane blew through and now the calm after the storm.:D
As stated above, the other half will enjoy the power of a bigger kite, and get rid of the CCs while you have money.:thumbup:

*edit* you work at a zoo, hahaha, I should have read a bit more, thought I did, but missed it anyway. welcome all the same.

Bigbear97e - 15-5-2012 at 07:12 AM

+++++ for buying good used when starting out ... lets you try different sizes and different brands ..... in my sig below, the four kites after the pansh flux and my buggy were bought on this forum .... Welcome to the forum and hide your wallet:tumble:

AnnieO - 15-5-2012 at 09:04 AM

Welcome aboard, I got into this sport no more than seven months ago and you can see from my sig how fast it's "taken off."
I've also got a buggy on the way next month! Anyhoo, kiting is definitely great fun, I got into it because I liked static flying as a workout but enjoyed it so much it was time to try kiting with wheels...Good luck and check out the tutorials mentioned above and Youtube, to help you learn the right way (safely).

As far as a helmet look for a skateboard style helmet such as a Pro-Tec or similar. These are still inexpensive, reasonably light, and most importantly, cover the back of your head.

BeamerBob - 15-5-2012 at 09:46 AM

Ahh, your enthusiasm is contagious. Years later, you will be in better shape and still get that tingly feeling inside when you are about to set up your kite to fly. Welcome to the sport and the forum. :thumbup:

alasdair macleod - 15-5-2012 at 11:16 AM

Welcome too mad house of fun!!!!!:singing:

abkayak - 15-5-2012 at 11:35 AM

Wecome in, the water is great (i'm told) ..... I wont list my kites in case my wife checks my history.
Try to buy at least a kite a month for a while. I find you run out of $/food and loose lots of weight.
If I didn't think it would crowd the beaches i'd let everyone in on that.

lucky_13 - 15-5-2012 at 07:47 PM

welcome to the addiction... there is a good group of folks who ride close to your area .. look up dino at dakitez forsure ...

zooprincess - 15-5-2012 at 08:23 PM

Hey everyone, thank you SO MUCH for such a warm welcome! It's not my imagination...kite people really are super friendly :D

The following wall o' text just blathers on about my super-fun day today. Long story short, I got a Prism Snapshot 1.2 (2-line speed foil) and had a BLAST flying it!! Can't wait to share pictures and video after this weekend. Cross your fingers that my husband falls in love with the sport too after he flies my new kite :)

~wall of text starts here~

I went up to SFKites today (only my second time in San Francisco since moving to the bay last May)! I got to meet Dan in person--very nice guy :) He talked me out of the Symphony 1.8 and talked me into the Prism Snapshot 1.2. His reasoning, which made sense to me, was that the 1.2 would be a significant addition to my quiver, whereas the 1.8 would be more similar to the larger kites I hope to get soon, so that way I'll have kites to fly in any weather. Frankly, I'm glad he suggested that, because I think the 1.8 might have been almost too much for my first "real" kite. I felt like the 1.2 was exactly what I needed once I started using it. And it was ready to go practically right out of the bag after some minor bridle detangling! I almost had a panic attack when I realized it was tangled (I had a bad incident with a tangled stunt kite), but I stayed level-headed and untangled it in no time.

The Snapshot is neon green...not my first color choice, but it was the only option lol, and I am fond of the blinding highlighter-colored tail. I want to make a longer, more elaborate tail with ribbons from the craft store...I'm thinking pink, purple, reflective silver, and more highlighter neon green! Like a skywriter, but cheaper :P

So then I headed to Shoreline Park in Mountain View, where there is a dedicated kite flying area. Dan at SFKites said it's one of the best flight areas in the Bay, and I wasn't disappointed. I don't know how to tell wind speeds yet, but there was plenty of wind, and it was just the perfect speed. The best things about the Snapshot that make it so great for a beginner are that (a) it is almost indestructible because there are no hard bits to break, and (b) it relaunches on its own with just a couple of tugs on the straps! I would like to formally recommend it for older kids and kite-shy friends/romantic partners~ They just have to be able to see past the NEON GREEN and into the pillowy goodness inside <3

Within just a few minutes of setup, I was already doing fun whiz-bang tricks and having a blast. I stayed at Shoreline for about an hour and a half and also got the pleasure of seeing two different landboarders with HUGE kites! No idea how big they were as I don't have much frame of reference, but they were probably at least 5.0 based on the size of my 1.2? I don't know lol.

So then I packed up (also super easy and fast, no complaints at all) and I was going to head home, but then I decided to show off a bit at the park near my house, which borders a playground and a shopping center, so there's always an audience :3 I got a bit of ego-stroking with a lot of audible oohs and aahs from passersby, and parents being like "LOOK AT THE KITE" to their kids. I think it's a pretty normal human thing to enjoy getting attention, so...I had a good time :)

People occasionally wandered directly under my kite and looked up at it, which was very scary and weird because I made sure to be in an area of the park that didn't have anything interesting in it to cause people to want to be there. I guess they just liked my kite, but I was really afraid I would hit them accidentally, so I just hung out at the highest point of the wind window and did really slow/easy figure 8's until they went away, and then I went back to doing crazy spirals and sweeping the ground and crashing dramatically every so often when I didn't pull up in time lol. Luckily, it's a big park, and there's plenty of space for everyone, including a big boring grass field for kiters :D

So...yeah! A total of about 3 hours of flight time today...and I'm totally hooked lol. I can't wait for my husband to try it out this weekend. I really want him to enjoy kiting too. I think he'll find the Snapshot a lot more exciting than the busted Deltas we "flew" on Sunday. I am also hoping to get him to take a few pictures and videos, which I will totally share on the forum!

macboy - 15-5-2012 at 08:25 PM

Wow, best intro I've seen on here I think. Welcome to the family! You're doomed. :lol:

Kober - 15-5-2012 at 10:21 PM

keep those reports coming ..... I can relive my beginning again ......

Thanks for sharing .....

WELDNGOD - 16-5-2012 at 03:33 AM

I smell a GOPRO in your future. Kiters LOVE cameras and videos!!:ninja::ninja: Yeah, stick a fork in her ,she DONE!:lol:

van - 16-5-2012 at 05:44 AM

You pick the perfect place to kite. Most of the guys at Shoreline are on this forum so will help you out. They meet there often so you will see them with their buggies. There is a meet at El Mirage dry lake (southern cali) on the weekend of June 2nd and a few of the shoreline guys are coming down for it. I am planning to be there for some high speed buggying! Welcome to the forum!! :singing:

DAKITEZ - 16-5-2012 at 04:30 PM

welcome to the forum and the addiction. Like others have said you made a great intro. Some of folks at shoreline will be good to try and learn from as they have years of experience. Some there are still newbies so learn who is who and who to take advice from lol.

You think your hooked now ... just wait till you try your first quad line foil :wee:

Edit: also check the dates for berkeley kite festival and family kite day in the marina green in SF. You might really enjoy those events

Bladerunner - 16-5-2012 at 05:14 PM

Welcome,

Your stoke is infectious !

Folks are right about the helmet. If your kite helmet won't protect the back of your head well then something like a ProTec is a good idea. Still any helmet is better than none. Comfort is key !

Sounds like you have seen how foolish people can be around kites. Always expect them to do the wrong thing ! Try and be polite , as dificult as it can be at times. We are all effected by each others actions.

+1 for shopping the used section. Kites are like cars and drop in value as soon as they leave the store. Avoid impulse buying ! Take the time to discuss your purchases on here 1st. It will save you some money and disapointment. I know this from experience.

If I can assume that your S.O. is larger than you it is great. He will typically fly one size larger than you so sharing a large quiver will be a saving !

Dino is right. Moving to 4 line will be another big FUN step to look forward to soon. Power kiting can be pretty safe if you do the right things. Like with snow skiing and many other sports it can be tame or extreme . That depends on you !

You Go Grrrrl ! :kiss:

Roadkyllphil - 16-5-2012 at 05:37 PM

Welcome from farther south in California. Right by Disneyland. I'm new too and have been on the forum for some months now. Everyone I've found is nice and helpful. My wife is getting the bug too and since we are both into handwork and crafts we are in the process of making a foil for her, since we had to repair the Beamer I blew 4 ribs out, she got an education in sewing ripstop . Looks like new and will be taking it out soon.

Bladerunner - 16-5-2012 at 05:45 PM

Check out the work Kieron does ! Sort of extreme kite building .
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=19507

zooprincess - 16-5-2012 at 07:19 PM

Hey everybody, you keep replying so I'm gonna keep on posting about my noob adventures! :singing: Everyone here is so friendly and encouraging. I just wanted to give a special thanks to the local people who have been U2Uing me. I'm really looking forward to meeting you guys at Shoreline, hopefully this weekend! I'm not-so-secretly hoping someone will be kind enough to let me and/or my husband try one of their big kites. I promise not to sue you if I get carried away into the San Francisco Bay :D

Today I went back to the park near my house for another session, but the wind was very uncooperative. It was coming in occasional gusts and was overall pretty weaksauce. I had trouble keeping the kite in the air at times, and relaunching was a bit more of a pain today since I had to keep jiggling the lines and wait for a gust at just the right time. I'm glad yesterday was great winds, because otherwise I might not have been very encouraged by my first day out with a foil.

Am I right in thinking that bigger kites work better than smaller kites in lower wind speeds? If the wind was 2 miles an hour but you just HAD to get in some kiting that day, what size kite would you fly?

I also had a really awkward experience today. A guy and his toddler came up to my kite when I was trying to relaunch it and grabbed it, pulling it up by the tail. I was like "Please don't grab my kite by the tail :puzzled: ". But then he picked up the whole kite, right as a very weak gust came through, and it spun around and lightly wapped his kid on the head. The kid didn't appear to notice or care (it was really weak wind today) but at that point I loudly said, "Thank you for trying to help, but please back away, large kites [lol I have a 1.2 but still!] can be dangerous!" and the guy sort of looked at me weirdly and backed away slowly. It was bizarre. I don't know if I reacted properly or if I should be more assertive next time. I'm not particularly shy or anything (as you can probably tell by my posts) but I also don't like confrontations.

So today was my first experience with both super-lame winds AND people manhandling my kite! I feel like I grew as a kiter today :P

Kober - 16-5-2012 at 07:33 PM

..... You funny .....
.... I think you should write a book .... You have some kind of gift ,,,,, I am coming back to this post and waiting what you write next ,,,,,

zooprincess - 16-5-2012 at 07:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Kober
..... You funny .....
.... I think you should write a book .... You have some kind of gift ,,,,, I am coming back to this post and waiting what you write next ,,,,,


Haha, thanks, Kober. I appreciate the encouragement/ego stroking :D

kitedog - 16-5-2012 at 08:08 PM

Great to read your blog/text stream of consciousness. You're putting to words what most of us have experienced at one time or another.

I used to live in Cupertino in the 80's. Windsurfing was the thing then and Shoreline was the place as it is now but I guess you've figured that out already.

More importantly, the entire Bay Area is a mecca for kitesurfing. You guys correct me if I'm wrong but I think there are a lot more places to kite on the water in the bay area than on the land. Last time I tried to go landboarding in the SF area, we were pretty limited. (Ended up downhilling the steep fairways at Lincoln Park.) Anyway, once you get your kite chops down with a trainer kite you might want to take a lesson on the water.

Oh yeah, crashing is much less "poignant" on the water also.

Keep the stoke!

G

Bigbear97e - 16-5-2012 at 08:14 PM

If wind was 2mph and I HAD to fly .... I'd probably buy a Revolution (Rev for short). It's on my list of kites to get ... as a quad line stunt kite, people say it is awesome to teach/learn kite control (you can look on youtube for some good videos on what people do with them). Some people do "team" flying in groups where everything is orchestrated .... kind of a ballet or follow the leader type thing. You can stack 'em too so you can be in control of multiple Revs yourself. Actually .... might be a good thing for you and hubby to do together. If you plan on buying a Rev, pass it by Lamrith or some of the other Rev guys on the site for an opinion on cost etc.

You are pretty much correct for fixed bridle kites ... the lower the wind, the larger the kite needed to move you on wheels ... 15 mph I am having a friendly tug of war with my 3.0Blaze ... at 6 mph I'm with the Reactor8.3.

I am sure anyone you meet down there from the forum will help you out .... learn right kite for right wind .... My Ace4.5 took me right off my feet and fed me some grass when I got a little #@%$#!y (insert superman in flight photo here):D ... I am finding the Ace has a bit of a mean streak to it (lifty when overpowered)

glad you are so excited .... I see an intervention in your future ..... Hi, my name's zooprincess and I'm a kite addict :Ange09: :D

Feyd - 17-5-2012 at 04:12 AM

"My husband was like "Meh" but I was like "OMFG *_*" and so I dropped him off at home and went to Toys R Us!"

Ha! That is awesome.

Welcome to the forum and to a new world of gear lust, weather watching, moments of joy punctuated with moments of frustration and the occasional mix of rage and fear followed by more joy.

Don't be an organ doner, get a helmet and go nuts.

"weaksauce", also awesome. Good read, thanks.

Oh and too bad for a lot of guys in this forum that you're married. Women who are into kites are rare and these guys probably think you're simply dreamy.;-)

doneski - 17-5-2012 at 04:47 AM

I agree with AnnieO about Protec. The B2 snow helmet is their skate helmet with multi impact foam, mesh over air vents to keep out snow/sand and removable ear covers for when it gets warm. I just bought a new one to replace one that just got too ratty. The ace model is more stylish.

B2 snow for about $40. http://altrec.com/pro-tec/b2-snow-helmet

dandre - 17-5-2012 at 05:16 AM

when you move to 4 line legit power kites you'll have alot less headaches in line tangles.
The ability to quickly detach your lines and muddle things about saves so much time

I had an older model of the snapshot and it served me well.

Drewculous - 17-5-2012 at 05:49 AM

Sorry im late to the party... Im on vacation, and slackin on the forum lol!

Like everyone said welcome aboard! With your attitude, you'll go far lol!


I saw your sig and instantly thought of some damn good pilots you should check out... Look up "ride like a girl" uk based (i think lol, its early) buggiers... ( http://www.ridelikeagirl.co.uk/ ) They are really good, and as of late, kind of a but of inspiration! I jump, and I wanna jump in the bug too!


Any questions at all, about anything really, ask away.... We are a pretty diverse bunch of peeps... Find the "post your mug thread" & post your mug (and see what strange people you now associate with :lol: )


Welcome!

AnnieO - 17-5-2012 at 06:01 AM

Yeah, I remember how fun it was starting out. As a matter of fact we share some similarities there. I got my first kite on bargain barn clearance at Sierra Trading Post. It was a Prism Stylus 2.5M- the older model to your Snapshot. Still have it and use it mainly to introduce friends & family to the sport. Keep up the great enthusiasm!

BTW, I agree totally with Dandre about 4-line kites being easier to deal with in the long run. You will spend exponentially more time flying and less time dealing with walking lines!

You are very fortunate that there are so many accomplished kiters in your area. That is one thing I do not have in my location so I have to rely on this site even more.

furbowski - 17-5-2012 at 08:08 AM

Welcome to the sport... My first kite was a snapshot 1.4.

Kudos for the writing!

I kept a log/journal for the first year, stopped it at around the 300-400 hour mark, still regret not keeping it up.

Yes kids love to grab the tail. I often fly a 50' tail on my smaller kites (2-5m 4-line), the regular kids at my spot now know not to grab it, but just let it slide through their hands!

Line difficulties will disappear in time, all part of the learning curve.

+1 for buying used....

soliver - 17-5-2012 at 09:40 AM

WELCOME TO A DIFFERENT KIND OF ZOO!!!!:smilegrin:

My wife can attest to the fact that "addiction" is a very suitable term for that in which we place our joy.

You seem like you're having a great time, and that's awesome,... enjoy it as much as you can, whenever you can!!!!:smilegrin:

and again welcome.

Roadkyllphil - 17-5-2012 at 11:11 AM

Saw that Bladerunner, nice!!! Zooprincess you are right, these kites can be dangerous in the wrong hands, I would have done the same thing. The unenlightened can be injured just trying to help.

chudalicious - 17-5-2012 at 02:04 PM

Welcome from a fellow flying sister :)

Sounds like you are on the right track - just go slow and practice, practice, practice!

You've got the bug alright!

When you do get a bigger kite, make sure to keep the smaller one for friends and fam to learn on. Still got my 2m Flow for a very good reason.

Have fun and be safe!

shehatesmyhobbies - 17-5-2012 at 02:18 PM

Welcome to the forum and to the very addictive sport of traction kiting! You are just static flying now but you will want to try something more in the future, guaranteed! Your enthusiasm is awesome and so are your write ups!

Always keep the non flying public in check when they put themselves in a dangerous spot! Those lines can go through skin in an instant. They may think you are rude, but it could save them a lot of un wanted pain. If someone decides to walk in your fly zone, make an attempt at landing the kite till they move or let them know quickly that they are in a bad spot.

keep up the good flying work and the enthusiasm!

And Chuddy is on awesome kiting sister for sure!

Kober - 21-5-2012 at 12:26 PM

What is happening .... ????

No report for few days now .....

.... You didn't kite ??/ You hubby kill you interest when he realize you will be out every day is windy and bank account will loose big chunk of $$$ if you continue this addiction ???

We miss you already ........

carltb - 21-5-2012 at 01:55 PM

heres a little site for you to get motivation from................ http://www.ridelikeagirl.co.uk/

Drewculous - 21-5-2012 at 03:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Drewculous
http://www.ridelikeagirl.co.uk/


:lol:

Where'd ya find the link CTB? lmao!

rocfighter - 21-5-2012 at 05:07 PM

As for people messing and manhandling your kites I have had people get hurt trying to launch my kites. They ALL know more than you. Now I carry a whistle that I blow when they can't seem to hear me yelling at them.:dunno:
Hope to see more posts from you soon. Keep up the fun.

pbc - 21-5-2012 at 07:27 PM

zooprincess, I love your writing and I love this thread you have inspired. So glad to have you here on PKF.

As so many have said here, you are telling the stories we have all experienced ourselves. This is a trip down memory lane for us all.

Philip

pbc - 21-5-2012 at 07:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by zooprincess
...but now I have to replace the cords because they are hopelessly tangled.


Never let tangles win. Patience and a couple forks can defeat any tangle. Sometimes you'll have to pack the mess of kite and line, take it home, wait for the kids to go to sleep, and find a comfy chair to work from, but all tangles can be defeated.

Never pull on the loose ends, always pick at the tight spots until they loosen. Then you can pull the loose ends through what used to be a tight spot.

Detaching lines from quad line foils and even some dual line kites can ease the pain of untangling.

If you are frustrated and another kiter offers to help, accept the offer, but watch them work. You will learn a great deal by watching.

Philip

indigo_wolf - 21-5-2012 at 11:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by pbc
Never let tangles win.

Philip


+1 I usually just stake out 2 or 3 of the ends and work the remaining ends through the maze they have created. Winding up the sections you have untangled onto a winder card can make life easier.


Shanti Crazy 8, Laser Pro and Innova winders

The most frustrating line I have ever had to detangle was 50# Micro-Spectra line used for an indoor kite. This was further hampered by the fact that I was doing it while visiting my sister and her cats wanted to help... a lot.

Powerkite lines are a pleasure to work with by comparison.

ATB,
Sam

rocfighter - 22-5-2012 at 04:56 AM

If you get to frustrated send them here. My wife loves the challenge of a huge knot!! She has untangled some amazing balls of lines. Way more patients than me!!

pyro22487 - 22-5-2012 at 10:43 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by zooprincess


Am I right in thinking that bigger kites work better than smaller kites in lower wind speeds? If the wind was 2 miles an hour but you just HAD to get in some kiting that day, what size kite would you fly?


I would probably use 10 meters in this wind maybe more for actual bugging. The less wind the more kite you need to get the kite up in the air. For higher wind we use small 2m or less kites to get moving.

What are your plans with kiting. Buggy, surf, landboard?


Quote:
Originally posted by zooprincessI also had a really awkward experience today. A guy and his toddler came up to my kite when I was trying to relaunch it and grabbed it, pulling it up by the tail. I was like "Please don't grab my kite by the tail :puzzled: ". But then he picked up the whole kite, right as a very weak gust came through, and it spun around and lightly wapped his kid on the head. The kid didn't appear to notice or care (it was really weak wind today) but at that point I loudly said, "Thank you for trying to help, but please back away, large kites [lol I have a 1.2 but still!] can be dangerous!" and the guy sort of looked at me weirdly and backed away slowly. It was bizarre. I don't know if I reacted properly or if I should be more assertive next time. I'm not particularly shy or anything (as you can probably tell by my posts) but I also don't like confrontations.

So today was my first experience with both super-lame winds AND people manhandling my kite! I feel like I grew as a kiter today :P


This is a common occurrence at any field. I have had toddlers run up to my kite and grab it. I have had kids grab the handles to the kite while i was taking a break. You handle these situations as you see fit. IF people are under your kite you give them one warning then you yell is my motto. Just wait till people ask you if they can fly your kite. That is always a hard one to gauge.

First you think man my expensive kite in the hands of a stranger and a new flier. Then you think well one more kiter is always better. Anyways I was beaten to this by several people but yep guys she's an addict welcome to the sport the forum and the support group. Hope my answers to your questions help you.

**edit***
wow page two didn't see that coming on the posts. I stopped reading on page one and posted my response.

WELDNGOD - 22-5-2012 at 04:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Drewculous
Quote:
Originally posted by Drewculous
http://www.ridelikeagirl.co.uk/


:lol:

Where'd ya find the link CTB? lmao!



Dude ,she's a team rider for PKD! She's a badass!

carltb - 23-5-2012 at 02:18 AM

yea a peter lynn team rider who takes on the boys and beats them in the bksa buggy comps!!!

Drewculous - 23-5-2012 at 06:34 AM

*woosh!
*make a gesture insinuating something went over everyone's head

:lol:


i posted the same link CTB did 4 days earlier... lol, he did that in another thread too! http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=22121 :lol: mougl posted the link to the buggy gals, and a few days later CTB did :lol:

i love their vids, mad respect (carl & "ride like a girl" crew)... the link delay/duplicates with CTB are crackin me up :lol:

carltb - 24-5-2012 at 03:18 AM

great minds and all that mate!!!!

nocando - 24-5-2012 at 04:44 AM

Zooprincess you will no doubt come across a word often used on this forum at NABX time "AOXOMOXOA"

If you fly stunt kites to win competions,you won't understand, but if you fly to give pleasure and entertain the audience,
you might find AoxomoxoA

If tangled lines are an irritating frustration, you won't understand, but if you find untangling relaxing and theraputic, you might find AoxomoxoA

If you buy rare and expensive kites and hang them on the wall,you won't understand, but if you risk hand-painted washi-paper or one-of-a-kind kites
in the elements you might find AoxomoxoA

If you're struggling to be the fastest buggier in the country, you won't understand, but if you dream of buggying across dry lakes in the gentle zephyrs at 2 am,
you might find AoxomoxoA

If you build your own kites to save money, you won't understand, but if you sew to try new new ideas, you might find AoxomoxoA

If you wouldn't lend your kite to a stranger, you wouldn't understand, but if you're ready to loose or destroy anything you fly,
you might find AoxomoxoA

If you enjoy buzzing noisy stunters on the beach, you wouldn't understand, but if you,ve found the pleasure of a simple, reliable
single-line delta, you might find AoxomoxoA

snowspider - 24-5-2012 at 04:56 AM

:yes:

rocfighter - 24-5-2012 at 05:30 AM

And that was the church of kiting right there. And no better place to spend a Sunday All day!!
Any day for that matter!!:bigok:

pyro22487 - 24-5-2012 at 12:53 PM

Curiosity where did the kite crazed newbie go? She posted a few posts now there is nothing come back zooprincess. We miss your posts

Kober - 24-5-2012 at 06:24 PM

She got S3 21m ...... We will never see her here again .....

..... seriously ..... I need to read more about hers sessions .....

zooprincess - 26-5-2012 at 10:38 PM

Hey everybody! WOW you guys are so awesome. I feel really loved and welcomed by the kite community <3 Sorry I haven't been too chatty. I actually got a job! I am a housewife no more, I'm now a lead advisor at a certain video game store chain :D I can't say that I didn't take kites into consideration...because now I can afford to buy more kites lol!

I'm trying to decide between a couple of different kites...I'm looking at the Peter Lynn Hornet, the Peter Lynn Twister, the Peter Lynn Impulse TR, and the Prism Tensor. If you have any feedback on these kites, let me know :D

I have been really busy lately, so I haven't gotten the chance to fly as much as I'd like :( BUT I did finally get my husband to try my 1.2 meter speed foil last weekend! He claimed that he was pretty neutral on the experience, but he wouldn't let me take the kite handle-straps back from him once he got it in the air :P He did say that he's really looking forward to trying a bigger kite. I think a lot of you guys are right...once the power comes on, he'll get hooked. <3

What I'm really looking forward to is flying at Shoreline Park tomorrow, because a really nice guy from the forum (ihatework is his name) is going to fly with us and maybe possibly let us try one of his larger kites! I'm really excited. And I'm really grateful for the hospitality and friendliness that the kiting community has extended :D I look forward to sharing my experiences again next time I get to fly...!!

Kober - 26-5-2012 at 10:41 PM

finally .... you are back ..... my wait is over ..... I go and sleep now ....

zooprincess - 26-5-2012 at 10:45 PM

LOL Kober you stalker <3 <3

Kober - 26-5-2012 at 10:51 PM

+1 for tensor ....... I love that one ...... sadly I did not have chance to try you other options ..... I am sure there will be a lot of input on choice recommendations .... And don't forget ,,,,, you are part of our family now ../...

pyro22487 - 26-5-2012 at 11:02 PM

+1 for the hornet2 awesome kites. They have good power to spend zero and price is awesome too.

John Holgate - 26-5-2012 at 11:49 PM

I also like the Hornet. A well made, very steady performer. Here's the 3m in very light conditions......


pyro22487 - 27-5-2012 at 12:25 AM

My friend was able to buggy in about 10-12 mph winds with a 2m hornet2 I also like the Ozone Flow. They tend to be a little more pricey but not much more than the flow.

nocando - 27-5-2012 at 01:10 AM

Zooprincess thanks for the last installment, as others have said we look forward to your blogs.

You will find the Hornet, a lot of fun and you will grow with it, your hubby will also become more addicted.

A 3m Hornet in a nice breeze will have him rocking, maybe you should feed him the tutorials from Angus

www.coastalwindsports.com

or better still bring him here so he can live the stoke via the printed word.

Also teach other half if wind gets too mental ditch the kite, is easy to replace a kite, rather than your hubby ending up in

the emergency ward.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

PS dont forget to check out overseas forums, for sale sections as there are some cracking deals all over the globe.
I am in OZ and have been buying kites in the UK and the USA
for some time now, am amazed at the price and quality
I have not been stenched on a deal yet. A great time for buys in the US is NABX time March April some smokin deals happen then, the poms can be a bit funny with shipping overseas, but most are ok, also shipping to and from Oz is reasonable as well.

www.kitecrowd.com
www.extremekites.com.au

for LEIS

www.seabreeze.com.au

soliver - 27-5-2012 at 06:05 AM

ZP, hey I've flown a Hornet that belonged to a friend and it is a good "all around" kite and has a really good pull.

I really like the HQ beamer too. It is pretty well on par with the Hornet. I haven't flown a Tensor, so I can't speak to that.

Coastal windsports is great, I just spent some time with the owner last week and he's a great guy.

I also like Big Mike's Kites. I've bought most of my stuff from him, and he's really great to work with. He carries HQ, Peter Lynn and lots of other brands

Flyfish - 27-5-2012 at 04:18 PM

Zoo princes, I love it! Welcome to the rest of your life! Trees, flags, banners, anything that moves with the wind will never again miss your eye! Even if you are thousands of miles away from your gear, it will be calling to you, saying "why did you leave me behind?".
I hope I may be able to fly with you someday with my buddy in the bay. I'll keep in touch, and keep the updates coming!

Bigbear97e - 27-5-2012 at 06:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Kober
finally .... you are back ..... my wait is over ..... I go and sleep now ....


:smilegrin: LOL .... night Kober ...

SFKITER - 28-2-2013 at 12:50 AM

dang I wonder where this lady lives I live in the bay to lol

lucky_13 - 28-2-2013 at 09:13 AM

@SF there is a group of us that ride out at shoreline. This sunday we are getting together if you can make it out. u2u if you need more info !!

4mylifetime - 28-2-2013 at 06:36 PM

Welcome to the thrill of your life. From the great white north!:roll:

Proletariat - 28-2-2013 at 08:44 PM

+1for the hornet. It's a VERY popular kite, and probably the most often flown out of ALL of my kites. So,what's your status? Did your friends and husband become hooked? It's awesome to watch you go through my exact beginnings. HQ stunt kite, 1.4 symphony, 1.7 2line foil, 3m Beamer, 3x3-5m FB Foils, 8.5m Blade IV and THEN I discovered depower.... Now 13m Waroo, 18m Guerilla, board, 3 more kites, a giant grin and looking forward to my first kite vacation.

It's time for an update. For that matter, it's time for a depower update from you, too, AnnieO. Chicks who kite are badass (and your stories may even someday help me convert my ladyfriend)

:)

zooprincess - 28-2-2013 at 08:53 PM

Hi everyone :D thanks for necro-posting, I've been meaning to come back and update :)

Shortly after my most recent post, a board member (I promised no names!) let me try a bigger kite (I want to say 2.5m? and a high aspect ratio?). It was really windy and the kite was just a little too much for us. My husband bruised a rib and I hurt my knee, and we decided maybe kiting wasn't for us.

But, as it turns out, I ended up missing it, and went all winter wishing for wind. I'm (hopefully) going to Shoreline this Sunday to fly for the first time since that last time, and I'm really looking forward to it! I think my lines might be a little tangled, though T_T

SFKiter, I live in north SJ.

csa_deadon - 1-3-2013 at 12:16 AM

Bumps, bruises, ribs, knees, it's all part of this addiction we call kiting. Everyone on this forum has some sort of bump or scrap from this hobby. Most of us have done a respectable impersonation of superman at some point. Some of us have injured ourselves a little more seriously then others. 99% of us get up, dust ourselves off and reflect on WHY this happened to us. Usually it was due to not respecting the wind and/or kite.

Don't be to hasty on jumping up in kite size. Once you are comfortable with the gear you have make the move. Don't be like some of us, (I include myself in this) and get that crazy look in your eyes when you see a 18m Scorpion, 11m Frenzy, the list goes on and on.

Take your time, dust yourself off, smile, and don't forget to laugh at and learn from your minor mistakes.

As stated earlier; "CUT UP YOUR CREDIT CARD NOW!" :lol:

lucky_13 - 1-3-2013 at 05:44 AM

@ zoo sorry to hear that. Ill be out their as well on sunday if you guys need any help.. I know that the locals out there are a great group of guys always willing to help or give advice as well.

abkayak - 1-3-2013 at 10:53 AM

that that doesn't kill you....well u kno......I think we are all happy about a revitalization of this thread... I am hoping for big things come Monday

Proletariat - 1-3-2013 at 04:17 PM

This was early on in my career. We were out flying with too big a kite in too turbulent winds with very little experience. I always try out new kites in 5mph or less, and that has made a world of difference. Just remember that a fast moving kite always pulls more than a slow moving kite.

Again, PL Hornet 3m would be very fun, versatile and not dangerous in winds under 15mph (assuming you use kite killers and just let go if you get nervous). There is no reason a kite that small should drag you around. Now that I'm slightly more experienced, I always make new fliers practice letting go a few times before turning them loose. It's a good skill to have. Hope to hear good news soon! We are taking a new guy Snowkiting tomorrow and he will most likely spend all day with my 3m Hornet 2 and have permagrin at the end of the day.

SFKITER - 1-3-2013 at 10:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Proletariat
This was early on in my career. We were out flying with too big a kite in too turbulent winds with very little experience. I always try out new kites in 5mph or less, and that has made a world of difference. Just remember that a fast moving kite always pulls more than a slow moving kite.

Again, PL Hornet 3m would be very fun, versatile and not dangerous in winds under 15mph (assuming you use kite killers and just let go if you get nervous). There is no reason a kite that small should drag you around. Now that I'm slightly more experienced, I always make new fliers practice letting go a few times before turning them loose. It's a good skill to have. Hope to hear good news soon! We are taking a new guy Snowkiting tomorrow and he will most likely spend all day with my 3m Hornet 2 and have permagrin at the end of the day.




bahahaha awesome