How to choose first kite

Yeah, some. But, a lot of average joes (at least around here) are pretty laid back about it, as well.


------ About 3 months ago, I was strongly considering a new digital camera.
I wanted something that was very good, but less than 1,500 bux.
I swear I read about stuff for 20 hours over the course of 3 weeks.
Forums, reviews -- you name it. Bottom line, I ended up knowing NO more about what I wanted than before I read. So many opinions, but more importantly SO many disguised pimps all over the place every where I read. Finding real info (online) is a joke these days, imo.
I ended up just starting to go up to people I saw with nice cameras and talking to them. That's how I got info (pretty ironic... the 'net the info highway... yeah, right )

The nice thing about kites is you don't have to depend on just reading either. You can demo. Also, you can ask guys face to face at the beach that are just average joes and have no monetary bias toward your choice (ask a pimp, get a pimp answer, no brainer)
Ask the average joe, they are your best resource. It's literally what I did for info on cameras.

It's my view that relaunch isn't that big of an issue. Most newer kites do it pretty well. A few are ridiculously easy. I can't think of many that are all that hard (not 07 or 08 kites). Ask guys at the beach what they think, cuz I might be way off on that. I use to relaunch some pretty lame pigs.

I don't know about the east coast, but guys around here are easy to approach at the launch sites.
It hasn't gotten a b.s. elite club feel to it (yet), so don't be shy about just walking up to guys.

Olympus, Stylus 720 SW. Sams Club approx $428.00 Goes under water 10ft fresh and salt, can be droped from 5ft on concrete and still keeps going...great little camera IMO

[CodyKeats]

DaveWolfs:

You asked a couple of questions that haven't been answered, so here's my 2 cents on those. (I started kiting last summer in Hatteras, so I recently went through the same process as you.)

Bow or C? Definitely, go with a bow kite. Stick with recent models (07 or 08).

Size? Most people will start with kite in the 12 meter range. I started with an 11m and, within 3 months, picked up a lightly used 14m. I find that, on Florida's east coast, the 11m and 14m get about the same amount of use.

Slingshot Rev? I understand it's a great kite, and probably just fine for a beginnner, if you can stand to pay the price. I opted for Slingshot's '07 Turbo 2 kites, which have been just perfect for my purposes (easy relaunch with wide wind range).

Best advice from my perspective was offered in an earlier post. Don't buy until you've taken your lessons. You'll learn a lot about the kites that you use in your lessons. As a beginner, I found it was helpful to buy the brand of kite that I used in my lessons, because you'll know precisely how to use the safety features, de-power system, etc. Most brands will have similar features, but the bars, lines, etc. may be set up a bit differently. Once you've had some experience, the differences are not complicated, but as a beginner, it's much easier and more comfortable if you've actually used and been trained on the system that you buy and begin to use on your own.

Have fun. I windsurfed for 20 years before switching to kites, and (like a lot of others on this forum) I've never looked back.......this is a truly great sport.

[Danimal8199]

I agree with alot of what people are saying on here...

Relaunch shouldn't be a problem... The Sling Shot TD2's relaunch ability is unreal, that kite has a hard time staying down and its extremely fast.

Summer is coming up so you will want a bigger kite for those litewind days. The cabrinha omega HD is another great kite. I have flown this and the bar setup can be ridden a couple different ways. You can also get pretty good deals on the 07's, same with the SS TD2's except you can't convert the bar on the TD2.

I just replaced my 15 and my 12 with Flexifoil Ion 2's. Those kites are sick!

I would just keep talking to people and like Scott said, it will take you a while to really understand what you like and don't like, it will happen the more you ride.

Man, awesome photo, Dave.

Very funny Scott... Good advice though... I would even get an 07 kite so I could get an 08 board, but use a reel leash so you dont loose it.

I started in march of last year and had the hardest time cause of my "french fry" board 140x38...I weigh 215lbs btw...

I used to ask so many questions why this and why that...Scott would say "its because of your board man...geez havent we been over this already..."
So get something wide...like by 142-145 at least..I guess it would depend on your weight too...but thats my .02
Good luck...

He meant 42 (not 142, thats length)

Depending on weight of course... I am 180 and ride a 130cmx40cm. 40 is the width. Wider is better when you are starting out, so you could go all the way up to 46 if you wanted but it won't be a good all around board. Something between 40 and 42 wide would be a good all around board.

Flat, no more than 1" of total rocker from center to tip.

[davewolfs]

Originally Posted by Skyway Scott

Yeah, some. But, a lot of average joes (at least around here) are pretty laid back about it, as well.


------ About 3 months ago, I was strongly considering a new digital camera.
I wanted something that was very good, but less than 1,500 bux.
I swear I read about stuff for 20 hours over the course of 3 weeks.
Forums, reviews -- you name it. Bottom line, I ended up knowing NO more about what I wanted than before I read. So many opinions, but more importantly SO many disguised pimps all over the place every where I read. Finding real info (online) is a joke these days, imo.
I ended up just starting to go up to people I saw with nice cameras and talking to them. That's how I got info (pretty ironic... the 'net the info highway... yeah, right )

The nice thing about kites is you don't have to depend on just reading either. You can demo. Also, you can ask guys face to face at the beach that are just average joes and have no monetary bias toward your choice (ask a pimp, get a pimp answer, no brainer)
Ask the average joe, they are your best resource. It's literally what I did for info on cameras.

It's my view that relaunch isn't that big of an issue. Most newer kites do it pretty well. A few are ridiculously easy. I can't think of many that are all that hard (not 07 or 08 kites). Ask guys at the beach what they think, cuz I might be way off on that. I use to relaunch some pretty lame pigs.

I don't know about the east coast, but guys around here are easy to approach at the launch sites.
It hasn't gotten a b.s. elite club feel to it (yet), so don't be shy about just walking up to guys.

Thanks for the tips.

If you need help choosing a camera let me know, photography is one of my hobbies. Personally I'm biased to Nikon I really enjoy using their gear.

Here is a picture from one of our local beaches.