Teenage Kiteboarders? Where are they?

[yojimbo]

I think what is missing in this discussion is some self awareness. The majority of people that do this sport are middle aged white guys, and amazingly enough, nothing is less hip or has less street cred than this demographic.

This is a growing sport, it doesn't suffer for lack of teenagers wanting to do it. Any teens I see doing it, do it because their dad and possibly their mom are already kiting. Okay, now think about the kind of teenager that wants to do something their parents are doing-normally, during the teenage years, you are rebelling against your parents-you don't want to be anywhere or do anything with them.

The cost, the hassle of all the equipment, and then getting to the water, this is not for teenagers.

I have two boys, and they both agree that kiting is really dweeby, and I totally agree.

Regarding orthography, I think for some posters on this site, English is a second language.

[Aloha]

There is nothing like grabbing a friend or two and jetting to an exotic location for a 4 day weekend to kite and surf

Teenagers and college kids are definitely missing out

[le noun]

There is nothing like grabbing a friend or two and jetting to an exotic location for a 4 day weekend to kite and surf

Teenagers and college kids are definitely missing out

Kids those days. :roll:

And yes yojimbo, English IS my second language.

[buckidge]

I have two boys, and they both agree that kiting is really dweeby, and I totally agree.

Ha! Never thought of it as dweeby. I figured it's 'cool' like surfing or something, but what do I know...

I guess maybe kiting still hasn't made the cover of Obscure Sports Quarterly yet, nor getting much airtime on ESPN8 - "The Ocho"

I wonder if Olympic Kiting will change this... Maybe it stays dweeby with racing (nothing against the racers out there) but TV coverage of freestyle could change things. I'm thinking X-games style coverage.

[acctx]

Not just cost. Teenagers aren't the most respectful to the things they have. I should know. I was one a long time ago.

Kites do not exactly fall into the 'indestructible' category. It can be done but breaking skis or snowboard or bike or skateboard is a lot more difficult.

Also it's not like where we kite is easy to access. When was the last time you pulled in to your fav kite spot from Muni or rode your bike? You kinda need a car too which not every teen has access to.

I take the 30 to crissy :)

[adamrod]

i dunno, the CKA (collegiate) competitions are pretty popular....a lot of those kids are teenagers...

[manplesvanuatu]

maybe that's why our talent pool is quite weak:-)
I have friends who live in the Netherelands and there are plenty of kids there who practice kiteboarding there . Handlepasses? a Dime 2 dozen.

I kite a lot at 3rd. Lots of old silicon valley geeks (speaking for myself haha)...I and the rest buy the best stuff (so to believe) and then don't know what to do with it:-)..lawn mowing is our speciality.

paul

[buckidge]

i dunno, the CKA (collegiate) competitions are pretty popular....a lot of those kids are teenagers...

Are any Bay Area Schools represented? Or West Coast for that matter?

[tomerp]

maybe that's why our talent pool is quite weak:-)

I kite a lot at 3rd. Lots of old silicon valley geeks (speaking for myself haha)...I and the rest buy the best stuff (so to believe) and then don't know what to do with it:-)..lawn mowing is our speciality.

paul

OK you are bringing up something thats been on my mind - Cant speak for lower launch where the experts are - Because I kite at the third upper launch as well. And I agree that often we look pretty boring up there at upper. Rarely do you see anyone doing more than a backroll, and even backrolls are rare. Mostly we just mow the lawn and jump 10 or so feet. We can video the upper launch kite scene and market it as videos to help people fall asleep with their ipads in bed :)

Honestly I tried to step up to the plate and have been trying to do some tricks but ripped my kite twice already due to accidental kite loops while trying things. At this point Im worried that if I bring another torn kite repair to Sonny he will shoot me :) So I gave up for now and just mowing the lawn while yawning and making frog like jumps. I also cant afford at this point to break anything in my body cause I dont want to miss work (silicon valley workaholic).

At least what I did is, I increased the bar pressure on my switchblade by moving the outside lines towards the front some more. Now at least I get a GREAT workout everyday, like doing 100 pullups, since my bar pressure is so high :)

[jrg]

Honestly I tried to step up to the plate and have been trying to do some tricks but ripped my kite twice already due to accidental kite loops while trying things.

Keep at it - but put your hands in the center (almost touching the center depower line). Also let go off the bar the second things go poorly, this will really reduce your chance of smacking the kite hard. Plenty of other kiters around to keep the lawn mowed....