Lofting Incident at SPI: Memoirs of a Newbie

Stay connected in the wind. This forum is for anyone who rides the wind, winter or summer, on whatever board suits their fancy. Share the stoke, find out where people are going, ask any question, share your discoveries, and discuss any esoteric idea you may have related to the pursuit of wind. Please keep it positive.

Moderator: MK

Post Reply
JanMarie
Posts: 114
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 11:22 am
Location: Weslaco, TX

Lofting Incident at SPI: Memoirs of a Newbie

Post by JanMarie »

Memoirs of a Newby
I did have a blast on my trip to South Padre Island, TX in November. There were 9 of us, we rented a van and stayed in the same hotel. I roomed with 2 other women. We pretty much stuck together even in the evenings when we couldn't kite. We went out to eat, or to a night-club. Sometimes I stayed in the hotel and de-peopled. I was away from the others a lot since I took lessons almost every day. The water is very shallow there, like 3 feet or so, perfect for a beginner.

Unfortunately, I was a slow learner, so I had to take a lot of lessons $$$. I never got control of the kite enough to even really get up on the board! How disappointing. Still, it is a gas to fly the kite. So, the lessons were about flying the kite. And relaunching.

The first lesson, I lofted myself into the air. I could hear the small, far-away voice of my instructor, TJ, calling, "let goooo!". On the second (or so) time I heard it, I decided there must be some reason he was saying that, although I could not imagine it, since I was having the most fantastic airborne time of my life. I trusted him though, and let go. The kite and I came back down to earth in more ways than one. After such a glorious experience, it was hard to look contrite as TJ gave me a bit of a lecture explaining why I wasn't supposed to do that lofting. Really! I, of course, did not know how I did it in the first place. If I did, I wouldn't need him, would I? Wasn't I hiring him to teach me to do just that? Turns out he was scared for me that I could get tangled in the lines or come down on my helmet in the mud. The next day we tried again and this time he held onto the handle on the back of my harness. I lofted us both. Well, I'm not sure if we lofted but we at least dove into the water head first. Boy, was he pissed. He said, "Did you see what you just did? You just sent us both in the water! Now I'm all wet!" He was apparently planning on staying dry from the knees up or so and now he was wet from head to toe. It was really quite cold down there. I had to wear a wet suit. He wasn't and he had a long cold boat ride home.

The next day I had a different instructor, Bryan. I had a premonition I would have a different instructor. On the boat ride out into the bay, I asked him if anyone told him I lofted the last instructor. He said, "That's why I'm wearing a wet suit." Smart man. I dunked him the first day, but not head first. I guess I was improving in my kite control.

The last day Bryan didn't hold onto my harness. Either I was getting better at control or he just decided not to care if I lofted. On second thought, now that I know a little more about kites, I recall that he de-powered my kite so much it probably couldn't loft anybody. He had me connect the lines on the second knot, and he pulled the de-power strap down all the way. Hey, now that I think of it, I had this minuscule 5M kite. Leah, who was also taking lessons that day, is also female (if you met her I'm sure you have noticed!) and not a whole lot bigger than I am, had a 12M kite. Mike M. had a 16. What's that about?

It was learn-the-board day. I was only able to get up on the board once before I immediately lost control of the kite again and it pulled me in a direction that my board apparently wasn't about to go. My body did, though. I got terribly frustrated so gave up on the board and did the most fun thing of all (besides lofting)..... body dragging. After all, I'm not going to pay $250 to get frustrated in SPI when I can do that at home for free. You can body drag for miles there because the instructor can follow you in a boat and pick you up when you have drunk enough sea water. Bryan pointed out into the bay and said, ”See that barge?” I could barely see it. “Don't go there.”, he said. I drank a ton of sea-water that day because, since he de-powered my little kite so much, I didn't go totally off the water, doing a kind of chin-dragging instead. I loved it. On the boat ride back, Mike M was disgusted that he had to re-launch his kite 3 times. THREE TIMES?? I must have re-launched 50!! With Bryan calling from the boat, “Red line on the Left.” and “Pull left to go right.” and “The other left!”.

Although the best parts of the lessons were lofting and body dragging, it was extremely fun lofting the instructor too. Worth the trip. (Hey, Todd, did I launch you on my first lesson? If not, I'd like another try at it.)

Jan-Marie
Nov. 2006 :D :o
JRN
Posts: 2001
Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:38 pm

Steve's Booze

Post by JRN »

Too bad you didn't have a tape measure, you may have already won Mr. Blain's booze. Were you up more than 15 feet? Keep trying, I was the classic "slow learner." Took me 3 seasons and the advent of bows to finally get up and riding on water & still most of the "kiter-chicks" are advancing faster than me. I actually had my 1st breakthrough session on the snow with downhill skis. Get a small training foil and come out and join us!! :idea: Jim N.
shera
Posts: 101
Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:34 pm
Location: Minneapolis

Post by shera »

Keep at it. The one thing you didn't see at SPI was all of my body dragging, lofting and drinking alot of water when I first started. I body dragged almost the whole first summer I started and just at the end did I get on a board. I think everyone has gone through the same learning frustrations especially learning on water. Hope to see you on the snow, you might be surprise how much easier it is without sinking!
Tighe
Posts: 5274
Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2002 10:06 pm
Location: Here, Now

Post by Tighe »

You guys have no idea what challenges can be faced when learning this sport. The new equipment makes it so much easier, as well as all the information out there.

Back in the day...when some of us were learning this sport, kites were like sheets in the wind, that just sat deep in the window and wanted to woop your ass till you cried for momma. We got tea bagged from one end of the lake to the other saying hail marys all the way across. Quick Release...yeah right. We were locked in and loaded. We are so lucky we didn't die.

I know learning can be challenging, but the rewards at every stage keep us going. It's sorta like a right of passage. If you can tame the beast and make it your friend, you can do great things together. And don't think the learning ever ends. I continue to learn something everytime I hit the water.

And Leah is right. Winter riding is sooooo much easier than water riding.

ride on
Tighe
steveb
Posts: 2146
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:31 pm
Location: sblain@frontiernet.net

Post by steveb »

Jan-marie....great write up, it got my heart beat raised remembering my intitial beatings, scares and whoop moments.
When Nancy( my boss) was learning she had got up for one of the first times, she sent the kite back too far and was sent into a backwards spinning jump. I heard her whoop with joy and realized she was hooked.
Judging by your new passion for being lifted out the water you too have got the bug.
If you don't have kites I have some small foils that are great for learning on snow, drop me a post on the site and we'll get you out on the white stuff. Assuming we get some snow at some point.
darlene
Posts: 98
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:13 pm
Location: Tierra Verde, Florida

Post by darlene »

Jan-Marie, I loved reading your post. I know you're not going to be able to ride this winter due to your hip, but next spring/summer will be your time! Just hang in there, it will pay off! I truly admire you starting this sport at your age. Not only are you a beautiful singer & guitar player, an incredibly intelligent medical reserach scientist, and a fun person ("bring me beer", high-heels that light up, & we won't mention what else), you are brave & courageous in your desire to kite! Sometimes I get pissed off that I'm 30 years old & just starting to kite........but then I was the youngest of all 9 of us who went to SPI together, go figure! Hopefully we'll see you & your husband out on the snow this winter!

Darlene 8)
Woody
Posts: 288
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2003 10:58 pm
Location: North of the border
Contact:

Post by Woody »

OMG I still remember teaching myself to snowkite! I had a real good tea bagging kitemare in winter 4 yrs ago that really brought out a whole new respect for kite power, knowing your abilities AND remembering where those little red balls called QR's are located!!!!

:shock:
steveb
Posts: 2146
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:31 pm
Location: sblain@frontiernet.net

Post by steveb »

Another kiter musician...that does it we have to have a winter gathering with a jam, Kurt , Randy ????.
kiteboymn
Posts: 310
Joined: Sun Dec 26, 2004 10:19 am
Location: Merrifield Mn

Post by kiteboymn »

JM, here is why you're going to be successful at kiteboarding.

YOU HAVE THE WILL AND DETERMINATION IT TAKES!

That was evident in the first 5 seconds that I met you. I was coming in from a session at Breezy Point this summer on my 16 meter and this crazy lady comes running up to me in the water while the kite is still in the air and says "can I try that " need I say more.

My first ride was dragging across Rush lake on my stomach while hanging onto Brian Thulls ankles who was also dragging on his belly while holding onto my kite. GOOD TIMES! seriously.

The point is, everybody has paid there dues and so will you. Hang in there, it's soooooo worth it!

Todd
Live Hard!
Lakawa Shop Rider
http://mnkiteboy.com/
TomG
Posts: 301
Joined: Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:23 pm
Location: MPLS
Contact:

Post by TomG »

KUDOS ! JanMarie KUDOS!

Ti is right I've done more one way down winders on calhoun than anyone could shake a stick at. LOCKED into a 2 line kite with no realease. But dont give up.. It will come with time and when that time comes. We'll all hear you Hooting and Hollaring as your rollin upwind on the lake. And rollin upwind is the best feeling unless you have 5 miles of beach to roll down :D

Tommy G
The real pro isnt the one who doesn't make a mistake. The real pro is the one that does the best job hiding it!
JanMarie
Posts: 114
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 11:22 am
Location: Weslaco, TX

Post by JanMarie »

OK, SteveB how about a jam in February? I should be getting around by then on my new hip.
I asked the surgeon if I can kiteboard with a bionic hip and he said yes, but that his recommendation is that I should become expert so I don't fall! Yeah, that's my plan.
JM
Post Reply