WANT TO TEACH A FEW LESSONS AT SAUVIE?

KristianFV · Since 02 Dec 2014 5 Posts Portland, OR New Member

I'm an older windsurfer (49) looking to learn kiteboarding.
I've got the week of June 13th to 21st off and I'd like someone to meet me out on Sauvie Island to give me a couple of lessons.
I have two kites and a board.
Anyone interested?

Kristian.
503 803 4076

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1530 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

Call Nate at air pirates. No one will do you justice trying to teach you. You will only hurt yourself !!

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2103 Posts PNW Bigfoot

You should be out there these past few days as SI has been firing. You have a few kites, great! But are they big, light wind kites for SI?

You're going to be disappointed if you give yourself a week to learn out at SI. Since it has been windy there recently and now and into this coming week, chances are it won't be windy at SI when you have time off.

Be willing to travel for wind. Go to SI tonight and shadow others ringing launching and landing their respective kites. You'll learn something...ask q's, and bring cold beers. People will be willing to answer your questions.

You'll get more bang for your buck (time spent) if you go to Jones, Floras Lake, and or the gorge and pay for some personal water craft lessons.

My 3 cents.

Anthony · Since 07 Oct 2008 362 Posts Salem Obsessed **CGKA Member**

Kristian
You have probably heard that kiteboarding is easier to learn than windsurfing. That is true to a point. I have windsurfed for 36 years and waiting until a few years ago to try out kiteboarding. I can state that unless you are one of those super athletic people who make very thing look easy you will not be getting it in a couple of lessons.
Lesson 1 – basic kite skills on land. One of the hardest parts to break is that need to pull back on the bar! A windsurfing skill that kept me back.
Lesson 2 - More kite skills, on the water body dragging.
Lesson 3 - body dragging up wind. What I call the drowning phase! You have to know how to do this!! Boards will get expense if you start losing them.
Lesson 4 - Most kite skills and safety skills, you should be starting your water starts and doing short distance riding. Knowing how to ride a wake board will speed up the process.
We have not even got to staying up wind yet.
I know that Jones Beach is a better place to learn that Hood River. Nice consistent afternoon wind. Sauive Island is not that consistent.
Break down and take professional lessons. What kites and board do you have? The equipment you have might not be user friendly or older without the safety features.
Anthony

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

SI should be firing every afternoon this week. That's actually pretty typical for this time of year. Get out there if you can. Do you have a trainer kite or any kite skills already?

Come weekdays. Weekends are a stinking zoo and parking is a bitch. Forget about weekends unless you show up before noon or way late in the PM.

Pay attention to the tide forecast! You want to kite on an outgoing tide. On an incoming tide, this time of year when the river is low, the current actually flows back toward Portland! When the tide is flowing the same direction as the wind, its robbing from the wind speed. When the tide it outgoing, its speed adds to the wind speed.

I agree with the other posters regarding getting instruction from a pro, but if you can learn basic kite skills with a trainer, and pick up tips from others at the beach while you are doing so, then your learning curve will be much quicker when you spend time with a professional teacher.

Kite size: Yep, you need bigger kites to kite SI. Women can usually get by at SI with a 10-12M, and guys 12M-15M all depending on wind conditions, board size and weight. I'm 165 lbs and I can almost always kite with just a 10M and a skim.

Hope to see you on the island someday. There's a fun crew that kites there. The wind is lighter, but also way smoother than the event site or the Oregon side of Jones. No scene (coz light wind), and super friendly. Almost like family.

Ask someone at the island about getting added to the (closed) Facebook page for SI Kiters. That's where most of the conditions and updates are posted.

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue Jun 09, 15 11:07 am

I'll teach you the way I have taught several other people that now kite.

It's a three point instruction system.
1. Sheet out dude!!!
2. Lean back, shoulders behind your ass.
3. Wtf? Are you retarded...

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

#1 and #2 are classic repeat instructions to beginners.

ecameron · Since 29 Jul 2009 90 Posts PDX Â

Point your dick at the kite (regional slang for #2 on that list)

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2103 Posts PNW Bigfoot

mtnbiker · Since 11 Jul 2011 39 Posts Wherever my camera leads me Â

Fly & Sasquatch have it dialed.

Some years ago my wife and I took some lessons and got proficient at launching, landing, downwind dragging & self rescue. Then we headed to Sauvie and learned to upwind drag, and then ride. The kites are big, the wind is fickle, the beer needs to be cold and next to your chair...

That said, Sauvie is a family of kiters. With the right attitude you will find a beach full of fun, helpful and watchful friends. We've kited a lot of places now, but Sauvie still always feels like home...

I'm one of the administrators on the private FB page. Just ask to join and you can get on site reports just about daily.

Oh Flydunes is not kidding, hot summer weekend mid-days are way too crowded for safe learning. Weeknights are best. The wind often comes up late.

Hope to see you there...

kwalshpc · Since 24 Oct 2014 143 Posts Stoked

Here are a couple tips to make the process cheaper for you.

Prior to taking the lessons, fly the crap out of your trainer, then fly the crap out of a small, 6 - 7m real kite - in shallow water. If you don't have one - get one, you can always sell it later. Focus on your ability to fly the kite, It needs to be second nature for you. Don't go when it is crowded or everyone will hate you.

On the board side - go wakeboarding. pulling to the side of the boat heel side is very similar to riding on a kite - be sure to ride both sides.

Do that and your time with the instructor will be quick and much cheaper.

Good luck