I am just starting out in kiteing and am (as some friends say) overly obsessed with the sport. All i have at the moment is my trainer kite and library of videos helping me learn as my time and $$ are limited and far between. Getting my main kite in a month or so but for now still researching for it. What i am looking for are others who kite in the summer or winter to head out on the snow or water with. It would be great to get some pointers on both gear and technique. I live in the metro area all winter for school but i am in the willmar/Green Lake area in the summer. When I am not using the wind you will find me Wakeboarding or Scuba Diving.
Catch ya on the lake,
Luke
New Kite junky
Moderator: MK
Luke,
Welcome to the Clan of Danglers. We have a great riding community here in the Twin Cities, sharing the lakes with our boom clinging brothers and sisters. We have probably 3 times as many winter riders as summer riders, host numerous events throughout the year, and connect here on Lakawa Chat.
Popular spots in the winter are Kite Island on Tonka, Mille Lacs, Calhoun, White Bear, Cedar WI, and Cannon, though there are many other options. Conditions and wind direction help choose the lake of the day. Riding with others is safer, and can help you progress quickly.
Our summer options are less. Waconia is the closest lake of choice. The eastern launch has shallow waters out at least a kite lines length making launching easier and safer. White Bear is another option if you are on the east side of the cities. We voluntarily have banned summer kiting on Calhoun for safety reasons. Other options are Mille Lacs, which has smooth winds and large shallow areas which are great for learning, and Cannon.
All these lakes can be viewed in the Lakes section here on Lakawa.
Learning in the winter is by far the easiest way to get into it around here. The typical lakeshore posses some significant challenges for the less experienced. If you can dial your riding in the winter, transitioning to the water is pretty straightforward.
This weekend's event on Mille Lacs should be a decent intro into the sport. There will be riding, racing, freestyle, demos, instruction and I'm sure a fair bit of partying.
Again, welcome.
Welcome to the Clan of Danglers. We have a great riding community here in the Twin Cities, sharing the lakes with our boom clinging brothers and sisters. We have probably 3 times as many winter riders as summer riders, host numerous events throughout the year, and connect here on Lakawa Chat.
Popular spots in the winter are Kite Island on Tonka, Mille Lacs, Calhoun, White Bear, Cedar WI, and Cannon, though there are many other options. Conditions and wind direction help choose the lake of the day. Riding with others is safer, and can help you progress quickly.
Our summer options are less. Waconia is the closest lake of choice. The eastern launch has shallow waters out at least a kite lines length making launching easier and safer. White Bear is another option if you are on the east side of the cities. We voluntarily have banned summer kiting on Calhoun for safety reasons. Other options are Mille Lacs, which has smooth winds and large shallow areas which are great for learning, and Cannon.
All these lakes can be viewed in the Lakes section here on Lakawa.
Learning in the winter is by far the easiest way to get into it around here. The typical lakeshore posses some significant challenges for the less experienced. If you can dial your riding in the winter, transitioning to the water is pretty straightforward.
This weekend's event on Mille Lacs should be a decent intro into the sport. There will be riding, racing, freestyle, demos, instruction and I'm sure a fair bit of partying.
Again, welcome.
Tighe
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rudeboysaude
- Posts: 246
- Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2003 9:14 am
- Location: Sandstone, MN
- Contact:
Hey Luke.
Are you from Willmar? My hometown is New London. Email me at rudeboysaude@rocketmail.com and we can kite anytime I'm back home!
Aaron.
Are you from Willmar? My hometown is New London. Email me at rudeboysaude@rocketmail.com and we can kite anytime I'm back home!
Aaron.
I am thinking of buying a used kite for my first because of limitations in both cash and i am not sure what i think of the sport yet so i dont want to shell out tons of money i am not ready to...That comes when i realize that i love it and should have done that in the first place.
Anyway..i was wondering if there are any certain kites i should definitly not go for? I was already told to go for 2003-newer but that some '03's i should not look at. Definitly going for name brand kinda big names to make sure i am not getting crap. I want to make sure that the safety tech. is up to date so any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks,
Luke
Anyway..i was wondering if there are any certain kites i should definitly not go for? I was already told to go for 2003-newer but that some '03's i should not look at. Definitly going for name brand kinda big names to make sure i am not getting crap. I want to make sure that the safety tech. is up to date so any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks,
Luke
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rudeboysaude
- Posts: 246
- Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2003 9:14 am
- Location: Sandstone, MN
- Contact:
Luke.
Alot of my kites aren't "name brand kinda big names". In the state of MN there are probably only about 10 of us that own Viokites. A name pretty much no one has heard of. And they have taken lots of beatings by me and I use them year round on snow, land, and water. I've also recently grown to love Peter Lynn kites which are a big name company but not many of those kites around here either. But then for me the advantages of foils are greater then inflatables. If you can, fly as many kites as possible to realize what you want. I started out with a 14M inflatable and it didn't suit me at all. Personal preference is all since everyone else seems to love them. Luckily the sport is growing in MN now and you can go to demos, or just go kite with Jason from Boardsports. He has a trailer full of kites that he wishes he could fly all at once, but luckily he can't so he let's people try whatever they like! If you plan to landboard or buggy at all though, don't rule out the foil factor whatever brand you choose. Can't beat them for cruising through farm fields on a smoking buggy!
Aaron.
<img src="http://www.scicable.net/~rudeboysaude/VRbuggy.jpg" /img">
Alot of my kites aren't "name brand kinda big names". In the state of MN there are probably only about 10 of us that own Viokites. A name pretty much no one has heard of. And they have taken lots of beatings by me and I use them year round on snow, land, and water. I've also recently grown to love Peter Lynn kites which are a big name company but not many of those kites around here either. But then for me the advantages of foils are greater then inflatables. If you can, fly as many kites as possible to realize what you want. I started out with a 14M inflatable and it didn't suit me at all. Personal preference is all since everyone else seems to love them. Luckily the sport is growing in MN now and you can go to demos, or just go kite with Jason from Boardsports. He has a trailer full of kites that he wishes he could fly all at once, but luckily he can't so he let's people try whatever they like! If you plan to landboard or buggy at all though, don't rule out the foil factor whatever brand you choose. Can't beat them for cruising through farm fields on a smoking buggy!
Aaron.
<img src="http://www.scicable.net/~rudeboysaude/VRbuggy.jpg" /img">
