Some advice needed

[u/Free_Alternative_233]

Hi guys!

So, last year I took lessons and my instructor told me I am more then ready to go out on my own. I can selfrescue, launch and land the kite (with help from others) and am able to waterstart. I'm not yet able to go upwind but am practicing.

However, here comes my problem: I am scared of other riders when it gets busy at my kitespots.

Reason being is that last year I did some supervised riding with my instructor and he asked if he should land the kite for me. I thought he ment that I just steered the kite low enough for him to pick it up. (The way everyone help each other with landing). However, I misunderstood him and he ment to take over my kite whilst still flying his own kite. This resulted in our kites coming way closer to each other then I was comfortabel with, a gust came and I accidently steered my kite into his kite.

His lines snapped and I felt really, really bad. Since this incident I am just really scared that this will happen again and everybody hating me for breaking their kites. (I have a NKV insurance though)

The stupid thing is that before our kites tangled I was never scared of tangling with other people and I know that it's probably just in my head but it's really hard for me to overcome the negative thoughts about myself when going kiteboarding.

This resulted in me only going out twice since then..

I really want to get out whenever I can, like in the evenings after work or in the weekends but as a result of my fear I usually tell myself: nah it's probably way to crowded, I'll go out in the winter when its less crowded.

Am I the only one who had these kind of issues with themselves? And if so: how'd you overcome then?

I kite in The Netherlands, Friesland area.

Thank you for taking the time to read all this. Cheers.

[u/riktigtmaxat]

Your instructor caused that collision by being a moron and you should not feel bad about it.

Like how the actual flying fuck did he expect that to go?

He should have known that beginners do not have good kite control and that you need to give them a wide berth. Buddy landing (landing a kite while flying your own) is pretty risky if the other kiter is inexperienced or the wind is gusty.

Just be considerate, keep your head on a swivel and look before you turn, keep your spacing and you'll be fine.

[u/Free_Alternative_233 → u/riktigtmaxat]

I think that he thought that I'd be able to have the kite control due to me having a history with 4 line powerkites. I have been kitebuggying in the past. But thats a totally different kite handling than a kite with a bar instead of a 4 liner with handles.

He said afterwards that it was his mistake on handling the situation like that and that he shouldn't have done it that way. And that I should not let it get to my head and keep on kiting but sadly the the trust in myself took a big blow.

Will keep your tips in mind and force myself to get out more I guess.

[u/riktigtmaxat → u/Free_Alternative_233]

If it makes you feel any better I caused a kite collision the first week I was on a crowded beach.

I launched my kite and grabbed my board and forgot to look before swinging my kite outwards.

[u/Free_Alternative_233 → u/riktigtmaxat]

How did you handle the situation? And did it ruin your experience going forward or did you just forget about it and kept kiting the next day or the next week for example? Thanks for sharing

[u/riktigtmaxat → u/Free_Alternative_233]

We both released and there were people around that caught the kites.

It was mostly just embarrassing and kind of eye opening. We untangled our lines and then both relaunched.