I have tried it with my 2.6 trainer kite and my land board at the soccer field, and its not thta hard. That day I needed a little more wind at the soccer field. Hopefully in the next couple of days I will give it another go, and will let you know.

Guys,

I am a beginner Kiter & I tried land kiting last week in Hilton Head on the beach for the first time. I used my two line 3M Airush foil trainer and had a blast. I think this is a great way to work on kiting skills, but it is not as fun as on the water. Wind was 20+ MPH gusting to 35 MPH (too much for me to try to handle on the water as a beginner) and the temp was only about 36 degrees. I was actually providing pretty good power when I kept the kite moving (enough to slide down the beach on my feet). Once I would get going I could get moving scary fast. I wore my helmet, but should have also worn elbow/knee pads because I took a bad fall that left me witha bruise that a week later is still about an 8 inches in diameter around my elbow. Hitting the hard beach felt like hitting conncrete. I am still wanting to keep trying with Land Kiting as an alternative to Water when conditions are not good.

I tried later in the week to use my Waroo 12 in 5-6 MPH on the beach, but I could barely keep it in the air so I gave up. I think it would be tons of fun to land board on the beach with my 12M inflatable in 8-10 MPH.

I'll probably be heading down to SC again in late December and go for another round. If you know of a good place to try in North Altanta for Land Kiting (I am in Roswell and have't found a place that isn't too sheltered by sourrounding trees)...Let me know...

Thanks

Jay

Probably Road Atlanta ? thats the only place I havent seem so many trees .
I think its much more dangerous than kitesurfing.

K

Definitely more dangerous than kitesurfing. I don't intend to do more than cruise on a wide empty beach in light winds. That is unless I can find a huge field with lots of room downwind. I am going to visit my parents in Oklahoma in December and I know of lots of potential spots there without trees... I may have to take my stuff with me...

As a matter of fact, I'm in Oklahoma City right now. It's 20 degrees, winds are N 25 gusting to about 40, and there's about a quarter inch of ice on the ground with several inches of blowing snow.

You'd probably need to take the wheels off your board and use a kite the size of a pair of underwear. :shock:

-Bill

Jay - That was a wild couple of days in Hilton Head. Swells as big as I've ever seen here and a lot colder than it's been in a long time. Give me a call if you head back this way - I'm a long-time windsurfer but just getting going with the kites. Tim Carter 843-363-6657.

TC, aren't you a little old to be so cool?

TH

TC never gets old, didn't you know that? I just couldn't get him into dirt bikes. He didn't say anything about being old he just kept saying something about nerves.

TC,

I'll definetely give you a call the next time I am going to HHI. My inlaws have a condo there so I make it there several times a year. Unfortunately I don't expect any chance to get there for a few months...

I mostly just go on short downwinders whereever on the beach that there aren't offshore winds or people (I can't stay upwind yet). Can you fill-me in on any good launches? Does anybody take advantage of the flat water on the intercoastal for Kiting?

Jay

Jay - There's a launch spot for every wind direction but you have to time it for opposing current / wind when the wind is north around to west. There's a great group of kiters here who are full of tips and advice. I've never asked them about sailing in the IC but I've never seen anybody out there sailing. I go down to the sound on the south end to work on my body drags and just flying the kite. It's pretty flat at slack tide. Trey also has in-laws with a place here. Maybe we can get in a therapy session or two soon come. Just give a call when you're heading this way. peace s