I've had my gear for only a few weeks and am real excited to be learning this sport. I've got a Kahoona 11.5 and a nice beg/int board. I've worked the kite a lot of times on land and feel pretty comfortable with it. I've body dragged in the water back and forth a bit and even let the kite pull me clear out a few times. Thats a riot. I practiced the 11-2 dive on the beach and was able to get standing. Then I got the board on and got up a few times in the water but didn't stay long. Tomorrow I'm heading up to Deer Creek with some more experienced folks to really get a good lesson. I'm really stoked.
So here a few random questions:
1) I felt pretty good about the power and getting pulled up onto the board and starting to plane-- and I wasn't being pulled over the front either. But I think I wasn't managing my kite well right after the 11-2 dive that pulled me up because I'd lose power right after that and sink back down. The wind was good all the while. I wonder if I was letting the kite go out of the window? Anyway, once you are going up and planing, where do you take the kite to keep the power strong and get you moving?
2) I know it is way early to be asking this question, but do most people self-launch and self-land, once you get good? Or do you usually kite with others and use their help for this? i've done both and obviously it is way easier to have help, but I'm thinking there could be a lot of days when you are heading out alone. How realistic is that? Assume that I'd be staying close enough in to swim to shore and would have a flotation vest, etc..
3) Landkiting-- do you folks do a lot of this? I've not yet done and have yet to buy a mountain board (and will right away), but I see windy terrain and wonder lots of things-- how flat does it have to be, can you go through weeds, how punishing is it? Where are some close, easy spots (close to North utah County)? Is it better to get good on water first where you have a softer landing?
4) Is Rush Lake there or dried up? I had never heard about it until now and looked it up on Google. One map shows it full, another shows it dry. How do you know how much water is out there ? It sounds like this is a great spot for wind if there is water.
Thanks and I'm super excited to be getting into all this! I can't wait for winter to break out my skis and head out with the kite too. Awesome sport.