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Kitesurfing? Is it as awesome as it looks?

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alexrider
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Re: Kitesurfing? Is it as awesome as it looks?

Postby alexrider » Tue Jul 09, 2013 2:54 pm

BrianMaiden wrote:
Bille wrote:I bin flying Hang gliders since 1977, and para gliders since 1990
Really? .... you never mentioned it...
He's not talking to you :naughty: .

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Re: Kitesurfing? Is it as awesome as it looks?

Postby gvironda » Tue Jul 09, 2013 3:19 pm

Prepare your wife / kids / girlfriend to spend holidays in windy beaches
get so nasty and nervous with your partner that she will implore you to go kiting and relax yourself
it always works :-)
windfinder, windguru and webcams will become your obsession
and if people in the office ask you why you're super nervous, just point them to the webcams
welcome to the club :-)

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Re: Kitesurfing? Is it as awesome as it looks?

Postby justbob » Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:02 pm

That feeling when you first get up and planing is like no other, makes you wanna hoot and holler, which I do all the time.
Every time I come off the water I can't believe somebody is not there to arrest me for having so much fun. :nono: Lately I've started to try and get a little air, curious feeling floating in the air while shitting in my wetsuit! This sport will consume your life, my wife and family can't understand it but they are starting to get used to me cutting out and forgoing family events.
Go for it man! :thumb:

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Re: Kitesurfing? Is it as awesome as it looks?

Postby Bille » Tue Jul 09, 2013 8:06 pm

BrianMaiden wrote:
Bille wrote:I bin flying Hang gliders since 1977, and para gliders since 1990
Really? .... you never mentioned it...
HERE --- i'm gonna let "This" guy explain :
BrianMaiden wrote: ...

So few people you meet REALLY have a passion in life. If you have a passion it is a crime NOT to throw yourself in 100%
*
*
*
Do Ya get it NOW ? :D

And for the simpletons that can't quite remember the main context of my
post on page 1 ; here's the abbreviated version :
Bille wrote:I bin flying Hang gliders since 1977, and para gliders since 1990 ; the
Kite Boarding is "Almost" as Fun as both, with 1/10th the Risk .

Rush for Rush , Kiting is the Most FUN a human can have for
an acceptable amount of risk that's involved !!!...


...

Bille

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Re: Kitesurfing? Is it as awesome as it looks?

Postby plummet » Tue Jul 09, 2013 9:12 pm

for me the glory is in the ability to blast with reckless abandon punt massive jumps stuff up splash into the water and not break bones. Awesome.

I got similar thrills down hill mountain biking. But every crash hurts. Some crashes break bones.

Sure you can break bones and kill yourself kiting. But the risk level is significantly lower.

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Re: Kitesurfing? Is it as awesome as it looks?

Postby Lanc » Wed Jul 10, 2013 8:12 am

Its not as easy to get into as it looks so you must really WANT to do it. I've had a number of friends over the years who said it LOOKED awesome, went for lessons, bought gear then gave up because they could not get it right after three or four attempts. I spent my first two years just watching and saving for ancient 2002 gear. Spent the my first three months (+-25 sessions) with the kite cursing because I could not stay upwind and came close to giving up but 11 years later I'm just as if not even more addicted.

Once you are dialed in your weekends, vacations, sick days, friends and family will all be planned around wind forecasts. When I drive home from work and see kites on the horizon my adrenaline already starts pumping and I find myself cursing at any obstruction that wastes even a minute of water time.

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Re: Kitesurfing? Is it as awesome as it looks?

Postby icebird » Wed Jul 10, 2013 10:11 am

The relative safety of kitesurfing on water means I take a lot beating and crashes that would be far too dangerous in sports like snowboarding, mountainbiking, or motorcycling. So if you learn and respect the key safety aspects, you can go all in if you like, or just sit back and enjoy the ride.

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Re: Kitesurfing? Is it as awesome as it looks?

Postby icebird » Wed Jul 10, 2013 10:15 am

Lanc wrote:Its not as easy to get into as it looks so you must really WANT to do it. I've had a number of friends over the years who said it LOOKED awesome, went for lessons, bought gear then gave up because they could not get it right after three or four attempts.
Yes, and I think this one reason why this community is so great. Everyone in the sport has been fighting the battle, and even the greatest idiot on the water has still passed the test of sticking with it and getting on the board, and learned that you do not get very far without the help of others, or without offering help to others.

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Re: Kitesurfing? Is it as awesome as it looks?

Postby Rando1994 » Wed Jul 10, 2013 1:45 pm

It is the most amazing and rewarding "Zen" experience you can have, IMHO. Anyone that tells me they want to "try" it, I tell them it's too hard for them. There is no "trying" kitesurfing.

You must want to "do" it. Whatever it takes. Treat kitemares as a learning experience. And you will have them. Everyone has. They can be humbling, yes, but very instructive if you are paying attention.

Once it all comes together, as others have said, it changes your life. Where you live, how you work, what your long term goals are.

Your family either gets with the program or they don't see you on windy weekends.

You will become one seriously selfish bastard in the eyes of your non-kiting friends and family.

You will not care.

Your next soul session riding crystal clear glassy water, powered up, makes everything else go away.

Enjoy the ride!

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Re: Kitesurfing? Is it as awesome as it looks?

Postby jats2k9 » Wed Jul 10, 2013 3:19 pm

I thought I was crazy because I plan depending on the wind. I can see I'm not the only addict here. By the way I always get nervous the first few seconds when arriving at the spot.


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