Goofenhiemer, I thought you were going to go down the pshycological road with this.

Maybe a new thread should be started: "Too much Kiting can ruin your wife".

Kiting can put stress on the fam unit for sure.

I'm 49 and I've kited for over 8 years and before that windsurfed. I had a couple really good face slams last year learning to kiteloop, but for the most part goin' big and trying to land gracefully is kind of fun too.

By the end of summer I'm in the best shape ever. I've got a touch of arthritis in my right big toe, but everthing else seems to be alright.

I do feel bad for you Goofdiddly. There's got to be an alternative. Maybe a hydrofoil in lighter winds might be the ticket. Maybe a kiteboat where the boat takes the beating. I told my son, that if I ever had to be in a wheelchair, I'd expect him to slap some pontoons on that badboy and hand me my kite

I'm a kiter but also a windsurfer and I raced several years in formula windsurfing competiotions. I suffered of every possible pain (back, wrists, knees etc.). Now that I'm not racing any more, the only solution I found is to limit the time of my formula sessions: about one hour, one and a half if I'm really enjoying it. This way I'm pretty shure the day after I can walk, pull etc.
For the moment I have only marginal problems with kiting but my level is eraly intermediate so I don't perform big jumps or tricks.
I can ski and snowboard for a whole day, no problem.

Some might be missing goofyfoot's opening intent in this, "Too much Kiting can ruin your life."
He goes on to add "This is written to serve as a warning to advanced and very frequent kiters."

He isn't saying kiting is a bad thing or necessarily health threatening (on good days) particularly in moderation. I think his point is frequent, long duration, high impact sessions, lots of busted extreme tricks, etc. can take a toll over time. I am inclined to agree with him. Acute injuries and impacts from other intense activities that may come along the way may contribute to this or make it worse.

Kiting can be an excellent conditioning aid, it strengthens, tones, increases stamina and can rehab some injuries very nicely. Many of us have experienced this. This is not the same as "too much" kiting involving chronic extreme high speed impacts, extensions, rotations and trauma over an extended period.

I believe "too much" of anything can ruin ours lives.
Kiting, windsurfing, surfing, triathlon, sex, yoga,etc anything in excess will destroy our spine in years.
Whats "too much'' for me, may not be for others, we have to be smart enought , NOT to let our obsession for pleasure, exceed our limits.
I´m 49 years old now , when i was 40 I started having back problems (from triathon),knee problems (from kiting), shouder problems(from yoga) ,WRONG!!!, the problems came from my obsession to do everything.
One advice for us that expose our bodies to the limit, is to supplement well during sessions, go to a nutricionist.
Taking Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and MSM for maintenance of healthy joints, it realy pays off.

Really "GOOD" Thread !!!

I'm getting in my upper 50's now ; i Always took time to maintain the body.
Maintain it physically and mentally ; and both have good & bad days.

When i first go out on the board, i always take the first 10 -15 minutes kinda easy
till the body gets warmed up. Unlike with a HG or PG where Ya need to dive
in Maxed out or possibly get hurt. On a Kite-board i simply won't let the adrenaline
flow till i feel that the body is loosened up first.

True, i'll never be worth a Sh*t on a kite board ; but plan to be doing it when i'm 80 !!

You will Never see me drink a bunch of beer then go kiting, i save that for later.

Bottom line here is :
Sitting on your ASS and watching TV will screw up your Body & Mind just as
bad as over doing it on the water. I see Lots of Guys in there early 40's with these
"Big Bellies", and Bad posture ; usually accompanied with a cigarette & Beer !!

Bille

Best wishes - and best of luck!!

You'll be ok - and will continue to kite.

Many good comments/suggestions here for anyone. Work on abs, glucosamine, know limitations as you age, etc.

Now 73 and will never stop kiting! Bad lower back, various dislocations, torn rotator, bad knees - from windsurfing, snow skiing, water skiing, hockey, etc. - and, of course from kiting!

Really look into seat harness - nothing works 100% but they are great if properly adjusted!

I wished I lived where there was more consistant wind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Never give up - and always keep moving!!!

We all know the expression "tricks are for kids"
Kiting actually improves your life if you adapt at the right time
We all have done crazy insane stuff on TT in our kiting career

Look closely and you'll see that as we "mature" you simply have to adjust to a different kiting style
Lots and lots of kiters become kitesurfers to minimize danger on their bodies

So they can live to kite an other day and so on and so on............

Nobody's said anything about behind the back handle passes. Delightful shoulder stresses. An orthopedic surgeons' dream exercise.

who says this bullshit?