Kites!! My new best thing....
Discussion
Spent a week in Watergate Bay in Cornwall a couple of years ago and was fascinated by the guys flying kites so decided on a whim to buy one at the local shop. So a £150 later I walked out with a Flexifoil Sting 3.3 meter square kite and a strange knowing grin on the sales guys face, I should have taken this as a warning.
After a quick five mins spent looking at the instructions I unfolded my new toy then spent the next 20 mins chasing it around the beach as the wind had its evil way. This caused much hilarity from the other half and the kids.
The kite was finally caught and held down with sand. Cables attached I prepared for my first flight. A quick tug of the wires and she was up. Oh my god! I could not believe the power of this thing. I weigh 16 1/2 stone and am over 6ft 2in tall but this "Small" kite dragged me around the beach like I weighed nothing. I could not remember the last time I had so much fun on the beach.
After half an hour and numerous crashes I started too get used to controlling it. The best bit was its ability to drag you, it’s great, but it gives you one hell of an upper body work out.
Anyway this year I have upgraded and bought a bigger kite, a "Five meter Beamer" This thing is just plain dangerous. In anything over a slight wind you are getting serious air time. I need to invest in a body harness as my arms can’t cope for more that a few mins.
So anyone else here into kites in there various forms? I am now seriously tempted to get into kite surfing as I love all Board sports. But this is going to call for some serious investment and training.
Here are a couple of pics of me with my small kite in Hastings a couple of weeks ago:
After a quick five mins spent looking at the instructions I unfolded my new toy then spent the next 20 mins chasing it around the beach as the wind had its evil way. This caused much hilarity from the other half and the kids.
The kite was finally caught and held down with sand. Cables attached I prepared for my first flight. A quick tug of the wires and she was up. Oh my god! I could not believe the power of this thing. I weigh 16 1/2 stone and am over 6ft 2in tall but this "Small" kite dragged me around the beach like I weighed nothing. I could not remember the last time I had so much fun on the beach.
After half an hour and numerous crashes I started too get used to controlling it. The best bit was its ability to drag you, it’s great, but it gives you one hell of an upper body work out.
Anyway this year I have upgraded and bought a bigger kite, a "Five meter Beamer" This thing is just plain dangerous. In anything over a slight wind you are getting serious air time. I need to invest in a body harness as my arms can’t cope for more that a few mins.
So anyone else here into kites in there various forms? I am now seriously tempted to get into kite surfing as I love all Board sports. But this is going to call for some serious investment and training.
Here are a couple of pics of me with my small kite in Hastings a couple of weeks ago:
Edited by Streetrod on Monday 7th September 11:41
I've got a radsail 3m2 kite and thats quite a handfull. My other one is an 8m2 and that will pull me a good 6ft in the air on a fairly windy day but you're supposed to only use it either on a buggy or board.
They are a good laugh and quite a good work out as it pulls on all your muscles...
They are a good laugh and quite a good work out as it pulls on all your muscles...
My little brother is big time into kites.
When he bought his first a flexifoil 2m he was too scared to fly it in the 30mph winds.
I thought this won't be a problem, i was 16st at the time and it dragged me across the field!
Once he got better @ it he bought some massive beast of a one with a harness.
They're mental - it could EASILY pick me up a good 8-10ft off the ground & it's scary s
t!
He did do kite buggying, then changed to land boarding & now kite surfs aswell.
He did an intensive course to learn to kite sure & he's pretty good in all fairness.
Some of the height him & his mate get is mental, i'm talking 20ft +!
When he bought his first a flexifoil 2m he was too scared to fly it in the 30mph winds.
I thought this won't be a problem, i was 16st at the time and it dragged me across the field!
Once he got better @ it he bought some massive beast of a one with a harness.
They're mental - it could EASILY pick me up a good 8-10ft off the ground & it's scary s
t!He did do kite buggying, then changed to land boarding & now kite surfs aswell.
He did an intensive course to learn to kite sure & he's pretty good in all fairness.
Some of the height him & his mate get is mental, i'm talking 20ft +!
I Have 2 Flexifoil Blade 2's a 2.6m and a 4.9m - Used to use them a lot on Pendine sands and abroad...Awesome fun, I used to have a peter Lynn buggy to, Managed to get that up to 55-60 mph.
Haven't done it for about a year, but have been thinking of getting back out there.
There is a big festival at Westwood Ho in April - I think it is called Atmosphere10 or something
Haven't done it for about a year, but have been thinking of getting back out there.
There is a big festival at Westwood Ho in April - I think it is called Atmosphere10 or something
staceyb said:
Strap a board to your feet and go kite surfing, it is the most amazing thing ever.
Staceyb, I have been snowboarding for 20 years and skateboarding for even longer, how much would I need to spend on a decent set up to go Kite surfing and can you recommend a decent place to get lessons as I understand the potential for "Death" is high if you get it wrong?It's been a few years since I have had a play as I have since moved onto other sports but I recomend you go the depwerable route for the next kite. I have a 15 meter phantom. As it is depowarble it has a far larger range of usable wind speeds and you can really boost the power for big jumps.
Just thought I would throw Kite Landboarding into the mix. It is a lot cheaper to get into as you don't need to buy a water relaunchable kite. In fact all you need to start is a decent scrub or entry level MBS mountain board and some pads. I recommend www.extremekiteshop.com as they really know their stuff and will make sure you end up with the right equipment for your size and ability.
Hope you carry on having fun, Autumn is by far the best time for it IMO
Just thought I would throw Kite Landboarding into the mix. It is a lot cheaper to get into as you don't need to buy a water relaunchable kite. In fact all you need to start is a decent scrub or entry level MBS mountain board and some pads. I recommend www.extremekiteshop.com as they really know their stuff and will make sure you end up with the right equipment for your size and ability.
Hope you carry on having fun, Autumn is by far the best time for it IMO
twiglove said:
I Have 2 Flexifoil Blade 2's a 2.6m and a 4.9m - Used to use them a lot on Pendine sands and abroad...Awesome fun, I used to have a peter Lynn buggy to, Managed to get that up to 55-60 mph.
Haven't done it for about a year, but have been thinking of getting back out there.
There is a big festival at Westwood Ho in April - I think it is called Atmosphere10 or something
You should be challenging for the world land speed buggying record... Haven't done it for about a year, but have been thinking of getting back out there.
There is a big festival at Westwood Ho in April - I think it is called Atmosphere10 or something
It only stands @ 72.8mph!
Streetrod, that looks bloody great fun...! Good photos too. I fancy a go with one of these things although being 5'9 and 12.5 stone I'd probably take off and never be seen again. Being a keen cyclist I have got legs like tree trunks but relatively little upper body strength. Can't be arsed with gym work, so this seems like a really good way to iprove upper body fitness. I presume that they do smaller ones than the one show in the pic above. Not sure I could live with that.
Davey111 said:
It's been a few years since I have had a play as I have since moved onto other sports but I recomend you go the depwerable route for the next kite. I have a 15 meter phantom. As it is depowarble it has a far larger range of usable wind speeds and you can really boost the power for big jumps.
Just thought I would throw Kite Landboarding into the mix. It is a lot cheaper to get into as you don't need to buy a water relaunchable kite. In fact all you need to start is a decent scrub or entry level MBS mountain board and some pads. I recommend www.extremekiteshop.com as they really know their stuff and will make sure you end up with the right equipment for your size and ability.
Hope you carry on having fun, Autumn is by far the best time for it IMO
Thanks for the advice, a quick question, what do you mean by "Depowarble"?Just thought I would throw Kite Landboarding into the mix. It is a lot cheaper to get into as you don't need to buy a water relaunchable kite. In fact all you need to start is a decent scrub or entry level MBS mountain board and some pads. I recommend www.extremekiteshop.com as they really know their stuff and will make sure you end up with the right equipment for your size and ability.
Hope you carry on having fun, Autumn is by far the best time for it IMO
Roop said:
Streetrod, that looks bloody great fun...! Good photos too. I fancy a go with one of these things although being 5'9 and 12.5 stone I'd probably take off and never be seen again. Being a keen cyclist I have got legs like tree trunks but relatively little upper body strength. Can't be arsed with gym work, so this seems like a really good way to iprove upper body fitness. I presume that they do smaller ones than the one show in the pic above. Not sure I could live with that.
Roop, yes they do. They come in all shapes and sizes. I have only recently discovered how varied they can be. Give it a go you will love itStreetrod said:
Roop said:
Streetrod, that looks bloody great fun...! Good photos too. I fancy a go with one of these things although being 5'9 and 12.5 stone I'd probably take off and never be seen again. Being a keen cyclist I have got legs like tree trunks but relatively little upper body strength. Can't be arsed with gym work, so this seems like a really good way to iprove upper body fitness. I presume that they do smaller ones than the one show in the pic above. Not sure I could live with that.
Roop, yes they do. They come in all shapes and sizes. I have only recently discovered how varied they can be. Give it a go you will love it
lawrence567 said:
twiglove said:
I Have 2 Flexifoil Blade 2's a 2.6m and a 4.9m - Used to use them a lot on Pendine sands and abroad...Awesome fun, I used to have a peter Lynn buggy to, Managed to get that up to 55-60 mph.
Haven't done it for about a year, but have been thinking of getting back out there.
There is a big festival at Westwood Ho in April - I think it is called Atmosphere10 or something
You should be challenging for the world land speed buggying record... Haven't done it for about a year, but have been thinking of getting back out there.
There is a big festival at Westwood Ho in April - I think it is called Atmosphere10 or something
It only stands @ 72.8mph!
Once we overcame the problem of razor shells sticking out of the sand
, being in the buggy on the beach was great fun!!
My ones were £260 and £400 ish, Then you need to spend £80 odd on decent power and brake linesStreetrod said:
Davey111 said:
It's been a few years since I have had a play as I have since moved onto other sports but I recomend you go the depwerable route for the next kite. I have a 15 meter phantom. As it is depowarble it has a far larger range of usable wind speeds and you can really boost the power for big jumps.
Just thought I would throw Kite Landboarding into the mix. It is a lot cheaper to get into as you don't need to buy a water relaunchable kite. In fact all you need to start is a decent scrub or entry level MBS mountain board and some pads. I recommend www.extremekiteshop.com as they really know their stuff and will make sure you end up with the right equipment for your size and ability.
Hope you carry on having fun, Autumn is by far the best time for it IMO
Thanks for the advice, a quick question, what do you mean by "Depowarble"?Just thought I would throw Kite Landboarding into the mix. It is a lot cheaper to get into as you don't need to buy a water relaunchable kite. In fact all you need to start is a decent scrub or entry level MBS mountain board and some pads. I recommend www.extremekiteshop.com as they really know their stuff and will make sure you end up with the right equipment for your size and ability.
Hope you carry on having fun, Autumn is by far the best time for it IMO
Basically they are four line kites, like your Beamer will be, that are flown using a bar and harness. The difference is that you can control the length of the brake lines, effectively sheeting in and out, with in turn alters the kites angle of attack. This means that in a strong wind it is possible to make the kite less powerfull.
When flying it you can also access more power by pulling down on the bar and sheeting in, meaning you can really catapult yourself int the air.
Like I say I have been out of the scene for a few years but that is the basics as I remember. Definately worth having a chat about it at your local kite shop if you want to start moving into some of the traction sports. THey cost a bit more but give you the flexibility of two or three kites!
http://www.racekites.com/reviews/getReview.asp?rev...
Maybe it's time I got mine out again actually, this has given me a real craving!!!
Roop said:
Streetrod said:
Roop said:
Streetrod, that looks bloody great fun...! Good photos too. I fancy a go with one of these things although being 5'9 and 12.5 stone I'd probably take off and never be seen again. Being a keen cyclist I have got legs like tree trunks but relatively little upper body strength. Can't be arsed with gym work, so this seems like a really good way to iprove upper body fitness. I presume that they do smaller ones than the one show in the pic above. Not sure I could live with that.
Roop, yes they do. They come in all shapes and sizes. I have only recently discovered how varied they can be. Give it a go you will love ithttp://extremekiteshop.com/kites/hq-beamer-4-iv-p-...
A good friend of mine gave me a stunt kite yesterday he found unsed in the loft, he bought it on a whim a few years back and never used it.
Typically, now the wind has dies down haven't had a chance to have a go yet
Looking forward to it though - wanted something else to do whilst it was too windy to fly the r/c planes
Typically, now the wind has dies down haven't had a chance to have a go yet
Looking forward to it though - wanted something else to do whilst it was too windy to fly the r/c planes
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff