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[logicbombv]

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[jbirdmarin]

A buddy of mine has take a few lessons at Boardsports and our opinion is they are top notch.

I'm going to refrain from giving any advice on knees - I only know my own. You should talk to your doctor. I had reconstructive surgery in Early November and am probably 95% now, still some limited motion. My legs are probably stronger than before b/c now I understand how to strengthen them correctly. I have a carbon fiber brace and use it (when i don't forget it). My doc says the ACL is 100%, the brace is to help b/c not all the muscles around it are 100%. I am not really a trickster, and now don't think I ever will be. Don't matter, i love everything else: jumping, carving, waves, and no problems there with my knee.

I don't recommend self teaching. Many I'm sure do it - but you should really have a buddy system in the beginning.

[schwede]

Everyone at Boardsports has been super cool and helpful to me also. That being said I don't know how cool they are going to be to you on using their beach as a launch after these comments and seeing you trying to self teach yourself at the shack.

Good luck! Just make sure you don't threaten the safety of others and future access to the beach.

[super_monkey]

Boardsports is part of the community and I think that both Jane and Rebecca do a great job making sure that their students are prepared to take their own steps in kiteboarding. They have been doing this for many years and have a group of very competent instructors. They are also there when you come back to practice or when you have an equipment failure or feel like having a hot dog after a session. The thing is that everyone is different and depending on your riding style, age, past injuries, etc, your results will vary. I dislocated my hip a few years ago but clearly that doesn't happen to everyone because most people don't throw shit in 5 inches of water or 10 yards away from shore. I'm not sure what you mean by "teaching yourself" but that is the LAST thing you want to do. Would you fly an F16 without training? Probably not. Use your common sense here. Go back to boardsports and take a couple of lessons, we don't want to have a post in a few weeks about you hitting inanimate objects or hurting yourself or others. We've had too many of those lately. Also, you will progress faster if you take lessons. It's a no brainer.

[vant20]

As far as I remember there were a couple of accidents at Alameda this year. It is a crowded beach from what I understand, I've only been there in the spring. In my short visit there I got yarded at the launch, it took 0.1 seconds to go from a smiling thumbs up to WTF on my belly trying to figure out if I re-broke a rib.

The problem is that most accidents happen at launching. This complicates self learning a lot. During the lessons you will go out in the open water and play with the kite. I found myself being dragged under water for what felt like 10 seconds, then 5 feet up in the air, then messed up my bar and had to self rescue. Getting a feeling for the power of the kite and learning self rescue is kind of important. Then you can safely lose a whole season learning to get up on the board and so on.

A 15m kite is a big kite for your weight. I am not an expert but you should probably not take that kite out in more than 18mph winds. Taking a kite out in unsteady winds can be a problematic too.

Good luck.

[TMerrick]

Logic- DO NOT go buy a 12-15 meter kite and try to "teach yourself". There is more involved here than just your safety, rigging a kite of that size with no instruction puts everyone around you in danger. I am an instructor at Wind Over water and in 6 years have taught young children, senior citizens, fighter pilots, pro surfers, snowboarders, wakeboarders, and everyone in between. Out of all of these people everyone has benefited from anywhere from 6-10 Hrs of lessons. This is an amazing sport but must be approached with caution due to the tremendous amount of power produced by our kites. There are many top notch schools in the bay area- find one that works for you and get some lessons!

[super_monkey]

Yeah, that too. I'm 175 and my biggest kite is a 9m C-kite.

[BingoBingo]

The kite size recommendation for your weight would only apply at Alameda. This summer's wind at Alameda has been very sporadic and light, so a 15m kite is not out of the question for you.

While I recommend taking lessons, if you can find a friend who is willing to help you out that would work as well. The nice thing about lessons is that you'll typically be able to use the school's kites & gear. Allowing you to 'feel' out the sport before spending hundreds of dollars in equipment.

If you do take lessons, take them somewhere that has consistent wind. If you have a flexible schedule, Sherman would be the best place to learn atm. If I were you, I'd take a land lesson at Alameda & take a water lesson somewhere that has decent wind. That would at least give you some good rapport with the Alameda crew & make you feel more comfortable about asking them questions. That said, the kite launch & landing area near the shack is open to anyone.

[logicbombv]

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[maxsteamer]

Hello Logicbombv,

Thank you for your understanding and your research before heading out on the water...I can tell your going to be a safe kiter as you seem like the type of guy that will not just jump in without the support of the local's, that my friend is a gift to all of us... and for that I thank you.

Boardsports has a lot of years under there belts, and they have a good track record to prove it, if you told Jane you were concerned about your knees and she told you that it will not be a problem, then I would ask here "why" will it not be a problem, she must have a brace of some sort for your use for your lesson.

I have been kiting for a few years now, and I'm still a newbe, and I still ask alot of questions about kiting..there are alot of good kiters out there to help you after you learn how to be a safe kiter, so again thank you and welcome to "Bay Area Kiteboarding" and I hope to meet you soon.

Max be with you "