Rick and his pics!
 

Just a quick thanks out to Rick, a super guy and great rider...He's always at pretty much every kitng event in S. Florida and keeping us posted on the latest and greatest in the sport of kiteboarding. Rick is a man with great advice, which is helpfull to all riders, newbies ...intermediate and even legends in the sport.
Thanks for all your TIME, posts and pics Rick!!!!

CJ
P.S. who takes your pic when you cross the finish lines?
Gotta take care of that...fo sho!

Well said CJ and Thank you Rick I for all your time & support! http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/image...icon_thump.gif

Thanks CJ, Mike and all the rest that bring so much to the forum. Your contributions are what make it what it is.

Hey CJ, I'll pull the "CJ & Irma Famous Kiting Times" CD together for you of all those great shots you two have been in. Just keep after me, I lose track in the avalanch of projects. Hope we get some thermals after the rains depart in a day or so.

I see new kites popping up everyday in the Lake Worth to Boynton Beach area. This FANTASTIC sport is just exploding. I’ve seen more NEW kiters this summer then I did all last season (in my area) I wonder if they’ve found out about FKA yet and the wealth of information and knowledge that exists here.

If your new to kiting and your reading this thread/post. Become a member and tell us about yourselves and your experiences in kiteboarding to date.

Quiver update:
07 Waroo 17m
07 Bularoo 13 & 10m
BEST Float 127
Surftech 6' Minami
Dumped the Landboard, Before anything happened (to freak’n dangerous)

That's no fun. I just got the rest of the parts for my new landboard (COMP 26X with 9in tires) yesterday. No wind to test it yet but we were tearing up the hills at plantation park, all 12 feet of them. I am headed tomorrow to take it for the "Car Wakeboarding Test"

Landboarding here is south florida is always been fun but you have to have a small kite and work it; if not the gust will get you. I go all the way out west to catch the west winds when they come off the everglades so it is somewhat clean. No to mention last year I was ripping around during the tropical storm... gust are not as scary when you can cruise at 20 mph on a 1.5m trainer =-).

Also Note, Landboarding in St. Augustine is amazing, MILES of open compact beach to rip down.

Well to each his own.

thats awesome bizguru...
i think landboarding is a great way for cross training for the season...
but dont know where in miami....
maybe local parks...
-Danny

Kiteboard in October - Miami area
 

Hi! I am from Argentina. I started kiting last February and am planning to go kiting to South Florida (pref Miami area) October 2007. I will come along with my wife and kid (2 years old) and I am not sure yet what spot should I target. Does any have any experience kiting in South Florida in October (and with a kid!?!?!?). Any spot to recommend?

hey sebas,
bienvenidos! De donde vienes de la Argentina?
In october, you can go to matheson hammocks, which is in coral gables in miami, hobie beach, in key biscayne, and crandon beach, which is also is in key biscayne. In crandon, you will need an iko card.
and you will be in the season already!

Very useful info kiwiar2000!! Finally a caritative soul gives me some clues as to where to board in the Miami area!!!
Do you kitesurf in the area? I will try and find a place with shallow waters. It will definitively help me improve my kiting. I will take advantage of your time and ask you what getting an iko card means. Anyways, I will search it in the internet.
Best,
Sebas

your welcome. I kite in the miami area. I usually go to Matheson Hammock where it offers awesome flat and shallow waters, although its quite small and can get full. Start over there first of all, dont go to crandon without an Iko card.
pray for wind and see you on the water...
-Danny

Great Danny.
I just called my instructor and said he will issue my IKO card. He further said that I am in a position to get level 3 certification. Let's see. The thing is, Danny, that Argentina is not only far from the world, but it also arrives always late, on everything...
Sebas

jajajajaja....la hora hispana....i know what your talking about. Well, that means that your an intermediate and you know how to go upwind with no problem, know the right-of-way rules with other kiters, the safety around you, and a small jump......with that in hand, you can ride at crandon in no time. More: http://miamikiteboarding.com/NewRulesforCrandon.htm
-Danny

Thx 4 the link danny. Very useful Know that for argentine standards, that page seems to be like a civil code. Not aware of such strict rules in no place in south america. If u have some spare dollars and are single, u shoul try punta del este in Uruguay (1-15 january). U will not regret it.

whats going down in Uruguay? Yea, we got banned from Virginia Key(just off of Key Biscayne) and regained access to a portion, i believe. And there were incidents and accidents at Crandon. Lots of problems, so they established this in order to keep it from being banned.
-Danny

Ok, you asked for it...

I just bought a training kite and 2.5 hour dvd...three days ago. I estimate I've had my kite in the air for maybe four hours total. So I'm gonna the new guy on the block.
Currently, I am working the kite on land, just to get some skills. Next step is lessons and lots of practice. I'm a big believer in doing things the right way, so I'll get the lessons and happily wear the safety gear.

I also ride ATV's (700 v-twin) and I have a good size boat - offshore fishing and maybe some kiting in the future.

Thank you very much for this forum - the information is great

Are you sure Danny? espero que sea verdad...

Where did you get the info, and what section of VK did we possibly regain access to?

As far as I know, no access has been restored yet at Virginia Key. Discussions are still underway, keep your fingers crossed.

newbie on the loose in SE Florida
 

Great to be here.
My wife and I are newbies.
Took our lessons in Key West and Miami. Still taking follow up in Miami before the wind dies next week.

Delray is going to be fun, once my skill level gets better.
I am looking for any launch places from Melbourne to Key West.
I have no problem driving a few hours for some kite time.
Can someone give me a run down on what to expect for wind from now till the season picks up agin in the fall?
I do not want to loose the touch now that I found it.

Thanks and look forward to seeing u out there.

Base Camp: Delray Beach
Travel range: all of Sth Florida
Kites: Cabrina: Omega 9m/SwtchBld 3 14m

Welcome to South Florida Terry. Our normal expectations are described in some detail for this time of year at:

http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=500

Problem is, we have WIND and a fair amount of it too both this week and last. I am trying to remember the last time we had fairly good wind at the start of June (excepting tropical systems, which this is not) going back decades. Real strange stuff but most welcome. So, I would read the link over listed above. Chances are conditions will revert to normal patterns at some point, maybe.

Regarding kiting venues, there's a ton along the east coast. Pretty much the whole thing is rideable as long as you're OK with waves. You should look over a couple of posts that go into various areas in Florida in the top three stickies at:

http://fksa.org/forumdisplay.php?f=42

Enjoy the wind while it lasts, I sure am!

Hmm how things have changed, Yet some remain the same.

Still mainly kiting Palm Beach County (when theres wind)
I've got a lil more time under my belt
I SOLD that crazy landboard :shocked: Ocean/Surf almost exclusively

All BEST equipment
14m Nemesis HP
10m 08 Bularoo
9m Nemesis HP
127 X 41 Float
6'1" "Ratboy" Surftech
6' "Nomoi" Surftech

It's been a purdy darn sad summer here in SFL this year. It puffed a little in early June and we actually had 3 kite-able days in the end of July. That's been about it ~Blah~

Well only a couple more months now (unless a storm or two pops up) and we'll be back into the windy season ~n~ I for one am having a hard time waiting.

I know there has to be loads of new kiters out there, Hopefully they'll see this post/thread and share some of there stories and experiences.

It was a remarkable June, one of the windier ones that I can recall. After self-torment for way too many years I am at peace, more or less, through the summer doldrums. In my case I just reprogrammed to have low to no expectations of useable wind and to look forward to other activities that complement zippo blow stuff. It is working pretty well. Once the wind comes back I expect the wind lust will come right along with it. Keep the faith and your sanity out there.

What do other folks do to cope? Any good wind trips out there?

No wind PMS
 

I was watching a documentary about Laird Hamilton and other big wave surfers and I think it was Jerry Lopez who described the irritability and loss of focus for other activities when there were no big swells. Laird's wife Gabby Reese, related that Laird became depressed and moody. I couldn't relate at the time, but I can see where that comes from. I wouldn't have thought that kiteboarding would affect my psyche that much. It absolutely takes over your thought processes, and I don't have nearly the experience as most on this forum. I have played a lot of sports in my life, and have been obsessed with other activities, but this is somehow different. It's hard to describe. I could state all the cliches that are quoted in the kite mag interviews, but somehow they don't do the feeling justice. From a pharmacological point of view, kiteboarding must have one hellava stimulatory effect on endorphins. Wind lust is a great term.

More work then kiting these days, But it's been good the last 2 weekends here in Palm Beach. Looks like it's going B-L-O-W again today :D

TODAY
NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET NEAR SHORE
AND UP TO 7 TO 9 FEET IN THE GULF STREAM. NORTHEAST SWELL 2 TO
3 FEET.
UPDATED GEAR

All BEST equipment
14m 08 Nemesis HP
10m 09 Nemesis HP
127 X 41 Float
6'1" "Ratboy" Surftech
5'10 "UFO" Surftech

It is 18 to 25 kts. already in central Palm Beach County. Looks like a good day for now. Yesterday there was quite a bit of rain and some squalls. For now looks pretty clear in the county. Have fun!

http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=6734

How did it go yesterday? I was well powered on a 12 m early on, even retuned it once for less power. Then things eased off midday. It was a nice morning session. Did you have some nice waves up that way?

Conditions were the same up this way, Flew my 10hp for a couple of hours in the am Sunday. Surf was in the 2-4ft range with an underlying NE swell in it. Sat was w-i-n-d-e-r All ways good to get wet!! :D

Hi there,

Newbie here, taking first lesson at LBTS on Saturday.

I've been watching YT videos, and googling for lessons and tips.

if there is a section or any tips for newbies, pass them my way (pls).


--------------


Q: How long till I should be able to go out, and come back to shore?

(in windsurfing the standard answer was 3 days or less...)

-fwiw, I can windsurf, trick ski,& sail.

TIA!

I hope you have good weather for your lessons.

There is a great deal of useful content on this site for both new and experienced kiters. I would read over the top stickies at: http://fksa.org/forumdisplay.php?f=45 for how to progress into the sport.

I would carefully read the top stickies dealing with weather at http://fksa.org/forumdisplay.php?f=29

and look over the rest of Lessons From the Hard Side for general object lessons. There are a great deal in those accounts.

You might do it the same day with good progress in a place like Biscayne Bay with no waves to speak of and shallow water to standup in. In the open ocean it might take a few days with waves and deep water slow you down.

You will learn from reading over the posts at the above links and others, there is a great deal more to know and skills to develop than simply being able to ride out and back. You can learn to steer an airplane in less than ten minutes. Ok, now land it. There is simply a lot more to learning the sport.

.

A windsurfer, trick ski and sailboat can't pick you up 20 ft. and throw you into the bushes or road. Everyone is different and no one can tell you how long it will take. You will know better after your first lesson though. Some take 2 or 3 lesson and some do many more. If I had $100 for every time someone said they would be a quick learner because they did other sport, I would have retired already. Take it slow! You are not always learning what to do but also what not to do.

As Rick says, it is much easier to learn in flat, shallow water as it gives you confidence.

Don't go out further than you are willing or able to swim back.
Know your limitations.
If everyone is riding 7m kites and you only have a 12m, go home or watch.
Get off the beach when flying your kite. Water is much safer!
Keep watch for squalls.
Take you time.
Distance is your friend.

There are many more. But most important would be to KNOW WHERE YOUR RELEASE IS! Muscle memory will save your ass if and when you panick.

Have fun!

Noel
oTHErside Boardsports
www.othersideboardsports.com
Florida Keys