Buy a Trainer or Save for Lessons?
 

Hey all, newbie here and I'd appreciate some advice as to getting started with kiteboarding. I'm wondering what anyone thinks should be my first purchase, a training kite or lessons? I know a friend of a friend here in town who has some smaller kites that he's let me flown a couple times so I've got the general idea of flying. However, in no way do I consider myself experienced and I definitely plan on taking lessons soon.

So, which option looks better?
Option A) Drop $150-$300 for a trainer (have looked at Best Trainer 3m - $150, New Tech Ballistic 3.6m - $219, & HQ Beamer TSR 3.6m - $299)

Option B) Put that money aside for lessons later on

both, get a trainer kite, fly it for about a month and then get lessons

I would get a 4-5m trainer "C" kite, if and only if you have some one at your disposal that can show you how to fly it properly.

If not... I would save for a lesson....

just my two cents

-chris

There is a lot more to know about kiteboarding than how to fly a trainer or small traction kite. Just like flying an airplane, you can learn very rapidly but now deal with an emergency, different story.

Spend a lot of time reading through this site as instruction may not pick all this stuff up. Carefully consider and try to understand the basis of the ideas put forward in: http://fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=478

There were derived from the evaluation of many accidents.

Carefully evaluate instructors and pick a good one for your training. Some ideas along these lines appear in:

http://fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=829

I learned how to kiteboard on my own almost 8 years ago at this point. The process came close to killing me, a few times. Today, there is no good excuse for most folks in Florida to risk going through that process again. Get good adequate lessons, you'll be glad you did for many reasons, even if it causes a delay in starting up.

Thanks to all who replied, the advice is appreciated.

Have any recommendations as to what kind, Chris? Been looking at a Liquid Force trainer, since I've seen good reviews on their Assault kites, and also at a Best package offered here http://www.broneah.com/estore/index....&primary_id=70
Both are 3m but the LF claims to have "a more realistic feel. It gives the kite flyer the feel of the larger inflatable kites that you’ll be using once you’re ready to get into the water."


Yeah, Rick, I've come to the realization, by watching certain videos and browsing some of the posts here, that kiteboarding can have a high danger factor for the inexperienced. I definitely plan on getting lessons; not too worried about a startup delay since it seems it'll be a while before the wind down in Florida cranks back up. But I'd like to get a trainer so I can be a little ahead of the game as far as flying goes.

I'm glad I came across the forum; for a while I was convinced that I'd have to go to the Keys or the OBX for instruction. The Panhandle is a lot more convenient to North Alabama.

I like that kite. Much better than the trainer kite I had first. My first kite was a 2m foil kite, and it was too fast in the sky and didnt have much pull. I like the kite you found there.

Your other option would be more expensive. Which would be buy a 5m "C" kite, buy a four line bar, and a harness. What ever fits your budget.