My first Nine "sessions"

harvey · Since 02 Jan 2007 4 Posts Sellwood New Member

My friend Lee Walston has been trying to get me to kite for the past five years. When my wife became pregnant with our second child, I looked at it as a milestone and set a goal to take up kiteboarding. I just turned 48 and needed a new physical challenge. I had been snowboarding for the past 10 years, mountain biking for the past 15, and had spent all of my 20s and 30s traveling around the country playing Ultimate. How hard could kiting be?

Let me stop right here and say that after nine sessions (or attempts), that I have the utmost respect for anyone who masters this sport.

The baby is due in late August, so I figured I had enough time to master the basics. When I told Lee the news of my decision, he emailed me two links. One to this forum and one to Real Kiteboarding. I looked at both and started to gain some interest and momentum. The Cozumel camp looked like a lot of fun, and within a week, I'm signed up. I spent about five hours learning with a trainer and felt ready to go.

Day 1 (10-15 mph): The camp turned out to be the instructor, myself, and one other. We started out with a Fuel 7 and learned all about rigging and inflating. Each of us had a chance at flying. It turned out that the other student--who happened to be a commercial pilot-- hadn't flow a kite in years and it quickly showed as the kite threw him on to the sand and dragged him into the water several times. On several occasions, some crashes were so bad that it knocked all of the air out of the struts. We were forced to move on to a Fuel 9.

Day 2 (15-20 mph): On the second day, we took turns learning how to body drag. This was a lot of fun and really helpful for getting the feel of the kite's power. The only problem was that we had to walk the kite back up wind after each attempt. This took a lot of time and energy. Each of us got the chance to drag five times for about 100 yards.

Day 3 (15-20): We spent the morning practicing flying blind and starting from a sitting position and having the kite drag you to your feet. Then we finally got the board out and practiced handling it in the water and getting it on our feet. We each had three attempts at getting up. I did all of the classic mistakes like getting swung around or getting the kite to far over my head, before I finally face planted over my board. On my second attempt, I did the classic stand up sit down scenario several times before I flailed. On the third attempt, I got up long enough to hear Stevenson locals Jim and Cathy give me a standing ovation that lasted maybe five claps, so I guess it was like two seconds of board time. I'm stoked. Meanwhile, the other student, who was pushing 220, would dive the kite so hard into the powerzone that it was like he didn't even have a board on, and he was trying to launch himself over the Grand Canyon. It would pick him up and launch him over the board like superman until he face planted. Each time the kite would suffer more.

Day 4 (30+): The night before, I decided to try a morning session before my flight back to PDX. When we got to the beach, it was blowing. It wasn't like the other days. You could feel the difference just by looking at the instructor's face. I remember the instructor looking at Jim and saying 5? This was the first time I was introduced to the concept of "teabagging". When he finally handed the kite over to me, it would pick me up what felt like 5 feet in the air as I quickly learned the fine art of sheeting. This was freaky. For the first time, I didn't feel like I was in control of the kite. After several attempts (say four or five), I finally got the board, kite, and body lined up enough to make an attempt at getting up. Way to much wind. I tried to lean back as much as I could, but eventually I go over the board. I look at the instructor and it is clear that isn't going to be good. We pack up the kite and head to the beach. Once all of our gear is put away, he informs me that the entire time I was getting teabagged AND while I tried to get up, he was holding on to my harness getting pulled with me.

On the flight home, I'm feeling dejected. When I watched the videos, it only took three sessions!!! I'm feeling humbled. I decide that if I can get one more camp or group of lessons before the baby is born, I'll be all set. Good to go.

Day 5 (20-30 mph): Six weeks have past. I email Lee to ask him what size board I should start out with. He suggests that I come to North Carolina for a week. Turns out he owns sound-side property 100 yards north of Real Kiteboarding. A week later I'm on a red eye. When I arrive in Durham at 9 am, Lee feels that some board time would be helpful. An hour later I'm wakeboarding (for the second time ever). He decides that it is essential that I learn my switch stance starts. No problem. Five attempts, five starts. I even pull off three transitions. I'm stoked. We are back in the car and headed to Hatteras. I'm too jacked up to sleep. It's a four hour drive and we pull in around 5 pm. We stop off at his friend Jason's house to borrow some equipment. He hooks me up with a harness and any kite I need, even a board if I want. Nice guy. Turns out he grew up a few hours from me in Pennsylvania. It also turns out that it was Jason Slezak , but at that point, meant nothing to me. Never heard of him.

We head to a place called Planet of the Apes. Lee is convinced that my board skills were strong enough to possibly do a downwinder. We rig one kite and he launches it while I start walking upwind in the water. He rides upwind to me and we exchange the kite a safe distance from shore. After maybe three attempts, I get up and start riding goofy--my strong side-- and I'm heading for shore. I decide that I'm going pretty fast and need to turn to my weak side before I get too close to land. I am instantly in the air what seemed like 20 feet but was at least five. Face plant, board gone. I get the board, give it another shot, never get up, ng the car. The wind is howling now. The canadians acknowledge (to my friends) that these are very challenging conditions to learn in. I give it my best and learn what a kite loop is the hard way. That was the most power I have generated with my kite so far. It pulled me a good 15 feet through the water like superman. Eventually I lost the bar and had to grab the kite. When we get to shore, the lines are a mess. I spend 20 minutes learning the finer points of patience as I work the lines into a bigger mess. We eventually give up and drive to Real's launch site while Lee races against the sunset to get the lines together. He manages to get a 40 minute session in as the sun sets and the moon takes over. Many of the Real crew were planning on doing a moonlight session around midnight (and they did).

Day 6 (20-30): When we get up that morning, there's no wind. We decide to go shopping. Hatteras is very small and of course, Lee knows everyone. We head to Real and soon after I'm the proud owner of a LF Mission Slezak board. It looks cool, but unfortunately, that's all I can tell you. Matt offered to include a kite at a package price, but I wasn't in a hurry. One thing at a time. We decide to practice flying a 10 on the beach, but it was nearly impossible. The weather report was predicting 25+ for the evening. By 5 pm, I decide to buy a kite. Waroo 9. We get the kite just before Real closes. Now Lee's close friend Ken Earley , pulls up and is psyched because it just started blowing . The three of us head off to an area south of the Planet. As we rig our gear the wind is really starting to pick up. I have little time to evaluate my new gear. I notice that the four french canadians that were rigging up (there are MANY french canadians) all have Waroo 9s, which seemed like a relief at the time.

I asked them some questions about the safety features on my new bar and they demonstrated how things work. A small problem was that they liked to speak french, not english. A bigger problem was that they demonstrated how to release the chicken loop and failed to put the pin in correctly.

We go through the same procedure of me walking out a safe distance and having my kite delivered to me. By now the sun is starting to set. I have about 20 minutes to get it or I'm driving to pick them up. By now the wind is kicking as I hopelessly flail around getting tea bagged or getting spun around while getting my board on, or getting pulled forward while my board is behind me in the shallow water. All of the "classic mistakes". This is now my third chance at getting up on the board and each time the wind was pushing 30. At this point I'm pretty frustrated, but still very determined. Tomorrow is supposed to be another screamer. Later, I notice that my triceps are really fatigued. It's a challenge to wipe my ass. That night the wind dramatically howled haunting my sleep.

Day 7 (20-30): That morning, we decide that it might be a good idea to have a lesson. My friends tell me that "Rut" is the guy for me. Chris Rutledge. He teaches at OceanAir. For those curious, you have to schedule your time way in advance if you want to get lessons at Real. I leave him a message, because the wind is strong already and he is on the water.

We decide to do a downwinder, understanding that I would walk out whatever is necessary if I run into trouble. We go through the same procedure of having the kite delivered to me. I decide to body drag out away from the shore to give me a good chance to start out on my strong stance. I spend the next 30 minutes trying to get on my board in either direction and keep getting close, but I just couldn't get pulled out of the water.

Lee rides over to me and notices that my harness is a few inches from my chin. Apparently, I forgot to tuck the end in that ratchets it down. Now what? Well, I'm informed that I have to crash the kite. I'm sort of close to shore so they suggest I body drag out a little. I do, and as I do the kite comes close to the water, so I say fuck it, it's almost down, go for it. Instantly, I'm doing a kite loop. I'm submarining through the water going downwind, not really toward the shore. When I get to my feet the kite pulled me so hard that the wrongly installed pin came loose and yanked the kite out of my hand and pulled my safety leash apart . It falls helplessly to the water flopping slowly away. I sprint towards it and then dive to grab the bar. Not a smart move. That gave the kite some motivation and popped out of the water heading toward t he shore and pulling me face down. Ken is yelling to me to grab an end. I wasn't really sure what he meant at first, and by the time I did, there is about 10 feet of water left. The kite flops and drags onto the shore and gets stopped by the brush. I sprint to the kite and hold on, completely exhausted. Lee checks on me and I send them on their way. I get all of my gear together and start walking downwind to find my board. I grab it half a mile later and look for the next access road. I wait by the side of road exhausted and defeated. My friends pick me up and minutes later we run into Rut (it's a small place). We are to meet at high noon tomorrow. I inspect my gear when we get home and everything seems alright.

Day 8: (20-30): Again a strong wind day. When I meet Rut he asks me if I wanted to use my kite or one of theirs. Stupidly, I said mine. I figured I should get it dialed in, right? He thought the size should work, and considered bringing a 7, but in the end, decided against it. He took me upwind on a PWC to a secluded shoreline. I told him that I had no experience doing an assisted launch, so we decided now was a good time. Once I got the kite in the air he noticed something and had me land it. Apparently one of the bridals were hooked up wrong. We made some adjustments and this time I launched it for him. Again he noticed something in the bar or something that just wasn't right, and we landed it again. Four more times. We decide to give it a try. Enough for me to go through the same scenarios of fighting the tea bagging while trying to get the board on and aligned correctly. I have two or three dramatic face plants and kite crashes before Rut inquires about my health and safety. I assure him what he just witnessed was nothing compared to days past. We decide that the combination of super wind and possibly faulty kite is going to lead to frustration. Of course, my lack of skills, combined with complete exhaustion of muscles that I have yet to develop, and a growing respect (fear) for the wind, had nothing to do with it! We decide to give it one more shot tomorrow morning before I head home.

Day 9 (20-30): I get there at 9 and the wind is looking good. A little strong, but not like the other days. Maybe 20+. We take a 9 with us and head out into the sound. We're about 100 yards from our launch site and Rut slams on the brakes. My nose is pressed up against the back of his head before I realize that there are no brakes and we just bottomed out. We get out and after maybe 10 minutes of strenuous tugging, we are free. It was so much easier getting the board on and lined up with less wind. And it was still blowing 20+!. I got up on my first or second try. The first revelation I had was that I liked it more once I was out of the water. The kite seemed more manageable now. More like the trainer. It kind of felt like I was going down a choppy intermediate ski run flat on my board. As soon as I tried to dig my heal edge in, I was over the front of the board. It wasn't glorious. It was just a taste. Like a one good golf shot when you suck at golf. It might have lasted 20 seconds. I managed to get up three more times all with similar results. The further we got out into the sound, the more the wind picked up, and the more fatigued I got. The challenge of relaunching, getting your board on, and generally recovering from the yard sales was paying its toll. I call it a day and we head for home. I now faced the challenge of going home from a trip with more stuff than I started with, mainly a board, harness, and kite.

On the way to the airport we compared the past week's wind to a foot of fresh powder every day. Unfortunately, it was a foot of powder every day for a beginner. It was kind of like I was trying to learn to snowboard and the only way down is at the top of Heather or Jack's Woods.

Now after nine exposures, or lessons, or sessions, or what-have-yous, I am clearly frustrated and humbled by the entire experience. I have learned a lot though. One piece of advise I will give to any newb. Don't be in a hurry to get on your board. Learn how to fly and control a kite. Learn all there is to know about the kite you are using. Another piece of advise is that you must be self-sufficent. There's no ski patrol here.

I'm now more determined that ever to conquer this sport. I'm sure you will see me out there. I'll be doing all of the "classic" things. Slowly and safely with the respect this sport demands.

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

Hey Harvey, entertaining story Very Happy

Just keep with it, eventually everything will just click and you will never regret the time you spent learning Thumb's Up

forrest · Fri May 18, 07 9:06 am

Hey Harvey,

Welcome to the crack addiction, just wait till your brain changes and the receptors get tuned in. Smile

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

pdxmonkeyboy · Fri May 18, 07 12:04 pm

That is definitely some funny shit. Now imagine learning to kite 5 years ago when there was no such thing as depowering a kite and the best boards back then are some of the worst boards now.

I learned to KB at rooster rock in the fall and I got rocked ALLOT and I walked ALLOT. There comes a time when you just decide that your not going to let it get the best of you. I spent more time cussing at my kite and trying to prove to it that I wasn't scared of it than I actually spent KB'ing.

My advice; its silly that your learning to kite on fuels when there are soo many other kites that are WAY better suited to beginners.

grab yourself a bow kite and your tea-bagging days should be over.

Bettyboarder · Fri May 18, 07 12:26 pm

Keep trying you will get it. Its a long learning curve, since conditions change everytime you go out. Try to hook up with some instructors in the gorge that have pwc so you can do long downwinders. A couple of those and you will have it down.

forrest · Fri May 18, 07 2:45 pm

Mocean · Since 21 Sep 2005 343 Posts Newport Obsessed

Learned (or tried to learn) six years ago on a two-line Naish. Now that was some heavy dues paying - in the surf too. Full throttle, repeated face slams, then a half mile walk back upwind. Two seasons worth of dues paying to really get a good ride. Stick with it Harvey and you'll get it much quicker than most of us did a few years ago!

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

"we compared the past week's wind to a foot of fresh powder every day. Unfortunately, it was a foot of powder every day for a beginner. It was kind of like I was trying to learn to snowboard and the only way down is at the top of Heather or Jack's Woods. "

Thats exactly right. Sorry about your teabagging. If you can ever get back, planet of the apes is one sick place! mirror glass water in 25+ winds! Hang in there--the reward is worth the punishment.

10+ of us swam in at stevenson today so - it goes around...

KingE · Since 27 Apr 2006 58 Posts Lake Wenatchee

-One piece of advise I will give to any newb. Don't be in a hurry to get on your board. Learn how to fly and control a kite. Learn all there is to know about the kite you are using. -

Because of my blown knee last year, when I got on the water at all it was just to body drag. I learned to go upwind and get a board (that I couldn't try to stand on), kite trim, relaunch.... I was going crazy not being able to play so I did all this quite a bit.
This Feb we went to SPI for a week, I was able to ride and stay upwind immediately. I learned to make my transitions before we left.
We just got back from Israel, where I learned to make transitions on a wave by looping the kite and I learned to jump. My first day jumping, I think I went as high as I ever did windsurfing.

So, I agree! Learn to fly the kite. It is worth being patient.

Jeb

surfncap · Since 06 Mar 2007 78 Posts NE

I am just starting out. Get time with kite is the best advice I keep hearing. I thought I was done with the trainer at my local park,but after taking my first lesson I realize you can always learn more. Seems like when learning kite control it is really bad to be overpowered, better to save your body and the kite.
1st lesson we were on a 7m while people my size were on 9-12. My lines were like 12m or 18 instead of 25. So now that I am practicing on my own Can I use the 25 m lines that come with the bar I spent savings on? Is the main reason we practiced with the shorter lines to keep others safe and make it easier to avoid beach debris. WIll there be a big difference power wise with the normal length lines. I spent all my winter savings on a best bar waroo 14(so ill probably be at Sauvies instead of the Gorge a lot). I was sad I couldn't afford a board, but am ecstatic I spent that $ on a lesson and look forward to getting in h2o to practice directional body drags. This forum rocks people are supportive.

harvey · Since 02 Jan 2007 4 Posts Sellwood New Member

First, thanks for all of the positive feedback from everyone. Also, it was good to meet some of you yesterday at the clean up. It has been a very welcoming experience so far.

Surfncap, I suggest you repost you questions as a new post. You are much more likely to get your questions answered. But to try to answer your question, my understanding is that you should use your 25m lines as is, and not to mess with them. I too learned on shorter lines and worked my way up, but this really a question for the big boys. Good luck.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

sounds like fun harvey. keep at it.

one tip - try rigging smaller kites then the experienced guys, and also riding bigger boards. don't worry about trying to get upwind, just try and get comfortable water starting and riding on a board. if your smallest kite is the same size that the hotshots are using you might want to sit it out. those 15 foot superman launches aren't really getting you anywhere and they're scaring your wife.

i was never smart enough to sit it out when i was at your stage. but in hindsight, those days where i was a shade underpowered and kept on riding downwind for ages were the ones where i actually learned something.

when you get better the big board will be usefull for lightwind days, and the small kite for super strong days.

that 9m waroo you bought will be about the middle of your quiver. eventually you'll probably want one bigger and one or two smaller kites.

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

surfncap you can get a old big board cheap just to learn on or even make a plywood one. spending your money on leasons and a modern kite was smart.

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

when I learned their was no leasons in Hood River then I saw a flyer(by Scott Cook) and he gave me a land flying leason with a 2 line five in the emply lot between the hook and the event site. He did not do water leasons then I was on my own I am lucky I am alive.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Great story and all good suggestions. From my perspective, there are really 10 things you need to do this sport, they are:

1. Time
2. Time
3. Time
4. Time
5. Time
6. Access to wind and water
7. Time
8. Some money
9. Time
and finally:
10. Time

Seriously, it takes most people going 2-3 days a week an entire summer before they are proficient enough to ride varying conditions and become safe kiters. There are some lucky ones who get going faster, but those aren't the majority.

I have lots of friends who go snowboarding/skiing twice a year or less, some people take a look at kiting and think they can treat it like they do those other sports, but you just can't. Even once you become proficient, you need to dedicate a day or two a week to stay on your game. If you want to progress you need to ride as much as possible.

Wind changes, water changes, gusty winds, light winds, different sized kites, different beaches, different wind directions, different currents. Every time you ride its never really the same. So riding a lot to get a feel for it all is critical.

Plus you never really know what the wind is going to do. You can't be the guy who says "Yeah I'd like to get out to Sauvies this Sunday between 2pm-4pm." Who knows if its going to be windy on Sunday, its windy now, go!! Sure we're lucky to live near the Northwest where during the summer you pretty much can count on wind any time as long as you are willing to drive for it, but you got to know where to go and how to ride when you get there.

But its all worth it! Once you are comfortable and in control, no longer being controlled by the conditions that's when its really fun. Then the real problem starts, you can't get enough kiting!!! Time, ugh... Very Happy