Anyone kite in ultra shallow water?

[RPskater]

Anyone kite in ultra shallow water? I have a bunch of salt ponds near work that are on the edge of a larger bay. The winds are consistent here and the water is butter smooth behind all the levees. Unfortunately the water is about a foot deep in most places and possible less in other spots. Does anyone kite in shallow waters or is it too risky. Just curious.

[nj kiter]

i define shallow water if my board fins hit the bottom (kite island if anyone has ever been there) but yes i kite in a foot of water a lot, its fine. as for the shallower spots i find to lean back of the board of the rail instead of digging your back foot into the water to stay up wind. and as you probably know don't bomb the water, because that fall could hurt. i once fell in an inch of water doing a backroll, it resulted in a shell cutting my wrist giving 4 stitches, talk about it hitting the fan

[Antoine]

Watch out for your ankle and wrist, if you wipe out in really shallow water it's like hitting the beach.

Make sure the pond is wide enough that you don't crash on the other side.

Sounds risky, especially if no one is already kiting there.

Antoine

[Gowind]

Be sure not to fall head first, you could regret it.

[Nickmusk]

a lot of the waters i kite in in NC flats are 1 foot or less so you'll be fine, just use caution with your tricks

[bahamaskite1234]

I think riding in one foot or less is the best, and more than half of the riding in the bahamas is in less that 2ft, less than 1ft with 20kt and only ripples on the water is my favorite. we have places over here where the water is almost glassy flat, and riding in 6in of water where the turtle grass sticks out of the water it is turly glassy flat. Only hearing the sound of the fins and rail cutting through the water is awesome. Just have to watch out for conch shells. I dont do anything outrageous, but its fun to blast ascross the shallow flats as fast as you can

[Twitch]

yea slicing thru seagrass at low tide is golden

.T.

[loco4viento]

Does anyone kite in shallow waters or is it too risky. Just curious.

I love the really shallow stuff but for safety you have to remember that you are essentially landboarding in a few ways. Watch the jumping as mistakes put you at much higher risk of head, neck, spine, pelvic and extremity injuries. In lighter wind with a big floaty kite I sometimes can't resist those fun floaty jumps over an inch or two of water but in higher winds with smaller less floaty kites I really try to resist as it is asking for trouble. On the other hand, in high wind over a couple inches of water it is so smooth and fun. My feeling is go have fun but don't fool yourself into thinking that jumping isn't extra risky because it really is.

John

[Nico]

Riding through extra shallow is the best.
Smoother than a billiard table. Just keep the speed up and the kite as well.
The slower you are the more the wipeouts hurt.
If you want to jump there make sure you've got your timing just right to catch your self with the kite.
Oh yes don't use your favorite board as the rails will get scratched if it is shallow enough (1 inch or less)
Nico

[DrLightWind]

Does anyone kite in shallow waters or is it too risky. Just curious.

Absolutely, our spot is like that.
If the bottom is soft like ours it's OK.

DrLW