I was never a big fan of kites when i was younger. They did not appeal to me. I didn't understand how people could stand on beaches or in parks for however long they did holding a single line and staring up, neck stiff at a flapping piece of material. I still don't really understand the draw of single line kites or even some stunt kites. They don't excite me. They also used to terrify me which is why i was surprised (albeit pleasantly) when I flew my first power kite and enjoyed it. In fact i loved it.
so how did it begin? I was in wales partaking reluctantly in yet another family holiday on the pembrokeshire coast. which is supposed to be beautiful (weather permitting and therefore rarely is). I didn't see the beauty in cold rain and bitter winds the whole year round but... now I suppose when I'm on holiday in wales i sought of hope for it. Because one of the most frustrating things about powerkiting as a hobby is that it is completely reliant on weather conditions and in the UK a good wind usually blows away the sun and replaces it with heavy black rain clouds. Anyway I was sitting inside looking out onto the beach where the wind was whipping up the sand and generally ruining any chance of outdoor fun. Well that's what I thought at the time. So I wandered around in our holiday flat incredibly bored trying to find any excuse not to read ,'Tales From Ovid by Ted Hughes,' and eventually came across a stunt kite. I really didn't want to read. So as my youngest brother began to scream ,' mum Daniel said my teddy is gay,' I tucked the kite under my arm and made a quick exit.
I had a lot of fun flying the small stunt kite and as it had just been my birthday and I had a bit of money I was well up for seeing what was out on the market in terms of kites. Unfortunately my dad drags me to wales to get me away from all technology and so I had no means of researching a kite related investment. My investigation would have to begin some weeks later once I had left medieval wales and returned to England where electricity had been invented. Unfortunately by this time I had forgotten about those hours of joy I had spent on that dreary,freezing beach on the Pembrokeshire coastline and was now much more interested in farmville on facebook (thankfully that was a short phase in my life and after a forgotten harvest or two farmville was an addiction of the past) .
After a few months of a life without kites in my mind I was suddenly reminded when my friend showed me a picture of him powerkiting. I asked him about it and was instantly hooked on the idea. I ordered a kite the next day (Flexifoil Sting 3.3m - I will put up a short review about this kite in a later post). The kite came two days later from www.powerkiteshop.com/
I was stoked to get it out and get flying so the next day I went down to the park. I arrived at where I had planned to fly it and stood there with the kitebag. It was then I realised I had no idea what to do. I carried on nonetheless and somehow got it out and flying. well when i say flying... I mean airborne for no more than 5 or 6 seconds before smashing the leading edge hard into the ground. After repeating this several times I resigned to the fact that some sought of teaching would be needed and I went home. I was not happy.
I will talk more about how i learnt in my next post. thanks for reading :)
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