I Kitesurfed with a 24-Year-Old Two-Line Kite

[@youshouldsurf]

When will we find the first two-line kites on YouShouldSurf for sale ? 😅

[@hirthproductions988]

That kite was from an era when men were men and kiters were gods! To see what Lou Wainman and Elliot Leboe did on these two line Wipika kites back in the day was inspiring and terrifying. I remember the fixed angle of attack made them a serious bitch to manage as edging the board hard was a big factor in controlling them. The early F-One three line foil kites were also very difficult to manage. It was a game changer when Naish came out with a four line kite with a 'chicken loop' attached to the front lines. Wipika then released a four line kite called the 'AirBlast' which were big air machines for their day. Fun and scary times back then. Possibly the most amazing thing is that your were able to pump up all of the bladders on that old kite without a single failed inflate nipple attachment. The early Wipika inflate nipples seemed to stay attached to the bladders very well. This is something that the whole rest of the kite industry seemed to really struggle with for many years to come. I flew a BRM Parawing for the first time this week at the same location I first flew a two line Wipika kite over 25 years ago and it brought back similar feelings of learning a new sport. Big thanks to all the watersports equipment innovators around the globe for giving us new sports and gear to play on!

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

Haha, thank you for your quote. It made it into my latest reel on instagram

[@robertzeeland]

Before Naish came out the the AR5 serie, they had a AR3,5 It was very much like Wipika's FreeAir. "Edge hard and keep the kite low' was the mantra back then. Look on YT for vid's called 'Loaded' and 'Boost'.

[@shacharliberman5084]

I started kiteboarding on one of those cursed 3 lines F-one kites. ("Shadow 7.5m"). I somehow managed to never breaking my back, and I've used it for way too long because I had no money to replace it. The stories I could tell.. What a horrible, horrible kite.

[@Ephisian118-d3u]

Just remember Lou Wainman was doing handle passes at Kite Beach on one of those in 2001/2. It just goes to show how much of a talent and visionary he is. I personally learnt on a 5m F-One ram air foil in 2000. Looking back now, it was total madness. So many people got hurt badly whilst learning. I did have the Boost two-part VHS for instruction, and they used the Wipika Air for demonstrating. What you experienced was exactly how it was, but we were using 7'0 surfboards with foot straps fitted, and had no idea what we were doing. I'm glad the sport evolved, because it wouldn't have lasted unless 5th line kites came out, and the safety benefits associated with 99% de-power, and basically from 2009 onwards with Bow kites and all the development since. I am very grateful to have been there at the beginning of, (what is now) an Olympic sport! I consider it one of my biggest privileges to have witnessed it in my lifetime.

[@wingsurfcamp8240]

Loved my 2-line kites in 1999, noticed you used a modern pump instead of the tiny original pumps. Thanks for showing the riders what we had to learn on. Safety systems have come a long way.

[@JTechWP]

I learnt on a 4.3m flexifoil blade ram air kite on 40m lines. Chopped a windsurf boom to bar size, attached the lines to each end and windsurf harness loop. Some epic crashes, flew over the roof of a cafe ☕️ in Cyprus 🇨🇾 and landed on the road 🛣️ luckily kite crashed into a hedge and I missed the razor 🪒 wire fence on the army base ! Good times 😂

[@kulfonbustardo1588]

I like this story. I was a big fan of arcs and blade3s. But i got to try some crazy back strap kites with the handles on bungies the kite itself was just a large semi circle with a stuntkite like carbon rod outline zero strut or air etc just a semi circle of fabric. Teeeny tiny surface area only like 4m but the power of like a 12m inflatable somehow

[@andymoss4285]

4m? Pffff wimp. 6.6 8.5 and 10m blade 3 😂

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

🤣🤣🤣🫡

[@tweedracer5626]

His 4.3m flexifoil name was the Madkite 😉 it was epic

[@JAMvideo1]

Those years the Wipika size was projected area, so 8.5 was actually 11.5 flat area. You could roll those tips up to convert to 4-line. I still have an 11.5 (16m2) that still holds air. The LE is huge.

[@KiteMecca]

Exactly! And you pump the struts first than the LE

[@rolandparry2022]

I had the same set up lol the 11.5 in blue and white on 4 lines

[@sauce729]

"It has high bar pressure" 🤣 Yea because all the force is going into the bar! Great Video!

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

🤣

[@bettelnet446]

This had been my first Kite in 2000! Wipika FreeAir 8,4 (11,5m² Flat). I had the Blue/White one. After Two times of use, i converted it to a 4 Line Kite. You have just to remove the bridle, roll up the tips and use Velcro to fix. At 10:59 you can see the Velco

[@MatPendle]

Thanks for making the video, this is a projected area closer to 12m, I came up with the name Freeair and Airblast at the time, you should try with a twin-tip and roll the tips with the velcro and convert to 4 lines, in 1998 I made the Wipika user guide we shipped as a VHS K7 with every kite, you can see on my YT :)

[@mikiautar]

Legend!

[@JimLodico]

I learned on an Airblast which I still have. I remember at the time everyone was saying I needed to learn on a two line kite. Sailed one a few times but so glad I went with four line. We also flew such bigger kites back then. My AB was a 16. We thought kiting would be the light air alternative to sailboarding.

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

Hey Mat, I would love to get in contact with you to find out more. Is there any chance you reach out per mail ?

[@johnravensbergen3324]

Image trying to learn as a raw beginner on this kite. Wow, true pioneers.

[@normanh5052]

Great video Ben and fair play to you for giving it a go and sticking with it. To think Lou Waiman was doing handle passes with these kites insane.

[@dorn_to_kitesurf9501]

The kite is still crackling😂😂😂

[@shacharliberman5084]

Back then we used to make a donkey tail piece on the spreader bar ourselves. (a piece of rope covered with a hose on top of it) so once you're hooked in into the bar loop, you're hooked in, but at least you won't release your kite by mistake. Chicken loops only came when 4 line kites arrived. and initially you had both a bar loop and a chicken loop, which sounds like it makes zero sense right? but the bar had so much 'pressure' (the back lines took a lot of the force of the kite) so you couldn't kite for a long time without hooking in the bar loop. Then when a strong gust came in, you'd pull the bar in, release the bar loop, and continue flying the kite like today - with the chicken loop. (It's named a chicken loop because back then you were a chicken for not dealing with the entire force of the kite)

[@belledetector]

Aaaah that´s why it´s called a chicken loop. Always wondered why. Btw the loop "security pin" was called a donkey dick, and not a donkey tail or chicken finger. That naming came much later after we entered the era of political correctness🤣

[@kiteinsidelaurentness2574]

The first kitesurf kite was the Wipika Classic produced in 1997. I have just bought an old 6,5 m in a good state. I have already a 8,5 m that was the bigger size at the moment. Laurent Ness Kitesurfer since 1993.

[@robertzeeland]

Are you Laurent Ness? The Frenchman? I myself learned it on a Wipika Classic 6,5mtr in 1999, bought from new. You are a friend of the boss at F-One, aren't you? We met in Cabo Verde!

[@tweedracer5626]

Laurent Ness! Quelle époque ! La French team des débuts, que de bons souvenirs. Je naviguait avec Manu Bertin région de Douarnenez/La Torche à cette époque là, mythique 😉

[@willywendt6200]

Herbst 1997, ich war Autodidak in Holland. Das Board 2,1m lang und 40cm breit von RRD hängt jetzt über meinem Bett. Der Kite wurde auf 4 Leinen umgebaut und hab ihn leider und verkauft. Richtig gut ging es erst mit den ersten Slingshot Fuels, Wipika ARC und Naish und einem Twintip ab Herbst 2001.

[@Andreas_K_]

Great video. Love that huge bag the kite comes in.

[@robertzeeland]

I loved these kites very much. You can fold the tips and turn it into a four-line set-up; I knocked up a home made 4 line bar (summer 2000) I rode it with a Slingshot Asylum 146 and full NSI-boots. Banging through the turns was the real deal of wake style, inspired bij Chris Caltrop, Fadi Issa, Lou Wainman and Flash Austin.

[@Ralfscho]

Sick vid dude! And no worries for providing the kite 😎🤙 glad you managed to fly it and even ride a foil with it.

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

Hey Ralf, BIGGEST THANK YOU EVER. Can you reach out per mail ? I lost out e-mail conversation as it was too long ago 🙈

[@anneahoi]

Peace of cake; als ich meinen VIP bekam, da gab’s noch keine richtigen Bretter. So dass ich ein altes Windsurf Board ( Länge 2,57 m )umbaute. Schlaufen auf der Boardmitte laminiertund los ging’s. Wenn da nicht noch die Drohgebärden der Windsurfer gewesen wären, ein reines Vergnügen.😅

[@toms74094ts]

Love seeing this and a reset for all on how far equipment has come! I started in 2003 on a Flexifoil storm that’s basically a 4 line version of what you are riding. Awful kite but it got me my first rides that got me hooked. Still keen to this day so something worked! Glad you made this history lesson 😂

[@LewisCrathernKitesurfer]

Wonderful video Ben, one of my favourites not only do you show how beautiful that spot is (I have never been) you reconnected me with the feelings I had with this kite. It was my first kite :)

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

Huiii, hands down bro 🫡

[@Cabrinhakite]

That was legendary Ben totally Nailed it on the foil 🩵🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👌

[@josejmora960]

8.5 is the projected area. Flat area is around 11 meters

[@YkarusFPV]

Hi Ben. The funny little line on the bar was the kiteleash, connected to a wristband.

[@Surf_Life]

Quite impressive🤙🏾😁We can be super happy to have such excellent and save equipment nowadays. Great video🤩

[@jackignatev]

"crispy like new, great for beginners, just 1000 euro!"

[@christianahrens2502]

only ten times in the air ;-)))

[@emmanuelderagne3259]

Hello , i began in 1999 with the Wipika 8.50m2 sold in 1998 . I didn't buy the bar ; i cut my windsurf wishbone to make it . A lot of fun in Helsingör Denmark, july 1999 . I was alone ...

[@SharafV]

Super video. Thanks! It's a best kite session.

[@fabsfrick7808]

You are welcome that we went through that. I wish we had it all on video. But I wouldn’t change anything for having the experience to be able to be involved with the beginning of this sport. The kite you have was actually just after we fiddled with folding up the wing tips and trying 4 lines. Your next video possibly? Get ready for some serious crashes. Must have 25 mph plus though.

[@ShemLlewelynDyfi]

I learnt on this kite in 2000. I had it in yellow and a 4 or 4.5 wikipka Classic

[@colsson]

Took lessons in Kailua back in 2002, it was a two line like this. Bought the brand new Naish AR-5 four line but obviously never used the “chicken loop” - instead it was full power all the time 😂

[@fuelbasti]

Had an Airblast of this brand. Their tubes were very fragile. But I still have my Caprinha Black Tip 11.8 from I dont know. I modified it with carbon tubes in the tips and pulleys for the steering lines and later with some "safty" hooks to avoid the hand leash. This time was wild. This kite was a truck and not very handsome. With the pulleys it was rideable. We need kind of an oldtimer meeting.

[@JimLodico]

Yeah, but we all took the pulleys off because it starred so slow with them. Remember trying to get the kite to roll over on its back so it would relaunch. Getting drug across the beach was the cause of many injuries back then.

[@MattGardner1973]

So funny and entertaining! Thanks for a great video. I thought at first it was going to be easy - then all that wierd stuff happened! Loved the music. 😂

[@flyover1974]

Genau mit diesem Kite hab ich am Reschensee angefangen❤

[@torotom2023]

Luckily you've survived! I started with even older crap than this (1998). And you've seen - there is power in it. Btw I have friends on Maui who started kiting in the mid 90's!

[@Marc87cabrinha]

Really nice video! Cool stuff! Do you maybe have the bridle drawings? I have a few of these Wipika's here at home.

[@Chaba75]

That was my first kite in 11 m2 size...that time was no twin tip only directional surf boards....to relanch U need to unhook pull the bar behind your head and swim towards the kite to flipp it on the back,and then pulling on one side of the bar....as u said we was swimming almost more then we was riding 😄

[@Mr.kitefoiler]

Nice video Ben !

[@stylemazta]

Funkt mit nem Twintip! Einfach bei 25 knoten mit viel Platz nach Lee loslegen, nach Luv musste dann halt nach der Session laufen, Lou Wainman style!

[@sorenwolff4954]

I still have 2 line wipika 5.0 from 97/98? Was taught by Elliott Leboe, if anyone remembers that name.

[@dpwild328]

Ha, that was great! That's kind of how I look foiling with my modern kite 🤪

[@Foilfun]

I learned on the 5m version of that kite. Add gusty winds. Almost killed me once--literally. Not the good old days. Funniest part of your video is that all the bladders held air. The glue doesn't hold long nowadays. 😂

[@jornk9205]

Nice, aber das nächste mal bitte mit einer Pumpe von damals aufpumpen. Die Kites kamen mit so 30 cm großen Handpumpen :D

[@Mr.kitefoiler]

that kite is - dinosaur 😂

[@wernerxldata]

Relaunches didn’t look too bad ❤

[@dylan_the_wizard]

How long did you spend fixing bladder leaks before the video? :D

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

🤣🤘

[@jmatbast0s]

indeed! I tried to inflate the kite and all valves were leaking!

[@paulgush]

Other than no depower, how were the handling qualities? Specifically was it slow to turn? And does it have a bridle, or just connect at the tips?

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

@@paulgush it was very slow with something like bridles…

[@stylemazta]

Danke für diesen geilen Content

[@s2oooo]

I had the first flexifoil storm around 2000 🙈🙈🙈🙈

[@Olegisrael1234]

Super cool content, it’s like back in the time , I start with kites like that

[@berni2kite]

Sers mit so einem hab ich 1999 am Silvaplana,bei Stephan Poppenrath, das Kiten gelernt. Wir hatten dann noch riesige Surfbretter. Mit dem Foil ist es einfach 😂. gruss berni😊😅zfl

[@SunpowerPuglia]

If you roll the tips until the black velcros you can fly it in 4 lines mode 👍 That was my first kite in 2001, size 11m but still modified in 4 lines with a 28m slingshot bar more similar to the actual control bar,s, very easy to relaunch and friendly apart uhm... the stall if flown 1mm over the wind window or leaving tension to the lines, the really short and low depower, the safety line that doesn't allows to bankrolls ect ect, i used for over 4 years, first and only kite for the first year, than small size kite after the 16smq and in the end school kite 😂😂😂

[@MrAlexandr561]

it was nice, thank you

[@gilleslehmann6143]

What an idea ! You have to change your van by a DeLorean 🤣👍🤙

[@gokucorrecaminos3711]

Really nice episode, very funny and atipical 😂

[@FinnLiii]

Wipika x Marlboro 😂

[@InternationalPlaylistsforyou]

Ich habe genau das selbe mit dem alten kite von meinen Vater gemacht(20+Jahre alt) und bis auf die nicht existierende depower und der unterirdische relaunch war ich echt positiv überrascht.

[@summer.vfX-trem]

i began on this kind of kite. it was crasy to waterstart. after one week, i quit kitesurf for 11 years.😮

[@kiteaust]

I remember how everyone had such a hard time converting it to a 4 line. Nobody wanted to change I had to force Kitesurfers to change. Unbelievable!

[@robertzeeland]

It was weird that Wipika came out with a kite that could be converted to 4 line, but they did not supply bar, centre-loop or lines. So I made them myself. But first I made a pulley-bar.

[@kiteaust]

I use those kites for ages . Great teaching kites. Very forgiving for an inflatable

[@seanconolly3088]

I had that kite 😂 in 2000 and wipika classic 5m in 1999.

[@Jochumvideos]

Kite history 🪁

[@Wattwurm0815]

Da ahnt man warum Naish so dicke Muckis hat💪😅 so ein 24qm Tubekite aus der Zeit kurz danach wäre auch mal was, vor allem das aufpumpen😂

[@TheDigitaldealer]

haha...nice! what was the price of this kite would be good to know for comparsion with the modern kites.

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

True that

[@AlanRocha_]

Nice 🤙🏼

[@69robinwood]

About as safe as a packet of Marlborough which is what it looks like!

[@thomasneumann3660]

Wow wheres that spot?

[@slaapkonijn58]

Looks like silvaplana, the most beautiful spot I never kite'd. You have to pay 15 swiss Frank to be allowed on the water. Leave it to the Swiss to ruin perfect spots like this.

[@albertwesker2507]

2 lines？！This is really crazy：）

[@hanseich]

How much does a kite like this in fly able condition cost nowadays?

[@Agoguz]

Hey Ben, All ok, really nice video, but there is a "big mistake", that's still present around in 2024: the power of the kite, when you hold it low is LESS than when it is in a higher position of the WW. So when you want to depower the kite, especially old kite, but even modern kites, you want to bring the kite as low as possible. This can save some life around (people following wrong instructions provided by schools and instructors without sufficient knowledge lifted by the kite without any way to solve it in supergusty conditions...) so please share it in you next technical video. If you need additional details just contact me, ciao ❤ PS: the safety system of this kite worked pretty well. Just let go the bar, of course it's projected to be used without an harness + loop. This was a second step... 😅

[@pitamedrahtesel]

Damit hab ich damals auch gelernt, war aber eine Matte mit 8 qm

[@danilabagrov7151]

Insane

[@John-q7m]

Did you try a loop?

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

Not yet

[@Frerikvb]

Awesome!😂

[@SaschaK.o.]

Herrlich…einfach Spaß haben. 😅

[@ursthuer]

Der Hans der kann’s auch oldscool kite voll cool.

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

😂🤘

[@kcm624]

Kite looks pretty good to be honest.. Given it's from 2000.

[@Obi-Wan-Mike]

hey Ben, i found out that the material is mylar at the frontrube and struts. And not allula😅😂🤙🏻

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

Good to know 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@richardlangford7590]

Great video dude . Those kites are were I started .. can’t believe it was so long ago.. may I ask were this location is ? Looks a nice place to kite

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

Thanks bro, that‘s lake silvaplana

[@kitesurferjoey]

I started just after that first kite cabrinha blacktip

[@peterhicks9192]

8.5 projected area ...so more like a 11-12m

[@EricMolenwijk]

Also. Cool vid 😂

[@kieransammon666]

I have one of those 😎

[@superdeifi]

I learned Kiting 2000 with a wipika 2 line😂

[@ieism1]

I've just started the video, but RIP Ben.

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

Hahaha

[@Flying_nestling_]

Geil😂😂😂

[@dennisdorrer4591]

👍👍

[@edooyarzun6587]

next time in 35+ hahah

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

Hahaha

[@mab0b]

damn

[@AlohamanIan]

Disappointed you didnt try a twin tip, we didnt have foils back then and rode TT's with these kites. Just take a bigger board than usual.

[@m007mm]

Why not add 2 lines yourself?

[@tenalock]

Kiters were doing slim chances on these things 25 years ago. Today that same kiter would never have bothered to take up the sport because industry saw more profit in middle aged doctors and lawyers, and shaped kiteboarding towards that market, marketing kites made of golden pubes to the radically challenged and trust funders.😂😂😂Gread work on the vid but dont just give up with the twin tip, you just need loads more wind. You can actually convert that kite to a 4 line - worthwhile for fun, but dont expect a miracle though! ';-) It is also not an 8.5m2 by todays standards, its bigger!

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

That‘s insane

[@RafaelkiteBR]

kkkkkkkkkk

[@Flying_nestling_]

Mach mal n Mobe damit🫣

[@bikextheworld4223]

Unfliegbar in Tarifa. 2002

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

🤣