BayAreaKiteboarding.com

hi i am just getting into the sport and i have been having a very hard time. i kite bymyself since there is no one to kite with so it is very hard to self launch although i do it. the problem i am having is with my 16m fone kite. the wind is blowing about 8 and when i lift off and fly it around, sometimes it folds over onto itself. it seems like my kite is inflated enough but im just not sure. any pointers would be very appreciated.

ZB,

I know its hard to accept but do yourself, especially your health a big favor and take lessons before you take your kite out again. Kiting is so much fun but it can also really get extremely dangerous if you dont understand in depth what you do and especially what not to do. A beginner kiter died in Santa Cruz this year as he didnt judge the situation right. He started with " all ok" and it took him literally seconds to hit the rocks.

Please please take lessons, it will be overall so much cheaper for you in any way as you will mess with the schools stuff and not with yours. Check around here on the site as there are many schools all over the place.

Sorry, but I will not comment on your problem as already launching alone as a beginner is a very high risk, especially with a 16. Do you know how your safety works?

G

Man, you have a death wish!!!

Please don't self launch your 16 meter kite even on a 8 knot day, specially at your level. [-X Where do you kite anyway? You are probably better off going to Alameda, have a chat with either Kite Wind Surf, or Board Sports School about safety, maybe sign up for some lessons with them (I'm not affiliated with any of these schools).

At the very least, there are other kiters there that can help you launch. Chances are, if the person realizes that you don't have the proper skills to launch you, the person will give you pointers on how to do it properly.

hi i am just getting into the sport and i have been having a very hard time. i kite bymyself since there is no one to kite with so it is very hard to self launch although i do it. the problem i am having is with my 16m fone kite. the wind is blowing about 8 and when i lift off and fly it around, sometimes it folds over onto itself. it seems like my kite is inflated enough but im just not sure. any pointers would be very appreciated.

yeah, it sounds like either the kite is rigged wrong or it's really underinflated. both of which would be remedied by stopping by a more populated kite beach (as the other guys before me have said).

in the off chance that you live on some remote island with no access to other kiters, here's my suggestion. Get a pump with a gauge. You should pump your kite up to probably around 8 psi. There really isn't much of a disadvantage to pumping your kite up hard. If you don't have a gauge, when you tap the leading edge, it should give a nice high ping, and when you squeeze on the end of the leading edge, it shouldn't give very much at all...

lol who wants to die of old age anyway? i am kiting at a lake with no rocks to kill myself but it would be cool to take some lessons if i wasnt a broke pilot. thanks for the responses. i have not had anyproblems launching the kite bymyself and i am totally comfertable flying it. the only problem is just it folding back on itself, the reason i think that it was doing this is becasue the wind was not strong enough ( its been about 6 gusting 8 lol!) thanks agin for the help guys!