31 December, 2008 om 4:37 pm
Looked at many extreme sports but just can’t find the right thrills? It’s time to take a look at the ocean, you might just find some inspiration.
The latest craze in extreme sports is kitesurfing, it only started out in 1990 but there are tens of thousands of enthusiasts around the world. You can go to any ocean side on a Sunday and you’ll see that kitesurfing has a strong following and has expanded quickly.
The kitesurfing board is a surfboard but shorter and the kitesurfer is attached to it with foot straps or bindings. You have the board attached to a kite, that looks more like a parachute, by a series of lines of various lengths. The board is propelled by the kite across the water at quite great speeds.
The challenge in kitesurfing is that your body is the only connection between the kite and the board and mastering the control of both the kite in the air and the board on the water is a key point.
If you’re asking yourself how it’s possible for a kite to stay in the air while holding the weight of the board and your weight at the same time the explanation is this: while flying, a kite is creating it’s own wind and the wind it creates is faster than the wind powering it producing more power than the actual wind.
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31 December, 2008 om 4:32 pm
Kitesurfing was started in the 1980’s, but did not become popular until the 21st century. Before the year 2000 there were probably only around one thousand kite surfers in the world. By 2005 the number had risen to nearly 100,000. Kitesurfing is also commonly known as kiteboarding, and in some European countries as flysurfing. The idea of kitesurfing is simple… use a large, powerful kite for thrust and stand on a surfboard in order to reach high speeds. At these high speeds, anyone can perform amazing and exhilarating stunts!
Many people compare kitesurfing to skateboarding or snowboarding on water. For years people had to be pulled by a boat in order to experience high speeds and that sport is known as wakeboarding. Now, instead of having to be pulled behind a boat, you have the power to control every move! It’s also way more cost effective since a boat and gas will cost you thousands of dollars. Since there are so many terms for the sport kitesurfing, we stick to the most common terms. Kiteboarding is really flat water surfing and kitesurfing is when you are riding the waves.
So to go into more details and really give you a good visual, imagine that you are holding a bar in your hands and there is a large kite attached that you are guiding in specific patterns. Then you jump and when we say jump, we mean it because there are professional kiteboarders who can not only jump up to 60 feet but also stay in the air for hundreds of feet across the water.
In order to get started, you will need kitesurfing equipment. Luckily there are not too many pieces. You will need a kite, a control bar with lines, a board, and a harness. Most kitesurfing kites are sold with the control bars so you can buy them at the same time. If you are a beginner, you should consider a helmet for safety purposes and if you will be kitesurfing in colder waters, a wetsuit is recommended. The one piece that you should really invest in is a good kitesurfing kite. We have tested many of them, such as the Liquid Force Havoc and kites from Waroo and Nemesis. We feel that Liquid Force is at the top of their game and they are developing the best kites at this time. If you are wondering what this will all cost, here’s a quick summary. Brand new kitesurfing kites will cost anywhere from $500 to $1700, depending on the size and brand. New boards can cost from $500 to $800. Luckily if you do some research online you will be able to find some really good bargains. The good news is that since kitesurfing is still a newer sport, there is constantly new technology that is always improving. That being said, don’t buy a kite that is older than one or two years because it might not be as safe as the newest kites.
Now that you have a sense of the amazing sport that is kitesurfing, call one of your local instructors and sign up for lessons. After just one or two classes, you’ll be flying above the water.
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25 December, 2008 om 8:18 am
10 Things to check for before you start kiteboarding
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Kite Surfers Enjoy a Day on a Windswept Bay
1) Pump - Make sure your kiteboarding pump is in working order and well greased before the season starts.
There is nothing worse than having to pump up a kite with a pump that feels like it’s full of sand. Also check the
hose and connection points for holes and leaks. If your pump hose is cracked or worn, go to Home Depot and
pick up some 1” clear tubing which will never break and allows you to see if you have sand in the hose.
2) Bar - The control bar is one of the most neglected pieces of kiteboarding equipment. Most kiteboarders will
never look at their bar until the chicken loop is about to break or has broken. The control bar should be checked
every month to three months depending on usage. First, start with the chicken loop, look for wear and thin spots
in the line, if you’re unsure about when to replace it, it’s probably time. Next go the leader lines, and inspect the
connection at the bar, look for any frayed spectra and replace if unsure. Lastly, look over the center strap or
center cleat which allows micro adjustments to the kite. Remember rinsing your bar in fresh water can extend
the life of your bar and keep all parts in working order.
3) Lines - Little lines that require big attention. Whether you’re riding four lines, five lines or an original two line
kite (yes, they made two line kites), it is important you inspect your flying lines once every three months or after a
major crash. One knot in a flying line can reduce the strength of that line by 50%. For those of you that haven’t
started kiting yet, one line breaking while flying a power kite is like flying an airplane with one wing, not a good
experience. If your lines do have knots or show signs of wear, be sure to replace both lines, this is due to the fact
the flying lines stretch unevenly. Remember; when in doubt change them out!
4) Board- Almost every kiteboarder has had a foot strap blow out with no screwdriver in sight, ruining what could
have been an epic session. Always check your foot strap screws and fin screws before going out, if you don’t
want to bother, try applying a little blue lock tight to the screw threads when you first put your board together.
Make sure you purchase the BLUE lock tight, any other lock tight and you will never be able to unscrew your foot
straps or fins again.
5) Pig Tails- Those little colored loops at the wing tips are ticking time bombs just waiting to pop. Be sure you
check them every three to four months and replace at the first sign of wear. Most kiteboarding manufacturers
supply extra pig tails, however you can also make you own out of spectra line.
6) Harness – Whether you wear a waist harness, seat or impact vest it is important you check the stitching
where the spreader bar attaches once every six months. In our experience harness only last about two seasons
after which the harness begins to wear out.
7) Spreader Bar – Why would a piece of metal fail? Because ten percent of kiteboarders are still using
aluminum windsurfing spreaders bars or have a swivel spreader bar that can fail unexpectedly. If you or
someone you know is using one of these it’s time for an intervention. Let them know how dangerous they are
and help them replace it immediately.
Bladders – Imagine the fright when your kite starts to fold in half because its leading edge bladder just went
flat. Allways know what your bladders are doing and if you have a bladder problem fix them immid
9) Kite – The holy grail of all the parts of a kiteboarding rig. There are many things that can go wrong with a
simple piece of rip stop. Be sure to check for any small tears in the canopy as well as any stitching that may be
unraveling. One small tear can turn into one long rip. Always tape both sides for small tears less than two inches
and have the kite repaired professionally if the tear is on the leading edge or cannot be repaired with tape.
10) You- Make sure your ready for the conditions at hand. Many beginners as well as advanced riders are very
anxious to hit the water but sometimes forget to do basic safety checks before they ride. Always make sure you
run though the four preflight safety checks before riding and before launching someone else. Remember; when
in doubt don’t go out.
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