James Storm on a sup at 9 and kite at 10 he had 15 lessons before i would let him loose. It was well worth the cash
I picked up sailing at the age of 11 and would participate in races. We went through all the drills for emergencies, knew our gear inside out before we were even allowed to put our boats on the water. Kids are pretty cool in a crisis if they know their drills down pat. They just calmly go through them. The most important thing I can think of is supervision. You wouldn't leave your kids unsupervised around a pool, so as long as you can quickly get out to them if something goes wrong, they are confident swimmers and they wear a PFD I can't see the issue.
Of course, it varies from kid to kid - I'd only introduce a kids to kiting if they demonstrated a keen interest for it.
No I'm not hooked up. He has his own harness. It's only a small trainer kite flown in sensible wind.
Want to see something cool, go down to the pond sometimes and watch a small tacker looping a small wainmen 2 foot off the air with his dad holding onto him with a leash....crazy man. Never met a kid so keen!! Ever.
Theres some good info here for any dad/mum with a grommy wanting to learn, and I don't think there are rules/age limits. Only thing extra is that your location is suitable to start learning the basics. Mine started on a trainer kite.
I have been lucky enough over the last two years to see my 2 lads and daughter get going and get crazy , what a thrill as a parent.
Don't they say " if you kite together, you stay together ?
Anyway to answer q hook into it and teach your grom respect, safety and to "keep the kite flying" when **** happens.
I'm going through the same things. 7 year old son teaching him to kite, ride bikes with gears, cricket etc.
With the kite I get him on the trainer but his concentration span is only about 10 mins so definitely not ready for the next stage. But he loves coming for a ride with me in the right conditions, big kite, shallow water and slow riding. I set up a wide board with deck grip for him.
Can't wait till he is kiting so we can can just get in the car and go when it's on.
do it do it do it I started my son with a trainer kite at 9 he had done over 300 hrs on that thing then he picked up a boogie board from big w the one with the hard plastic underneath and the 2 channels and used that with the trainer in the lagoons at low tide really cool . Wen he turned 12 brought him his own kite a 4 meter dna he only weighed in at 32kgs and a 127 Jamie pro all second hand . We had a bit of trouble with that but we kept at it . last year 13 years we went to gromp weekend at lake webra with adventure sports and he got up and was automaticly cutting up wind . I was out in the middle of the lake and looked around to see him beside me . Was A special moment for me . Now after 4 mths he is doing slide turns and boosting (little but still boosting) over 2 ft waves and we are both out there enjoying the stoke . So do it the rewards you get are priceless and you get to kite more as he ask mum and she cant give into him so easely .
P/s he is now 35kgs and is on an rpm 8 meter .
The are all awesome stories. I hope my boy (5) wants to kitesurf. it will be awesome. The girls don't seem too fussed about it.
But that does beg the question.
Any daughters out their ripping it up?
Alas mine isn't keen, which is a shame. Took her out once, she screamed the whole way out and the whole way back!
I know Jason's girl (Westoz) is starting to get into now, but wasn't fussed earlier on.
Have just got my daughter riding solo on her bike a good distance, she has just turned eight.
I told her its time she learned some kitesurfing as 8 was a good age. "No daddy", she said, "I will learn when I am eighteen".
I may have to resort to some bribes. Around 10 could be a better age.
I am going to start with kite flying a trainer foil.
Its such a blast kiting sup or surfing with youre kids. I have a blast with james kiting.Best moment ever paddling out the cave at ullus into some Bali perfection when he was 10. So proud!!!! and hes a really nice kid too as is aron kenny
howdy
Been a professional Windsurfing Instructor all my life, and Kite Instructor the past 10 years. I have a 9 year old daughter who can windsurf, started at 6 tandem now solo, and is on the 1.5 and 2m trainer kite now, just started last year.....but I don't think she is ready for a solo 5m inflatable kite yet....needs to be a little heavier and nail the safety aspects of kiting which are so different to Windsurfing.
We all want to protect our kids and its not a case of holding them back, I just think when they are ready...they will show you...they have both the mental skills and practical skills to do it safely...no point otherwise..
wait is my advice, weeks of Beach flying is great for them....but don't rush them into the water.
Rgds
Warren Francis
Hey Eppo,
Before you buy a UNO for your little one have a look at the wainman school kites, got a 2.5 rabbit for my 6 year old for christmas looks the part, bomb proof and flies like a real rabbit, is a 3 strut design and probably need a liitle more wind than the uno but the boy loves it, so much so that he pumps it up in the lounge room and sleeps under it.
He uses my Mr Green bar, when he lets go of the bar near 100% depower, it has 3 settings for turning speed and wind stength, amazing little kite, will probably move up to the 4.5 rabbit for next season
I know dude I saw you holding him down with a leash while he looped himself two foot off the water (I just happened to be at the pond that day). As I said he's as keen a little dude as I've come across hey. Well done on getting him on the water man, excellent!!! God knows where he will take it. He will be outdoing you by the age of 8 probably, but hey that's the whole point hey.