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History of inflatable kites photo documentary.
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:26 am
by jstjohn3
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:10 am
by Sander
Really interesting to see so much creativity and perserverance...
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:56 pm
by Proparoo
I can only think, that we will look back in 10 years at out "State of the art" current equipment and laugh how we though it was the Shizzel..
It was the same way with Windsurfing....
I wonder what they thought of the equipment in the photos back in the day ( 1998)
Let's not forget that was less than 8 years ago....
Pretty exciteing I think, to get into this sport in it's infancy..
I'm still sore from yesterday :rolleyes:
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:07 pm
by airess
bruce(sheldon) has video and photos from 'back in the day'. the bars are like 3ft wide. he was the only guy doing it here and in La Ventana. he could tell you some great stories(like seat belting himself in his suburban as a 'hold-down') i think it's funny that the latest tricks are 'un-hooked', shit we used to launch and land the kite un-hooked routinely, not only was there no '5th line', there wasn't a 4th or even a 3rd line! all power all the time....yeah baby!
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:29 pm
by Proparoo
Yah Baby,,,, Back in the day Bruce was "DA MAN"
I remember watching them float up river and us windsurfers were thinking "Oh Man that looks so F'd up..."
But now even I have crossed over to the "dark side"
Now all I have to do is get my Little Lady to cross over..
Seriously doubt it... but one can hope..
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 7:14 pm
by Bulldog
Proparoo wrote:I can only think, that we will look back in 10 years at out "State of the art" current equipment and laugh how we though it was the Shizzel..
It was the same way with Windsurfing....
Huh, even current windsurfing gear still looks pretty outdated these days to me me compared to kiting. :twisted:
I'm still sore from yesterday :rolleyes:
I can barely move my legs. Definitely the sorest I've ever been from kiting.
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 7:42 pm
by Proparoo
Paul,
Current windsurfing boards are pretty state of the art but sails are pretty standard these days (to me)
I just guess everything has stabelised as windsurfing is now close to 30 years old.
I still think we will look back and shake our heads...
Here is one example,
As I still windsurf and mainly expect to do it when it is cranking ( 25 to 50mph) I went our this Summer and bought a new early 1990's Dill 7'8" that I found up in the Gorge. The point is, some of the old gear just worked better... sure I have a new really light tiny carbon board, but when it honking, well heavy glass just works better.
I am confident some things will revert back (over the years) but I am also confident the gear will progress and change drastically for some time.
One thing is for sure, though I don't have lots of experience with "C" kites, I must say I don't think I would have learned & progressed as quickly as I have if not for the depower of my Sonic...
Just my $ .02 worth.....
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:59 pm
by Bulldog
It would be nice for someone to come up with a truly idiot-proof system for rigging/landing/launching. Like you said, something none of us can even visualize right now.
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:55 pm
by elli
Its also funny to look at the boards they used in early days. It seems there was a lot going on before the current wakeboard shapes that we use today. Good link.
Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:13 am
by Greg
Bruno, simply put is.. THE REAL DEAL!
humbling indeed,
L.M.G.