beginner looking for help

[AdrenilinePlz]

Finally saved up enough money to buy my own rig! im really stoked on it and want to get in the water asap. i took a lesson a few months back at the end of summer back in Santa Barabara, but im nervous that i might have forgot the finer details of kiting. basically i looking for someone who is just starting also to learn with or a more experienced rider that can guide me through my first day. not a free lesson or anything; mainly just show me the rules of the spot and anything important i should know.

-J

p.s im 180 lbs with a 12m light wind kite. what kind of weather should i be looking for to kite in?

[Bulldog]

Sorry for the buzzkill, but you need to book a vacation to Baja and stay out of the water in Norcal until spring.

Kiting here in the winter is for experienced kiters only, conditions are extreme and not conducive to learning. Read the recent post "Survival Kiting HMB" if you don't believe me. Come on out to the winter spots to watch if you like, but leave your gear at home. You will progress more in one week at La Ventana in steady, consistent and relatively warm wind then you will by risking your life trying to kite in the bay or ocean this time of year.

Good luck and see you on the water in 2009!

[AdrenilinePlz]

Thats a bummer.

No worries though, i think i'm due for a road trip i guess.

[glenn]

Sounds like you have the right attitude and enthusiasm for learning kiting - you WILL be stoked come springtime. But as Paul says, now is Definately not the time to attempt learning in NorCal.
However there are things you can do to accelerate your learning curve like flying a 3M trainer kite whenever possible and observing the way people launch and land kites. So I suggest investing in a 3m trainer and coming to ocean beach next windy day. You can talk to some kiters and fly your trainer. It will be fun to fly it in strong gusty winds because you can learn about the wind by feeling it. And I don't think the money will go to waste becasue I still use my trainer for kite skating and to introduce friends into kiting. GOOD LUCK!

[AdrenilinePlz]

Ived used a trainer kite before and they are fun.

Skate kiting huh? totally using it with my long board on the way to school!

[G-man]

If your lessons were like mine, they probably flew by and contained lots of information that you are probably going to forget by spring (if not already). You might want to also get a kiteboarding DVD to refresh your memory on the terms, safety procedures, etc. before you get out there again. I've watched both Progression Beginner and Zero2Hero Beginner and I thought Progression was much better. A refresher water lesson in spring would probably be a good bet if you can part with the cash.

Good luck! Spring will be here before you know it...