I started learning how to Kite Surf about 3 weeks ago.

I first bought a trainer kite (5.5 M flexfoil bullet), i took it to the park and got about 8 hours on it total throughout a few days.

Now I am bored, i can do figure 8's park it overhead, move with it, run with it, I can skim the ground and bring it back up into the air i can even park it on the edge of the wind window about 3 feet off the ground.

It is 5.5 M i am not mistaken, it does pull me off the ground a foot or two if i slide it up into 12 o clock position and it does pull me significantly if i do 8's in the power window.

My question is, is it time for me to go to the beach and start body dragging?

My equiptment is as follows
-13M LEI (not sure of the brand i am typing this off while working)
-5"8 TT Pirate Directional Naish Board. (I understand this board is more difficult for beg and il have to learn jibing etc)
-Sit in harness

I am worried about going out to the beach I will have a buddy with me and i will only go out during cross shore wind conditions under 18 mph. I weight 200lbs

Is it time for me to learn body dragging? Will the 13 M lift me out of the water or is it safe at this point?

I did not take lessons and i wont take lessons, they are too expensive and i got all my equiptment for 500$ from a relative who wrecked his knee and could not do it anymore.
I really appreciate any safety tips or comments

thx in advance!

Konrad

now tere's the funny story!

but yes, you can learn yourself. i know i did. there is nothing impossible. just don't let the kite fly too often through the wind window.

13 for your weight is ok from 14 to 20knts. so let it go, try it in the water, away from the beach. and just may be you better think of using the helmet.

I think your board and kite might be just fine.

Actually easier to learn to ride on a directional - and yours is "big", so okay for you and learning.
You dont need to jibe for starters - you can just fall back into the water and turn the board.

Agree with Eree, and you should also consider using a helmet just in case.

Get out there and start practicing water relaunch and bodydragging - and dont forget to practice using the Quick Release

Peter

Could it be that you are trolling?

In any case, I hope you are not from around here. You will likely put other people in danger by not taking lessons unless you have a place where no one else is around.

If you have a place where no one else is around let your loved ones know when you'll be back and where you go if you don't

Good luck.

you are as ready as you ever will be with that equipment and attitude. You are making it hard on yourself with that gear and lack of willingness to take a lesson. What is your time worth? you can spend a whole season learning what a good instructor can teach and demonstrate in a couple hours.

Next step is to learn your lei kite.

What is it?

How much to pump it up, how to set the lines up

Search up how to launch and land it with a helper and solo.

Understand the safeties.

Do all of this before you launch it the first time.

While your doing this go to your beach and be a kite bitch. learn how to launch and land kites then offer to help launching and landing others kites. Note!. Do not offer to land somebodies kite if your don't know how. practice it and then offer.

If your lucky one of your locals who yourve helped launch/land will give you a few pointers.

Tip of the day for launching.
"a flappy kite is an unhappy kite"
So when launching with a helper kite at the edge of the window you slowly walk upwind with the lines tensioned untill the canopy stops flapping. if your helper lets go of the kite while its still flapping it can roll back in the window and power up through the power zone. Instruct your helper never to let go until you give him the thumbs up. Instruct the help never to chuck the kite. All the helper should need to do is let go.


PS I Suggest you lure your relative who you bought the gear off to the beach with offers of beers and get him/her to give you advice.

+1

You are not being practical, mannn

there are lots of threads like this. try the search key.

the short version for the lazy:

can it be done, yes

should it be done, probably not

if you think a lesson is too expensive, just wait until you may have to come up with some cash for the ambulance and hospital
be prepared, just sayin

Hi Konrad.
Quite a few of us on this forum learned by ourselves.
I know I did in 1998.
Thats why we recommend not to do it.
Why ?
- your health and life (yes) is worth more than a few lessons.
- the risk of you creating a ban is very real (risk to others, to yourself, being rescued,....) , you will not be popular after that hapens.
- Your assesment of the possible hazards will be incomplete (garanteed) ie you will have to go through many "kitemares" before gaining that necessary knowledge.
Should you be of the stuborn kind: go to deserted places, bring your own first aid kit, don't tell anyone what you are up to.
Even if you succeed so far, you will always stick out as a pain in the butt on the beach as you will not have learnt the etiquette.
You have done the maximum so far to have a very good learning curve, keep going by getting a few lessons for the sake of everyone, please.
Regards
Nico