so.. i flew a kite for the the first time today and...

c-note

now i wanna go kite surfing!!:D

it was a cheap 30 euro "power" kite from argos but i was loving it!
and i live on the east coast so sufing for me involves a road trip booking accomidation etc etc etc.

so how hard is kite surfing! and how do you get started?,
i'm presuming i should maybe try flying a bigger kite first of all.
i'm presuming i should know something about wind!
i've never sailed or wind-surfed.

anyway, if you started kitesurfing from scratch(ish) let me know how you got on! or give me a few pointer to set me on the road to world kite surfing domination!!:p

griff110

Hey C-note I don't really have any practical advice to give you but I have been mad to get into it for a while. From the research I have done pretty much everybody says that you should go to a school for an introductory course first as it's bloody hard and there is a decent chance you'll top yourself. I'm the same with the surfing (on the East coast so hopefully it will work out). I got the family to get me a voucher for a place called pure magic (it's in Dublin) for an introductory weekend at christmas which I haven't used yet. It's pretty steep (400 bucks I think) but I can'twait for it. just waiting for a few mates to join up for somebody to do it with

PjC

Mate of mine started about 4 years ago, he used to practice for 2 hours a day every sat and sunday and did the odd half hour during the week, it took him about a year to get to the stage where he could travel down the beach without falling. Jus to give u an idea! He had very little watersport expericad when he started. I had been racing lasers for about 3 years and sailing since i was 5 when he started and i jus couldn get the hand of it. Then again, what i knew didn really help me!

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cornbb

I'd just echo what the other guys said, make sure you get some lessons before you start. Apart from the fact that its nowhere as easy to get started with as surfing, you'll be a danger to yourself and others if you don't get some good advice. But it does look like savage fun, and its easier to find windsurfing/kitesurfing spots around Ireland than it is to find good surfing spots.

Maybe buy a bigger powerkite first (with 4 lines) and practice at your local beach/park to get a feel for it.

Cecil Mor

Don't spend cash on another kite, no porn star ever got where he is by jerkin' off over a mag. Get some decent lessons and just get on with it.

The initial couple of lessons can be difficult & perhaps off putting but if you've any cop on you should be up & standing to some degree after 3 to 4 lessons of a reasonable length.

if it takes a year just to get standing then go buy yourself a set of golf clubs!!!

c-note

thanks for the replies!
turns out since i posted i've booked a windsurfing holiday to egypt!
theres a guy down the road from where i'll be staying who offers 5 days 2hrs/day tuition for kitesurfing for €300. He's reakoning that most people
should get going by day 4 if not day 5!?

so my plan is

week 1, day 1 > begin to learn how to windsurf
week 1, day 7 > attempt a double back flip in a hurricane

week 2, day 1 > begin to learn how to kitesurf
week 2, day 5 > being to dominate the world of kitesurfing
week 2, day 6 > reflect on my awesome progress
week 2, day 7 > begin to realise the egyptian sun may have gotten to me!

i was in belmullet last weekend where i gave windsurfing a try. its got serious potential... and there was 1 guy kitesurfing and it looked soooooooo much fun

PjC

Cool! No better place to have a go. Whats the name of the school? There's some very high profile pro's hav schools out there.

Send me a pm if u decide to get into windsurfing i hav alot of links stored on the pc for used gear!

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