Advice?

adamrod · Post by **adamrod** » Mon May 11, 2009 9:02 am

my opinion on gear is you should ride whatever you learned on with your lesson or whatever your friends ride at the same beach that you ride. that way they can help you out when you have questions because no gear is perfect and you're gonna have issues or want to know how best to tune it.

we're all biased, but I think everyone can agree that every company makes great kites nowadays, and as long as you don't get some kite that is "designed for the hard core competition rider" you're gonna be fine.

you'll have better luck talking to folks on the beach....that way they can size you up and your ability and give you realistic advice :-)

ramsey · Post by **ramsey** » Mon May 11, 2009 9:11 am

Dude you totally missed the boat.

I just gave away the perfect setup for you.

2004 19m Fuel squat rider (cuz it makes you look like you're on the toilet all the time)
2006 XXL Fusion diaper harness
2009 Home depot plywood 10kg board

OliverG · Post by **OliverG** » Mon May 11, 2009 9:25 am

Sweet rig, Ramsey! Someone missed out on that...

As some may have picked up on, I was just jumping on the bandwagon with my comments, although I believe them to be true... :P

But seriously, what some have said about kites and gear is really to try different things, see what you like best, what works for you best, etc. There's a few top brands out there and popular in our area, but the truth in advertising is that most, maybe not all, of the people who are most evangelical about the gear have an interest in promoting them.

What we need is an article on trying out, choosing and testing gear as a buying guide with no brand mention. Volunteers?

windhorny · Post by **windhorny** » Mon May 11, 2009 9:58 am

how long have you been riding? Tell us your skills a bit more. upwind no problem? You talk about getting into freestyle, which normally implies you know how to do everything else pretty well.
And no matter what colors you fly, regardless of occasional brand slander and finger pointing, we all love eachother like a big happy, sometimes disfunctional, family. :)

welcome

adamrod · Post by **adamrod** » Mon May 11, 2009 10:33 am

What we need is an article on trying out, choosing and testing gear as a buying guide with no brand mention. Volunteers?

hey Ollie....I'll write that article....

uptightandwhite · Post by **uptightandwhite** » Mon May 11, 2009 11:35 am

Hey people,

=D> thanks so much for all the replies! Forgot to introduce myself 24/M/Alameda.

I ride at my not so secret spot near the navy base mostly...I have just got the hang of heading upwind, popping the board and...flailing horribly. I was just wondering if there was a definitive kite that I can't live without...1500 bucks is a large expense for me so I thought I would give the forums a shot.
Currently I have a 12m slingshot/Naish TT 156 board. I feel the kite is way too big for my skill and the normal wind conditions in Alameda section of the bay. Often when I pop up and spin I find the kite heading too far upwind then going into a death spin to the water...then again I am a newbie...

As for asking for advice from guys on the beach in Alameda, I'll do that...just moved back up from Huntington Beach and have been conditioned to think that people in wetsuits won't always be necessarily friendly :mrgreen:

looking forward to seeing you all out on the water having fun!

windhorny · Post by **windhorny** » Mon May 11, 2009 11:46 am

If you are riding up there you are probably gettign better winds than the restof us that ride at the DESIGNATED launch. Alameda is unfortunately shadowed by many obstacles. But when it's good, it's great as you have 2 miles of soft beach to drag your board/kite upwind through the public with your leash. Kidding. I think.

what SS are you riding? It will give a better idea for what you are used to. An STD(slingshot turbo diesel) is gonna be a lot different than a fuel.

uptightandwhite · Post by **uptightandwhite** » Mon May 11, 2009 2:19 pm

Thanks for the input!

I am on an older SS Fuel 120... I also have a Fuel 140 that turns like a slug and scares the crap out of me.

Are there any ordinances regarding where I can and can't launch from? I live in Ballena Bay just across from crown beach...just around the corner is a jetty...flat water...gray ships...

OliverG · Post by **OliverG** » Mon May 11, 2009 6:11 pm

adamrod wrote:
What we need is an article on trying out, choosing and testing gear as a buying guide with no brand mention. Volunteers?

hey Ollie....I'll write that article....

Adam, that would be super helpful, it warms my heart to get offers like that and is great for everyone...

Thanks!
Ollie

windhorny · Post by **windhorny** » Mon May 11, 2009 8:19 pm

you can try shorter fins to start with, most boards have fins that are very restrictive in terms of maneuvering with the board in the water. If your riding old fuels you are gonna be impressed by anything new. Most noticably the windrange, relaunch and stability.

in terms of legal launches, just assume there aren't any! we(they, boardsports) are granted access at the shack by the county and that is pretty fragile. So really what it comes down to is if a bunch of people start making their own launches like at max's place-which is really a much better launch than the shack- then we are raising red flags for all of us by spreading out too far. it is ideal if you can launch from the shack or max's and then get out of the congestion. there is plenty of realestate to play in out there, it's just the launch and walking up the beach when there are beach goers that seems to be the main issue. Also, if something goes wrong we are all there to help if we can see you.

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