An hour today.....and thanks to a just developing skillset and craptastic winds I spent quite a bit of time on my arse. But that's not to say I didn't achieve success!

Wind was S/SE which for our launch means I had to start switch - which I did reluctantly but surprisingly ok - and after getting far enough that my car was a speck I tacked back, made sure I was holding ground and forced myself to go back switch again a few times before I came home. Walk of shame? Maybe a wee bit but only 'cuz I was knackered....one or two (or five) more tacks and I'd have made it home. Total distance traveled "in shame"? A mere 40 yards perhaps? Total distance under kite power - musta put on 15k? Maybe 10....still a marathon by any account all things considered.

Snowboarding is a whole different group of skills (and muscles) - hence the hats off. If the wind drops on skis you just stand up...On a board - correct me if I'm wrong - it seems most efficient/effective to commit and ride the board powered up enough to lean back against the kite and modulate the power with your edge and the bar rather than just puss about riding upright (wind was crap today...."where'd it go" gusting to 25...so had to do a bit of everything). When I got a good load of power I could concentrate on sinking my edge hard and adjusting the tack. Of course then the wind would decide to shut OFF leaving me thankful for the hillbilly pants....work the kite to tug me back to my feet and then ride along upright until the next surge when I could lean back and sink the edge.

Learned a LOT today. Can't wait for next time to see if any of it sticks. Too sore for that day to be tomorrow though ; )

And to come clean, I packed the board away, grabbed the skis and finished out the day with another hour or so....but I was okay with that. I'll post some video so you coastal sorts can see what we inlanders have to deal with.

Thought I'd post a follow-up "where it hurts today" message.....

My quads are DONE. Shoulders......tender. That spot right in the core of my abs......tight.

Feels GREAT! (I gotta get in shape......me & U Kami. Let's get some belated new year's resolutions goin' :lol

:evil: I know the feeling.

I've been snowboarding bout 15 years now and I have to say its way different when a kites pulling you......


Got my ass wooped the first time I was out snowkiting this year then again I"ve only started kiting this past summer with not as many flights as I would like...

just started snowboarding--its hard to be able to relax and not tense up your muscles while still trying to maintain balance--still i cant wait to get good at at!!

Thanks for the tips! I'm gonna tackle it in this order:

1) Get in better shape by spending a bit more time on the rowing machine than I have been (need it for my back anyhow...)

2) Ski then snowboard as time permits. If no time for focused learning on both, then start with the board and "reward" myself with skis for the last 15 minutes of that day

3) I'll try the backless bindings. Just put brand new flows on though so I better stick it out for a bit....plus I think I need the extra "help" the backs give me for the time being.

I'm convinced that my success this summer depends on me getting the board dialed in this winter. It's all about the switch....just need to get that down and I'm golden. I promise to strap the camera on for the snowboard time next time - no just the ski time (vid coming soon).

We got the snow.....need to pray for (clean) wind.

Sounds great!!

I just started snowboarding but I havn't had a chance to hook up to a kite because I started at a resort on hired gear.

Getting my own board in a week or two so I will be combining the mountain riding with some kite action.

I have done a little ATB riding and I found the cross-over to the snowboard pretty easy.

Like you I can't wait to get past the beginner stage and get good!! unfortunately UK snow conditions aren't great really so it may take a while - or I will have to travel a lot!

Oi don't drag me into your masochistic joyrides

Forearms, upper back, calves and groin all stiff and complaining about a few hours with the Kitewing ... I get sore feet skiing and snowboarding but unless I'm falling over and bashing myself, don't usually hurt too much - I'm a cruiser though, don't do anything radical. Tried jumping tabletops and one day was great, the next I kept landing on my head ... so I gave up

I have problems finding snowboards wide enough to allow me to ride without toes or heels dragging in the snow and my feet aren't really that big! Size 12-13 US depending on the footwear.

But yes, I'm determined to be in shape for this summer ...!

my problem is my forearms are KILLING me after snowkiting. i think my problem is i arch my wrist when pulling in the kite for some reason. I don't have the issue when landboarding o.O . I couldn't put my finger oni t but by the end of the day (4hours later) I could barely stay going for more than 2 minutes and I'd have to sit down and let the kite autozenith to give my forearms a break.