Which harness is right for you?

Harnesses :  Aren’t they all the same? Well, yes and no. They all serve the same purpose. Harnesses connect the rider to the kite and reduce rider fatigue by transferring the kite's pull from the arms to the body. But there are different styles and sizes, and finding the right one can make a big difference in comfort and performance.

There are 2 main types of harnesses: waist harness and seat harness.

 

    Waist harnesses                              Seat  harnesses         

 The waist harness goes around your waist, just at the top of your hips, a simple design with no leg straps. The disadvantage is the tendency of the harness to slide upwards as you fly the kite, especially after it gets wet. This situation could become uncomfortable as the harness begins to ride up into your ribs and chest. More importantly, as the loop inches toward the kite, it can hinder your ability to depower the kite. Riders with shorter arms are especially susceptible to this dangerous situation because it compromises their ability to utilize the depower function of the control bar.

 

This situation does not occur with a seat harness, as the harness is held in place with leg straps. Another advantage with a seat harness is less stress on your lower back, because the kite pull is transferred to the hips, not the back.

There are other options like board short harnesses (pro: you never have to choose what board shorts to wear; con: you never get to choose what board shorts to wear) and impact vest harnesses (like wearing chest armor, a good option if you are doing a lot of dangerous mega-loops), but it's all really just a matter of preference. Generally I have found that a lot of guys prefer the waist harness (no straps = no soprano singing), and girls like the seat harnesses, because the harness can't slide up and become a push-up bra!

Kiss The Sky Kiteboarding

How to Launch and Land Your Kite on the Beach

Three words: Use an assistant! There are times when a self-launch is necessary or even preferred, but the easiest and safest way to launch your kite is to have someone assist you!

After rigging your lines, hook up your loop and kite leash and walk to the edge of the window. Stand facing your kite with your lines at a 90 degree angle to the wind direction. 

Have your assistant roll the kite away from you up onto the wing by gripping the kite on the leading edge (the part you pumped up).  At this point, do a thorough line check, making sure that your lines are clear of knots, tangles or seaweed, and then slowly walk backwards to add tension to the lines.

Then walk slowly upwind until the kite "fills up", and now you are ready to give the "thumbs up" for the assistant to let go of the kite while you direct the kite slowly  up to 12 neutral. 

NOTE: If you are too far upwind when you launch, you could get dragged across the beach, causing injury to you or your kite (or both). If you are too far downwind, your kite could fall backwards into the wind, sending the kite into the power zone, where you could get dragged across the beach, causing injury to you or your kite (or both).

Please respect the launch area. We've seen kites land in trees, hit people and cars, and cause riders to face plant on the sand. Let's make sure that person isn't you!

Kiss The Sky Kiteboarding

Florida kiteboarder chicks rock!

20 mph winds was enough to get Barbara Manchec out for an 8 am ride in sub-50 degree weather!
STEVE SIPES
KISS THE SKY KITEBOARDING
941-447-8863

Boards boards boards ...

STEVE SIPES
KISS THE SKY KITEBOARDING
941-447-8863

Surf expo 2011

HOW TO SEE the Surf Expo 2011:

First get some energy

Move towards SMOOTH

Race Brian on beach bikes

Play a round of hook the ring game

Ride a longboard with a street paddle

Check out hyperflex wetsuits

Get photo with headless drysuit guy (and John Zimmerman) from Ocean Rodeo

Get random photo with Brian Jones (Kite World Magazine)

Get photo with Neptunic SHARK SUIT guy

Get a tattoo (and choose a stamp for a Maui & Sons model)

Check out C4 belts

Get Surf Style-d

OH, and also look at the surfboards and skateboards ...

Steve Sipes

Kiss The Sky Kiteboarding

Sunrise kiteboarding!

What a great day for kiteboarding! Lahn, Ryan, and Jason ready to go at East Beach in Tampa Bay. We finished up just before the rain storms!

STEVE SIPES
KISS THE SKY KITEBOARDING
941-447-8863

Winter wonderland Florida!

What a great day we had yesterday. With wind speeds of up to 35 mph, we braved the low tide and 40 degree wind chill, and had an amazing session at the skyway!

Dimitri Maramenides of Epic kites brought out his new G3 kites fire us to ride, and he also did a demo of his riding skills, jumping, looping, and coming to the realization that it actually CAN get cold in Florida!


STEVE SIPES
KISS THE SKY KITEBOARDING
941-447-8863

Windy days are here again!

It's getting windy out there! As you may have noticed, colder air brings in some great wind. If you see a weather report showing some cold fronts in the near future, get ready for a few days of kiting bliss! (Also you may want to invest in a good wetsuit.)

But can you get too much of a good thing? Normally, I would say the answer to THAT question is a resounding NO, but in the case of kiting in high winds, you must know your limits.

For beginners, look for winds that are between 10 - 25 mph. AND make sure you are using the right gear:

• Light wind (10-17) = bigger kites / boards (i.e., 100-150 lb rider => 9 - 12m kite, 150-200 lb rider => 12 - 16m kite)
• High wind (18-25) = smaller kites / boards (i.e., 100-150 lb rider => 5 - 9m kite, 150-200 lb rider => 9m - 12m kite)
• Really high winds (25+) = ask a certified instructor for advice or watch the more experienced kiters while drinking a warm vanilla chai. You can learn many techniques by just watching other riders, and you can even learn from their mishaps. Like what, you may ask?

Well, in the past few months, I have assisted other kiters by rescuing a kite from a tree (try climbing a mangrove while wearing a harness and booties), retrieving a kiteboard for a drifting kiter in deep water (riding while carrying a board and flying one-handed is not as easy as it may sound), and sprinting down a beach to secure an out-of-control looping kite, with a desperate drowing kiter helplessly being dragged toward her death (ok, maybe not DEATH, but serious injury was a possibility).

In high winds, even the smallest error could have big consequences. Please know your limits and respect the wind. Live to kite another day!

AND Kiss The Sky Kiteboarding recommends that you NEVER ride alone. Even experienced riders can get into trouble (i.e., (equipment malfunction, changing wind conditions, etc.) so have a "buddy" and keep an eye out for each other!

MUST KNOW: Step One of self-rescue

NUMBER ONE: Don't stay on the water if you see a storm approaching. But if you miss the signs, and find yourself overpowered in high winds, OR if a kite line breaks, or another emergency situation occurs, you MUST know what to do ahead of time!

Here's what you need ro remember:

1) Put the kite on the water (photo). In high winds, a kite flying in the air is more dangerous than one parked on the water.

If you are far from land, let the floating kite bring you closer to a beach before activating the depower system.

2) Activate your kite's depower system. You must know how this works, so check your kite manual, and practice it several times in CALM weather before you NEED it. This will render the kite powerless, and you can walk your hands up thecenter lines to grab your kite. (Do NOT grab the steering lines, as the kite will relaunch.)

SteveCam video "How to depower a kite":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EUQFw9C_LE&feature=player_embedded

3) LAST RESORT: If you can't get control of your kite, OR you are over-powered after pulling your depower release, AND there is no one nearby to help you, ... in other words, your LIFE is in serious danger, THEN and only then, let the kite go(by pulling your leash safety release! It is better to lose a kite than your life. Please note that a loose kite is dangerous to others kiters, it can cause a traffic accident if it lands on a highway, and not to mention your gear can get seriously damaged, so only release your kite leash if absolutely necessary.

... hey, I think I see a palm tree waving to me out my window. The wind is calling, gotta go. See you out there!