Kite Skates

Since this topic is stagnating;

I thought I was the only one doing Kite waterski, but here it is.
Some Guys with some awsome videos.

I kow this is not Kite Skating, but since people look at me like I am the Lochness Monster when I am on my skis with a land kite or on the land with my skates...

http://www.starrsurfskis.com/

Patrice

WoW
Having just spent a weekend at the snow on skis (I can't handle a snowboard) this looks just amazing.
I notice the skis are bouyant - do they need to fully float with a person on top, or do they sink if not moving

BobM

Looks pretty wild Patrice ..... how long have you been at it ?


Do the ski's pop off your feet pretty easily when you stack it ?

These guys have money and contacts in the industry, so they have developped some Booties which are lighter than snow ski boots but fit snow ski fittings.
Their skis are standard water skis moulded with a foam layer on the top and thermal wrap plastic.

I have been doing it for 5 years with council pick-up waterskis, which are just some old beginer skis.
I use my HQ Crossfire 6m on handles with a Liquid-Force harness in 12kn minimum. I have an empty backpack and a floatation vest so that when I crash, I take the skis off (attached with velcro leach to my ankles) and I stuff my sinking kite in the backpack.
Thankfuly, that doesn't happen often. I also ride on the wave bar, not too far from the shore.

Standard waterskis are fine, providing they are nearly as high as you are to allow enough carying surface. I have just added a strap to press down my foot onto the ski as the standard waterski fittings are pretty loose.
I'd like to have their Booty system, but when you fall, you can't swim with booties...

I saw once an old footage from Peter Lynn, where one of their design engineers was kite waterskiing.

The fact is that kite waterskiing is faster than standard kitesurfing because there is more surface and the fins placed at the back + the ski edges = less drift. They also go upwind better than a board.
It's just not as transportable and fashionable than a small light and flashy board.
But I belong to the older generation and I was on rollerskates compared to new generations who were on a skateboard, so I like my 2 feet on 2 planks !!

Thanks for sharing Patrice,

Haven't seen the vid yet (am at work), but that looks mad, especially the skii poles. I assume they must have some large pad on them so they actually have an effect. Spartan has a set of these "ducks feet" as I call them, he will go nuts when he sees this.

Regards,
Norman.

Ok, you've got me curious enough that i'm going to have to borrow the waterski's off my mate and give it a try when the summer southerly winds kick in again.
Tried slalom kite-skiing? That'd be a serious challenge.

Well I've used these last summer got a few laughs, they work well.

Just like skates on water.

Hey!!!

They look like a lot of fun George!!

Haha, those are brilliant!
They're either the biggest big-foot ski's i've ever seen... or the shortest (and fattest) regular ski's.
How did you go with the upwind?

How did you go with the upwind?

The up wind is great Jason,
there's double the edge in the water, more holding power.

Ooh I want to try them!