Who kiteboards? (PICS)

[Jzero]

Alright, a couple years ago I saw a dude kiteboarding. He wasn't very good, it didn't look very fun. It looked like a lot of setup, very tiring, and just a bizarre mix of windsurfing and wakeboarding.
Last week the same guy was out, or maybe someone else. He was much better.
This weekend there were three kiteboarders and windsurfer. Which when added to the surfers, kayakers, paddle surfers and bodyboarders, I'd say we pretty much had every non-powered watersport covered in one city block save flat-out sailing.
Anyway, these 3 guys were much better and were doing all kinds of crazy stuff like this and this.

I decided that kiteboarding may well be my next endeavor especially since it seems that the board itself is fairly small, and the kite folds up, so it seems like I would be able to store it in my meager condominium.

So who can tell me about kiteboarding? Is it easy to learn? Tiring? More trouble than it's worth? Fun? Scary? More dangerous than kayaking?

In advance thanks for your help, here is a Pic you'll like.

 

[Hanpan]

I know someone who used to do it. However it is illegal here, as it is very dangerous not only to the riders but those around them resulting is inguries and death. Mostly these were related to people getting caught up in the kite strings.

It may very well be fun and worthwhile and it is obviously not illegal where you are so I would say go for it.

EdiT, I was thinking of trying it myself but as it is now illegal I have nowhere I can try it out. Plus the kite's are a little expensive (i have heard 1000-1250 minimum.)

 

[Jzero]

Yeh I was looking at prices. Holy cow. It's like $1000 for a kite and $600 or so for a board.
Dayum.
I guess it's not illegal where I am. I'm in a small east-cost non-resort shore community where more than half the city-council either kayaks or jetskis, so while they may have some insurance implications, the beach patrol didn't seem to bat an eye even when these kiteboarders were rather dangerously weaving in close quarters with the surfers.

 

[axelfox]

I read an article on it, and would like to get into it.

But its too damn expensive

 

[MajesticMoose]

it looks like they're just wakeboarding with lift assist. Why not just speed the boat up if you want more air personally i don't really want to wipe out after falling 10 feet and going 25-30 mph. It hurts enough without the height.

 

[Robet]

It looks like fun but I haven't looked into doing it.

Apparently, in order to learn how to do it, you are supposed to start out with only the kite. It helps you to learn one thing at a time. You look pretty silly flopping around in the water though.

I saw this one story on the local news about some guy who got dragged half way around the island by his kite. Then the lifeguards had to go out there and save him. Supposedly, he wasn't having any problems but the lifeguards were all bent out of shape about it.

 

[notfred]

There's a lot of those guys (and windsurfers) at Waddel Creek near Santa Cruz.

BTW, good condtions for surfing and windsurfing are basically mutually exclusive, why were there guys out doing both?

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: MajesticMoose
it looks like they're just wakeboarding with lift assist. Why not just speed the boat up if you want more air

That's easy to say if you have a boat and a place to store it, but I did say in my first post that it's kinda like a bizarre mix of windsurfing and wakeboarding so NYAH!
Basically, I camp out in mom's condo, which is 2 bedrooms and has very little storage space. There is a restriction on all watersports equpment--it must be less than 8 feet long or at least easy to store in a closet, attic, or behind the bed, and it must be portable enough that my parents can move it about the condo if they have guests or whatnot.
My kayak is a Yak Board. At 8-feet long, it's the only surf-specific kayak I could find that I got stand up on its end in my bedroom.

personally i don't really want to wipe out after falling 10 feet and going 25-30 mph. It hurts enough without the height.

I've been hit in the head by a falling kayak. I can handle it.

Apparently, in order to learn how to do it, you are supposed to start out with only the kite. It helps you to learn one thing at a time. You look pretty silly flopping around in the water though.

Yes that's what I was reading. In fact, they sell smaller trainer kites that you are supposed to use on land and just learn how to fly them. As for looking silly, you got to start somewhere. There was a point when I'd get flipped off of my kayak by most any breaking wave, and I could never catch a wave without getting tossed. You can't worry about people on the beach watching you. 4 years later, the only time I get tossed off my boat when paddling out is this specific point in a wave's life cycle where no amount of paddling will ever be able to carry you through or over the wave because it flips you backwards. Riding waves, I even find myself out-maneuvering some of the surfers.
But I looked like a jackass that first summer.

saw this one story on the local news about some guy who got dragged half way around the island by his kite. Then the lifeguards had to go out there and save him. Supposedly, he wasn't having any problems but the lifeguards were all bent out of shape about it.

LOL. I have mixed emotions about that. One time I was practicing eskimo rolls out past the break and the lifeguard paddled out to make sure I was OK. I kinda felt bad, but OTOH it IS his job.....

BTW, good condtions for surfing and windsurfing are basically mutually exclusive, why were there guys out doing both?

WHo knows? I don't know a whole lot about windsurfing. Let's say the island in question is one of the windiest places on earth, and the wind rarely stops blowing out of the SE. When it does, it blows from dead W. In hurricane season from the NE (hence Nor'easter, duh). It's not gusty, just a constant 5-15 MPH depending on the conditions at the time. Sometimes less sometimes more.
Yesterday was pretty strong, but I'm not a very good gauge. Let's just say I had to constantly paddle south just to stay in place. Steady wind is good for sailing and windsurfing, right?
For conventional surfing, the afternoon low tide meant a distant bar break, and while the wind created a good 2-foot chop, there were waves as good as 6-7' with a very good form and as long as you can visually sort out the real waves from the chop, it was one of the better surfing days this summer. It was hell paddling out to the break, though.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Jzero
For conventional surfing, the afternoon low tide meant a distant bar break, and while the wind created a good 2-foot chop, there were waves as good as 6-7' with a very good form and as long as you can visually sort out the real waves from the chop, it was one of the better surfing days this summer. It was hell paddling out to the break, though.

2 foot chop is too much chop for it still to be fun. But then, I'm from California.

 

[Jzero]

2 foot chop is too much chop for it still to be fun. But then, I'm from California.

Probably sucks if you're on a surfboard, but when you're on a kayak, busting through chop is half the fun. I'm looking at this, although this picture was taken at high-tide so there's really not much doing.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Jzero

2 foot chop is too much chop for it still to be fun. But then, I'm from California.

Probably sucks if you're on a surfboard, but when you're on a kayak, busting through chop is half the fun. I'm looking at this, although this picture was taken at high-tide so there's really not much doing.

I guess it'd be different on a kayak, but I was always on a surfboard. Why not be when the picture I posted above was taken only 3 miles from my house (before I had to move 90 miles inland :|)

 

[Jzero]

I guess it'd be different on a kayak, but I was always on a surfboard. Why not be when the picture I posted above was taken only 3 miles from my house (before I had to move 90 miles inland :|)

Aye. One of the factors in my deciding to spend $500 on a kayak instead of a surfboard was that a surfboard isn't much fun in poor conditions, and who am I kidding? I live in NJ--it's not exactly the surfing capital of the world. And sure enough, not one weekend has gone by where I haven't at least gone for a long paddle even if conditions were no good for surfing.
Add to that, the location pictured is one block from my parents' condo, the room and food are free, so I take what I can get

But this isn't about kayaks and surfboards, dammit! This is about KITEBOARDING! I want info!

 

[Jzero]

Any takers from the night owls?

 

[Jzero]

One last bump for the day people...