Utah Windriders Association

This event starts tomorrow and I'm sure the World Speed Record will be back in the hands of a kiteboarder!

Check out this preview video!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlo88g3J ... r_embedded

Good God

Chills up my spine!

"I feel the need! The need for Speed!" Maverick

One more reason to keep windsurf on water. The kiter at the end of the footage could have been hurt, badly. No helmet, impact harness. . .

That's a 3.5 condition, no?

Is that what you call a tea bagger? I want to try to kite someday, but how do you re-gain control when getting droped and lofted like that? I have hooked onto Peters kite 2 times now and WOW they are powerfull.

Shawn Henderson wrote:Is that what you call a tea bagger? I want to try to kite someday, but how do you re-gain control when getting droped and lofted like that? I have hooked onto Peters kite 2 times now and WOW they are powerfull.

Come to the Dark Side this winter and try snowkiting. You will like the power of the kites.

Shawn:

All modern kite bars have safety releases that kill the power almost instantly. The guy in the video was a little slow activating his (and it was pretty extreme conditions).

Ok, so you just cut loose the kite? I was thinking you could de-power or steer out of the "window" or something. I guess watching $1000 blow away is better than medical or burial expenses. I did witness both peter and Mark pull the release when a micro burst hit Lindon. Both kites seemed to stay close bye, maybe they don’t necessarily blow away. At any rate it must be difficult to get onto the release in a panic situation. Like many sports you have to know what your doing to be safe. I think I am leaning toward getting on some ski's and trying some cold wind. Maybe this year. I need to learn how to do it safely though.

With most kites, after the safety release is pulled, the rider is still attached to the depowered kite by a leash (which itself has a safety release in case the kite isn't depowered enough.) And yes, although most of the current releases appear to be well designed, it can be difficult to remember to use them quickly enough when it's hitting the fan.

Starting with snowkiting is a great idea; that's where several of us (me, Leo, Sarah, etc.) still are. Taking a lesson is an even better idea. Billy Bordy is super at getting beginners started safely: http://kiteutah.com/index.php?Itemid=95 ... &task=view

The kite will basically be fully depowered and either spinning or flying purely on the front lines depending on your style of safety and how you attatch your leash. know your equipment and always check your releases before you go out. i had to release twice this fall, once in a burst at lindon, once during a kitemare at yuba. as long as you're familiar with your gear it will be an instinctive reaction, it just happens.

get a lesson and then start sharing the winter stoke, snowkiting is a blast!