A lockdown edit, beginner to Grom, progression in a few short years, student has left the teacher for dead.
Luca's is 16 now and has been surfing for years. I started him beach flying when he was about 10 maybe 11 but we had a rule that he needed to be 40Kgs before he hit the water. So he was about 12 when he hit the water, Helmet, PFD Rated Impact Vest and I reckon he probably spent 6 to 8 sessions in deep water just body dragging and relaunching before we let him loose on a TT. He had great skills with the kite from so much time on the beach when he finally got on the TT it just clicked and away he went.
Touch wood, he's only had one Kitemare to date, but I have had a fair few other parents saying ohh its so dangerous why do you let him kite. Especially in the surf at places like Gunnamatta down here in Vic. Then I look back at their kids getting regularly whisked off to hospital for concussions, ACL's, minor breaks all from Footy and think, know which one I'd rather him doing, but I am biased.
If you've got kids that want to learn I recommend the semi tethered setup keeps them amused for hours and hours. Teaches them about real kite flying and is pretty safe!
Lockdown novelty bay surfing in Brighton with Luca and a dozen others on Wednesday 40kn southerly, he surfs great and extra points for being a goofy.
Agree on the injury part also, water is not as hard as concrete (eg. skateboarding) or bitumen (cycling), that I use justify staying away from sports involving wheels or funny shaped balls.
Seriosuly cant wait to teach my boy how to kite. He's 4 now.
Hopefully he can stumble upon this comment in 11 or so years time, when hes shreading like his old man.
Tethering someone to yourself or a structure ie fixed object is lethal, it acts as a pendulum, and can bury the pupil into the ground, the rest is great
Seriosuly cant wait to teach my boy how to kite. He's 4 now.
Hopefully he can stumble upon this comment in 11 or so years time, when hes shreading like his old man.
Have u met his real dad ???
Seriosuly cant wait to teach my boy how to kite. He's 4 now.
Hopefully he can stumble upon this comment in 11 or so years time, when hes shreading like his old man.
Have u met his real dad ???
Ha ha! Say g'day to your wife and my kids.
Tethering someone to yourself or a structure ie fixed object is lethal, it acts as a pendulum, and can bury the pupil into the ground, the rest is great
How so - can you explain? I ask because I've been teaching my daughters and I've been clipped on to the back of their harness for all the beach kite practice to make sure they don't get lofted too badly anytime they made a mistake. Never with a long tether, and never with an elastic one, mind you.
Awesome progression - makes me realise how untalented I am. My son is turning 9 next week but still super light around 25 kgs... couple more years i guess.
Tethering someone to yourself or a structure ie fixed object is lethal, it acts as a pendulum, and can bury the pupil into the ground, the rest is great
How so - can you explain? I ask because I've been teaching my daughters and I've been clipped on to the back of their harness for all the beach kite practice to make sure they don't get lofted too badly anytime they made a mistake. Never with a long tether, and never with an elastic one, mind you.
You need a long tether to make a dangerous pendulum.
Very short tether = very small danger (so far as I know)
My son learnt from about the age of 6, but wasn't until he was 8/9 he could follow instructions well enough. I found shallow water and held onto his harness with a very short tether. But I didn't let him fly off it.
That being said I don't subscribe to telling any dad how they should teach their kid. each to their own.