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[adamrod]

if for some reason you didn't like boardsports, you know there are a BUNCH of other schools in the bay right? kite415, live2kite, helm, kiteopia, edge kiteboarding all to name just a few....

[jrg]

Here's my teach yourself story:
After a good session on a 13m, I was walking back to the golf course parking lot at 3rd. Some guy and his wife were trying to launch a large kite. They did not look like they knew what they were doing, so I asked if they needed some help and suggested they start with a trainer or at least move further away from the rock levee. The guy rudely blew me off, so I warned people on the path that a kite might be headed this way. Sure enough, they get the kite in the air and 30 sec later hes headed for the rocks. I yell for him to release, but didnt know how. He hits the bottom of the rocks and bounces all the way up to the path. Broken arm, hand and maybe leg, major bleeding. I wish I had been more forceful, but I just assumed he would release the kite. Moral of the story - take some lessons so you don't end up in the hospital and I don't have to wind up another blood soaked bar.

[baypirate]

unless you'd be riding some secret flat water spot that we don't know about and you refrain from all jumping, kiting is hard on knees period. The potential for catastrophic injuries (such as ligament tears) is not that great if you're responsible/cautious, but kiting in the chop and aerials will definitely generate knee wear and tear, e.g. kiting hard for two hours in the chop is probably equivalent to a few miles of running.

That said, you can have a lot of fun just cruising and carving. I had ACL reconstruction, 2 yrs b/f picking up this sport, that leg is my "weak" kiting side (e.g. can't do many things as well as on the other; but everybody seem to have a weak side anyway). At any rate, that repaired knee doesn't bother me, per se.

Taking lessons as stated here is a no-brainer, good safety habits are crucial in this sport (and unfortunately we're seeing an increasingly cavalier attitude towards this).

But it's also efficient learning; unless you're the 1% exception, you'd be struggling in the water for quite a bit all by yourself. Even after the 3-4 hrs of water lessons the schools do as a minimum, there will be enough "self-teaching" left to get you going (just come to 3rd Ave. any late p.m. and count the downed kites drifting downwind). As we don't have any shallow water around the bay, you need to master at least two critical skills b/f heading out by yourself: body dragging upwind to retrieve your board and self-rescuing. You won't make any progress by yourself until you got beyond this point. Just last Thu I kept bringing the board back several times to this guy at 3rd who couldn't get back to it from 10ft away. Back on the beach, I saw him later coming in w/o the board. (sure you will lose boards anyway, but not this way).

If you need a school referral, I'd check out Ovi at kite415. I'm not associated w/ his school, just a... "graduate", but all the beginners I pointed to him came out very quick and happy (riders).

Good luck and let us know how it goes. When going out for the first time (in fact, the few dozen times), tell people on the beach it's your first time, and ask for help and local guidance.

[ramsey]

5yrs ago people used to say, you kiteboard?!?? You're crazy. How do you not kill yourself?

Now it's like, I heard this sport is so easy and low impact.

What the hell?!?! Ok yeah the equipment has gotten better, but it is still a dangerous sport and definitely high impact. What happened to people being scared to kite. Now they just want to strap a 15m kite on and go.

That's just stupid. I read through this whole thread and can't believe that the original poster is for real. What is happening with this sport????

[recoprianto]

I agree with Ramsey. So far this year, I have separated 2 ribs, broken my foot, had 2-3 knee impacts that were painful enough to keep me off the water for a week, my toes constantly feel like they are jammed or strained, I have had 2-3 cuts on my legs from landing on my board and fins that probably should have gotten stitches, I now wear a brace on my left ankle because I messed something up, my thumb has been jammed to the point that I can't move it twice. Most of these are minor injuries, but I am constantly dealing with them and they could have all easily been more severe.

The sport is hard on the body unless you are cruising completely underpowered, and here in the Bay, you most likely won't be underpowered on a 15m kite.

Respect the sport and the things that can happen. Every time I take it for granted, I end up injured.

Be safe and respect the sport.

When it all comes together, there is nothing that compares to kiting.

[logicbombv]

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[robotvox]

Relax guy. I'm not naive nor am I new to aggressive sports. My impression of the sport was influenced by my research: conversations with kiteboarders and kiteboard instructors, hours of reading threads and articles online, online videos. The problem is that there isn't enough information out there about the dangers of kiting...

...Anyway, I'm getting ready for my first lesson at Sherman and my guy says the wind is blowing hard. I'll let you guys know how it goes. Thanks for everyone who contributed valuable advice and I hope this thread and my noob questions can help others getting into the sport.

It sounds like your research is not complete. Here is something dangerous in kiting: learning at Sherman Island! Everything I have heard is that Sherman is for experienced riders only. It is a narrow, obstacle laden river/delta with often gusty conditions. I don't mean to bad mouth any particular school or whatnot, nor do I have any idea who is offering to teach you there, but c'mon. I agree with Ramsey. Seriously, is this for real?

[baypirate]

Anyway, I'm getting ready for my first lesson at Sherman and my guy says the wind is blowing hard. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Not to pile on, but I assume "your guy" is one of the established schools at Sherman (such as Nat or Sandy/Donny etc.). If that's the case, you're in good hands and you'll have a blast

Otherwise, no kidding, if you're going to Sherman w/ a buddy and planning on launching from Sherman itself (as opposed to going out and back in on a jetski/boat), please let one of the locals there talk you out of it by pointing to you on the spot why launching and landing at Sherman is as gnarly as it gets.

also, later on, if you plan on doing downwinders from one of the islands and coming in by yourself to land at Sherman, exercise extreme caution. Many of accidents happened exactly that way. And even more later, say withing the next few dozens sessions of kiting (the danger zone of "I got this" on the learning curve) if you launch/land at Sherman, make sure you ask people for help. And always check your kite size choice with the locals, making sure you mention for how long you plan to be out (normal days, wind can pick up a lot in the p.m. at Sherman).

Sherman is a great learning place off a boat/jetski. But it is ABSOLUTELY NOT a beginner place to launch from / land to.

[recoprianto]

Here is something dangerous in kiting: learning at Sherman Island! Everything I have heard is that Sherman is for experienced riders only. It is a narrow, obstacle laden river/delta with often gusty conditions.

100's of people learn at Sherman every year, and both schools on the island are competent and teach people every day by jetski / boat.

The wind is the most steady and smooth in the Bay Area, if not the whole US. The river is at least 1/2 a mile wide, so not that narrow either. Now, I do agree that it is an expert area to launch at if you are kiting from the beach.

I think Sherman is the perfect place to learn, as long as you have signed up with one of the schools on the island. Donny/Sandy and Nat both have it dialed.

If you want to learn about Sherman and thus be able to post intelligently about it, come on out. Everyone is super cool and would love to share all the little secrets with you.

Reco

[logicbombv]

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