absolute beginner kite jumping at burning man!

reefhugger · Post by **reefhugger** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:51 pm

i am an absolute beginner extremely interested in doing little baby jumps with a kite to catch the teeniest bit of air and get to feel floatiness! i dreamt i did it upon my arrival, with a chicken wire kite (obviously physics is not of interest to my imagination) and really im talking about 1-4 feet in the air in light-light/medium winds. no storms, no getting carried far far away, no helmets, no harnesses, just little fun times. can anyone recommend a kite for this?? i, sadly, will never be a kiteboarder because i find it impossible to be on top of the water instead of under it, but i would like to pursue this jumpy jumpy business in a not very serious way. also, of course, primers on getting going (although i have seen quite a few available).

any help would be treasured, and im sorry, i feel like im disrespecting your sport by asking this question in this way, but i hope you understand it is in the most sincerest interest of fun!

gnukid · Post by **gnukid** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:00 pm

Please don't do this. Jumping on land has one possible outcome, you will come down on your ankles, if you are lucky. You will get hurt eventually. Is it not a sport to pursue. Very athletic people have died. Go kitesurfing on the water with an instructor.

wjb · Post by **wjb** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:33 pm

May I suggest...

Proparoo · Post by **Proparoo** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:13 pm

Oh please, take it from people that know, (most of us) Don't go to Burning Man and start doing what your thinking, really bad idea... one thing to think about is, you will be in the middle of nowhere and though there will be extra medical attention during the festival, there is a real good chance you might need Air Flight to a real hospital and that could be tricky.

Some how I get the feeling you will do it anyway.. best to go get some chicken wire so at least you will not actually make it off the ground.

There will be a few local kiters at BM, you might ask them....

Come on Rita, this is where you step in, (can't wait to hear your response)

windhorny · Post by **windhorny** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:21 pm

As much as you dont want to play around with inflatable kites I used to jump all over the place with my flexifoil blades before i got into this sport. But i slowly worked up to it. But it can be fun. Just trust your instincts, when in doubt dont fly a 5 meter blade in 25 mph.!

reefhugger · Post by **reefhugger** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 6:49 pm

i was kind of expecting this response but honestly you guys, if you had any idea what a baby i am you wouldnt worry. i am way way way more concerned with the preservation of the people around me and myself, i am not an extremist i am a straight up wuss who wants to play in the most basic form possible. ive seen people doing what im talking about with tarps, military chutes, etc. so even a 42" kite is dangerous? 56"? 2.0m? there has to be a point where you can just barely get off the ground and still be safe for a small wind range? cant you just let go of the kite if you get above a certain point (which for me would be about 2 feet?) my instincts are very strongly DONT DIE!

i used to live next to a popular kitesurfing beach and have also seen many hours with and by professionals as one of the most insanely dangerous things ive ever witnessed in person. i have seen very experienced surfers get smashed to smithereens, i can guarantee im more cautious than any of yall crazy people. although it looks completely amazing. if i cant have any fun, at least have some for me :(

adamrod · Post by **adamrod** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:38 pm

i have a 3m foil kite that I mess around with sometimes, and you can get a bit of lift from something like that, but never enough to really get any dangerous air.

i would probably get a foil because they're more durable and require no set-up. NEVER use a harness, and something in the 3m range would be fine. you really can't hurt yourself on something like that because you can just let go of the thing. make sure you have a leash that you can attach to your belt so the kite doesn't float away however.

kimbro · Post by **kimbro** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:07 pm

reefhugger as a burner who appreciates BRC's "Safety third!" ethic, I gotta say the people on this forum are the real deal and know what they're talking about. Flying leaps holding onto a parachute is one thing. Getting caught in a rolling gust strapped to a kite is another ball of wax. Playa is not soft and cushy to land on, and the big furry cat car is a bitch to aim for while airborne.

To further harsh your mellow, check out https://www.bayareakiteboarding.com/about3691.html for what happens when things go haywire. I appreciate the sentiment, and there's surely a way to both catch that rush without gambling your legs.

grumpy · Post by **grumpy** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:48 pm

I say take some mushrooms, get naked, light your kite on fire, and go for it.

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:12 am

Smoke shrooms, light yourself on fire! And Dude!, I know this other dude that would LOVE to help you out with some gas for your kite, get your chicken wires hooked up to a stun gun.... =D>

BIG FUN!! Send it!!

remember, ant'e called burning man for nuth'n
I'll hook you up bro :mrgreen: ..,
Limm

BayAreaKiteboarding.com

absolute beginner kite jumping at burning man!

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