Hi all,

I live in Paraparaumu and have decided I want to have a try at kite flying, I like the idea of kite boarding eventually or land boarding.

I have a few questions I hope some of you could advise me on.

1) Does anyone know where I can learn the basics of flying kites? Is their somewhere local, I have seen people flying at Waikanae so hopefully their is an active community here,

2) I have been looking for a second hand kite but really don't know what I should be getting, on trademe I have seen several kites by Peter Lynn which state they are training kites, are these the ones I should start with,I don't want to spend lots of money yet, I might be useless at it

Cheers

Hey Pobman,

I run an IKO Kiteschool jus down the road at Foxton Beach.
All details of courses, pics, videos and gear are available on the website.
www.windwarriorkitesports.com
Give me a call if you need some tuition.

Butch

Hi butch,

After my post I read your post on Foxton and discovered your shop and training site, seems reasonable at $50 per hour. I am thinking of dropping in on Sat to have a look around and maybe book a lesson through you.

Pobman

If you are looking for something closer to Paraparaumu then check out Wildwinds. They do lessons on Waikanae beach just up the road from you.
www.wildwinds.co.nz/lessons/kiteboarding.htm

Also a couple of links that might be useful for you;

FAQ on learning to kite
yakers.co.nz/2008/11/learning-to-kite-faq-i-get-asked-same.html

Wellington kitesurfers forum
groups.google.co.nz/group/wellingtonkitesurfers?hl=en&pli=1

Any ideas if these kites are worth getting to play around with?
www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Kites-kitesurfi...uction-265849051.htm

nah that is a poo kite. don't do it. its better to learn on a decent one.

www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Kites-kitesurfi...uction-266632289.htm
is more what you should be looking at.

I haven't had any dealings with wild winds but i can vouch for Butch. He knows his stuff.

If you get a lesson you maybe able to bypass a super small kite and get one suitable for landboarding around a 4 square meter fixed bridle with brake lines for easy launch and land.

Its good too see you also looking at landboarding. Most people disregard landboarding and only kitesurf. I say those people are missing out on alot of kiting opportunities. Your coast line is ideal for lanboarding and kitesurfing. yourl be best to do both.

The advantages of the water.

its softer than land. you can go big and crash into the water with little or no injury.
You can hold more power and jump bigger.
surf waves
use the waves as take off ramps to go big.
More area to kite in. The ocean is HUGE! you only need an area to launch and land and your are away.
Less reliant on the right tides.

Disadvantages
greater chance of death... drowning.
Inflatable kites are difficult to solo launch/land.
Need more wind to get going.

Landboarding
You don't get wet.
can do it in less wind.
go upwind better
can go faster for the same wind speed
faster set up/pack up.
foil kites solo launch and land heaps easier in light to medium wind
Its more Hard core!
safer to do by yourself. no chance of being stuck out at see if the wind dies or changes direction.
Bring on the hills. Once experienced hill flying adds a completly new dimension of kite flying. (DO NOT DO IT AS A NEWBIE)

Disadvantages
more chance of injury due to crashing!. land is hard!
downwind usually has things to hit. drift wood, houses etc.
more limited in area. The width of th beach and wind direction play a big role.


Disadvantages

Thanks for your input on the type of kite I should be looking at, the missus is a little protective over how much I spend on my first kite so I thought I'd test the water ( pardon the pun ) with a small cheap one, I was looking at the Peter Lynn ones around the 2m size for practising on down the local beach / park etc, however I dont want to get a small trainer then find I want a bigger one a few weeks / months down the road so would a 4 meterkite be suitable for training on or should I be getting a 2-3 meter one then trading it? If so perhaps I should be buying secondhand?

Re Landboarding, Yes I quite fancy ago it, I did a trial at wind buggying at the param airfield last year and it was a good crack. I guess I dont have much fear of the ground as I used to ride motorbikes for a few years ( more scared of a shark attack )I would like to try kitesurfing too but first things first I best learn to controll one, one of my old workmates husbands died kite surfing so I know the risk are real.
You mentioned hills that does sound like fun but I guess not for the faint hearted, I will check out some youtube vids when I get home.

Is there a kite shop in Wellington? I thought I could check one out during a lunch break but can't seem to locate any? Guess I will wait and go to Foxton.

Pobman

yeah 4m is the ideal landboard learning size. however it will have a fairbit of pull above 15 knots.

get yourself a wind meter and only go out in sub 15knots to begin with you can build up slowly when your experience increases. the biggest mistake newbie's make is not knowing the wind speed and taking a kite out thats too big for the wind and getting dragged through stuff.

you will progress through a number of kites on your kiting journey. i like to indulge in the seek forgiveness rather than ask permission and be denied theory... hahaha.

pobman wrote:


Yes, there is a kite shop in Wellington. Wild Winds is at the overseas terminal next to Oriental Bay. Go & check them out & have a chat to the guys there. http://www.wildwinds.co.nz/

hey pobman, i can tell you once you try kiting you will be hooked, and then your mrs will get angry because you will never stop wanting new kites!!! my mrs gets angry on a regular basis!!!
the best thing to do is buy a trainer kite and learn to fly it really well, then go get some lessons. the lessons is an absolute must, to many people risk their lives by not having lessons. if you get lessons you will have the time of your life and be able to do so safely!!!
hope you start kiting, if you do you wont regret it!!!!

Pobman,
Look forward to seeing you on saturday.
If im not at the shop, stroll over the sand dunes opposite (30 sec) and ill be right there on the beach teaching.

The best thing is have a go at flying a kite before you part with any money.
if your kiteing on a mountain board or buggy, you will always want a 2-3m kite in your bag, and a 4meter and a 6meter etc.

but if your only wanting to kite surf, a small 1-2-3m kite would only be used for leaning on. you wouldn't need it after that. once you get out on the water, you will never use it.
(its why the kitesurfers aways call them "trainer kite")


and yep butch is the man to see




conrad

50psi wrote:


This is true about not using trainers after u get in the water... But if u do buy a trainer u can always lend it to ya mates and partner,, this way they will get some idea why u gap to the beach any time there is a hint of wind.

good luck with the learning process it's lots of fun

c u on the water

I did not get chance to go to Foxton today to see Butch but will hopefully next weekend. I ended up having to work today, but at least it's a bit more $$ towards a kite.

Depending on weather I may go next weekend.

Can you fly kites in the rain?

you can fly lei (leading edge inflatable kites, ie kite surfing kites) in the rain. . the open cell foils get heavy and fall out off the sky if it rains too hard.

why not go mid week? Butch has wednesday night kite night. its about 40 mins up the road depending on when you finish work you could have 2 hours or so of flying.

I don't get home until after 18:30 so probably a bit late by then to go to foxton. I defiantly I may head over this afternoon just on impulse.