Was certainly good swimming exercise, checked the video and it was around 15mins from the time the camera went into the water to the time I got out. All the while towing my water logged kite, needless to say I was fkn knacked. Yeah I didn't get out again last week either, too much family stuff. I am possibly going to be looking at heading down Wednesday, Friday or Saturday/Sunday arvo this week. After last weeks efforts of 2hrs of traffic jams to get down there it is getting very hard for me to justify the driving down mid week. Might end up being a Friday arvo/weekend thing. Only problem is that means it's going to take longer for me to progress 
warehosue13 - scooter with a board rack, then filter like a maniac is the answer to your traffic woes. Im considering it :)
Select to expand quotemanlykiter said..
warehosue13 - scooter with a board rack, then filter like a maniac is the answer to your traffic woes. Im considering it :)
yeah I rode bikes for years and i love lane splitting, but had one too many incidents caused but other stoopid drivers and too many close calls to fatals. I keep my bike riding to the track these days
Ok so, last time out I finally got to give my new gopro line mount a go that my boys got me for xmas.
It's not the greatest video of all time obviously but I am pretty impressed with the shot angle, when I can actually get up and stay up I am sure I can get some much better vids
I like the very last second :P
I got out for a giant session yesterday, and a tiny session today. Yesterday was a bit frustrating as I could get up and riding, but it wasn't really that fun, and it was hard work, and I didn't seem to be progressing. My walks of shame were getting shorter and shorter though!
Today I had a mini session as I was too overpowered for it to be sensible, but NO WALK OF SHAME. Going upwind seems much easier when there's a lot of wind, and I was aggressively pushing my heels in. My stance felt a lot more relaxed too, although maybe that was just because I was fresh.
I lost my brand new hat! That's what I get for not tying it to myself. The kite powered up and I got dragged down through the water during a crash, and when I came up - no hat.
PS - don't get too jealous that I can get out so often, I'm really starting to miss my regular income!
Hey all, I have missed most of this post since it's beginning, but thought I'd try my luck anyhow. I'm a newbie (very new!) looking for people to go kitesurfing with mainly during the week. I've as yet only done it in Newcastle, thus unfamiliar with the best beginner spots around sydney. Anyone out there willing to show me around? Cheers Phoebe
Select to expand quoteFrisbi said..
Hey all, I have missed most of this post since it's beginning, but thought I'd try my luck anyhow. I'm a newbie (very new!) looking for people to go kitesurfing with mainly during the week. I've as yet only done it in Newcastle, thus unfamiliar with the best beginner spots around sydney. Anyone out there willing to show me around? Cheers Phoebe
Hey Phoebe 
Happy to meet up when I am down there.
1st Carpark is probably the most popular spot amongst sydney kiters, I personally prefer Kurnell on the other side of the bay, but it can be a bit tricky with small beach space for launching and landing (I have torn my kite there before), it is however a lot flatter for complete newbs like me to have a chance of getting up without worrying about swell.
As far as skill goes I am probably the worst out of anyone in here and I am still struggling to perfect my water starts and stay powered up and riding for more than 100m (about 200m is my record lol).
On another note, had a mediocore session at kurnell today. Stuggled keeping powerd up and keep getting disoriantated when I was out on the water and struggled to get my head around where to point my board down wind (I know super newb mistake). It lead to a lot of water starts across wind and even up wind so a lot of stand then sink immediately type starts. Ended up getting a few good small runs and started edging, a little up wind even, but every time I edged I just lost all power and sunk back down 
. Ended up the session on a sht note when I was heading back in, screwed up the start, my right leg came out of the strap and as I belly flopped the board was nicely inline with my right shin and the edge got pile driven straight into my shin. I now have a mango sized edge and a nice split open leg right below my right knee 
. First real kite injury so I suppose I did achieve something for the day haha
Hey there!
I'm new to the sport as well, and would love some buddies to learn with who are in a similar place! Have spent a lot of time watching kite surfers fly around and finally decided to give it a go myself! I've had 3 lessons -- got up on the board and going a bit on #3 and am in the process of getting my own gear now so I can get out there on my own and start to really get the hang of it. Just trying to make sense of which size kite to start out with...
Hoping to get out some evenings after work but it's proving difficult during the week. Have been going Fridays and want to get some longer weekend sessions in as well. Hoping to be out there this upcoming week/weekend if anyone will be around Botany Bay?
k
Have you got gory pics of the leg, Warehouse? Were you on the smaller kite?
You'll be onto the next stage in no time, where you'll be cursing the constant walks of shame!
I'm finding that I can now handle much sloppier launches. If I dove the kite too fast in the past I'd be launched superman fashion over the top, but now I point my board straight downwind and usually ride it out. Sometimes I even manage to turn back upwind before the lines go slack and I sink. If I don't put enough speed into the kite I can sometimes recover by bringing it up and down again quickly, but I'm sure I look like a right idiot as I bob up and down to the experienced guys! (Not that anyone's watching.)
My favourite spot is Kurnell, but I've been going to 1st carpark recently as it's 20-30 mins drive instead of 50-60mins. Doll's point has the most room on the beach for launching etc, but I find it harder when in the water due to the currents and other water users going up and down the channel. There's also less room downwind, which is important at my stage!
The easiest wind is the afternoon north-easterly sea breeze. It's a good angle for 1st carpark etc and Kurnell, and blows you AWAY from the airport. There is a southerly due tomorrow (Mon), but they're harder for us newbies as the wind is more up and down.
I'm happy to meet up, and can usually get down during the weekdays, work permitting.
Nah was too busy icing it last night, thankfully that has gotten rid of most of the swelling. Nice little gash though
I wish I was as positive as you, every time I tried to edge and start going up wind I just lost all power in the kite and had to start again. Still making plenty of stupid newbie mistakes as well, just need more time on the water.
The other thing with Kurnell is that there is HEAPS of seaweed and the odd urchin so you have to be careful. Also the NE at Kurnell means you have to start from the beach going goofey so is a good spot to practise if you are struggling with it.
Awesome pic. This could easily summarize my current progression as submarine :).
I am able to stay on the board with preference towards left. The other side (right) still needs some more work but there was much going on during the last sessions. However, I have not tried to edge the board yet. Could someone of you please summarize what I have to do?
What I know is probably wrong.
- Kite at 45?
- hang into harness
- most pressure on the backfoot.
I don't know how this works with having a good amount of rocker? Also how much do I have to go downwind before edging the board (10m, 20m)?
Thanks!
Cheers
Tobias
I know the theory just having issues putting it into practice lol.
The angle of the kite is not so much of an issue, basically you need to keep it powered, where ever you need to keep it to do that. Generally when you edge the board the kite is going to be a little lower so that you are pulling against it, if the kite is high it is going to pull you out of the water and not let you catch the edge.
You don't so much as hang onto the harness, you more just rest back against it. It is a very similar feeling to abseiling, you just lean back against the tension of the lines using your heels as a pivot point, which leads to the next point.
Your weight should be 80% on your backfoot, too much and you are going to edge hard up wind and lose your power. As they say in the Progression vids (which I strongly recommend you get and watch countless times) your back foot is your brake, your front foot is your throttle, the more you hit the break the harder you going to head up wind and the more speed you are going to lose. To start with you want to aim for across wind, head down wind (not directly) from your water start then once you have a bit of speed up, enough that you are planning, lean back into your harness putting more pressure on your heels. You'll probably be like me and pooh stance when you do this but you'll slowly work out of it, I am getting there very slowly.
Here is a slightly less gumby pic from the same session (do as I say, not as I do haha)
Going downwind when you first waterstart seems to have a couple of functions.
First is if you give the kite too much power, you can just point your board directly at the kite and hopefully not do a superman. As soon as the power is manageable, that's when you edge otherwise your lines will go slack and you'll lose all power.
You also point the board downwind a bit when first starting to get enough speed to get up and planing on the water. In super strong winds, I seem to be able to point the board across wind and get going, in lighter winds pointing a bit downwind seems to help me speed up. Edge when you up to speed. Sometimes I get it wrong and didn't give the kite enough power - I try to keep pointing in the same direction (part downwind, part across) and sine/dive the kite heavily until it catches or I fall in completely.
If you're getting up and going, you're ALREADY edging! I'm just learning to stay upwind, and last session worked better by putting a lot of pressure on my heels and swearing at the sea in my head. I always sort of thought that if I put too much pressure on my heels I'd lose the edge, but it seems to work fine.
Nice pic and vid warehouse13, im going to have to get a gopro at some stage now!
You and JMS seem to have a really good understanding of the theory which will allow you to progress fast. I've not able to troubleshoot my issues and have been contemplating another lesson to fix a few bad habits (?) I've picked up.
I'm probably heading down to 1st carpark this Thursday and Friday if there is wind, probably be there from 4:45 each day if anyone is keen to meet up. Kitepower are running a demo on Thursday from 3-5pm so will just continue down to 2nd carpark if its too busy.
Welcome aboard the noobie bus Phoebe and kitekylie, hope to see you out there!
Select to expand quotejms said..
If you're getting up and going, you're ALREADY edging!
I have to disagree on that one mate. You can get up and going and not edge which is what most newbies (including myself) do for their first runs until they comfortable with the board etc. If you are pointing more downwind than you are across is then there is a good chance you are going to be up and going without edging, you usually ride the board very flat and just plane across the surface, it is not until you put pressure on your heels and lean back onto the heel side of your board that you are actually edging. Doing this will also direct your board across the wind window and ultimately how you start going up wind (just keep adding pressure to your back heel).
Example 1 - Planning is also given away by the amount of white wash either side of the board, if you are edging, all the force on the water is being pushed out the toe side and you should have next to no white wash at your heels. You'll notice it looks more like the wake from a boat, the front of my board is out of the water and there is wake coming from both sides even though I have traveled 10+ meters, this is how i ride mostly but I'm starting to edge more.
Example 2 - Edging. This is an exaggerated example but you can actually see where I stop planning and start edging where the white wash on the heel side stops. Notice how the water is being shot out the front of my board, that is because I have the back edge in and the bottom of the board is being used to push against the kite and keep the tension in the lines. This is ultimately what you should be aiming for once you get past your first few 100-200m runs downwind just planning.
Also you'll notice the angle of the kite in relation to my body and angle of my board, when I am planning the kite is pulling me directly along the length of my board, you will gain speed very quickly as there is no resistance and as JMS said you can easily outrun the kite, lines go slack, you lose power and have to start again. Whereas in the shot where I am planning the kite is almost at 90 degrees to me and the board, the board is being used almost like a brake that is keeping pressure on the lines, you then use your back foot to point the board where you want. But if you point too far upwind you will wash off too much speed like in this photo and ultimately make the kite swing around to the edge of the window and lose power which happened about 5secs after this pic haha.
Select to expand quotemanlykiter said..
Nice pic and vid warehouse13, im going to have to get a gopro at some stage now!
You and JMS seem to have a really good understanding of the theory which will allow you to progress fast. I've not able to troubleshoot my issues and have been contemplating another lesson to fix a few bad habits (?) I've picked up.
I'm probably heading down to 1st carpark this Thursday and Friday if there is wind, probably be there from 4:45 each day if anyone is keen to meet up. Kitepower are running a demo on Thursday from 3-5pm so will just continue down to 2nd carpark if its too busy.
Welcome aboard the noobie bus Phoebe and kitekylie, hope to see you out there!
Thanks mate, yeah I love my gopro, I take it pretty much everywhere.
Theory is good, but putting it into practise is another issues haha, I just need more time on the water now.
Can't make it Thursday, but I was considering trying for Friday. I'll send you a message when I know what's happening, probably won't get there until around the same time as you mate.
Select to expand quoteWarehouse13 said..jms said..
If you're getting up and going, you're ALREADY edging!
I have to disagree on that one mate.
Fair call - maybe I just don't know what edging *is*! I was thinking that you'll be providing lateral force (edge) no matter what you do, so long as you're not getting dragged directly downwind by the kite. What you're showing is when the board gets up and planing. I sometimes also plane without edging - usually if it's too strong and I lose my edge while planing - just skip off over the water at top speed until I crash or catch up with the kite and crash.
I'm heading out now. Hopefully there's enough wind, but it'll be good to be underpowered rather than overpowered for once. Hopefully I can catch up with you guys later in the week too.
I'm picking up my new kite tomorrow... anyone heading out tomorrow and willing to show me the best beginner spots?
Select to expand quotejms said..Warehouse13 said..jms said..
If you're getting up and going, you're ALREADY edging!
I have to disagree on that one mate.
Fair call - maybe I just don't know what edging *is*! I was thinking that you'll be providing lateral force (edge) no matter what you do, so long as you're not getting dragged directly downwind by the kite. What you're showing is when the board gets up and planing. I sometimes also plane without edging - usually if it's too strong and I lose my edge while planing - just skip off over the water at top speed until I crash or catch up with the kite and crash.
I'm heading out now. Hopefully there's enough wind, but it'll be good to be underpowered rather than overpowered for once. Hopefully I can catch up with you guys later in the week too.
Yeah edging is only when you have that heel side (or toeside when you are advanced) edge in and the opposing edge pretty much out of the water. If you haven't already, I strongly suggest anyone that hasn't to go and watch the Progressive DVD for beginners. I have watched it countless times and learn something new every time.
Select to expand quoteFrisbi said..
I'm picking up my new kite tomorrow... anyone heading out tomorrow and willing to show me the best beginner spots?
Sorry, can't make it tomorrow, have baseball training. Maybe Friday arvo.
Just head to first carpark, best beginner's spot in terms of number of people to look out for you and help you with questions, launching/landing etc
I'll be out tomorrow, work permitting. First carpark is the first carpark when driving south where kites are up in the air. It's just after a playground I think.
I got two good runs in today before the wind dropped even further and I could hardly keep the kite in the air. I did have fun seeing what happens when I send it in a loop though 
Select to expand quotejms said..
I'll be out tomorrow, work permitting. First carpark is the first carpark when driving south where kites are up in the air. It's just after a playground I think.
I got two good runs in today before the wind dropped even further and I could hardly keep the kite in the air. I did have fun seeing what happens when I send it in a loop though
Nice, hmmm performing kite loops now huh? Looks like you have got this thing mastered 
I hope you were reaching for the QR when this happened.
Select to expand quoteWarehouse13 said..
I hope you were reaching for the QR when this happened.
Hah, I was more worried that there wasn't enough power to get the kite back up to zenith! It was nice in the lighter winds, feeling 100% (ish) in control of the situation, rather than struggling to hang on and not get thrown about.
I'm not sure what you're imagining, I was mostly just laid back in the water playing with the kite (not enough power to get going), with a break to stand in the water trying to encourage my kite to get off the beach and back into the air!
I'm heading out after lunch. Blue and white 11m crazyfly kite, with yellow struts, if anyone wants to say hi :)
Nice to meet you today jms and manlykiter! Hopefully I'll get over my fear of getting stranded in the middle of the bay soon and actually take my board out next time! 
