hey all

RS24 · Post by **RS24** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 8:42 am

a noob here. Trying to get the hang of kiting. Any tips or helpful hints?

Im usung a Cabrinha 16.5 that my dad picked up. specifically I need help with launching, and can figure it out from there

TomG · Post by **TomG** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:14 am

Malmo, Mille Lacs is a great place to go to learn. lots of shallow water and plenty of people to give ya tips. and most important the odds of you getting mowed down by a boater are slim

GL

Stroh · Post by **Stroh** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:41 am

do you have any kind of a relaunch system on it???

Chris B · Post by **Chris B** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:51 am

Give us a little insight on where you are at. Any lessons, trainer kites, ext. We all started from scratch at one point so don’t exaggerate or we could tell you something that might get you in trouble.

RS24 · Post by **RS24** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:25 pm

I have zero experience with kiteboarding.

From roseville so I will be on WBL when in town or Shell Lake Wisconny when Im at the cabin.

I dont even know what a relaunch system is yet, just been doing the trainer kite and tried the big kite last weekend, but didnt have any wind to work with.

I dont think it will be hard to pick up, Ive grown up on lakes and been skiing all my life. I saw kites in Maui last year, and was addicted to the air those boys were getting

freejoshua7 · Post by **freejoshua7** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:17 am

I've never kited, but I know you need lessons. So please if you plan on kiting WBL get lessons, there's too much traffic on the water to learn by trial and error. I'm sure you'll end up having more fun that way too.

Stroh · Post by **Stroh** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:26 am

Kiteboarding can be a very dangerious sport to you and anybody arround you. I would Highly recomend a lesson. there are dynamics about alot of stuff that you need to learn for this sport.I to grew up on a lake sking and wakeboarding every day.... it was ZERO help in learning to control a kite. the only thing that could be slightly helpfull is beeing a profiecent Sailer.

If someone got hurt in this trial and error process it could put kiteboarding in MN at risk

if your not going to take a lesson at least get a trainer kite learn how to controll it in a field.

Just a heads up the city beach on clear lake Iowa is now off limits. a proficient kiter had his kite fall out of the air onto a bussy beach... easy thing to have happen, but now from one incedient we are kicked out..

Jon

Chris B · Post by **Chris B** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 12:18 pm

With out a dout you WILL NEED INSTRUCTION on how to control the kite. Please for the safety of yourself and others do not try it with out having an expert kiter with you. There are people that have paid with there life’s. It is not a difficult thing to learn but you need someone to show you what not to do for many different scenarios. The gear is way to expensive, it makes the lesson very cheep when you do something that wrecks your kite.

WBL is not a good lake for a beginner! I would highly recommend Mile Lacs or Waconia if that is your last resort.

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:00 pm

now that we have scared the sh.. out of you I'd suggest coming up to the Gathering at Malmo on Lake Mille Lacs July 7( evening) and 8th and 9th.
There will be a lot of experienced kiters there and Malmo is one of the best beaches in the state to learn at.
You'll get to meet a lot of the local riders and someone will be willing to help you, you'll probably get more help than you want. Additionally there will be loads of different kites to see and ask questions about etc.etc.

Chris B · Post by **Chris B** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:20 pm

I might sound like a prude but I have done some of the dumbest crape around so I know what he is thinking. I didn’t mean to scary you I was just making a point not to cut corners because it’s not worth it. And yes if you just want to wait until the Malmo gathering that would be a great time to come up and get some of the best instruction anywhere.

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:47 pm

Chris has done about every crazy thing you can do, he is still a nutcase so he knows how to avoid CRAP, he's not very good at avoiding CRAPE but he's definitely the guy to talk to about CRAP. The guy knows his sssssssugar.

NORTHSTAR · Post by **NORTHSTAR** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:11 pm

lake whashington is also a good place to try to learn vs. WBL

RS24 · Post by **RS24** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 11:24 pm

Ive done the trainer kite, even got the big kite out friday at Shell Lake. There was hardley any wind, so it was tough to get up, and keep it up. Didnt seem too bad for what we were working with. The wind didnt cooperate at all. Cant imagine a 16.5 kite takes much, but it needed more than I had this weekend to work with.

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 12:06 am

I hate it when I can't keep it up.
The guys will tell you that all the time you spend playing with it is worth the practice. It's just a matter of time and familiarity.

RS24 · Post by **RS24** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:04 am

Well heres a few more things maybe you boys can help me out with

1. Is the Cabrinha Contra 16.5 any good? Im not too familiar with brands yet as Im just a lowly noob. Is there a Cabrinha rep on here? Ive seen a few in mags.....btw great article about the MN boys Tighe

2. How do you do a water launch by yourself? I couldnt get the kite to roll over, it simply acted like a sail. I watched a vid that said to swim towards it and it should roll. Maybe there wasnt enough wind, Im not sure

3. Lets save best for last.....your most embarrasing moments with a kite

Hopefully I can get up to Malmo and hang out, maybe learn how to use this thing. Im pretty stoked about kiteboarding, cant wait to get the hang of it

Stroh · Post by **Stroh** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:33 am

there are a few relaunch methods.
1 the most difficult... swimming at the kite you are correct you need a some wind otherwise it is almost impossiable I would say 10mph is enough

then there are fith line relaunches one is way safer than the other

2 Leading Edge fithline (fith line atached to the pump leash) this method is the same as #1 without the swimming... pull the line in once the kite rolls to it's back grab a stering line get it to the edge of the window and launch it. this added line can cause you to rip your kite in half if it gets wraped arround the kite. this is the one that most people arround here use it is safe and the line (when properly rigged) can be used as a spinning leash saftey system

3 Trailing Edge relaunch (this is a hot launch.... I don't recomend) you hook your fith line to the end of a strut one out from the center. pulling on the line causes the kite to reverse it's angle of attack and fly backwards and flip over once the kite flips you grab both center lines and give them a jerk and the kite will hot launch ( DON'T DO THIS IN ON SHORE WINDS) when hot launching you will normaly get riped out of the water and thrown down wind. this also has the potential to rap arround the kite and rip it in half.

What year is the cabrinha it should have attachment points already on the kite for relaunch.

Jon

Stroh · Post by **Stroh** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:42 am

my most embaressing moments.... they coenside with the scarry moments.

#1 2nd day on the snow... Way to much wind for my 13 I got riped across Prior lake almost hit fishhouses then missed someones truck by about 1 foot... he was standing there calling me an idiot.

#2 1st year of the Kiter crossing I took my (new to me) 10m naish x2 out for the first time. I went out without a leash... the kite came unhooked I couldn't hold on to it and ended up chasing it to 169 luckly it stoped right before the bussy freeway.

.... too manny to list

Jon

Tom L · Post by **Tom L** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 12:22 pm

RS24 wrote:Well heres a few more things maybe you boys can help me out with

The Contra 16.5 has the Recon relaunch system built into the kite and bar. This system is fairly unique so you should read the manual rather than get it second hand from me.

Go to this URL: http://www.cabrinhakites.com/support/

Then download the manual for your year. The Recon Relaunch system is explained in the manual. Both Recon I or II are the same in how you relaunch. Read the manual, then someone can probably help you at the beach with some tips that are not in the manual.

Chris B · Post by **Chris B** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 1:35 pm

I have you all beat. It was ether my second or third time out kiting in Minnesota and it happened to be at White Bear. It was late in October and the water was getting pretty chilly and the temps were in the low 50’s that day. If I remember correctly it was Mike W and a few other windsurfers. Mike was gracious enough to launch my kite and off I went across the lake. I was a pretty good wake boarder so I was thinking to myself, see Chris this isn’t all that tough when a healthy gust came marching down the lake…WAM! SMACK! CRASH! I started to pull on the handle bar vigorously to gain control of the kite but all it did was send me into numerous board-off kite-loops and 10 spins later my lines were so messed I had no control of the kite. I was just praying the beating would stop so I went for the quick release. With a look like I just cheated death I started to cough up half the lake. Apparently someone had seen this from one of the houses around the lake and called the fire rescues and told them there was a downed hot air balloon in the middle of the lake!!! After about 30 minuets of swimming in freezing cold water I herd sirens and a red boat flying down the lake directly at me. At this point was so tired and scarred I was just praying for someone to come help me. When the boat finally got near me I started yelling TURN OFF YOUR MOTOR THERE ARE KITE LINES EVERYWERE!! They managed to pull me and my gear in the boat and started looking for my board. After it was all set and done my board was about a ½ mile up wind from me.

Top that! Mike can even vouch for me.

Their right, after enough time you can laugh about anything.

Chris B · Post by **Chris B** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:54 pm

You guys can’t leave me hang’n like this. I want to hear about kites in trees and surfboards flying off cars at 70 mph.