Physical Pre-requisite for kiteboarding??

[enderokc]

I am thinking of getting into kiteboarding and I was wondering if requires any special physical traites. I know you need to know how to swim, but how much upper body strength does it require ect.... just want to get a heads up so I know what to work out when I go to the gym :)

thanks

[Sandelli]

"The idea behind kiteboarding itself is very simple. A kitesurfer stands on a board with foot straps and uses the
power of a large controllable kite to propel him and the board across the water. This simplicity also makes such
boarding challenging. Your body is the only connection between the kite and the board and you have to control
them both at the same time: piloting the kite in the sky and steering the board on the water."

It would do a complete body workout. Theres barely any muscles that arent used. Legs, arms, chest, shoulders all come in to play at one point or another.

-chris

[enderokc]

thanks for the reply, i also have a question on trainer kites. what all do I need to start out flying the trainer kite??

[JoshTaylor]

thanks for the reply, i also have a question on trainer kites. what all do I need to start out flying the trainer kite??Trainer kite you won't need to do anything, they have very little pull, but if you fly them in some higher winds it will get tireing for your upper body.

[Sandelli]

thanks for the reply, i also have a question on trainer kites. what all do I need to start out flying the trainer kite??

Well, If you really want a trainer kite get a 5m "C" kite. It will be much more realistic and stable in the sky than a 2-3m foil (which are very popular among those whom just cant wait to get their hands on a kite).

Plus you get good at flying the 5m you could bodydrag, then if it got windy enough you could grab a big board and try to get up.

For now get a 5m "C" kite and a harness. Then look into a lesson.

-chris

[enderokc]

thanks for all the replys!! do you know of a good place to get a used trainer kite??

[enderokc]

oh and what do you mean by "c" kite??

[JoshTaylor]

thanks for the reply, i also have a question on trainer kites. what all do I need to start out flying the trainer kite??

Well, If you really want a trainer kite get a 5m "C" kite. It will be much more realistic and stable in the sky than a 2-3m foil (which are very popular among those whom just cant wait to get their hands on a kite).

Plus you get good at flying the 5m you could bodydrag, then if it got windy enough you could grab a big board and try to get up.

For now get a 5m "C" kite and a harness. Then look into a lesson.

-chrisnot smart... go with a foil kite (trainer kite 3m)

[ricki]

Kitesurfing will condition you over time all by itself. Still, early on while you are still learning it is easier to have things go wrong that may require sudden extra strength and/or endurance under load. If you pick milder conditions and go in short sessions as you get on your game this will help to reduce these factors. Stretching prior to sessions and after can go a long way to avoiding strains and injury. ChiroJoe has written a good guide to warmup stretching for kiting. It is available at kiteshops and at:

http://www.xsportshop.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=11

If you are looking for a conditioning workout for kiteboarding, I would think a combination of cardio and lighter weights with higher reps would be appropriate along with a thorough warmup and warm down. Focus on core strengthening activities, particularly the legs, abdominal area, and rowing related weight routines.

[enderokc]

Kitesurfing will condition you over time all by itself. Still, early on while you are still learning it is easier to have things go wrong that may require sudden extra strength and/or endurance under load. If you pick milder conditions and go in short sessions as you get on your game this will help to reduce these factors. Stretching prior to sessions and after can go a long way to avoiding strains and injury. ChiroJoe has written a good guide to warmup stretching for kiting. It is available at kiteshops and at:

http://www.xsportshop.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=11

If you are looking for a conditioning workout for kiteboarding, I would think a combination of cardio and lighter weights with higher reps would be appropriate along with a thorough warmup and warm down. Focus on core strengthening activities, particularly the legs, abdominal area, and rowing related weight routines.


My gym has a lap pool, should I start swimming laps also??

[ricki]

Swimming laps is a great limbering exercise and even a healing one in my experience. Strangely enough swimming in saltwater seems to be more beneficial than fresh for working out some issues. Must have to do with how the body streams out in more bouyant saltwater. If you work up to sprinting in the pool, it is also a good cardio workout. Lastly, at this is a big one, I believe kiteboarders should be watermen to a degree. That is they should be able to hold their own despite exertions in reasonable waves, current and even distance swims. Things happen, right? Developing strong swimming skills with a variety of strokes fits into this.

[enderokc]

thanks for the reply, i also have a question on trainer kites. what all do I need to start out flying the trainer kite??

Well, If you really want a trainer kite get a 5m "C" kite. It will be much more realistic and stable in the sky than a 2-3m foil (which are very popular among those whom just cant wait to get their hands on a kite).

Plus you get good at flying the 5m you could bodydrag, then if it got windy enough you could grab a big board and try to get up.

For now get a 5m "C" kite and a harness. Then look into a lesson.

-chrisnot smart... go with a foil kite (trainer kite 3m)






with a foil kite, do I still need a harness??

[robertovillate]

It is possible to use a 5m C kite as a "trainer", however it is MUCH safer to use a foil as a beginner trainer because of the fact that the foil completely collapses and depowers when the bar is released. Also, crashing an inflatable on land will probably lead to it's demise as well.

Be aware that these trainer kites can develop a lot of power and can loft you or drag you down the beach in higher wind speeds....be careful!!

I prefer to use the following trainer kites (all foils) for lessons:

HQ Beemer 3.6m
BEST 2.8m
Newtech 3.6m Ballistic

shop at www.kitemare.com or http://www.oceanextremesports.com/ for a good assortment of products and excellent customer support

I feel that the kites smaller than mentioned above are too twitchy and don't simulate the larger 4 line inflatables as well.

The exception to my comments would be if you have no dryland or open beach to fly a foil: such as in the Keys. In that case investing in a small bow kite might be a better use of your money, since you will probably actually want to use that kite later. Dpeneding on your weight a BEST Waroo 7m might be a good purchase if you go this route....HOWEVER...this said I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST A LESSON BEFORE YOU FLY THE KITE........PLEEEEAAASE!!!

In the end, assuming you are planning to kitesurf as the result of any time and money you plan on investing, going forward with a lesson from the beginning will be the fastest and safest way to reach your goals. I'll agree that flying a foil kite on your own before a lesson can be very productive, but it's not an absolute pre-requisite. I still beleive very strngly that most people will really benefit from having a 3m trainer kite (before and after a lesson) in their bag as a learning tool and a fun toy to play and progress with.

AGAIN...please take a lesson as soon as possible to keep yourself and others safe, and help us preserve access to our kitesurfing beaches.

Thanks and be SAFE.

[enderokc]

I promise I will take lessons!!!! I already have contacted someone and am in the processess of setting a time and place :) I am from Oklahoma and we have a lake here called Lake Hefner that is one of the best places for windsurfing/kitboarding and its really close to my house :) There are some people here that kiteboard, but not enough to have a store that sells the equpment or give lessons. so I found someone in the dallas area that might be able to come up here to give lessons. I am hoping it all turns out well!!! I cant wait to start doing this!!

I think after my lessons I will buy some used kites to get me started but I want to get a new harness though. I have found this harness

http://oceanrodeo.com/harness.html

do you know if its a good one to go with??

[robertovillate]

I have not tried the OR harness, but I've heard several people say that they like it.

Lessons: My advice would be to head to South Padre Island for 2-3 days of lessons. I will be there September thru November if you are interested I cn send you detils on my program. If you want lessons sooner than that, contact Jeff Hoxtell at Air Padre, http://www.airpadrekiteboarding.com/index.php, a great guy and great instructor. Tell him I say hi. (Jeff may have some OR harnesses in the shop)

I have some used kites and gear for sale... if you are interested, send me a PM with your email address and I will send a list

[enderokc]

that sounds like a great idea, I hear is really nice down there. How far of a drive do you think it is from OKC??

[enderokc]

I just looked it up, its about a 12 hour drive. I dont think I will be able to make it because I already have 2 trips planned for the rest of the year. although I may be able to make it down some time next year though.

[enderokc]

also I just bought the progression beginner DVD :)

[enderokc]

with the HQ Rush250, do I need a harness for that trainer kite??

[Chuck]

Hey I don't mean to Hijack this thread but I have a question that directly relates to this topic. What is a C kite and a bowtie kite? I used to fly a 6ft Flexifoil power kite. Would that be considered a bowtie kite? Also it didn't have a bar but 2 seperate handles. Will it be hard to transition to a bar?

Thanks! I've learned a lot from this thread already.

[kiwiar2000]

sandelli,
is that background stone harbour, nj?