I'm a new kiter living on the Sunshine Coast and am wondering if anyone knows of a kiting group that is supportive of beginners anywhere between Brisbane & the Sunny Coast.
After a lesson package and a few goes on my own (supervised) I am able to rig up, launch (with assistance) & ride the board quite well, however I'm apprehensive to get out there by myself as my confidence levels are not up there just yet and don't want to get myself into any trouble.
It would be great to find a group that have "kite days" for beginners.
Any ideas?
Cheers!
Hey Muzza,
If you're up to the point where you're willing to go into the open sea, i.e. not in the estuaries, then I'd just show up to one of the main launch points and ask to join one of the groups who will inevitably leave from there if the wind is on. In a Southerly that is Mudjimba/Peregian on the North side or Anne St/Wurtulla on the South side; In a Northerly Sunshine/Yaroomba on the North side or S-Bends/Kawana surf club on the South side. Most of the guys on the coast are pretty open and friendly and won't have any problems letting you tag along.
Just note that you will probably travel a lot slower than most groups will, so any comfort you get from travelling in groups will no doubt vanish in the first 20 minutes when they disappear down the coast.
If you want to go it on your own the South side (s-bends to dicky beach) is a great place to cut your teeth, with minimal rocks, less swell than up North and less people/dogs to contend with. Just be aware that if the wind is close to either due North/South it will cut out a lot more down there than on the North side.
If your still in the estuaries then a group isn't probably going to help you much as it's pretty much every man for himself. I stayed well clear of them while I was learning, too much stress.
Have fun and I'll see you out there. 
Hey DI33ta
Thanks heaps for your reply.
I'm not quite ready for the ocean just yet but I got down to Golden Beach yesterday and the crew down there were very friendly, heaps of room for the unskilled kiter like me. It was a little easier on the nerves, rather than feeling like you are on the M1 at peak hour!
A few more sessions and I will heed your advice and head down to Kawana Surf Club soon for a downwinder.
Cheers :)
Where do you live Muzza i am probably about the same skill level. How are you with going upwind? Andrew
hay guys so it looks like we have some ****ty wind for few days and noticeing that your all rather quite new. when theres no rain i reccomend just takeing a few minutes take your kite to a nice green park/oval go thru your equipment setup lines etc pump kite etc etc might sound a bit stupid but if youve done it less then a hundred times it cant hurt. maybe while your there check your line lengths have a clear understanding that (most likely your kites are 4 line bow kites for freeride) if your line lengths are all equal your kite will sit happily in one position. if one lines shorter then there will be tension on that 1 line and will make it steer slightly in one direction all the times. allso if you are not aware of the "progression begginer dvd" itll give you everything you need to know and will help reinforce a few things you may have forgotten since your lesson. if you know what a torrent is you know where to go for that.
make sure it is below 5knots when at the park before pumping kite. tie your lines to a fence post or anything practice rehearseing your quick release. your going to feel a bit like a muppet doing all this but once you can get all this done with your eyes closed you wont have that little hit of anxiety at the beach when you least need it and your hooking onto the bar and wondering if theres a twist in your lines or if you forgot to attach one.
also youll notice there a few different settings where you can attach your lines. read your kites usermanual and understand exactly what those settings do. i still meet kiters on a regular basis who know that this setting means it turns faster this one means more depower but they dont actually know why those flight characteristics occur in those settings.
so dont slow down on your development over ****ty windless days ahead because you lucky little fellas still have plenty of off water kiteing to do :)
(seriously dont try launch your lei kite in the park winds allways gusty unless super light wind)
