Hi,

I've been listening to this thread and I must admit I would usually bother to join in but it seems to me that you may have just have gotten the wrong end of the stick?  These other 'elitist' kiters give good advice from experience because they care!  Kiting is full of some of THE most friendly and helpfull people I have ever met in any sport, and I've been involved in quite a few.  People that will go out of their way to help you if you are in trouble, or give advice if needed.  That's why I kite as a part of a group - safety, not elitism.

I may be wrong but I believe that you mentioned a 19m kite in one of your first posts?  The largest kite that most of my friends own is a 16m, with one chap needing an 18m because he's heavier, so perhaps you'll understand why alarm bells wrang in most people ears when they heard you were just going to have a go and teach yourself?

I may sound a little contravertial now but I'm not a huge believer in group lessons either.  If you can afford a private one then great but otherwise getting someone to help you is a good idea.  Everyone learns at different rates and I too would have been very frustrated in a group lesson.  You simply can't skip the safety stuff though.  The trouble with trying to get someone to help you though, is that most kiters, particularly if they're travelling, will want to get out on the water themselves whenever the wind is good, and don't want to be stuck in the harbour with the crowds. 

I spent 2 mornings with a chap generous enough to give up his time then went it alone and didn't look back.  Don't give up - it's a great sport.  Just be sensible!  Saying that you won't kite around others just isn't practical.  You NEED others for launching, landing, trim advice etc.  So you need to be safe for their sake not just your own.

Good luck,

K

PS I have 3 North Vegas kites for sale on ebay with bars to match if you're interested... :)

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From: "rapid8974" <rapidrollin2003@...>
Reply-To: southdorsetkitesurfing@...
To: southdorsetkitesurfing@...
Subject: [southdorsetkitesurfing] i give in.......
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 19:16:23 -0000

ok i have had enough of you all jumping on the bandwagon to slate me, u
win i quit, i,ll bin all my gear, then ya can all be safe in ya
eliteist little club, i just hope none of ya got kids as they will
never get to do fuck all for themselves, all i got from this site is a
tirade of we know best, do ya? well most accidents are caused and
involve experienced boarders, just because u spent a load of money on
lessons, and probably turn up to beach in a shiny new bmw, and have 5
or so kites and insurance, dont mean thats how it should be... maybe a
dogfish will round up all the sheep, and then you will realise that the
down trodden path aint always the best way. Are we still in uk? or
maybe russia, has anyone had a original thought or are u all gonna re-
read whats already be wrote and change a few words . dont bother
replying to this , just be happy in the knowledge that u put another
person off, well suppose means more room for u , out on the sea