Please tell me about kitesurfing
Discussion
I'm needing some strenuous exercise. I'm an ex Paraglider pilot and windsurfer, so I'm covered on weather, wind and safety, but what are the realities of Kitesurfing? I always suspected the main problem would be the sheer size of the pendulum in terms of safety, but I gather things like chicken loops have moved on a great deal. How about kit? With windsurfing, the aggravation was having several sails, masts, booms etc.
I live near Lancing, so I'm in a good spot, but I do have an issue with a damaged shoulder awaiting surgery - is it technique over strength or am I ruled out?
Fill me in Kiting guys!
I live near Lancing, so I'm in a good spot, but I do have an issue with a damaged shoulder awaiting surgery - is it technique over strength or am I ruled out?
Fill me in Kiting guys!
Justin Cyder said:
Huh? I can see one for kite buggying. Different gravy.
Sorry wrong thread. There is a kitesurfing thread, with several pages of posts.That said, having done kite surfing and boarding I would say the principles are the same. Going from kite surfing to boarding certainly felt no different to me in terms of the flight dynamics of the kite. Obviously a surfing kite has an inflatable leading edge, but the way they fly is essentially the same.
Long time kiter / qualified instructor here -
Great sport, and with your knowledge of windsports already you should pick up / understand the basics quickly.
Safety and kit is better than ever these days and provided you are sensible with choosing the days you ride you will be fine.
As with any water / wind sport there is an element of danger - but thats what makes it so exciting!
A shoulder injury could be an issue - you will find that your core strength is key whilst kiting, and when advancing your upper body will come into play more
when you are unhooking from the harness.
Injuries i have had over the years range from a few bruises, to an ongoing muscle issue in my forearm from lots kiting!!
It really is a great sport and has changed my life so I definitely recommend you give it a go, Lancing is also a brilliant location.
Whatever you do, make sure you get proper tuition from a qualified instructor and respect the local rules at your beach to protect access for others.
Enjoy! and hopefully see you on the water!!
Great sport, and with your knowledge of windsports already you should pick up / understand the basics quickly.
Safety and kit is better than ever these days and provided you are sensible with choosing the days you ride you will be fine.
As with any water / wind sport there is an element of danger - but thats what makes it so exciting!
A shoulder injury could be an issue - you will find that your core strength is key whilst kiting, and when advancing your upper body will come into play more
when you are unhooking from the harness.
Injuries i have had over the years range from a few bruises, to an ongoing muscle issue in my forearm from lots kiting!!
It really is a great sport and has changed my life so I definitely recommend you give it a go, Lancing is also a brilliant location.
Whatever you do, make sure you get proper tuition from a qualified instructor and respect the local rules at your beach to protect access for others.
Enjoy! and hopefully see you on the water!!
I tried it a few years ago and have been desperate to take it up more seriously, but living 3 hours from the sea in any direction doesn't make it the most sensible hobby at the moment.
I've done a fair amount of windsurfing and from the one day of kite surfing instruction I received I found that it is less physically demanding as the kite supports your body weight and you don't have a huge sail to lug about, wrestle with. Having said that, it does require good core strength and I really felt it in my abs the following day - it was a good kind of burn though. The kit is significantly less than windsurfing and less faff to set up/pack away.
The wind was fairly light on the day I tried it, but the power was incredible, yet you have a lot of control because of the way the kite is set up. The feeling of being plucked from the sea and lurched across the water is amazing.
I still enjoy windsurfing, but I feel kite surfing is more thrilling and a tad easier. I really got the bug, but it'll be a while before I can get into seriously unfortunately.
I've done a fair amount of windsurfing and from the one day of kite surfing instruction I received I found that it is less physically demanding as the kite supports your body weight and you don't have a huge sail to lug about, wrestle with. Having said that, it does require good core strength and I really felt it in my abs the following day - it was a good kind of burn though. The kit is significantly less than windsurfing and less faff to set up/pack away.
The wind was fairly light on the day I tried it, but the power was incredible, yet you have a lot of control because of the way the kite is set up. The feeling of being plucked from the sea and lurched across the water is amazing.
I still enjoy windsurfing, but I feel kite surfing is more thrilling and a tad easier. I really got the bug, but it'll be a while before I can get into seriously unfortunately.
I do it and love it. Still learning at the moment, but great fun. Although, be warned, you spent most Thursdays and Fridays sat looking at wind charts on a computer trying to work out whether you're going to the pub on Friday night, or where you need to be heading on Saturday morning!
In terms of kit, it's really easy. I used to keep two kites and all my other stuff in my bedroom in London (now it's in the cellar) and it used to go in the back of my M3 (although did need to put the seats down to get the board in)
In terms of fitness, it's core strength really. It's a great all round workout!
In terms of kit, it's really easy. I used to keep two kites and all my other stuff in my bedroom in London (now it's in the cellar) and it used to go in the back of my M3 (although did need to put the seats down to get the board in)
In terms of fitness, it's core strength really. It's a great all round workout!
Edited by johnnywb on Tuesday 24th July 16:06
BMWBen said:
It's too easy so it's for pussies. 
Windsurfing is 200x harder and for men. And you don't have to wear shorts over your wetsuit like a prat
If you only windsurfed a long time ago, get back into it. The kit has moved on and is now awesome (you still need a fair amount of it though).
Sorta kicked yourself in the nuts with the last sentence there. I only packed in three years ago. What are they suddenly all foldaway boards? Windsurfing is 200x harder and for men. And you don't have to wear shorts over your wetsuit like a prat
If you only windsurfed a long time ago, get back into it. The kit has moved on and is now awesome (you still need a fair amount of it though).
Justin Cyder said:
BMWBen said:
It's too easy so it's for pussies.
Windsurfing is 200x harder and for men. And you don't have to wear shorts over your wetsuit like a prat
If you only windsurfed a long time ago, get back into it. The kit has moved on and is now awesome (you still need a fair amount of it though).
Sorta kicked yourself in the nuts with the last sentence there. I only packed in three years ago. What are they suddenly all foldaway boards? Windsurfing is 200x harder and for men. And you don't have to wear shorts over your wetsuit like a prat
If you only windsurfed a long time ago, get back into it. The kit has moved on and is now awesome (you still need a fair amount of it though).
Kitesurfing: Pick up your kitey backpack thing, go to beach.
Windsurfing: Load the entire contents of your garage into your van, go to the beach.
It is the *only* attraction though.
You said you where looking for something like "strenuous exercise" though, which I think rules out teabagging. Realistically you should probably get a road bike
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