Seamus300

Hi Tiggs,
A good friend of mine runs Cygnus Sails in Kettering Northants, although a windsurfing shop they also specialise in Kites for Kite surfing, buggies or just fun. I know they stock Naish and Flexfoils and I'm sure they;ll be able to tell you anything you need to know. Call Jonathan or Richard Eisler on 01536 516779. They also have a website, I'll dig the URL out..
Cheers, Sean.
Edited to add:
http://www.cygnus-sails.co.uk


[Edited by Seamus300 - 4/1/2002 4:30:31 PM]

care3

did it crash quickly (check your brake lines are the same length ,same knot on brake bridle) or slowly(no wind old bean)

[Edited by care3 - 4/2/2002 7:05:59 PM]

Tiggs

ok, after a lot of pondering i have decided to get a traction kite/power kite.

i am after a fun sport/hobby having already done motocross, track days (bike), mountain biking, canoeing, etc, etc
i now want something with speed, something that will keep me fit, something sensibly priced and something i wont bore from.

i've considered hang gliding (to high up!), paragliding (to weather dependant) and jet sking (not near the sea)

kites with mountain boards/buggies seem to meet all my needs (i assume i can just roll up at my nearest big field and go for it) so its pretty convienient to.

so who does it? and whats a good kite to tart with? i want to progress to using a mountain board when i have the hang of it so i assume i need a quad line kite and as im big (6'5 (16ish stone)) i assume i'll need a BIG kite?

any recomendations? and any good stores- i dont mind traveling to buy the gear if its from a store with decent ppl.

Tiggs

ps- anyone try it and get bored? - i dont want this thing sat in the garage after 6 months never to sea a gust of wind again!

IWatkins

Hi Tiggs,

Taking the plunge then ?

See: http://www.flexifoil.com. Lots you need to know there and they even have a BBS there that could be of help.

Also, see if you can find a copy of KiteSurf in WHSmiths. Good lists/adverts for stores near you for gear. OK, a lot is kitesurfing specific, but a traction kite is a traction kite and there is a lot of crossover as most shops do kitesurf/buggy/board etc.

I haven't been to a kite specific shop where any of the staff haven't been totaly enthusastic and 100% knowledgable. Best bet is to find one local to you. Then give them a call and explain what you are after and when would be a good time to come down and discuss in person. Then get down there, explain your needs and they will sort you out.

Best advice I can give.

The only other bit of advice is be prepared for that fact that at first you may find it difficult to control them as you would like. But honestly after a while it just clicks. When it gets to the point you know what the wind is going to do by the feel of the tugs on the lines, you get a great feeling from that. Also be prepared to feel just how strong a traction kite is. It may only be a few metres of material but they can pull some.

Cheers

Ian

care3

hi tiggs
ive been flying a while now and started surfin last year
i use wipika free air these have an inflated front tube and ribs to keep shape in the water for easier relaunch.adaptable for 2 lines and 4 lines.there are loads of makes of similar design
http://www.wipika.com/index1.html
http://www.northkites.com/
http://www.peterlynnkites.com/ also cabrinha ,f one
if your looking at a ram air kite flexifoil blade 2 are the best imho there 2 and 4 line and build quality is the best
kite surf magazine is very useful as everyone advertises in it
http://www.kites.org/jo/links.html also has everything you need to know

Tiggs

cheers guys,

just got back from bluewater shopping centre- with a BLADE 2 !!!

(sean- would have called your guy but only just seen your post- i'll need a buggy soon though so i'll give em call anyway!)

just need some wind now!

Tiggs

Mufasa

Tiggs, if you really want to go fast and scare yourself silly take up windsurfing!

Tiggs

mufasa- i want something i can just jump in the car- go to a field and do- dont want to be messing about with water!

Mufasa

Fair enough!
Can't beleive the stuff I used to cart about!
3 boards, 2 masts, 2 booms, at least 5 sails, fins, wettie, harness...

Then you get rigged up and the wind changes! or worse drops.
Still love it, though not quite as fanatic these days...

Have fun!

Muf

care3

tiggs what size did you get
get used to it 1st in small winds especially launching from the side of the wind window (saves being dragged across a field at 20k)
a pair of kite killers may be handy too

care3

oh yeah get insured

Tiggs

its a 4m, the bloke said that was good enough to get going with (i assume i can always go bigger and use the 4m for strong winds)

whats a kite killer?

care3

a leash on your wrist connected to your brake lines.if you let go the leash pulls your brakes and ditches. saves a long walk and damage to your blade.
definately ring round for your buggy as some one is always doing a deal.

Tiggs

cool- sounds usefull!

i think i'll leave the buggy till im able to get it up without crashing!

i tried twice last night and it simply went up 10 foot- turned upside down and crashed!

Tiggs

slow- and there wast much wind so i assume that was the prob

scrappydoo

Thats so weird mate, ive just started looking into the kitting thing today, ive got a leaflet in front of me right now. Really excited about trying it out after i saw a guy on tele fly through the air then later he went body boarding using one. Looks really good.

Scrappy

PS I know im a beginner but i'll probably go for a flexifoil super 10.It will probably tear my arms out of their sockets but what the hay. :-)

Seamus300

Tiggs,

If it flips upside down almost straight away it does sound like the lines maybe slightly out (or you are pulling on one line more than the other), you should be able to send a 4m foil straight up in a lightish wind.

We tied 2 4m foils together in the Hebrides a couple of years ago, quite an impressive sight seeing 2 adult blokes getting dragged up a beach on their stomachs...

Mufasa, where did you sail? Maybe our paths have crossed. Spent 12 great years windsurfing all over the world, hardly been in the water (except wakeboarding) for the last 2 years.. Getting old..

subevo

why not try a powered paraglider.any convenient field will do!just remove equipment from boot of car 10mins later your flying no licence required!easy! or one stage further a microlight for serious fun.

Tiggs

paragliding is a bit slow- like hotair ballon- all very pretty im sure but i want speeeeeeeeed!

Seamus300

Have you tried wakeboarding? Give that a bash, brilliant fun, especially if you can snowboard.

I thought you need a license for powered paragliders? I am about to go solo in a Microlight, thats good for a bit of excitement.

I love all this stuff, I wish I didn't have to work....
How're you getting on with the kite anyway?

Tiggs

once i get my kite skills sorted im gonna try kte surfing- how hard ca that be?

Seamus300

Just remember to make sure you use one with an inflatable leading edge

IWatkins

Good point as the Blade2 isn't water launchable. Well, they say it isn't.

Tiggs

just dont crash it in the sea????? easy!

care3

kite boarding






what a rush
the board fits in front seat (ultimate interior mod imho)
kites fit in the boot ,the smell of rubber,wind in your hair
i do have a chuckle when i see the windsurfers turn up with a trailer and takes an age setting up
if you want to learn how to do it, best off getting lessons from a school
and please get insured, your more likely to hurt someone else than yourself ,you cant b to careful
off to turkey with my gear next month niiiiiiiice

Toerag

www.trick-of-the-eye-kites.co.uk