Kiting | roirizla.com

Yep, I fly kites

Actually, I consider myself a Kite boarder and everybody that knows me will tell you that there are few things else that make me whoop, loudly I might add and involuntarily whilst zooming along on a stretch of beach or in my local park. It started 3 years ago when my wife bought me a little Buzz 1.8m. I acquired a board after my 4th kite purchase and have only started to jump during last months of 2008. Currently, my skills are only limited to 360’s, nose and tail grabs but that’s ok for me, because I just love to ride, jump and fly with my friends.

Riding in Gunnersbury Park

It’s a corner stone and an anchor for me, one of those things that define and associate me with few others who also live for the sound and power of wind. Not to go all soppy here, but if it wasn’t for kiting, I wouldn’t have stopped smoking and I would have missed out on some of the best friends and shared experiences a man could wish for.

Before you make up your mind and think you are too fat to get pulled by a 3m kite, just hold that thought until you’ve tried it.
Really, the next time you see somebody holding on to a kite, walk up to them an ask them if you can have a go. Depending on the wind, 99.9% of the time it’ll seem like you are paying for it, that’s how keen kiters are to share their passion.

Jumping the 16m Venom

Kites I’ve owned include:
Peter Lynn Venom II 16m
Peter Lynn Venom I 13m
Peter Lynn Gorilla II 9m
Best Bularoo 10m
Flexifoil BIV (Blade 4) 6.5m
Flexifoil Blade 2 6.4m
Bego 600 (6m)
Quadrifoil XL 4.9m
Gin Yoz 4.8m
Flexifoil Rage 3.5m
Pansh Legend 3m ( actually, this one is my wife’s )
Flexifoil Super 10 (3m)
Flexifoil buzz 1.8m

I list them here so that you can feel free to ask my opinions on them and many, many other kites I’ve had the luxury of flying.

My current kite set (quiver) consists of only the two Peter Lynn Venom’s which takes care of me in winds and gusts ranging from 8mph to 35mph. I also ride on a custom 13ply Trampa cut down to size by my long time kite buddy, compadre and PIC, Fabrizio. Speaking of kiting friends, I met Jester Thump who co-host foOninjas.co.uk with me thanks to kiting. I guess it’s safe to say that it’s impossible not to make best friends when you get involved in the world of kiting. If you are fortunate, you’ll have a Zen master like Chevy Traveller aka. Simon Forsyth who will show you the ropes and avoid you making costly mistakes when you start out.

Injuries and accidents happen and when they do they tend to make you reconsider your approach and the level of respect you hold for this sport. I’ve had a near fatal experience earlier this year, broke my big toe on my left foot and also fractured my ankle, but bend me over and probe me like an alien before I quit it and most like most bad things, I just slot it under my “experience” folder and get back on with it. Don’t think that I wasn’t a big fat whuss when I started though.