simple girl said:
Just showed my DH this and his response is "I want one, too!"
He wants to know what happens if a big gust of wind comes along? Can it take you away or is there an emergency release of some sort?
OH, and how much does it cost? LOL
S-girl, Some info for your DH.
Big gust of wind: that bar you see me holding onto in the close up of the previous post steers and depowers the kite. Like a stunt kite; pull left, kite goes left. Pull the bar in and the kite powers up, let it out and the kite depowers but still stays in the air. In a gust you push the bar out, in a lull you pull the bar in. Just a few years ago kites had very little depower and lousy emergency releases so it was bit more dangerous-challenging to learn but you also gained quick respect for weather-location conditions. New kites today have huge depower range and much better emergency releases. Little red thing between the bar and me is the emergency release. Pop it and the kite looses virtually all power and falls to the water. You are still connected to it so it won't blow away. DW and DD are my launch crew when available and chase vehicle for downwinder trips. Self launching-landing takes more experience.
Cost: one new kite rig, board, harness, helmut, misc, ~$1700-2200 new, ~$800-1300 used
Two kite sizes needed to handle most common wind ranges. You can stuff everything in one golf bag for airline travel. Was just at the 3rd Ave launch by San Manteo bridge this last week (not a beginner spot).
Always (no exceptions) take professional lessons to get started. Best to learn in safe locations (steady moderate winds, waist deep water with soft bottom, lots of clear downwind space, no boats or strong currents, gusty inland lakes not so good). Like many sports you can make it as safe or as dangerous as you want. I see 60 and even 70 yr kiteboarders all time now. Outer Banks and South Padre Island are two of the best learning locations in the States. These shots are soundside in Nags Head.
There are endless fun little tricks even us older wimps can learn. Here is a onehanded 540 deg back spin move I taught myself in the last few months. About 20-50 interesting wipeouts to learn each new trick.
Always a great workout and way more fun than the treadmill at the Y (which is what I'm stuck with today).
OK, back to the regularly scheduled weight loss program or I will babble on forever about this.