So i have finally gotten a LEI kite and cant wait to get out...Looking at the weather it seems that tomorrow (tuesday) should be do-able after about 4:00. I'm thinking that i'll head to Waconia after work (i get done at 5:00) and it would be sweet if there was someone that could give me a few pointers on riding on soft water. I've done a bit of kiting on the snow with a snowboard and that went really well, truckin upwind after the first 5 minutes. What i would like tomorrow is someone that can give a few pointers on how to water relaunch, and someone to just be around in the area, cuz i don't like the idea of soloing on the first day out. And for this i am more than happy to produce a twelve pack of your favorite beer.
Let me know if anyone wants to try to catch a quick session at wac probably riggin at about 5:30.
thanks,
Stefan
(if your in let me know what kind of beer you like...and yes i have all the need gear, don't need to borrow anything.)
Offering 12pk of good beer for help!!
Moderator: MK
I've seen an alarming number of newer kiters attempting to ride in onshore conditions this year. This is not safe. Onshore conditions are for experienced kiters only, and even then are not safe. If anything was to go wrong you have minimal time to break free from the kite. If you're not able to immediately get upwind, you are in the danger zone.
If you're less experienced choose a launch with side shore conditions please. If in side-on conditions, body drag out from shore a good distance before putting the board on. This will minimize risks.
I don't mean spoil any one's fun but please be careful.
If you're less experienced choose a launch with side shore conditions please. If in side-on conditions, body drag out from shore a good distance before putting the board on. This will minimize risks.
I don't mean spoil any one's fun but please be careful.
Tighe
I remember a few years back I watched a beginning kiter attempting to launch up at Park Point on Superior (14-18 knot dead onshore winds that day). The kite powered up, lofted him about ten feet up and sent him over the dunes towards some houses and trees. Thankfully he wasn't hooked in and and he let go of the kite...could of been real ugly.
The kite i got is 14 meter and the reason for thinking waconia is that it is way closer to me and it looks like the ENE launch gives about as close a side shore breeze on a SE day as you can get. As i have never seen this lake or launch i have no idea what it is actually like, but it should definatly not be on shore and i dont see any better options on WBL.
If anyone has experience with this launch i think it is the boat ramp. please speak up, i am basing my guessing on the maps of the lake in the lakes link on this site, so i could be wrong.
stefan
If anyone has experience with this launch i think it is the boat ramp. please speak up, i am basing my guessing on the maps of the lake in the lakes link on this site, so i could be wrong.
stefan
Good Advice
Tighe of course has good advice especially for those coming from windsurfing where onshore winds are the most safe. Kiting is pretty much the opposite and the guys who get really hurt or killed seem like they get lofted or dragged onshore.
I just heard about Pete Nordby? an experienced kiter who got slammed into a telephone pole or something and killed a while back when riding onshore winds at Corpus Christi. It sounded as though he was pretty well off shore but lost control of the kite and it dragged him through the water across the beach and into the pole.
As a newbie I'm learning quickly (the hard way sometimes) that it's much harder to stay upwind while kiting versus windsurfing, especially in gusty winds (hello MN!).
I just heard about Pete Nordby? an experienced kiter who got slammed into a telephone pole or something and killed a while back when riding onshore winds at Corpus Christi. It sounded as though he was pretty well off shore but lost control of the kite and it dragged him through the water across the beach and into the pole.
As a newbie I'm learning quickly (the hard way sometimes) that it's much harder to stay upwind while kiting versus windsurfing, especially in gusty winds (hello MN!).