So this isn't supposed to be a definitive guide to learning to KB or anything... just some ramblings... feel free to ignore.

My background: I had no wakeboarding or even skiing experience going in.

Learner Kite: I purchased a $100 learner kite from ebay before my official lessons. At the time of purchase, I was only flirting with the idea of taking kiteboarding up. I feel this massively helped me understand how to direct a kite and I didn't need to waste valuable lesson time with someone standing over my shoulder to achieve this.

Advice: Get one, and practice as much as you can.

Wakeboarding Park: I ended up going to Singapore for work. Whilst there (and after I did my 5hrs of official lessons) i went to the wakeboarding cable park. I spent 2 x 2hrs over the weekend. It's such a great way to learn your basic board skills. It's a controlled environment without pesky waves, other water-goers distracting you etc. It took me about 6 attempts of waterstarting (from a sitting position, on the foam learner board) to reliably get going instead of face planting.

Advice: If you can, get some time in at a water park

Learner video: Nothing beats doing it... but when you can't study. I've got my ipad loaded with a complete beginners video (Progression Kiteboarding). It takes you through it from woo to go. Spelling out each little step in much needed painstaking detail. Everyone learns differently, so might not work for you. I find I regularly rewatch as I progress to address different issues I have along the way.

Advice: Be a massive boring geek like me and watch these learner videos. A small bit will only make sense at first until you go through the motions.

Be pathological: Specifically, if there is a hint of wind, get out there. The more time as a learner you can spend putting up and taking down your kite, the more you it will be routine.

Okay, this is all pretty crap advice, and I'm even crapper on the water. But these things have helped me. I hope you progress well.

Great points!! Cheers!

Honesty is never crap.
Well done.

I reckon your on the right track for sure.

You should still get some professional lessons. The skills you get from what your doing now should seriously reduce the amount you need.

You got a good attitude, You should be blasting around in no time.

Thanks for the positivity guys.

I had 5hrs of lessons with a school down in St Kilda (Melbourne). The progress with the practice kite meant we could rush through that and move straight onto the big kite, where you really want an instructor by your side to launch it and get you out of trouble!

Oh, another lesson learned...

Brighton Beach at low tide is a good way of picking up some new scrapes and cuts. Close into the beach (10metres off shore or so) is full of sharp submerged rocks.

That combined with some dirty Northerly winds has you pulled against your control over these.

Note to self: Use the board as a Captain America shield if you're body dragging back to shore to go up wind.

And another lesson learn:

A lot of harness come with line cutters (for last resort get out of jail). Opinions seems split, but most people employ the 'rather have them and not need them then need them and not have them' approach. Note, these cutters should be inspected for rust/sharpened once every 3-4months.

Some people have diving knives to hand... just in case.

Great information, I've bookmarked this page to come back later. :)

Well done mate.

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SaltySinus said...
Oh, another lesson learned...

Brighton Beach at low tide is a good way of picking up some new scrapes and cuts. Close into the beach (10metres off shore or so) is full of sharp submerged rocks.

That combined with some dirty Northerly winds has you pulled against your control over these.

Note to self: Use the board as a Captain America shield if you're body dragging back to shore to go up wind.

Or you could just stay away from the rocky reef ;-)

Yeah keep em coming.

One lesson I learnt is to take your time connecting the lines as i found out the other day. I was in a rush to start and so I connected the kite to the lines with one of them being overlapped. I didn't realise it until i was launched and the kte started a death roll. Yikes! Luckily I depowered instantly and the kite auto parked itself.

Hey that's a great tip!

Okay, here's my setup notes:

This is the bit I always have to slow myself down on, as I just want to get into the water and make the most of the wind. Here are a few notes (not saying they're good, but they help me).

Kite:

1. Get the kite out of the bag and move away from your bag and crap to make sure there's nothing behind/upwind of you for a few metres.
2. Have only your pump and board to hand. Inflate the kite as usual. When you get some air in your kite, put the board over the leading edge to stop the kite blowing away.(upside down so there is a foot strap over the leading edge to keep the board stable)
3. Once fully inflated and you've secured the valve things… remove the board and turn the kite over (remembering you're the boss, not the kite), once you've turned it over, before you put it down, walk backwards (up wind) so that lines on the kite remain down wind and easier to attach.
4. Place the kite down and if you'd care to do so, put sand on it to weigh it down (at your own risk, especially if it's full of sharp shells and/or rocks etc.)
5. Finally, go round to the rear of the kite and check all of the lines are untangled. Pull them all taught and check there is no fouling etc.

Lines:

Erk, lines… a real pain. The amount of time you spent putting these away will be deducted from the amount of time you have to spend now untangling them. If you were putting them away in a rush, chances are they'll be more tangled now. I personally set up with my lines downwind of the kite as I find it much easier. Here goes:

1.) Get the lines out of the line bag and put the line bag somewhere safe (inside your main bag, perhaps).
2.) Walk a metre downwind of the kite and start unravelling the lines in a straight line down wind (I put sand over the loose ends when I start to keep them in one place)
3.) Once you get to the end, remember, red is usually in your left hand but as the kite is effectively upside down, it should be in your right.
4.) Unravel all lines and make (slowly slowly catch a monkey, don't rush it). Once separated, go over them one last time to make sure they really are separated.
5.) Attach the lines and give the looped end a good yank to make sure there is no slack.

Easy.

That's exactly what I do Salty. When my lines were overlapped is when I tried to do it differently to be "different" or a smart-arse more like it. I tried to hook up with the bar upwind! Got all confused what line was what.

I know I sound like a noob, but as an advanced diver, I can assure you it's the guys that think they know it all and have the experience, that get into trouble the most. Noobs are like learner-drivers: SLOW AND STEADY.

Here is another tip:

* To avoid tangles in the line next time you unravel, wind up the lines around the bar figures 8, but every 5th turn wrap one end of line around the tip of the bar and the same on the other tip. This keeps the lines taught even within the wrapping figure 8, and I've had next to zero tangles next time.

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SaltySinus said...
Hey that's a great tip!

Okay, here's my setup notes:

This is the bit I always have to slow myself down on, as I just want to get into the water and make the most of the wind. Here are a few notes (not saying they're good, but they help me).

Kite:

1. Get the kite out of the bag and move away from your bag and crap to make sure there's nothing behind/upwind of you for a few metres.
2. Have only your pump and board to hand. Inflate the kite as usual. When you get some air in your kite, put the board over the leading edge to stop the kite blowing away.(upside down so there is a foot strap over the leading edge to keep the board stable)
3. Once fully inflated and you've secured the valve things… remove the board and turn the kite over (remembering you're the boss, not the kite), once you've turned it over, before you put it down, walk backwards (up wind) so that lines on the kite remain down wind and easier to attach.
4. Place the kite down and if you'd care to do so, put sand on it to weigh it down (at your own risk, especially if it's full of sharp shells and/or rocks etc.)
5. Finally, go round to the rear of the kite and check all of the lines are untangled. Pull them all taught and check there is no fouling etc.

Lines:

Erk, lines… a real pain. The amount of time you spent putting these away will be deducted from the amount of time you have to spend now untangling them. If you were putting them away in a rush, chances are they'll be more tangled now. I personally set up with my lines downwind of the kite as I find it much easier. Here goes:

1.) Get the lines out of the line bag and put the line bag somewhere safe (inside your main bag, perhaps).
2.) Walk a metre downwind of the kite and start unravelling the lines in a straight line down wind (I put sand over the loose ends when I start to keep them in one place)
3.) Once you get to the end, remember, red is usually in your left hand but as the kite is effectively upside down, it should be in your right.
4.) Unravel all lines and make (slowly slowly catch a monkey, don't rush it). Once separated, go over them one last time to make sure they really are separated.
5.) Attach the lines and give the looped end a good yank to make sure there is no slack.

Easy.

Attach your 2 front lines first (even on 5 line kites), then unwind the rest of your lines downwind behind the kite, when you get to the end pull them slightly tight with the red or left side - on the right, or backwards.
Grab your outside or rear lines and walk back to you kite and connect them, 5th line users now walk back to the Y junction and walk your 5th line back up and connect.
Safest and fastest way to connect flying lines, works on any kite. Twists in the centre lines don't matter and can be sorted out once you are on the water if they worry you at all.

Don't put your board on your kite as you pump up, just tie it to the pump leash. You will end up with small cuts and abrasions on your kite if you pump it with a board on it. My advice it never secure your kite with a board, the wind and the consequent flapping and even the rail of the boar will lead to holes in your kite and sudden large rips in your kite when you crash (load the canopy).

Kazan, Kitepower Australia, thank you both for those great tips. I'll definitely try both next time. This is not just to be polite but because I spent about 15mins last night unravelling a semi-bird's nest as I was setting up. I tend only to get an hour or so window at anyone time, so 5mins here, 5mins there makes all the difference to me.

Next problem to solve: keeping moment in light winds. I'm trying to pick up speed by going down wind, but I seem to stall again and again. Things I'm trying: 1. Keeping board pointing directly downwind, 2. sine'ing the kite, 3. shifting my weight around from rear to front and vice versa. 4. putting more/less weight on my heels. How do I know I'm doing something wrong? Others are out with similar sized kites having a great old time.

Next tip: If you buy a harness from ebay (which I did) go round it and make sure the screws are all tight. Mine has screws on the steel hook (thing) and screws on a clip on the front. Also check for a leash (you duh brain!).

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SaltySinus said...
Kazan, Kitepower Australia, thank you both for those great tips. I'll definitely try both next time. This is not just to be polite but because I spent about 15mins last night unravelling a semi-bird's nest as I was setting up. I tend only to get an hour or so window at anyone time, so 5mins here, 5mins there makes all the difference to me.

Next problem to solve: keeping moment in light winds. I'm trying to pick up speed by going down wind, but I seem to stall again and again. Things I'm trying: 1. Keeping board pointing directly downwind, 2. sine'ing the kite, 3. shifting my weight around from rear to front and vice versa. 4. putting more/less weight on my heels. How do I know I'm doing something wrong? Others are out with similar sized kites having a great old time.

Next tip: If you buy a harness from ebay (which I did) go round it and make sure the screws are all tight. Mine has screws on the steel hook (thing) and screws on a clip on the front. Also check for a leash (you duh brain!).

Try the front lines first method exactly as I describe and you will be amazed how quick and easy it is plus when you look back at the bar you can clearly see that your rear or outside lines are not twisted around your centre lines.

Don't ride straight downwind, that is a big mistake. You must keep tension on the kite lines at all times to maintain control of the kite and to at least have a chance of going upwind (or downwind as little as possible). Going downwind deliberately is a skill, and its always done via "reaching" or zig zagging and never straight towards the kite or in the wind direction.
You always need more bias or pressure on you back foot, sometimes more in stronger wind and less in lighter wind but always more than the front foot (generally, there are times where this rule does not apply but this is not the time to explain).
Are those people around you that are going ok the same size and weight as you, approx? Do they have a similar sized board?

Hey Kitepower, thanks for the tips.

1.) Bar lines. Silly question/statement, but I assume I know I've got the centre lines (as opposed to the outside lines) due to the combination of the line colour and connector, right? Definitely keen to give it a whirl, I'll let you know how I go.

2.) Thanks for your warning about not going directly down wind. I assume that's because you want tension on the lines at all times, right?

The people round me all have the same sized kite/mass combo (some even getting some air,...).

I *think* my issue is that I allow the kite to go too far round to the side of the wind window and/or I have too much/little weight on my rear foot.

Next steps are to try and find some +13knotts wind and get some practice in. I've had the kite 'parked' a couple of times with me in motion... it's a great sensation...

Steve had a valid point. In light wind, its not about steering down wind, its about steering enough downwind to keep tension on the lines and build up board speed. I.e. there is a area between upwind and downwind which you will only understand through time on the water. Its difficult to give an exact number, but my guess is that its about 10% downwind.

On the issue of cable, there are a couple of things you can learn there:

1. Its a good way to learn goofie (switch) if you're not used to it. Most people who haven't skateboarded or wakeboarded don't ride naturally on their goofy foot so I recommend people ride as much as possible. Its important to practice edging rather than just riding straight behind the cable which you won't do behind a kite.
2. You can practice changing direction on the cable. generally the easiest way to do it is to edge as hard as you can. Eventually when you get to the other side of the cable, you get slack in the lines and you'll find yourself sinking into the water. When you start sinking, this is normally a good time to switch because the fins don't have as much traction on the water. Switching while you are riding behind the cable is a little harder unless you have a wakeboard because the rocker on a wakeboard is bigger and this makes it easier to slide 180. The alternative to this is to learn to pop the board 180 behind a cable (again, easier with a wakeboard because the rocker makes it pop easier)

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Attach your 2 front lines first (even on 5 line kites), then unwind the rest of your lines downwind behind the kite, when you get to the end pull them slightly tight with the red or left side - on the right, or backwards.
Grab your outside or rear lines and walk back to you kite and connect them, 5th line users now walk back to the Y junction and walk your 5th line back up and connect.
Safest and fastest way to connect flying lines, works on any kite. Twists in the centre lines don't matter and can be sorted out once you are on the water if they worry you at all.

I would like to try this method
But wouldn't the two outside lines still be tangled after being unwound?
I am visualizing having to rotate the bar to untangle them then the other lines becoming even more tangled
Cheers Billy

Things I learnt yesterday, don't go more than a mile off shore as a n00b. Got around 2 miles off shore, went to change direction and my five line kite promptly flipped and twisted. By this time of course the wind decided to change from cross onshore to cross offshore. I self recovered, tied my kite up into my harness, threaded my fifth line through the handle on my TT over my shoulder and back to the safety strap and spent the next hour hauling my arse back to shore. I could image with serious wave and current things could have turned out very differently.

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fingerbone said...
I would like to try this method
But wouldn't the two outside lines still be tangled after being unwound?
I am visualizing having to rotate the bar to untangle them then the other lines becoming even more tangled
Cheers Billy

You know which are your front lines, before you attach them because your kite has kook proof connectors, many kites have the knots on the centre lines and loops on the outside. Most kites do not differentiate left and right on the centre lines, because it does not matter, due to the swivel or other means os untwisting the centre lines (swiveling chicken loop, etc)

Just connect the front lines, then unwind downwind. Yes there will be some twists between the centre and outside lines, but because the 2 centre lines are connected, you only have to sort the twists of the 2 outside lines as you walk once back upwind to your kite. Often when I get to within 3-4M of the kite I stop, the centre lines are between my legs and the outside lines are each of my hands, so I know they are not twisted. I then pull one outside line clear of the centre lines and put it down on the sand close to the rear line pigtail/bridle on the kite. Then I pull the other outside line clear of the centre lines and connect it directly to the kite. I can lift this outside line and see that it clearly runs straight back to the bar end with no twists around the centre lines, then I just connect the other outside line and visually check it too. Job done, and I have only walked my lines once and they are connected with no chance of a mistake.

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Kitepower Australia said...

fingerbone said...
I would like to try this method
But wouldn't the two outside lines still be tangled after being unwound?
I am visualizing having to rotate the bar to untangle them then the other lines becoming even more tangled
Cheers Billy

You know which are your front lines, before you attach them because your kite has kook proof connectors, many kites have the knots on the centre lines and loops on the outside. Most kites do not differentiate left and right on the centre lines, because it does not matter, due to the swivel or other means os untwisting the centre lines (swiveling chicken loop, etc)

Just connect the front lines, then unwind downwind. Yes there will be some twists between the centre and outside lines, but because the 2 centre lines are connected, you only have to sort the twists of the 2 outside lines as you walk once back upwind to your kite. Often when I get to within 3-4M of the kite I stop, the centre lines are between my legs and the outside lines are each of my hands, so I know they are not twisted. I then pull one outside line clear of the centre lines and put it down on the sand close to the rear line pigtail/bridle on the kite. Then I pull the other outside line clear of the centre lines and connect it directly to the kite. I can lift this outside line and see that it clearly runs straight back to the bar end with no twists around the centre lines, then I just connect the other outside line and visually check it too. Job done, and I have only walked my lines once and they are connected with no chance of a mistake.

The only problem here is if you havnt secured the kite properly and it launches as the lines are being run out,and the technique doesnt promote checking lines for any wear.

Hey 'Kitepower Australia', I tried your suggestion of connecting the centre lines first and I got to say,... love it!

Any short comings of this approach are vastly out numbered by the positive points. It's so refreshing to have the tension on the centre lines, it gives you a base line in which to unwind the outside lines.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Also, as per my post on another newbie forum, I'm not up and running (to my left,.. only for now!). I'm still struggling from starting too quickly and out accelerating the kite (which results in slightly slack lines), but I'm able to keep momentum just enough to recover the kite, and keep moving... what a feeling!

Problem now is, I can get from one end of St. Kilda beach to the other in about 2mins on the kiteboard (lack of edging) and it takes me 10mins to walk back up wind... time to work on that edging eh!

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gcdave said...

Kitepower Australia said...

fingerbone said...
I would like to try this method
But wouldn't the two outside lines still be tangled after being unwound?
I am visualizing having to rotate the bar to untangle them then the other lines becoming even more tangled
Cheers Billy

You know which are your front lines, before you attach them because your kite has kook proof connectors, many kites have the knots on the centre lines and loops on the outside. Most kites do not differentiate left and right on the centre lines, because it does not matter, due to the swivel or other means os untwisting the centre lines (swiveling chicken loop, etc)

Just connect the front lines, then unwind downwind. Yes there will be some twists between the centre and outside lines, but because the 2 centre lines are connected, you only have to sort the twists of the 2 outside lines as you walk once back upwind to your kite. Often when I get to within 3-4M of the kite I stop, the centre lines are between my legs and the outside lines are each of my hands, so I know they are not twisted. I then pull one outside line clear of the centre lines and put it down on the sand close to the rear line pigtail/bridle on the kite. Then I pull the other outside line clear of the centre lines and connect it directly to the kite. I can lift this outside line and see that it clearly runs straight back to the bar end with no twists around the centre lines, then I just connect the other outside line and visually check it too. Job done, and I have only walked my lines once and they are connected with no chance of a mistake.

The only problem here is if you havnt secured the kite properly and it launches as the lines are being run out,and the technique doesnt promote checking lines for any wear.

If you haven't secured the kite properly you will have a runaway kite no matter which method you use!
When you unwind you lines the fronts are connected and some slight pressure can be used to assist you to completely unwind them easily and quickly. Then you walk back of the lines to the kite once (thats right only ONCE), during which time you can thoroughly check your lines, because 99% of the time they will be in your hands are you walk and unsift the twists.
Open you mind, try it.

fookiter and Gorgo in another thread have cautioned against using pulling on the Bar to pull you out of the water, and instead, let the kite pull your harness. This reduces the chance of 'pilot induced over powering' (as I've decided to call it) which will pull you over the bar and leave one's sinuses decidedly salty.

Kitepower, is there any reason not to use the connecting front lines technique if you run your lines upwind? (my preference)

Thanks for your advice

Dave, you appear to be left hanging. From my point of view (as a massive newbie) I see no real reason. The only thought I had is if you're going up wind, the wind may pull the lines off the spool/bar and create a bit of a bird's nest.

That said, I spent half an hour last night trying to unwind a bird's nest due to rushing around...

Good luck.

Kitewest and the majority of guys up here in gero run the lines upwind, being taught the same iv just gone with the crowd and have encountered tangles doing so.

today i set up downwind, much easier, i could visibly see everything and imo alot safer when self launching as i did.

As a complete newb (Started and completed lessons with a school last week), I tried the "front lines first" setup as suggested by Kitepower and felt a lot happier about the setup on the beach.

Only needed to sort the tangles on the rear lines, which weren't too bad as it's only taken me one or two times to understand that sorting your lines as you stow them saves a VAST amount of time and bother when you want to get onto the water next.

SaltySinus's point is good, I've been having to check myself constantly about pulling the bar in before the kite is powered up and I'm out of the water, as I find it stalls it every time. It seems as though it's the only habit I need to break from windsurfing

Thanks benipk.

I tried letting the harness pull me out of the water rather than the bar... It's a strange feeling but getting there.

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Dave Whettingsteel said...
Kitepower, is there any reason not to use the connecting front lines technique if you run your lines upwind? (my preference)

Thanks for your advice

I've been away at the Merimbula classic in southern NSW. You can do it in any direction. At Merrimbula with a packed beach in the launch area, I connected my front lines and then ran them sideways to where I would need to stand to launch the kite (this does take some experience). The point of rigging sideways was everyone else was line fumbling upwind or downwind and I knew I would be able to rig faster than any of them and get away before they needed my lines off theirs.

There is no reason why you cannot connect the fronts and rig upwind and its good to know that you can rig in any direction. One drawback of the upwind rig is that you cannot clearly see that everything is clear and untwisted. But you bar is the right way round when you go to pick it up.

Lessoned learned today (not involving me thank christ)

Out at Pt Moore this arvo around 16:00

- Kiter heading downwind
- Dinghy coming in
- Kiter slams into side of dinghy, somersaults over and lands the other side, said he was okay when i asked as he walked over to abuse the dinghy owner who turned out to be a cop.

lesson learned - be ultra aware of the surrounding vessels even if you have the right of way.