i want to start kiteboarding

[slightlyhuman]

i have several lakes around where i live (arkansas), do people kiteboard at all on lakes or am i out of luck?

 

[Amplifier]

Sure do. In a way a lake can be more convinent than an ocean.

A) Easier to get to shore
B) Fresh water

I'm a windsurfer now, I hope to convert soon. And yeah, I've seen people in oceans/lakes/rivers.

 

[slightlyhuman]

hmmm, any good sites to find everything out about it?

 

[Jzero]

If you've got a big enough kite, you can just fly yourself to the nearest body of water

 

[slightlyhuman]

i'm trying to find a site that explains the basics. how windy does it need to be, how do you pick a kite?(weight?) prety much how everything works.

can someone direct me to a site or tell me please? i'm really wanting to do this this summer if it can be done on lakes.

 

[mobobuff]

Come to Michigan. We have the monopoly on fresh water lakes.

 

[DannyBoy]

kiteboarding?

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: DP
i'm trying to find a site that explains the basics. how windy does it need to be, how do you pick a kite?(weight?) prety much how everything works.

can someone direct me to a site or tell me please? i'm really wanting to do this this summer if it can be done on lakes.

You simply cannot learn this by reading.

The amount of wind required varies based on the surface area of your kite.
Larger kites will require less wind.
The size of the kite you use really relates to your flying skills, surfing style and the conditions you intend to fly in.
Most kiters have mulitple kites for different conditions.

About the only thing you can learn from reading is where the proverbial power band is.

 

[slightlyhuman]

thx jzero. i'm pretty sure there isn't any lessons being offered anywhere around me. we have plenty of lakes but then again i live in arkansas

i'm not trying to up and do this just by reading, i'm trying to find out if i will be able to do it around where i live and then i can go from there.

if anyone does this as a hobby, please pm or post.

 

[Jzero]

Best way to start is to get a trainer kite and learn how to fly. You can kiteboard most anywhere as long as you've got a sizable body of water (I have no idea what constitutes a sizable body of water since I just use the good old Atlantic Ocean which is sufficiently large ). Lessons help, but obviously someone has started this without taking lessons, and with patience and perserverence you can pick it up.

Learn to fly, maneuver and launch/re-launch the kite first, then worry about getting out onto the water (which seems to be the hardest part).

I haven't actually done this due to the prohibitive startup costs, but I have a close friend who took it up.

Also, check local rules before you set out on a particular body of water b/c more and more places are banning kites because they go so fast and people can get hurt if they get caught in your cables.

 

[duckdown]

wtf. kiteboarding? sounds lame

 

[slightlyhuman]

Originally posted by: Jzero
Best way to start is to get a trainer kite and learn how to fly. You can kiteboard most anywhere as long as you've got a sizable body of water (I have no idea what constitutes a sizable body of water since I just use the good old Atlantic Ocean which is sufficiently large ). Lessons help, but obviously someone has started this without taking lessons, and with patience and perserverence you can pick it up.

Learn to fly, maneuver and launch/re-launch the kite first, then worry about getting out onto the water (which seems to be the hardest part).

I haven't actually done this due to the prohibitive startup costs, but I have a close friend who took it up.

Also, check local rules before you set out on a particular body of water b/c more and more places are banning kites because they go so fast and people can get hurt if they get caught in your cables.

what do you think about this

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: duckdown
wtf. kiteboarding? sounds lame

It's a drag. I assure you. Chess would be more exciting.

Originally posted by: DP
what do you think about this

I'm going to plead the fifth, as I don't want to lead you in the wrong direction, as I've never actually done this, just have a friend who has, so I can only recount the little tidbits he's told me.

 

[slightlyhuman]

thx jzero. i found a site with forums in chicago and it's pretty active. although i will be made fun of when i post there asking questions(because i'm from arkansas) but i don't care.

i'm sure i'm the only guy in arkansas trying to do this.

i know i can do it, i've wakeboarded for almost 4 years now i just got to find out more about it before i jump into it. i will be teaching myself because i'm almost positive lessons are not anywhere around here.


thx

<surfer dude from arkinsaw out

 

[Jzero]

Good luck and have fun!