Kiting

[Skihuckster]

I want to get into this but holy shit kites are expensive! Made more sense when I saw one up close, I guess. Seems like a used setup could be had for under $300.

What do I need to look out for? Any brands particularly bad? Years? Any components worse than others from a cost of repair/replace standpoint? And a potentially stupid question: what's the harm in adapting an old climbing harness for kiting (assuming you arranged for that 'hook' piece)? Is this a comfort or function thing?

[raueda1]

I want to get into this but holy shit kites are expensive! Made more sense when I saw one up close, I guess. Seems like a used setup could be had for under $300.

What do I need to look out for? Any brands particularly bad? Years? Any components worse than others from a cost of repair/replace standpoint? And a potentially stupid question: what's the harm in adapting an old climbing harness for kiting (assuming you arranged for that 'hook' piece)? Is this a comfort or function thing?

Kiting is as varied as skiing and there's lots to work through. Start reading kiteforum.com etc for kite info. After all, they're about kiting (unlike TGR). Get help or lessons from somebody that you KNOW knows what they're doing. Kiting looks nice until it all goes wrong. And there's no sport I know of that can go wrong faster or with worse results.

As for the climbing harness question, Kiting harnesses are designed to be loaded 100% of the time with reasonable comfort. Climbing harnesses aren't normally loaded until you fall or you're hang-dogging. How'd you like to just be fully weighted in a climbing harness for uninterrupted, long periods? the answer is don't do it. Your balls will thank you.

[disclosure: I've been ocean kiting for 14 years and seen a lot of very bad kiting stuff - including 2 deaths - result from just "going for it," using crappy stuff that's jury rigged, etc.]

[Skihuckster]

Thanks. Have been looking at the kite forums. Picked up a 9m in good shape and will take your advice on the harness. Have a nice big soccer complex nearby for winter practice before getting into varied terrain. Land definitely has less margin for error than water.

Agreed no interest in wrecking myself. Got real when I unrolled my lines and saw how much distance between me and the kite.

[Skihuckster]

Probably worth saying I'm after winter kiting...

[tgray]

If you are getting into snow kiting you might check out the harness made by Ozone.
I've been using the arcteryx climbing harness over fleece and shell, so not too uncomfortable,, I've used water kite gear ( inflatable strut kites) on snow, they work
but are not ideal and are not as safe on the snow as foil kites.(difficult to self land)

also with snow kiting you won't be using large kites as you would in the water, takes
alot less power to get going on the snow, so start smaller, the 9 meter that you have
can deliver alot of power, so you might find a 4 or 5 meter trainer foil to be a more
friendlier starting point,

Try not to skimp on gear, its tempting to try to go cheap on used and jury-rigged equipment, but its not worth the risks, the latest evolution in quick release and depower on the control bars are worth the expense.

good luck, have some fun!

[Ottime]

If you are asking about kiting on snow, why would you not post this in the ski/board forum? You may get more feedback from snow kiters there who don't ever look in the surf forum because they do not kite on water. I was about to answer your questions (as did raueda1) based on kiting on water, specifically in the ocean, on waves, as this is the surf forum. I would assume it is a significantly different sport on land. Kind of like how skiing/boarding are significantly different from surfing.

[Skihuckster]

It's not big on snow so info from ocean goers is valuable. Thanks for all the advice!

[trauma]

Always use caution when kiting...

http://vimeo.com/67917029