Another innovative(after full moon kiting))) Kiteboarding approach:
Tandem Kiting with the groms. We have a harness for the back where the kids jump in and come for a ride..
The bigger ones 12+ are just hanging on our backs like little monkeys.
Our youngest (4yrs old) and keenest Tandem Rider is Tash ( on the pix below). She loves riding toeside and wants to jump after counting to three. She also starts singing after a while.
We also drag the kids behind us on a board, standing up and holding on to a safety leash.
The kids love it and its a great way to get them into the sport early!
A few tips: Try to ride upright, if you lean back their legs will be bouncing of the water. Get the passenger to wrap his/her legs around your hips.
Be careful with your head, dont throw it back and be aware of your their head.
Riding toeside works better having the kid more leaning on you shoulder, and you can get low haven them riding the wave and touching the water-- big giggles to be expected
If you boost dont do it too high and land softly with your head pushed forward.
Give it a go your kids will be very thankful and its fun and safe if you are careful.
Hang loose
Marve*
Pictures of the Tandem Board riding are coming soon..
We used a bigger board (138cm) and i worked very well. Only transitions are hard.
Disnt made one..
I`m sure some people are thinking this is a bit dangerous. But I think it`s cool, as long as like you said you just have to be a bit carefull. I seen this chap with his kid standing on the board between his legs and leaning back on to him. That looked like a good way to give the kid a feel of board riding.
DUDE this is awsome.. my gf is just about to pop ours out.. now i was trying to convince her that lil jax can just sit in one of those baby harnesses and it would be totally safe because i would attach floaties to his arms... needles to say i dont think i will be able to take our child to the beach till he is about 4 :)
but seriously i got to show her this great idea! just curoius but how do u upwind body drag with her on the back? does she get a mouth full of water or still keep her head oout of water?
G'day,
I had my kids jump on my back, my eldest was the hardest to ride because she was the heaviest, I needed a fair bit of wind to ride properly. Funny thing, at the time, my youngest was scared to swim in our pool at home but flying out to sea on my back in 20 knots, she loved it.
When it got too much for them, they let go.
Fun for a quick laugh!!
cheers,
Robert
Wondering about the body dragging with kiddy on your back? I guess you wont be doing anything too extreeme for the board to come off and not going out too far.
Now I just need one of those back carriers big enough for my kid, she`s 20yrs old?
That's great Ruffy. Great to share that kind of thing with your kids. As you say, you just take it easy and be careful (shallow water etc) the risk is very low for experienced riders.
This is disgustingly dangerous.
Seeing as though yachties, windsurfers and kayakers etc manage to get trapped under their gear and drown sometimes, isn't this even more dangerous? I can forsee lines wrapped around you and the child and you unable to get the backpack undone.
Very rare for me to agree with waveslave but he's on the money with this one.
If you insist on being a furking idiot at least give that poor child a fighting chance by letting her wear a pfd.
Even if you believe its safe to piggyback your child when kitesurfing you should not be promoting it on a public forum. If this practise becomes popular how long will it be before we hear about a tragic accident involving a kitersurfer and their child?
The yank who started that "Windsurfing Cancelled" business admits windsurfing is better for younger kids and has his daughter windsurfing. When she is older he will introduce her to kiting. That way she will know both sports and be able to do both.
Its up to you to promote piggybacking your child but for your sake and the sports of kiting and windsurfing I hope it doesn't catch on.
And what happens when it all goes wrong? Can she swim 50-100+ metres on her own in rough water? You should be planning for the worst case, not assume experience etc will prevent tragic accidents. PFD at a minimum, and make sure she can get herself out, you may not always be able to.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=44730
Even experienced Kiters have accidents, why put your children in unnecessary danger? Would you let your child go for a drive in the car with no seatbelt? Accidents CAN and DO happen all the time!!!
I am a parent, my kids can swim, but I would NEVER be so stupid as to do something like this, and funny enough but compared to you I am still a beginner..... Dude, you are an INSTRUCTOR!!!!!
EPIC FAIL!!!
PS: I know you can't live your life wondering about the "what ifs" however there are so many things that "could" go wrong that makes what you are doing with your children so very wrong.
Are you going to tell the story or shall we just take your word for it that one minute he was fine- the next he was entangled in line. My bet is the he broke his line, swam to his kite by holdings one line, tried to swim in without doing up the lines and got tangled even though there was no power in the kite.
Serious it is extermely hard without being in large surf to get tangled in your lines.
People only will take their own kids out and I'm sure most parents would correctly assess the risks. Not saying it is for everyone but I have no problem with an experienced rider doing it.
The most dangerous part of kiting is still driving to and from the beach, even if you have got ya kids strapped in...
Is teachin your kids to kite at a young age irresponsible??
What about teachin them how to ride a bike??
People on this site need to lighten up a bit, nothing wrong with parents bonding with their kids doin what they love.