I have been kiting for over 20 years, and since retiring a year ago at the age of 68, find myself kiting more than ever, sometimes 4-5 days/week at my local. The last couple of months have been incredible with 15-20kt sea breezes along the coast of Adelaide, coming in most afternoons, but found myself getting tired pumping up my kites. I have a excellent electric pump which I bought for my inflatable surf SUP, but have started using it to pump up my kite, which it does in about 3 minutes to 7psi. I now seem to stay out longer, but wonder if I am missing out on a pre-kite workout? I personally don't feel that kitesurfing is a very physical sport, but it surely has to be good for you! Am I kidding myself using the electric pump, or should I keep the manual pump?

Super easy question to answer. Just wear a garmin smartwatch and log the kite pumping.
If you want to then go to "real world" testing, log door to door. meaning start the recording as you leave your front door and get back to that door after the sesh everything identical somehow except one sesh use the pump one you dont.

Look forward to hearing your results

Id say at your age just do whatever hurts the least. Thats what ive been slowly learning and i got some time yet to go.

over the years i've developed an absolute controversial hatred# for compressors on kites/wings...the ultimate lazy persons toy.
ThE the way they rock up think the whole world is about them and generally I find people that use them are lacking alot of brain cells.& I'll go as far away from them as possible...(pumping up ribs, tyres etc different although repetative)
I find them ignorant arrogant self centred and egostistical and lazy...about eighty percent of them.its completely unnecessary..(!)

A windsurf friend reminded me lately that in Austria even if it's freezing cold people get fined for sitting having their engine &heater on!

In Australia I see it everywhere ..fat people go KFC sit there with their engine on no kids in car no care or awareness about carbon emissions at all. The same with compressors I've been at plenty of remote spots and noisy compressors arrive

Is the ozone layer getting better in Australia??

I detest the noise &lack of care for the environment...it's #unnecessary#....

&that's not to say I haven't put on weight the last year too but that was from other things.&that's besides the point.....

Those little electric pumps arn't half as bad
But yes I am of the belief that using the pump for alignment/yoga and to connect with nature&tune into 360` is what you should be doing
Frothgoth had a good point

By the way there's a really good airpump on temu

Thanks guys for your comments! I'm not sure of your ages or fitness, but as you age, I certainly don't have the stamina of say, of when I was fifty. I can certainly pump up my kite manually and this is what I do when I travel with my gear as a electric pump is not worth the hassle. It just takes longer and I have used up energy that I may have used out on the water. I use this pump and it is very quiet, so certainly won't upset too many people that may be around on a windy beach, and it is powered by a 4000mamp LiPo 3S battery from one of my RC aircraft. This will give about 6 inflations before requiring recharging, so the pump must be reasonably efficient. Looking at this thread, maybe I'm not alone in using a electric pump! www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Wing-Foiling/Wind-Wings/Electric-PUMPs?page=1
www.bcf.com.au/p/tahwalhi-watersports-12v-electric-pump/619897.html?utm_content=paidsearch-pmax&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA7Y28BhAnEiwAAdOJUDvWHLpySaPiufsV9D6doBX3Zp-RHvyJKt5mRNUlzGjV-pXuDE4hSxoCctUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Hahahhaa jesus timmy

Coastflyer always remember to check the TIMESTAMP on posts to see if theyre posting at 8am or 8pm theyre maybe a few beers involved

Tho i do know a skydiver who changed to paragliding due to concerns on aviation fuel usage etc so timmy does have a valid point.

I actually have an environmentally friendly solution to this problem tho its just a large bag you hold up into the wind it fills the bag you then roll up the open edge connect a kite hose to the base of it and sit on it forceing the air from the bag into your kite.

And it doubles as a couch for the misses to sit on while your out kiteing. Which converts it from a windbag to a windnag.

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Froth Goth said..
Hahahhaa jesus timmy

Coastflyer always remember to check the TIMESTAMP on posts to see if theyre posting at 8am or 8pm theyre maybe a few beers involved

Tho i do know a skydiver who changed to paragliding due to concerns on aviation fuel usage etc so timmy does have a valid point.

I actually have an environmentally friendly solution to this problem tho its just a large bag you hold up into the wind it fills the bag you then roll up the open edge connect a kite hose to the base of it and sit on it forceing the air from the bag into your kite.

And it doubles as a couch for the misses to sit on while your out kiteing. Which converts it from a windbag to a windnag.

Very good observation Froth! Timmy may have had a few, but who cares, as long as we all enjoy ourselves and operate within our limitations. As for your amazing idea, go for it, post a video, and I'll certainly watch it mate!

It takes 40-60 pumps to inflate most kites to pressure. That takes a minute or two. That's the equivalent of walking up a couple of flights of stairs. If you're finding that physically taxing then perhaps you should talk to your doctor about it.

If you just don't like pumping, and do like playing with electrically powered toys, then that's your choice. To me it seems like an unnecessary complication having to mess around with an electric pump then finish off with a hand pump.

I would have thought that at 68 you wouldn't give a flying fluck about what other people think as long as you're not being an arsehole. Perhaps I'll know more about that when I turn 68 .... next week.

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Gorgo said..
It takes 40-60 pumps to inflate most kites to pressure. That takes a minute or two. That's the equivalent of walking up a couple of flights of stairs. If you're finding that physically taxing then perhaps you should talk to your doctor about it.

If you just don't like pumping, and do like playing with electrically powered toys, then that's your choice. To me it seems like an unnecessary complication having to mess around with an electric pump then finish off with a hand pump.

I would have thought that at 68 you wouldn't give a flying fluck about what other people think as long as you're not being an arsehole. Perhaps I'll know more about that when I turn 68 .... next week.

You're right about one thing, and that is that I don't really care about what other people may be thinking of me as my little pump is doing it's thing. I'm pretty fit for my age and live in a two storey house which ensures lot's of up and down stairs on a daily basis. I also SUP surf, which gives me a much better workout than kitesurfing ever will, but for me, time and convenience are important things now, and the other thread seems to show many other people using a electric pump for wings and kites. Everyone is different, so what ticks my box may not tick yours. Does it also mean that people that use the Foildive system are somehow frowned upon? I'm surrounded by them on my local breaks on the Mid Coast and can only marvel at how many waves that they catch compared to me, but I don't want to spend 9 grand to join them!
And happy birthday for next week, nice to know that I'm not the only older person out there enjoying this amazing sport.

Hay, don't go telling me that at 68 I'm an "older person"!
I never use an electric pump myself because having to hike back to the car to secure it from lowlifes would negate any savings of time or energy, but if it works for you; go for it! It really doesn't matter what others think; you'll get good healthy exercise with or without manual pumping.
I tend to "cheat" (if you want to call it that) by simply rolling out a Peak more often than not, rather than pumping up a LEI.
Energy expenditure while kiteboarding can be as much or as little as you make it, and I don't believe any fitness device can give an accurate estimate of how many calories you've really burned, although the amount of time spent with elevated heart rate can give bit of a clue. Timmy has raised a very good point about people sitting in their cars spewing out emissions outside a KFC /Maccas, etc. I also see many of them and wonder how many of them are woke "climate activists"!
Whether they are or not, they're really annoying when they also have brake and /or reversing lights lit up as if they're about to back into me as I go past!
(Note how woke I am by not saying "fat people!" Sorry I couldn't think of a P.C. adjective to use there.)

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Sandee said..
Hay, don't go telling me that at 68 I'm an "older person"!
I never use an electric pump myself because having to hike back to the car to secure it from lowlifes would negate any savings of time or energy, but if it works for you; go for it! It really doesn't matter what others think; you'll get good healthy exercise with or without manual pumping.
I tend to "cheat" (if you want to call it that) by simply rolling out a Peak more often than not, rather than pumping up a LEI.
Energy expenditure while kiteboarding can be as much or as little as you make it, and I don't believe any fitness device can give an accurate estimate of how many calories you've really burned, although the amount of time spent with elevated heart rate can give bit of a clue. Timmy has raised a very good point about people sitting in their cars spewing out emissions outside a KFC /Maccas, etc. I also see many of them and wonder how many of them are woke "climate activists"!
Whether they are or not, they're really annoying when they also have brake and /or reversing lights lit up as if they're about to back into me as I go past!
(Note how woke I am by not saying "fat people!" Sorry I couldn't think of a P.C. adjective to use there.)

Sorry about that mate! OK, Maybe we are slightly past middle age, or actually along way past, but it's great to realize that their are others kiting around our age, it's just that I haven't met many around here. And totally agree with you about all the woke BS out there.

Kited in Egypt last year and everyone on the boats / islands was using scuba tanks. At resorts they had air compressors. I didn't see a single pump being used the entire trip. Actually I didn't even bring one to save on luggage space and I didn't miss pumping up one bit.

It's no more 'cheating' than using a ski lift is to get to the top of a mountain. You do you bro, nobody cares.

Oh, sure, because using a manual pump instead of a powered one is totally going to save the planet. Bravo, you're a hero. If the pump means you can stay out on the water longer for just a tiny bit more environmental cost, then by all means, pump away. But if you think that's the epitome of eco-friendliness, you must feel like a real saint. If you genuinely cared about the environment, you'd ditch your modern life for an Amish one, but no, let's just keep up appearances with our little pump, because clearly, that's the big difference between us and the earth's doom. Go on, feel good about your choice while we all just keep manufacturing those massive plastic kites.

That wasnt very hakuna mattata of you timon

Hi Coastflyer,

Little electric pumps have evolved into a nice small, quiet and efficient package these days. They would actually be a better bet to travel with as they take up far less space in your luggage than a manual pump. Using a manual plastic pump is no greener than an electric pump. Last I checked, no one is recycling pumps. If companies were serious about saving the earth, they would sell pump refurbish kits rather than just selling new pumps.

You plug your little electric pump into your car cigarette lighter to recharge them so no cost to the electric grid. If you want to use a manual pump, good stuff, rip into it. If you want to put your wetty on whilst a little gadget pumps your kite to the perfect pressure, good for you too, have at it!

Ride the way you want, just enjoy yourself and remember, " what other people think of me, is none of my business"

DM

So what's a good, reliable pump that's going to pump multiple kites and wings and SUPs and stuff to accurate pressure?

I have no problem with pumps as such, I do have a problem with a pump that you have to finish off with a hand pump. Fast, accurate, reliable inflation is worth paying for. A half-arsed pump that saves no time and does no better than hand pumping is not.

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ActionSportsWA said..
Hi Coastflyer,

Little electric pumps have evolved into a nice small, quiet and efficient package these days. They would actually be a better bet to travel with as they take up far less space in your luggage than a manual pump. Using a manual plastic pump is no greener than an electric pump. Last I checked, no one is recycling pumps. If companies were serious about saving the earth, they would sell pump refurbish kits rather than just selling new pumps.

You plug your little electric pump into your car cigarette lighter to recharge them so no cost to the electric grid. If you want to use a manual pump, good stuff, rip into it. If you want to put your wetty on whilst a little gadget pumps your kite to the perfect pressure, good for you too, have at it!

Ride the way you want, just enjoy yourself and remember, " what other people think of me, is none of my business"

DM

You can actually buy rubber seals to replace the old ones from your pump. Not exactly the same as selling refurbished pumps, but it's a good option to keep the pump going. They are a bit hard to source though. Only place I found selling them is below. I recently replaced mine and they work great.

kiteboarding.com/proddetail.asp?prod=pks-2020-pro-flow-pump-seal-kit

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espana23 said..

ActionSportsWA said..
Hi Coastflyer,

Little electric pumps have evolved into a nice small, quiet and efficient package these days. They would actually be a better bet to travel with as they take up far less space in your luggage than a manual pump. Using a manual plastic pump is no greener than an electric pump. Last I checked, no one is recycling pumps. If companies were serious about saving the earth, they would sell pump refurbish kits rather than just selling new pumps.

You plug your little electric pump into your car cigarette lighter to recharge them so no cost to the electric grid. If you want to use a manual pump, good stuff, rip into it. If you want to put your wetty on whilst a little gadget pumps your kite to the perfect pressure, good for you too, have at it!

Ride the way you want, just enjoy yourself and remember, " what other people think of me, is none of my business"

DM

You can actually buy rubber seals to replace the old ones from your pump. Not exactly the same as selling refurbished pumps, but it's a good option to keep the pump going. They are a bit hard to source though. Only place I found selling them is below. I recently replaced mine and they work great.

kiteboarding.com/proddetail.asp?prod=pks-2020-pro-flow-pump-seal-kit

Thankyou Espana much appreciated the planet appreciates that too so much over disposal these days makes me sick
Well done and thanx again
(every little bit counts etc..) ...

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ActionSportsWA said..
Hi Coastflyer,

Little electric pumps have evolved into a nice small, quiet and efficient package these days. They would actually be a better bet to travel with as they take up far less space in your luggage than a manual pump. Using a manual plastic pump is no greener than an electric pump. Last I checked, no one is recycling pumps. If companies were serious about saving the earth, they would sell pump refurbish kits rather than just selling new pumps.

You plug your little electric pump into your car cigarette lighter to recharge them so no cost to the electric grid. If you want to use a manual pump, good stuff, rip into it. If you want to put your wetty on whilst a little gadget pumps your kite to the perfect pressure, good for you too, have at it!

Ride the way you want, just enjoy yourself and remember, " what other people think of me, is none of my business"

DM

Thanks DM, yesterday we had 25-30kts SW winds for most of the day. This meant that my local was busy with at least 8 kites, lot's of wingers and heaps of sailboards. I did notice at least 3 other people using electric pumps, so there you go, just had to look around a bit! Many of the guys were using their pumps on the beach with the pump sitting inside their kite bag which would protect the pump and hopefully stop the bag taking off down the beach!

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Phoney said..
Kited in Egypt last year and everyone on the boats / islands was using scuba tanks. At resorts they had air compressors. I didn't see a single pump being used the entire trip. Actually I didn't even bring one to save on luggage space and I didn't miss pumping up one bit.

It's no more 'cheating' than using a ski lift is to get to the top of a mountain. You do you bro, nobody cares.

That was interesting! Thanx for that! My only experience of egypt was diving I guess resort diving locations have a slant towards compressors... that may also explain a contribution of why egypt ranks at about number 83 (?) in world conservation. whereas finland belgium etc lead the way...

The other experience of that area was working in the embassy in Riyadh/ the UAE but that was over twenty years ago ...and from there I used to just go to the dead sea with my wing, it was a bit of a pointless experience though as it basically seemed stuck in all the salt and I spent about two weeks waiting for a glimmer of hope for a 2kn gust . but I am pretty impressed with myself that at least i could have been one of the 'first' & was giving winging a good old 'go' in 2001. ..maybe


did some research ..i really like researching and I found this..referring to the rise in shark attacks in Egypt...

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"experts believe there could be three key reasons as to spike in attacks, a mix of fishing, cattle boats, and an increased number of tourists on the beaches. Ahmed Fouad, a conservationist from the Red Sea Project, explained sharks feeding patterns are being disrupted by overfishing. The Ministry revealed that throughout the last two decades human practices are the main cause for such attacks. The studies' results released on Saturday indicated that some tourists illegally provide food for sharks for adventurous purposes in deep water. Also its possible that the increase of kitesurfers and wingers using compressors are partially responsible by attracting the sharks with the noise and vibration as shsrks associate this with engines which they already associate with food....as well as dive masters feeding sharks as a tourist attraction with fish kept behind them in a bag by their bottom so the sharks whose liver is tiny from malnourishment and desperation associate the rear with food and bite there "
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also in regards to the ozone layer statistics I found this !....

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" Changes in ozone and climate are directly linked because ozone absorbs solar radiation and is also a greenhouse gas. Stratospheric ozone depletion leads to surface cooling, while the observed increases in tropospheric ozone and other greenhouse gases lead to surface warming. Emissions from lazy kitesurfers and wingers using compressors are particularly to blame for carbon emissions effecting the delicate planet earth. They should be as cool as windsurfers who have complete respect for the environment and use no unnecessary planetary-degrading gadjets or unnecessarily use car engines or fuel to enjoy time on the water "
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C'mon man who gives two sh#ts how you get out there- just do you

Lol sorry was just over exaggerating a bit maybe
Hope u liked it though ....

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Gorgo said..
So what's a good, reliable pump that's going to pump multiple kites and wings and SUPs and stuff to accurate pressure?

I have no problem with pumps as such, I do have a problem with a pump that you have to finish off with a hand pump. Fast, accurate, reliable inflation is worth paying for. A half-arsed pump that saves no time and does no better than hand pumping is not.

We've been selling these. They've been very popular and can pump multiple kites and SUP accurately up to 20psi.
actionsportswa.com.au/products/airbank-puffer-pro-rechargeable-pump

FWIW, I was a bit of an anti E-Pump too because they were expensive, heavy and clunky as hell. These are good little units, lightweight and portable. We use them in the shop pumping up kites with bladder repairs most days and only recharge on odd occasions.

DM

I carry one on each hip incase i get into a game and gotto cross draw on some sneaky good for nothing poledancercat


Aint nobody gonna be cheating in a game of windbag round me

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Gorgo said..
It takes 40-60 pumps to inflate most kites to pressure...

My goto kite is a 9m single strut with nice tight diameter LE and strut. It takes 20 pumps plus the 1 or 2 extra you have to really lean on to make it ping. I'm done before the foil kite lads are finished shaking their bridles out.

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KBGhost said..

Gorgo said..
It takes 40-60 pumps to inflate most kites to pressure...

My goto kite is a 9m single strut with nice tight diameter LE and strut. It takes 20 pumps plus the 1 or 2 extra you have to really lean on to make it ping. I'm done before the foil kite lads are finished shaking their bridles out.

I Hear ya im not much of a looker myself so shes only a 7 with a pretty round leading edge aft?r about 10 to 15 pumps shes sufficiently disapointed and starts browseing macrame tapestrys on etsy

68 is nothing mate. UncleRay - kite pioneer from its early days is now 83 and still doing it! You have many many seasons left dude. Keep at it.

Holly **** rays still going?!? The same dude who was doing kite repairs 15 or 20 years ago on sunny coast?

Thats pretty impressive

I'm trying to revive my old island inflatable pump with its second or third batery, weighs a ton bc of lead acid battery, on the good side it keeps the kite down while pumping so the wind doesn't blow it away. Only really use it for bigger kites.

And it has outlasted several manual pumps. Off to buy another lead acid battery (they are recycleable).

But a little pump for travelling would be ideal...