|
|
#11
03-16-2007, 08:07 PM
|
|||
|
|||
Purple Hayes, you may want to check out totalvid.com, they have several instructional videos you can download and either "rent" for a week for $4-5 or join for unlimited downloads for $10 per month. I think it's well worth it either way. Good luck!
|
|
#12
03-17-2007, 12:53 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Thanks guys.
There is a shop in Kuwait City (about 45 miles from me) but I've been told that they sell gear only (and at 1.5-2 times the regular price). I don't have much faith in "all things Kuwaiti", so I may have to plan a trip to Doha or Dubai. Quote:
I'm going to look into a trip to Dubai or Doha. Thanks again....
|
|
#13
03-17-2007, 09:30 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
sounds good Patrick. there should be some good operations somewhere in the Gulf.
just had a thought about kiting in sand storms, electrostatic shock. we sometimes have shocks over water. it can be more intense in snow. I imagine sand/dust might generate some strong discharges. do you have issues with that off airframes in dust storms?
__________________
FKA, Inc. transcribed by: Rick Iossi
|
|
#14
03-17-2007, 09:24 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
 Actually, the static (with regard to aircraft) isn't really an issue during sandstorms. I'm originally from south FL. By that distinction, as I'm sure you can appreciate, I've flown through quite a few thunderstorms. Flying through heavy rain (even w/o lightning) is much worse! In heavy rain, the static being "wicked" off of the airframe makes the radios completely unusable at times. We do experience static shocks around here a lot but I'm pretty sure that it has more to do with the dry air (the jolts don't appear to be any more intense when there are heavy visible particles in the air). I think it's more akin to what you experience up north during the winter.
|
|
#15
03-21-2007, 12:46 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Kuwait Kitesurfing
Hi Patrick,
There are others in Kuwait that Kitesurf and/or Groundboard/Buggy. We have an informal group that mostly communicates via SMS messages or just turns up when the wind blows. Your certainly welcome. Some folks here taught themsleves to kite, others have gone off to Egypt or Europe to learn. I'd be glad to assist you with the basics if your serious about learning. Here is a link to a forum that will give you a lot of the information you'll need to know about kiting in Kuwait such as safety, riding spots, where to get gear, etc... http://kuwaitkite.10.forumer.com/index.php I'm in Salmiya. Mobile 788.4934
|
|
#16
03-21-2007, 01:50 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Rick,
This has nothing to do with airframes, but kiting in the sandstorms here in Kuwait is a blast. In the summer, the best winds in Kuwait (The Al-Baraweh Shamals) are often accompanied by sandstorms. One of my most memorable sessions was in a sandstorm that limited visbility so much that the local fisherman dropped anchor on their Dhows (traditional arab boats) because visibility was limited to about 50 meters. It can be a bit unerving to be out to sea on a kite with that kind of limited visbility. Fortunetely, there isn't much traffic on the water during sandstorms. The potential for problems is actually much higher in Kuwait, on certain beaches, when the weather is clear, as there are more pleasure craft on the water and people on the beach. In the sandstorms, there are usually only one or two kook kiters out 
|
|
#17
03-22-2007, 08:11 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Hello Ron,
Thanks for the input. I guess that despite having all the moving particles for friction something else isn't right to cause static buildup. Perhaps it's related to higher humidity or something. That seems to have been a factor in kite line discharges in the past, more about kiting and shocks HERE. Glad it isn't an issue for you though. Kiting in limited viz., that has to be a trip. Particularly since it sounds like your odds of a collision diminish rather than increase. I would not want to run into one of those high bowed Dhows at speed, ouch! In your case the wind serves as a good point of reference I would guess? I remember doing a reef survey 20 miles off Tampa in December. We were working from Zodiac's supported by a 175 ft. research vessel. A heavy fog had set in and we would lose sight of the mother ship under 100 ft. away. It was a bit unnerving without ready point of reference, compass, GPS, etc.. Ron I just sent you an email regarding your kiting experience in Kuwait, it would be great to learn more about it.
__________________
FKA, Inc. transcribed by: Rick Iossi
|
|
#18
03-22-2007, 08:56 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
That's good news!
Thanks Ron. That's funny that you mention the visibility, I thought (before listening to Rick's points) that would be my only reservation. I had this image of launching off of Salmiya losing sight of land pretty quickly, tacking back after a little while (but a few degrees off of my original line) and landing miles from where I started. I think you really have to experience the dust, first hand, to appreciate it. One of my strongest memories of it was when I first got here; it was 3am and I looked out my window and saw what I thought was FOG (I didn't think sand storms occured at night and there wasn't much wind blowing). I could see halos around the street lights and the visibility was down to around 50m. That's the funny thing about the dust, it doesn't always require a strong wind to bring the visibility down. (there are a lot of factors such as convective lifting that stir the stuff up) When I stepped outside though, I could literally taste it! Quote:
|
|
#19
03-23-2007, 06:06 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I want to see pics of you riding in this stuff. I guess the photographer will have to be close to see anything at all?
|
|
#20
03-23-2007, 10:58 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Learning to kitesurf might take a little while but going down to the beach and taking some pictures shouldn't take much effort. I'll see if I can deliver on that request. 
|
 |
|
|
Linear Mode
