Long Live Freestyle!!!

[kitehigh911]

dont be hatin if the kicker and slider are close to the beach

[Magnum T.I.]

Thank you for galvanizing my point Kitehigh...
If you didn't understand it, sorry about your luck.
Share the Stroke

[ricki]

How far (how many kite line lengths) should sliders and particularly kickers be from shore and bystanders? How much distance do you need to burn up a messed up kiteloop in higher wind? What about using protective gear? Opinions?

[kitehigh911]

i dont know just dont crash

[Bobby]

Rick I, its all about trial and error.

[Bobby]

As for Magnum the kiter policeman... come session the kicker with us this weekend. ive got somethin you can stroke

Brad, ill be down there friday-sunday.. I see theres no wind but hey, I got a place to stay in Big pine anyways. I dont know if you are headed to the collegian in key west, but I will stop by on the way down. Also Im bringing the ski, we can session the slider for a bit if its out. I wanna right on the wakeboard boat tho. So get ready to get stoked, and Ill cya down there.
Give ya a call tommorrow

Peace

[ricki]

Originally Posted by Bobby

Rick I, its all about trial and error.

Kickers and sliders have been used in kiting for a long time. I first saw them used in competition in 2003 in Corpus Christi during the Velocity Games. I recall Best constructed some in 2004 for use in the Keys. I think it is safe to say the days of trial and error are well past. So, how about some numbers? I can throw some out but where is the fun in that, I always put out guidelines, for many years. Some other guys should take a turn.


Anyone remember this shot of the legend himself?

how about this one of Andy Hurdman?



or this one of Jon Modica in 2004 in the Keys?



Blasts from the past

[b-rad]

As for distances from shore...it depends...

Obviously, you want them far enough away where you can fall, drag, drag and drag some more and still not hit land. It depends on the wind angle too. If it is side shore then they can obviously be closer to land (same with your jumps) and still be a safe distance away. (this was the case with the session Magnum is referring to above...but to the novice kiter it may look too close...I don't know if Magnum is novice, but he is acting like one) If it is on shore...you want at least a few line lengths...more if its really windy...and it depends on the rail, kicker and the shoreline too...and whose hitting them.

It could also be safer to have them in closer (within safe distance) where someone can run out and help a busted person out.

If it's offshore...heck, build it from the shore...

[b-rad]

oh yeah...bobby, the boat is in and the wawa is flat...

not sure if we're heading down...lots of lessons and stuff up here...and S makes smathers small fast...and I think nobody can ride...

if its south on sat we might put the slider really close to shore and hit it going out...the kicker too...

[ricki]

Sounds reasonable, distance is your friend in this sport, particularly when things go south. If you are only going 20 mph you are still eating up 30 ft. per second say while burning up an out of control kiteloop. Also, you don't want your kite coming close to overflying spectators onshore even if a kicker to kiteloop(s) gets stretched out. Setting up out of the way with three line lengths, ideally more depending on wind speed, direction, type of moves and nearshore traffic seems like a good starting point.

As far as offshore winds, as long as the kicker guys don't land through nearshore traffic and you have enough clean wind going closer should be less significant. Even in the flat Keys, don't you normally want to be about far off, approaching a 1/2 mile for cleaner winds on offshore days? That should limit nearshore congestion too.

Thanks for your input Brad. You have had this gear in place longer than anyone else I can think of in South Florida.