Total beginner

iamthefly · Since 17 Mar 2008 2 Posts New Member

Hi guys,

I want to get a mountainboard and a big kite and zoom up and down the beach.

I live in the North of Scotland so there are no clubs i can join or people to ask (small community)., but I do haave miles of neaely empty and very windy beach. Please can you give me advice?

What do I need to buy, How much should I spend. Please recommend good beginner kit.
(I'm 5'10" and 175 pounds if that is important)

Is it difficult? I'll be learning on my own. (packing away the ropes as well as getting the hang of the sport)

Is it dangerous, can I break my neck, fly into the sea?

Some days are windier than others, Do I need different kites?

Also any advice I have't thought of.

Cheers.

forrest · Mon Mar 17, 08 9:33 am

Is your beach soft or hard packed sand?

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Mar 17, 08 9:46 am

Welcome to the forum! Is zooming down the beach strapped to a high powered kite dangerous?, absolutely not!! I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

Seriously though, you could learn it on your own just use your head and take things slow. What are the average wind speeds like up there?

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

Yes, you can break your neck and die. If you don't have any instructors around (which it sounds like) be sure to buy at least some kind of instructional DVD. most safety tips for kiteboarding are just as good for landboarding. And don't hesitate to ask questions on the forum. Serious questions here are always answered with serious answers.

If you don't plan on ever kiteboarding on the water you might as well get a ram-air inflatable kite. These are much easier to pack up and don't require a fragile inflatable bladder.
whatever kite you end up buying, make sure it has an easy to use emergency release, that way if you are getting dragged out to sea you can release your kite and flag it out on one line. As for boards, I've never moutnainboarded before but most everybody mentions an MBS mountain board is a good choice.

iamthefly · Since 17 Mar 2008 2 Posts New Member

Thanks guys,

The beach has loads of soft sand, but there is a decent band of hard wet sand for a few miles. wind speed varies from nearly still to gale-force.

Ram-air inflatable, gotcha, I'll need to google that later on, but it sounds like the right sort of thing.

Keep it coming guys.

Cheers

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Mar 17, 08 1:08 pm

You may also want to google full face bike helmet and elbow pads' unless your under 25, then you can go without.

here is a good kite for higher winds... http://cgi.ebay.com/USED-SS-B-3-Trainer-kite-complete_W0QQitemZ220212875179QQihZ012QQcategoryZ114264QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

You may want to check out landboarding or powerkiting forums, I'm sure they are around, they should provide a bit more advice then us waterbugs.

Good luck and have fun!!

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Ram-air is also known as a FOIL kite. They don't require inflation and are typically used on land.

Inflatable is a totally different type of kite. They have an inflatable bladder which helps with water relaunching the kite, but they're more fragile on land so typically are used on the water and sometimes the snow.

If you're only going to landboard then probably go with a FOIL kite. Maybe get a small 3m to start with. It'll be safer to learn on and you'll be able to keep it for those windy days. Make sure whatever kite you're using for landboarding has a safety release and while learning make sure to go out in light wind for the size kite you're flying. This way a beginner mistake won't be as likely to hurt you.

For deeper sand you'll want bigger wheels. If you have solid hard-packed sand though most mountain boards will probably work. Maybe ask around on some landboarding forums about which wheels and boards people recommend.

crosta21 · Since 17 Mar 2008 24 Posts Manzanita

hey there, i started out with a slingshot B-3 and a moutain board, i learned on my own and got worked, Lots and lots of falls and cuts and bruizes. You should use elbow and knee pads as mentioned. Once you get going if you hit soft sand you almost always go down. Its tuff but super fun once you get the hang of it! We have a road that parallels our beach and my buddies clocked me at around 40mph when it was raging! If the wind is right and its low tide you can also tack back up, but you have to make a zig zag pattern up the beach which is difficult and takes some time. Go with the B-3 or similar 3M trainer kite

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

I second crosta 21

get a 3m trainer (learn to fly this first sans board)
then add a mountain board
helmut probably a good idea

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

Assuming you have descent wind (10-20 mph clean off the ocean, not over the land it'll be doable):
Get good w/ the kite - if you can afford 2 sizes do so (like 2.5 / 4.5) else do a 3.5.
Then start MB'ing in lighter winds ~10 mph anything more & watch out!

You'll fall the first few times alot, maybe a few high speed pitchpoles into creeks w/ a bunch of spectators Very Happy

, but then you'll get descent. It's a great skill builder for waterkiting!

I pm'ed you some finer points.