Time to go Kiteboarding. Check the wind forcast...by 9 am the winds should be blowing. That gives me some time to have coffee and a chat before the days flights.
The restful moments before the noise from the back rooms comes pouring out into the lobby and to then to the beach. Where the whirling sound of pumps and parachute canvas slide along the beach sands as lines are stretched and commands are shouted out.
- Let us have a closer look at the first lesson to take place and walk through that process while I can take pictures.
The Kite is inflated along the leading edge, in this cade is in the hands of the friendly instructor. The Kite is upside down when first unpacked, inflated and handled before take off. Upside-down and Into the wind lets someone control the kite with one hand as there is no lift created across the wind foil.
Two hands should be kept on the Kite at all times...but. With the kites leading edge into the wind and upside down created a bit of downward pressure.
But we want to launch the kite and at the command of the operator. The helper will rise the kit along a vertical axis into the wind.
The tip that was closest to the picture above this one was raised into the air letting the kite catch wind on the edge and bit into the wind. (sorry camera glitches as the instructor was rising the kite)
AND --> The size of the kite, in this case a 13m as demarked by the number on the air foil tip. The size used is determined by many factors such as: wind speed, weight of boarder, performance, skill...you get the point.
If the kite boarder maneuvers the kite up into a large enough power zone the kite will rise and be held aloft.
But if no wind can be found and kite does not bite right, the kite will come down as we see it blow.....pun intended.
Will the helper have to give the kite some lift? The kite boarder can walk or run back into the wind which can can help. Or operate the lines to adjust the curl of the tips....there are many options to get high.
A variety of techniques need to be learnt in order to be successful at the sport. You cannot always run back in the water so working the lines is a must.
With a few steps back and the kite is up Up UP.
Look at the Kite in Flight, such a beautiful sight.
Lets go in for a closer look at the instructor and his set up.
Notice the darker 'thicker' area of the kite, that is the leading edge of the kite. You can tell that the wind is coming Across the shore from the left of the phot to the right by where the leading edge of the kite is.
You have to fly into the wind when starting out.
Now lets look at some photos and notice 4the bar that the instructor is holding.
The slight movement and tilts of the bar pull and loosen tension on the kite.
Two hands on the right to bring the kite upright
As the kite starts to rise the tensioning of each side must be adjusted so that the kite does not swing off to the other side. It is a gentle delicate balance that needs to be maintained.
Loosening up on the right side.
Yet keeping the kite in a power zone to get come pull from the wind. But not too much as to get pulled along the sand.
Easy does it. Back off the power a bit and maintain control.
And then...
Dump it down into the power zone for a pull.
The winds are quite gusty at the moment and this helps to teach and learn how to adjust for ever change winds.
Lets step back now and let the others have a look.
I sit back and watch for a bit while the other students are set up and gotten ready for their lessons and then it is my turn to get suited up and left to my own devices.
I shall have more photos and information on Kite boarding in the next post. I will leave it here for today.
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--> The pictures were taken around the town of Phan Rang, Ninh Thuận, Vietnam. The streets leading up to the area and the area around this town. Have you been to Vietnam or another country that captured you mind heart and soul....tell me about it down below.
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