Kiteboarding

sh0rtyme · Soul Rider Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 345 City: Portland

Has anybody tried it? I took a 3 hour lesson, and got maybe 10 minutes on the actual board, and it was pretty fun. I think I'd have to get better at it to have a ton of fun and start doing tricks, but it was still fun. It's like wakeboarding but you basically have to board and drive the boat at the same time.

WetChick19 · Posted: Jun 28, 2004 2:51 pm Post subject:

I haven't due to the fact that a friend of mine almost died doing it 2 years ago. Kinda makes you not want to try it.

wawakechic · Soul Rider Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 413

I was thinking this would be fun to learn too.

WetChick19, What happened to your friend?

WetChick19 · Posted: Jun 28, 2004 7:04 pm Post subject:

He caught a freak downburst that threw him into the woods dropped him 100 feet, lfted him back up and slammed him down again about 200 yards farther. He had a punctured lung, crushed elbow shattered pelvis and some other stuff, if he hadn't of been wearing a helmet he definately would have died. When I saw him at the hospital he had like 5 tubes in and out of him and he was so doped up on morphine he doesn't remember the first couple of days he was there. He's still not able to fully use his elbow so he can't wakeboard anymore or kiteboard. Really sucks. So I haven't had the urge to try it.

sh0rtyme · Soul Rider Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 345 City: Portland

Ouch! I'm sorry about your friend. I read something about a guy in Australia who got picked up by a gust of wind and smashed into a builing and died. I definately think it's something you had to be really careful about. The lines hooked up to the kite are also very dangerous for other people on/in the water.

wkbrdmdw'sGF · Posted: Jun 30, 2004 8:32 am Post subject:

WetChick19, holy crap!! That is unreal Shocked

Don't think I'll ever be trying it!

What is kiteboarding anyway? Sounds kind of like parasailing or something.... Ive seen it mentioned on the forum before, just never knew what it was Question

leslisa · Posted: Jun 30, 2004 8:36 am Post subject:

Umm, think I'll pass.

Lisa

indywakechica · Addict Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 645 City: Indianapolis

leslisa...you read my mind! I'm having enough problems trying to remember all the stuff you're supposed to when you're getting pulled behind a boat for proper technique and such. Can't imagine adding pulling cords, wind conditions, and whatnot to the mix while attached to a parachute and having to watch out for buildings!

emorider · Criminal Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 80 City: lewisville

my uncle does it..and next time i go and see him hes gonna teach me..he is good friedns with shanon best (pro wakeboarder and kiteboarder)so i get free hats and stuff from him

MarineGirl · Newbie Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 5

I kiteboard - here in the UK, which means wetsuits though Sad

It was actually through kiteboarding that I got into wakeboarding - started using my kiteboard at a cable tow lake when there was no wind, to improve my board skills. Now I'm hooked on wakeboarding too!! Just deciding what size board to buy (looking at 131 for 140lb / 5'3" rider - if any of you girls has an opinion!)

Kiteboarding IS a dangerous sport, there's no getting away from that. But it's an amazing buzz too, just fantastic - so there's still plenty of us wanting to carry on.

I just thought I'd say a few things about safety in kiteboarding, because I wouldn't want people to be put off an amazing sport - but you have to have respect for it.

Wetchick19 - that was a terrible thing to happen to your friend, and I'm so pleased he came though it. I too have known people to get badly injured. What I am saying is in no way intended to suggest that he did anything wrong - sometimes, people do everything right and are unlucky.

Most of the bad injuries you come across are as a result of 'lofting' - what was described here where you get picked up unexpectedly, dumped down and then dragged.

It's quite a new sport, and all the time understanding is progressing. You are most likely to get picked up by a gust if you're out in gusty conditions (sounds obvious, but sometimes you have to decide it's not a safe day an go home!). It is also more likely if you are holding your kite high in the sky - if you learn now, you'll hear the phrase 'keep it low and go'. Most obstacles that can hurt you are on land - so we try to rig up close to the water and get in it as soon as possible. Site assessment is a critical part of deciding to go out. Choosing the right size kite for conditions and your weight and ability is important. As is having good safety equipment - a toggle you pull to get your kite detached from you quickly in an emergency, for example.

I don't want to go on - it's a wakeboard forum afterall! But if you are interested in kiteboarding... please don't be put off and PLEASE make sure you get lessons with an IKO qualified instructor - you really can't underestimate safety in this sport.

Right, um - back to wakeboarding?!!

wkbrdmdw'sGF · Posted: Jul 14, 2004 9:56 am Post subject:

MarineGirl, well welcome to the site... and welcome to the world of wakeboarding!! Very Happy

WetChick19 · Posted: Jul 14, 2004 2:47 pm Post subject:

It was a freak microburst that caught his kite, hard to avoid since they come on sudden and strong. It happens when you live in Kansas.