Has anyone tried to ride a kiteboard behind a boat or jetski? I find that I am board challenged in my kitesurfing attempts. I have crashed a million ways but haven't yet had the feeling of planing away. I figure it would be beneficial to try to at least get the feeling of ridiing the board. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks
Riding a kiteboard behind jetski or boat
Moderator: MK
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Mike Kellett
- Posts: 74
- Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2004 5:29 pm
- Location: Bloomington
Have done it a fair deal.
Easiest to do a dock launch. The normal water ski launch is much tougher than water starting with a kite.
The riding can be like riding under a kite or you can ride flat like a water ski. If you want to practice riding like you would under a kite, try to edge and resist the pull of the boat.
It is a fun low/no wind activity.
have fun.
Easiest to do a dock launch. The normal water ski launch is much tougher than water starting with a kite.
The riding can be like riding under a kite or you can ride flat like a water ski. If you want to practice riding like you would under a kite, try to edge and resist the pull of the boat.
It is a fun low/no wind activity.
have fun.
Tighe
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steveb
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:31 pm
- Location: sblain@frontiernet.net
As a beginner kiter one of the things that has helped me the most is I have done quite a lot of wake boarding, since starting with the kites I have tried kite boards behind a boat. You can tell alot about how the board is going to ride, how loose it's going to be, how hard it will edge or if it's going to bounce in chop. The nice thing is the motor boat lets you practice at will, where the wind....well that's another story.
When I got out for my first try I dived my kite, water started and the board riding felt very familiar, it allowed me to look at the kite (not really a good idea but it was my first ride ) at make sure I didn't drop it.
You can also practice water starting with your weak foot forward and ride behind the boat to improve your comfort on your weakside.
If you have a boat available get behind it and practice, when the wind blows it will make that sudden shock of " Oh my gosh I'm up" much less and much more controlled.
Just as a footnote ,have the person driving the boat slow down below planing speed sometimes, I have found it's good to learn what your boards going to do when you get a lull in the wind, it's amazing how much you can sink and still ride your board up to the surface so long as you wait your back foot and heel edge.
When I got out for my first try I dived my kite, water started and the board riding felt very familiar, it allowed me to look at the kite (not really a good idea but it was my first ride ) at make sure I didn't drop it.
You can also practice water starting with your weak foot forward and ride behind the boat to improve your comfort on your weakside.
If you have a boat available get behind it and practice, when the wind blows it will make that sudden shock of " Oh my gosh I'm up" much less and much more controlled.
Just as a footnote ,have the person driving the boat slow down below planing speed sometimes, I have found it's good to learn what your boards going to do when you get a lull in the wind, it's amazing how much you can sink and still ride your board up to the surface so long as you wait your back foot and heel edge.
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ChristianS.
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2003 11:28 pm
- Location: Hudson,WI
Yes, I have used both my Naish bi-derictional and my Square One kite boards behind a pontoon boat with 40 HP. It works well both for waterstarting and starting of the jetty. Try to dig your heels in and go up on both sides of the boat dragging you. It is good kiting practice. If you can waterstart behind a boat with a horizontal pull, which is hard, you will find waterstarting on a kite easy because it pulls you upwards.
Have fun !
Have fun !
Christian
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Mike Kellett
- Posts: 74
- Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2004 5:29 pm
- Location: Bloomington