Kite shoes for scudding / jumping

I've been using old worn out skater shoes to fly my twister 3 + 4m. The worn out soles make it easier to scud on the grass or sand when the kite pulls. The problem is that they don't offer any foot or ankle support. I hurt the ball of my foot coming down off a small jump, and almost rolled my ankle on another jump.

I know people say you need a 5M+ to jump at all, but I don't want to catch tons of air, just get a second or 2 of hang time, and I don't have a 5m yet. I figure its better to learn the basics and get great kite control, make the redirect instinctual, etc. A couple weeks ago it was blowing about 12-15mph and my timing had gotten much better, so I was jumping way higher and farther (still only 2-4' max). There were a couple times that it was pretty crazy! I was glad it was only a 4m and not a 5m!

I sanded off the lugs on some old hiking boots using a belt sander and 40 grit sandpaper. Then I coated the soles in armor-all. The problem is that they had holes in the rubber, and sanding it down revealed these holes. They still had a bit too much grip when I tried them out, and sent me running a few times. I'm wondering if I should use rubber, leather, or plastic to glue onto the soles for a smooth surface. I don't want something too slippery! What do you think?

Get a shop vac...what a mess!

I like to buggy in running shoes(old) and jump a bit in same. I'm not getting more than 6 feet of air) any time I jump (yet..anyway. Still controlled and cautious with FB kite jumping) -so I can handle complete gravity if kite collapses or for whatever reason I don't float so softly back down.

How rigid or soft the shoe's upper is has little to do with hurting the ball of your foot. Better cushioning of the sole and especially the midsole can help a little there. My running shoes have both a soft compressible midsole AND soft rubber lug sole.

Hiking boots have hard rubber soles that don't absorb. The midsoles of the boot varies by brand and model and can be from spongy EVA foams, to hard polyurethanes.

The upper- if it if stiff enough- may prevent over pronated rolling of the ankle and prevent an injury from this. But some hiking uppers are still so soft that you can still roll your ankle to an injury... or if they are too wide and/or tied loose on your feet.

I am on sand 99% of time but I believe same softer soles(of running shoes-even with a lug pattern(some running soles are hard too-so)- will slide more for scudding(either on purpose or for when it often happens launching).

Side motions can be much more injurious than forward/backward linear ones. Like steering your car into a skid...best to face and align your body in the direction your being flung! Bad motions to ankles can move up to knees and hips and you can even injure those by same forces 'misaligning you that second of impact.

Good form and strong muscles around joints can help. Exercises can strengthen and should not be overlooked.

So....If looking for kite footwear with a combination of firm ankle support AND cushioned sole(along with the right soles to allow slidding/scudding) it's not that easy. If the upper is that stiff...usually the sole/midsole is firm ..boot is deeply lugged and too 'grippy'.

...but there are some compromises to be found if you look hard....or you have a good grinder/sander perhaps

BTW...w/regards to SIZE for jumping...

I often jump with a FB 4m race kite and have jumped smaller too. I'm about 150+ pounds. The power of high aspect vs low(er) aspect is obviously a lot stronger...but I'm not sure how the aspect of a kite relates to the 'FLOAT'-and again.........if its strictly size- and not related to kite's aspect.

...If it's the latter, then jumping with a higher aspect(that can create more force to lift you) is more dangerous than jumping with a low aspect of the same power-but bigger size.

Then there's the AOA(angle of attack)of the kite to consider.....(whew!)

Maybe a much more seasoned and knowledgeable kiter can clue us into the FLOAT postulates and theroms regarding size..and more:puzzled:!


Obviously you'll always be safer with a depower.

Here's what you do:

Did deep in the back of your Closet and pull out the pair of those hideous Sneakers your Aunt Edna gave you 5 years ago

Rip off the sole tread part and you'll be stylin!

Here's mine- old pair of Nike running shoes


[img][/img]

Quote: Originally posted by beachrights

Here's what you do: Did deep in the back of your Closet and pull out the pair of those hideous Sneakers your Aunt Edna gave you 5 years ago Rip off the sole tread part and you'll be stylin! Here's mine- old pair of Nike running shoes [img][/img]

Hey,, if I'm not wrong then you might be using these shoes regularly or are you a regular runner?? These shoes shows that only,, But if I talk about me then I think I'll have to run not more than 15 km a day to make my own Ripcurl shoes look like that,, hahahahaha

Quote: Originally posted by andelcatherine

Hey,, if I'm not wrong then you might be using these shoes regularly or are you a regular runner?? These shoes shows that only,, But if I talk about me then I think I'll have to run not more than 15 km a day to make my own Ripcurl shoes look like that,, hahahahaha

Reported.

Earmarks of a bot, zip code in location, blond, nonsense post.

What you are wearing in the first picture are the same things I wear all the time when flying. Had a nice pair I got in Hawaii at walmart but they blew out a month ago at SOBB.
So its back to the old leather flip flops, or what we call zories.:D

What you are wearing in the first picture are the same things I wear all the time when flying. Had a nice pair I got in Hawaii at walmart but they blew out a month ago at SOBB.
So its back to the old leather flip flops, or what we call zories.:D

Scudding shoes.

The motorcycle circle track racers had this figured out years ago.
For those on a budget...
Some sheet metal, some gray Duck Tape to match and....PRESTO...Scudding shoes!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-1953-AMA-RACING-METAL-FLAT-TRACK...

Try ski boots lots of ankle support, smooth soles.....

Scudding flip flops ???

Quote: Originally posted by WIllardTheGrey

Quote: Originally posted by andelcatherine   Hey,, if I'm not wrong then you might be using these shoes regularly or are you a regular runner?? These shoes shows that only,, But if I talk about me then I think I'll have to run not more than 15 km a day to make my own Ripcurl shoes look like that,, hahahahaha Reported. Earmarks of a bot, zip code in location, blond, nonsense post.

That isn't just ANY blonde. That is Julia Stiles!

i Just bought these today from walmart for $7. The tag said they are made out of 80% recycled plastic bottles. I tried them out today and they worked great on dry grass.

Quote: Originally posted by MyAikenCheeks

The motorcycle circle track racers had this figured out years ago. For those on a budget... Some sheet metal, some gray Duck Tape to match and....PRESTO...Scudding shoes! http://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-1953-AMA-RACING-METAL-FLAT-TRACK...

Ohh, flattrack! Never expected to find another flattrack fan here

BTW, those shoes can make quite the fireworks show on gravel at 100 mph :-)

I glued some thick leather to them. It was crazy windy today, but I cant make it out. weather man says 25-35 with gusts to 50 at my house, and 15 -20 mph with gusts to 25 at the beach! It's probably a good thing! It is supposed to be calmer tomorrow.
I might add more leather to the heel if they dont slide fast enough. They turned out pretty good. I cleaned up the edges with a flap disk on a grinder. Here are a couple pics.

Quote: Originally posted by MyAikenCheeks

Could you use some side money?

I can always use side money, but I bill at $100/hr:o

I tried out the shoes at the beach yesterday. The winds were coming down the beach instead of off the ocean like they normally do (santa ana winds blow nice warm air from the desert). It was pretty windy. My crappy wind gauge said 11-12, but the last time it said 11-12 it was way less windy. The kite surfers were out in full force with probably 20+ of them. I was getting the biggest scuds I've ever done so far. I could have covered a mile pretty easily if I wanted to walk back! I had to stop when my muscles were so fatigued that I couldn't put the brakes on! It was a bit scarry:D The shoes were nice and slick on grass, but I haven't had a chance to get some scuds on grass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF_k1wyzNl8

Hrm. That looks like it will work pretty good, but my old beat up motorcycle boots are a LOT less work. Also, if you've got too much traction with hiking boots, just dig in harder and loop tighter. You'll break traction (or a knee) eventually

Also, since I got some decent knee pads, almost all my scudding is on knees these days. For foot scuddingm just go get a cheap sled.

Damn this board and its fancy "double post" feature . Nice video, BTW. Looks fun.

BTW, I think the reason everyone says not to jump with that small of a kite is that they don't float you don't float you down gently very well. Instead, they require precise handling to generate lift and that's sometimes hard to do when you're in the air because they move so fast.

It was exactly a day like that that I lofted myself 9 feet and jacked up my knee for a couple months. That was a 4m. Of course it was also inland winds, so direction changes and gusty. Yours looks a lot more predictable so it's quite a bit safer, but don't be surprised if that sucker takes you up nicely, but doesn't do down so well.