Kite Landboarding

KmBn · Post by **KmBn** » Wed Jul 16, 2014 1:02 pm

Is kiteboarding as hard as it looks? How do you landboard with a kite and specifically ride faster with a kite/consistently jump?
Recommendation(s):
- kite size
- kite style
- do water kites work as well as foil?
- teams/groups to contact about it

indigo_wolf · Post by **indigo_wolf** » Wed Jul 16, 2014 10:51 pm

Kite size depends on your weight, the terrain you will be riding, and prevailing local winds.

People kite landboard with foils, closed cell kites, Arcs, LEIs (Leading Edge Inflatable), and even NPWs (single skin kites).

If by water kites, you mean LEIs... they work fine. The only thing about LEIs is that the hand repeated crashing on water a smidge better than on land. If you constantly Crash and Burn on the land, you will end up replaced bladders on a regular basis.

If you are in Washington/Pacific NorthWest there are a fair number of flyers as well as events through the year. The most prominent one is probably the Sunset Beach (Oregon) Buggy Bash that usually happens during the first week of September.

You might want to pop into http://www.powerkiteforum.com to see if there are any flyers local to you.

Clubs to contact? North American Power Kiting Association (NAPKA) - http://www.napka.org

ATB,
Sam

gum-nuts · Post by **gum-nuts** » Fri Jul 18, 2014 4:17 am

I kite buggy, am learning to kite land board and also mountainboard. Before you get anywhere near a set of wheels it's a good idea to get a few hours flying a kite to get the feel for the power the kite and your limitations. Once you get a hang of the kite and feel confident then you can attempt to get rolling. You will also need helmet, knee and elbow pads.
It's easiest to start with a 4 line foil, once you start using depower foils and LEI's you need a harness and a bigger budget!
As indigo_wolf suggests it's worth going a long to a meet and seeing if someone will offer advise and possibly a go with a kite.
There is nothing like some proper instruction or advice. Carltb has some good how to videos but he is a sponsored rider and makes it look easy...
http://youtu.be/4wH5_PRcvs4

KmBn · Post by **KmBn** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 12:46 pm

Thanks guyz! This is really helpful! I am 6'3" and about 180lbs. I have flown 4line foils for a while, but the one I have is touchy with qind, requires alot of effort to keep it up and is a pretty OLD kite (3.7m). Ever since the first time flying it I wanted to try landboarding cuz I saw a team rider (racer with a Haize Flexboard) at the beach and talked to him about it. Of course he had a huge LEI as tall as him and a lot of experience.

KmBn · Post by **KmBn** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 12:48 pm

Any affordable helmet/pad brands you guyz know of? I've heard 661 was a pretty good brand && affordable.

gum-nuts · Post by **gum-nuts** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 1:45 am

KmBn wrote:Any affordable helmet/pad brands you guyz know of? I've heard 661 was a pretty good brand && affordable.

I have a full face 661 helmet that I use in the buggy and a 661 skateboard helmet I use for freeriding both are very comfortable and not to hot to wear. I use brand x knee and elbow pads, cheapish but comfortable and do the job.
All bought from chain reaction cycles in the UK - they deliver world wide.

KmBn · Post by **KmBn** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 6:57 pm

Okay,
What about jumping with a kite and board? What sized kite should I buy and how do you jump really? I have seen a few videos, but its kind of confusing.

KmBn · Post by **KmBn** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 7:00 pm

Looking for LEIs. Like the element 2or3 switch

http://switchkites.com/kites/element2.html

KmBn · Post by **KmBn** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 7:10 pm

Since you are starting to landboard, do you know anything about spring trucks vs e lighter skate trucks? Does the absence of weight effect the smooth ride?

gum-nuts · Post by **gum-nuts** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 11:14 pm

KmBn wrote:Looking for LEIs. Like the element 2or3 switch

http://switchkites.com/kites/element2.html

I have two depower foils a 6m Ozone Access and a 10m Ozone Manta - a LEI would be a disaster where I buggy and try to board!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Lake+Walyungup,+Perth+WA/@-32.3445651,115.7797893,7055m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x2a3284183e927b4b:0x2a04f0b5851f4cc0

KmBn wrote:Since you are starting to landboard, do you know anything about spring trucks vs e lighter skate trucks? Does the absence of weight effect the smooth ride?

I have an MBS comp 90 which has vector trucks, I have also ridden a MBS comp 16+ (back in the day!) which had Matrix trucks (with the springs) and to be honest I don't notice much difference.

Free-riding downhill, the biggest thing that effects the ride is the tyre pressure, the board was twitchy with the tyres rock solid, let a little bit of air out and a much smoother ride. your legs work as a natural suspension!

I've not go to the jumping stage yet!

A couple of videos, with my first couple of attempts at kite land-boarding -

http://vimeo.com/88558486
http://vimeo.com/92567640

KmBn · Post by **KmBn** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 12:16 am

Australia! ?! That's awesome!
How do you like your ozone kites? And what kind of harness do you use out of curiosity?

gum-nuts · Post by **gum-nuts** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 12:41 am

I love ozone kites, I have owned ozone fixed bridals before getting into depower, and the harness is an ozone SB harness...
I'm a bit of an ozone freak!

karankasyup · Post by **karankasyup** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 12:36 am

I think kite boarding is quiet dangerous.

Kristian · Post by **Kristian** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 2:32 pm

It is quite dangerous, but it is also so much DANG FUN!!! If you are ready to get injured its fine. Haha. It is a rush and rewarding when you get the hang of it. There is definitely a line that you have to find for yourself. It requires a lot of practice in either lighter wind or smaller kites. Sometimes your mistakes make it difficult, but you can't learn by always doing the right thing right?

Style, it is up to you. Foils are a blast and have a deceiving amount of power! But they don't go back up wind as easily as water kites. Either of these kites can get punctured or damaged. Over all, it is personal preference. Up to you. Kites that are thinner and flatter (water kites) are typically faster and give you better jumping capabilities, but usually for more advanced riders. You can either email or look up kite shops near you and ask their opinion for beginner kites for what you are looking for. (Brand, Size, Shape, Style, Capabilities and Year).

Groups, I would recommend checking out the Power Kite Forum for local groups etc. or local kite/boarding events.

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