hi guys,
Kitesurfing is taking off! I myself have only been kiting for a year, but have not followed the standard path, and would like to share my thoughts with others, as i am becoming extremely addicted and very passionate (like others) of this sport.
Firstly, my opinions are just that, and hope they don't offend anyone. My situation is also based in Melbourne, where the conditions may not be as good as somewhere like WA or Queensland.
My kitesurfing career started off with a free lesson with kitesurf direct. All well and good, i got to fly my first traction kite. I then went on to enquire about lessons with a few different companies. I must throw in a recommendation for Alex Sanz of kitesports in St Kilda. I chose Alex for the pure fact that i could use his gear as long as i wanted, until i was capable of going onto the next level. I think i only paid about $300 all up for lessons, and used his gear for days and days before buying my own.
Alex Sanz is not the most favourite kiter around Melbourne, i think mainly because he opposes all of the mainstream kiteshops in the area. One major point that he made was that these shops are windsurf shops that have turned into kiteshops, whereas he has only ever done kitesports. This man is a true kiter, he broke his ankle during the middle of storms in Melbourne, when most people were probably inside sipping hot soup.
I actually was trained by Paul, one of Alex's friends, and he taught me on an inflatable. It was because of this that i purchased my first kite, a cabrinha C02 12m inflatale. Great kite, did the job, but sold it after a few months. I wanted to get a foil, and was looking at an Ozone Frenzy. Ended up buying a flysurfer, and used this throughout winter to practise my board skills and take up the sport of kite-landboarding. (Awesome sport) Anyway, i'm in the process of selling this for extra funds, and have just purchased myself a new 13m venom. This is the way to go without a doubt.
Inflatables don't last long, if they get one small hole, after a 3-4 hour session they're flat, they weigh a tonne and thus don't like to fly, but everyone uses them. This is the main reason i purchased one for my first kite, as "everyone can't be wrong", but i think everyone is wrong. (personal opinion) The new venom is EVERYTHING that a LEI is and MORE!
Firstly, Peter Lynn arcs are still around the place that are years and years old, still cranking along, because there isn't much that can go drastically wrong with them, usually a bit of sailtape is all that is needed to fix them.
Secondly, no pumping required. On this video i was watching, this professional kitesurfer was asked what is the one thing he would change with his sport, he said he would change pumping up the kites. Peter Lynn kites inflate by themselves and even if they get a leak, they inflate while they're up in the air.
Thirdly, these kites WANT to fly. As long as they are fully inflated, they will stay up in the air. On the instructional DVD that comes with the kite, they include some footage where a guy flies the kite in 360 degrees! I'd like to see them do that with an inflatable, it'll just drop out of the sky!
Fourthly (spelling???), these babies eat gusts. Emphasing point three, even if a huge gust comes along, they will fly forward out of the window, then float back and get grip of the wind again and fly back. Any LEI will just fall out of the sky in harsh conditions.
Fifthly, depower on the venom is huge! All i need is one kite, and 2 boards which leads me to my next point....
Get a landboard. Kitesurfing sux when you're under powered! I see so many guys trying to relaunch there kites, and get up on a plane in one huge down stroke, and then fall back into the water. It is sooo boring, when you could be doing 360's and all sorts on the park right next to the beach! Personally, i like landboarding better then surfing, just for the fact i never have to worry about going upwind, i can do about 3 jumps in a pass and still return to the same spot without even trying.
There is no one but dogwalkers using the parks next to the beach, and the water is getting more crowded and crowded. It's not fun when you've got 50 million kites everywhere, i go out on the water to get a feeling of freedom, not to sit in a traffic jam. I personally don't want to see kitesurfing taking off more than it is, i think it is an extreme sport, that will only end in tears with the amount of kites that are going up around the areas near me.
I don't have to worry about this, as no one kites near me, i launch on a grass area, go on beautifully flat water for a bit, by myself, while 50 kiters downwind of me struggle to get out of each others way. I then put a shirt on and have a great session on the mountain board, while everyone else is walking up the beach trying to gain some ground.
Just thought i'd give my fresh views to all the noobs out their thinking of taking up kitesports. IT'S ADDICTIVE! But don't get caught in the mainstream inflatable path. Go the venom, and go landboarding!
Any questions, feel free to e-mail me: james_ellery(at)optusnet.com.au
if you're in the melbourne area, i'd be more than happy to meet up and show you what it's all about. Don't know whether i'd like to show you my secret spot though, i kinda like having it to myself.
James
