Newbie questions

Ok well I guess that was just about as good as any for a JV and Varsity announcement. Seeing how you are our first JV "_______" then you must name it! Then you need to put that in your signature

I totally get your question.. But its most likely is a combination off things
1. yesterday there was not enough wind (so you were set up for frustration)
2. the breakers were a pain and only gave windows of opportunity
3. the wind was light so the kite wasn't as stable. If the kite could be put slightly down in the window it would give a steady pull, then you could let it pull you ever slightly this way at least there is input and the kite wont stall. Set in the window slightly at least its only on one side and you can balance your movements knowing it not ever changing.
4. put your hand centered on the bar
5. practice letting go of the bar and watching the kite. it will from 12 hang then depending on wind eventually will beging to drop to a side of the window. Use this hang time to do you thing
6. Once your feet are in the straps extending one foot more than the other will make you spin left or right depending on foot.
7. You were not deep enough.. again the breakers your body out of the water is difficult
8. Move the kite to make sure you are in control before its one correction after another.
9. My favorite.... See you Sat LOL

Lauren,

When you are in the water with a downed kite even if it is bobbing to relaunch. If you release the bar you have time to collect your thoughts and yardsale LOL. The kite if arched in a c at the edge looks like its going to launch itself it will then it will go up 2 feet and comeback on its wing tip. If you think you have to keep it from looping or something you will grab the bar. Then so much as touching the bar will give it that kind of input to be powered. So practice hands off. Sometime I park the kite on the water this way while standing on the beach to fix a strap or rest. But this trust will help you progress knowing how to keep the kite docile.

So yes letting go of the bar in a good wind will give you 10 sec to adjust your board. But this is not a technique or one that you need once it all comes together. But nice to know. You can let go of the bar and the kite falls to the water.

it really should feel all that much different when you switch directions. i think it is most likely a mental hurdle rather than a physical one. With snowboarding and wakeboarding it's a little more awkward because you are traveling in the same direction as the pull (i.e. towards the boat or down the mountain). with kiting you are going across the pull. think of it like trying to run forwards and backwards, you can't go backwards as fast and it's awkward to try, but you can run side to side without a problem.

plus if you have to learn the other foot if you want to make it back to the beach!

Hero.

I went to get the vids and realized their is many ways.

Sand bag method, sand in wing tip, drift launch(wind direction permitting)

PB is offshore so the drift worked for Sump and I our last visit. Sump was kiting in and trying to help my kite get on the wing tip. Was pretty amusing...

But I am not sure which way I prefer. The sand way the kite can roll over. The sandbag/beach screw, truck hitch Ive never done, looks easy. Set up lines attach chicken loop. Walk to kite put on wing tip and go back and hook in and launch.

Seems easy till yah do it.

mmmmm.... high life 40's are a whole other level.

JD one of these times you'll get one of those handed to you when you come off the water holla!

goldie, it's not that bad to self-launch. you'd do ok i am sure.

the other thing you can do is ask for a non-kiter to help launch, then self-land.

if you ask a non-kiter, just make sure you set the kite up in launch position exactly how you want it, then ask them to just hold it there.

i am sure the problems getting up up will pass with some confidence and some experience.

if you self-launch, don't have to worry about hitting the launcher!

I learned on a sandbar with no one else around....that way you don't have to worry about any people/objects around.

if i am around, you know i would be happy to help you.

Nahant and Chapin and Wellfleet beach/sand bar.. plenty of room..

I love the spirit though... "Go hard or go home!!"

I can hear her now mocking the launcher or the dog walker at their obvious ignorance to the newbie process

I said "do watcher" instead of "dog walker" already corrected, and actually spot on!

Nice picture... and good to see you on here Christian!

When it's windy or especially when it's gusty, if you park the kite at 12 it will overlfy you. When it gets over your head, not only do you have to worry about it hindenburging, but it will also be very slow to respond.

Cure this by either keeping the kite moving while you have it at 12 (between 1130 and 1230) or be parking it on the edge of the window.

Ben,

why the worry about noon. Yes it easier to keep the kite in control on a side rather than 12 but why are you worried about the3 kite there. Maybe I do not understand overflying the kite and this maybe a check for me to learn.

Christian,

Welcome! Jermy and Willy almost sent me to meet up with you the day you left Revere for Nahant. I bailed as I had stuff to do. But I hear that you are pretty seriously addicted!! I also heard you do allot with video ect. We are and on going project so I welcome any help here.

Ok I thought I read you right. This is fine and this is what you should do is get the kite overhead. That way you are not being pulled left or right will situating your board. Be aware of your sheeting usually with the kite overhead you sheet out a tad and small corrections of the kite to keep it centered. Standing on the beach is where you keep kit slightly to one side and lean against it. But in the water after a crash noon is where you want the kite to go if not in the water. This advice certainly applies to your new bow kite. With the bow practice letting go of the bar. The kite will sit at noon and slowly go to one side then will rest in a relaunch position(Not good idea unless you have good wind to relaunch). Sometimes I do this to play with my board or swim a few strokes upwind to retrieve it. If the bow is in the water on its edge looking like it wants to relaunch you can keep your hands of the bar. You will feel like you want to grab it but this will power the kite. You will see it lift and settle left and settle. If you grab then you must fly it. So letting it bounce on the edge is safe and you can catch your breath.

HAHA.. the T-shirt is in the works. Settling out a bunch of designs currently. Know any artists a few of us have been pretty creative but yet to pull the trigger on the design. Ohh the JV team your signed up, not to worry I will come hopefully to yoru next swim meet to lend that advice!

I hope to hear plenty of "&$^##" and ")%($*#!" as you work on your board off body drags. :worried:

JK

But in regard to helping the site along it open to anyone really. All a matter of who has extra time and would like to say they help start something really. There is a login to create session reports as an author for the site vs the forum. For the more technically creative there is a backend for page and menu designs too. Anything that is creative such as video and photoshop pieces, ideas and logos ect are why we all login. Waiting to see soemthing new..