Hi there everyone. Trying to convince my dad to get into kiteboarding. He's 53 this year.
just wondering if you could post how old you are. Im sure there are some guys that are older then he is that can kite.
Help me out!
I am a 41 but have a couple of mates who must be
Dunc1=55
Dunc2=55
Birdie=75
Get your dad going mate, easy in the learning phase, old folk break easy.
Thanks for the quick reply guys.
He's currently got a broken wing because of a mountain biking stack. I plan to use this time to convince him haha.
Select to expand quotegeordieboy said..
I FORGOT TO MENTION MY FATHER-IN LAW 73 AND KITES IN HOLLAND AND SPAIN
That's a MASSIVE downwinder. Good on 'im.
Just turned 54 and coming up for for my 2 year kiting anniversary. Tell him to maintain a good stretching routine to avoid dum back injuries like I have now! If he is active he will learn it no problems. if he's a slug and a couch potato could be harder!
Beat you all so far 59 and 11/12s.
Getting tougher to harden up every year but beats the heck out of windsurfing.
Best sleep tonic you can get.
About to turn 53 this year too. (must have been a good year for babies!)
Easier on the body than mountain biking, especially if he is into the downhill stuff. I nearly broke my neck on a bad stack on a downhill run. Front wheel came off. Don't ever want to do that again
Get the old man out there. He will love it eventually.
Kiteboarding is a brain sport. It is effortlessly easy if you understand what is happening with the kite and the board and the water and your body position.
If you don't understand it you will be constantly working against the kite and slogging along with the board half stalled. Examples of this are all the guys who can barely go upwind or mow the lawn in the same groove over and over again, guys on directionals with the nose flapping around up in the air and all the people doing the walk of shame up the beach.
The only way to understand it is to spend the time on the water and really practice with the kite until you understand what is happening.
If your dad tackles it with brute force and ignorance then he probably won't have all that much fun. If he is of a mind to think things through and understand things then he should take to it like the proverbial duck.
Looks like my theory is correct.
Kitesurfing is an old man's sport, windsurfing is a young man's sport.
Hell of a lot harder to windsurf. That's why there are so many ex windsurfers kiting.
Just turned 40 and still doing both.
Red thumb away ;)
Select to expand quotewestozwind said..
Looks like my theory is correct.
Kitesurfing is an old man's sport, windsurfing is a young man's sport.
Hell of a lot harder to windsurf. That's why there are so many ex windsurfers kiting.
Just turned 40 and still doing both.
Red thumb away ;)
i'll never understand the 'it's harder so it must be better' argument.
it's harder to surf a 70's single fin than a new quad.
it's harder to catch a fish with a line tied to a stick than with a proper rod and reel
it's harder to row a dinghy than start up the outboard...
if kiting is quicker to learn and makes it easier to: get back up the line in the surf, get out in lighter winds, progress to complicated tricks, sail faster, carry & rig your gear, and travel than windsurfing, why would anyone suggest that windsurfing is better than kiting? other than nostalgia and novelty?
Select to expand quotewestozwind said..
Looks like my theory is correct.
Kitesurfing is an old man's sport, windsurfing is a young man's sport.
Hell of a lot harder to windsurf. That's why there are so many ex windsurfers kiting.
Just turned 40 and still doing both.
Red thumb away ;)
Not so sure about your theory Jase, there are a few Zimmer frames in the windsurfing car park near my local
Select to expand quotestamp said..westozwind said..
Looks like my theory is correct.
Kitesurfing is an old man's sport, windsurfing is a young man's sport.
Hell of a lot harder to windsurf. That's why there are so many ex windsurfers kiting.
Just turned 40 and still doing both.
Red thumb away ;)
i'll never understand the 'it's harder so it must be better' argument.
it's harder to surf a 70's single fin than a new quad.
it's harder to catch a fish with a line tied to a stick than with a proper rod and reel
it's harder to row a dinghy than start up the outboard...
if kiting is quicker to learn and makes it easier to: get back up the line in the surf, get out in lighter winds, progress to complicated tricks, sail faster, carry & rig your gear, and travel than windsurfing, why would anyone suggest that windsurfing is better than kiting? other than nostalgia and novelty?
You made the better statement, not me. You do agree it's harder tho.
Different is how I like to view it.
Select to expand quotewestozwind said..
Looks like my theory is correct.
Kitesurfing is an old man's sport, windsurfing is a young man's sport.
...Select to expand quoteGorgo said..
Kiteboarding is a brain sport. It is effortlessly easy if you understand what is happening with the kite and the board and the water and your body position.
....
Actually kitesurfing and windsurfing share the same issue, it's hard to do if you do it wrong. That's why most windsurfers can't gybe or jump or sail overpowered.
This is sick. really didnt expect much of a response.
Just have to wait for dad to get better and then will get him on the trainer haha.
Im sure he'll take to it.Select to expand quotefooter said..
just learning at 59 this year and with a hip replacement.
With a hip replacement... thats darn impressive
Remember: technique, feel, understanding
Too much practice with the trainer kite is never enough. If he gets bored get him to think of ways of making it harder. Kiting in no wind is good. Kiting in too much wind is good. Standing there doing figures-8s in perfect wind not so good.
Get him to figure out how to self launch, land, relaunch from the bar without walking up to the kite. Understand how to wind and unwind and stow the lines and never get tangles.
Im 58 this year and been kiting for 11 years, not charging as hard as i did , still doing 2 to 3 hour sessions in the surf and having fun.
I think the secret is as you do get a bit older pick the conditions so you dont beat yourself up.
A freind of mine just started last year at 55 and he is riding like a teenager, im hoping to keep going for anotehr 10 years
Select to expand quotewestozwind said..
Looks like my theory is correct.
Kitesurfing is an old man's sport, windsurfing is a young man's sport.
Hell of a lot harder to windsurf. That's why there are so many ex windsurfers kiting.
Just turned 40 and still doing both.
Red thumb away ;)
Windsurfing is a dinosaur's sport (you have to be that old to remember when it was cool) 
