Kiting behind a boat?

[JustinZ]

I live on 50th street and Collins Ave in Miami Beach and therefore am always seeing people doing downwinders out behind my building. Unfortuantely, the wind was not all that greaty today and so I didn't get to to go out like the rest of us but I did see something unusual.

There was someone going downwind probably around 5:00 today and it looked like they were being pulled by a boat as well as their kite. I think it was a red North Rebel. Now maybe the boat was just going by at the same time and had nothing to do with the kiter but it was only blowing 10mph at the time. I don't think it was strong enough to be riding that fast downwind even with a big kite.

Anyway, if thats what was going on, seems like a cool thing to do on days that there is no wind if you got a boat.

[AEsco48]

i have heard of people getting pulled by boat/jet ski...basically its the same as parasail...but with a kite.....

The forces involved in pulling from the chicken loop (to the boat) and the kite lifting....they are much greater then in normal jumping and stuff...and if a line breaks while you are up in the air...its not going to be a soft landing...

[ricki]

Originally Posted by JustinZ

I live on 50th street and Collins Ave in Miami Beach and therefore am always seeing people doing downwinders out behind my building. Unfortuantely, the wind was not all that greaty today and so I didn't get to to go out like the rest of us but I did see something unusual.

There was someone going downwind probably around 5:00 today and it looked like they were being pulled by a boat as well as their kite. I think it was a red North Rebel. Now maybe the boat was just going by at the same time and had nothing to do with the kiter but it was only blowing 10mph at the time. I don't think it was strong enough to be riding that fast downwind even with a big kite.

Anyway, if thats what was going on, seems like a cool thing to do on days that there is no wind if you got a boat.

Towups have been going on quite a while. It involves misusing kiting gear for something it was never designed for. No training, safety systems, sufficiently strong enough gear, etc.. Still, it is easy, like running around with knives. If you don't impale yourself, it's ok, right? More about this practice at:

http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=3466
http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=1739

Try towup hang gliding with http://www.miamihanggliding.com/ . They're very close by, your first flight may be 1400 ft. over Biscayne Bay and you'll get to steer part of the time. There is a ton of safety gear and the equipment has evolved for this activity over almost 20 years!


Checkout this video. It imparts some of the sensations interestingly enough.

[Greg]

You can do a search for "kiteboard tow" videos on youtube:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=iNQChC1Qe3M