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About to buy kit - any advice?

> 10 years ago

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hec

VIC

10 posts

hec

VIC, 10 posts

19 Dec 2006 1:52am

G'day All,

I have completed my first 3 lessons and want to get some kitesurfing kit ASAP.

I've done some homework and it seems to me a 12M kite and a board of approx 138cm should be a good option. I am based in Melbourne and are about 73kg.

I have seen a lot of kit for sale on the Buy and Sell section here and elsewhere - so much so that I have become a bit confused. Here's the options which look OK to me.

1. 2006 North Vegas 12M including Cabrinha harness as listed in Buy & Sell Section ($1100)

2. A damaged but repaired GK Sonic (last year's model) and a used baord ($1250)

3. A 2006 Slingshot Turbo Diesel - 12 metre as listed in Buy & Sell Section ($990)

4. 2006 Best PRO WAROO - 11 metre as listed in Buy & Sell Section ($1600)

5. Hire kit for the rest of the Melbourne season ($950) - Airfoil Atoms available.

Anybody have any views on what might be the best option for me? As I can't really afford to buy new at the moment, my aim is to suss out what would be the ideal complete kit for under 2 grand. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Hec

kurt

QLD

177 posts

kurt

QLD, 177 posts

19 Dec 2006 7:39am

The hire option looks pretty good from that list.

I love the waroo pro 11m, but's it's not a beginners kite.

Have a hunt around for a 12m 2006 waroo.

brooksy

498 posts

brooksy

WA, 498 posts

19 Dec 2006 10:13am

Hire doesn't make much sense, seeing you can buy kit for about $1100 and probably get $500 for it after 12 months - so it would only cost you about $600 for the year.

All those look ok, you need to check out the quality of the kit, look for excessive wear on the trailing edge of the sail, etc. Take some experienced guys with you to check out the stuff.

Hurley

ACT

98 posts

Hurley

ACT, 98 posts

19 Dec 2006 1:18pm

Just thought you'd like to know you can get a new 07 waroo with new bar and lines for around $1600.

I would strongly recommend you get a flat (bow) kite as these I have found make your learning experience much faster and safer.

Cheers
Al

Macca Wollongong

NSW

295 posts

Macca Wollongong

NSW, 295 posts

19 Dec 2006 1:39pm

dont get the SS turbo desil, a local guy said his is abosoulte crap, and was going to put it in the bin, he wouldnt even resell it it was that bad. So bad choise.

I would go the Vegas or ravin 06's

maxim

NSW

84 posts

maxim

NSW, 84 posts

19 Dec 2006 1:53pm

I have a 12m Switchblade bought in July 2006 for sale, very good all round kite, perfect for beginner to advanced, Complete with bag, bar, lines and pump. Very good condition.

$1200

Cheers

Munter

NSW

210 posts

Munter

NSW, 210 posts

19 Dec 2006 3:17pm

Of the kits you've listed, I'd take the sonic. But then again, I own two of them and take them every time I go kiting!

My thoughts on each of your options are like this:

1. A north vegas is a nice kite but it doesn't have the same depower as a flatter kite. You'd also need a board.

2. The sonic 11m is a great kite which is stable and has a really wide wind range. It doesn't suffer inversion problems like some of the flatter kites. As long as the repair is sound it shouldn't give you any problems. I weigh 70kg and use the 11m about 80% of my riding time. You need to learn not to oversheet the kite as this will make it backstall - this is not hard to learn.

3 The TD isn't bad but is perhaps a little more prone to inversions and hindenbergs than a sonic.

4. The waroo pro probably isn't the right kite to buy as a beginner. Its also needlessly expensive compared to the alternatives. It also appears that the benefits of cuben aren't really all that great when compare to regular dacron. According to some riders the WP is also heavier than a regular waroo.

5. - Hire? well at least you'd get to use nice new kit but of course you'd have to hand it back at the end of the season. I'd just buy second hand.

puppetonastring

3619 posts

puppetonastring

WA, 3619 posts

19 Dec 2006 1:27pm

quote:
Originally posted by Macca Wollongong

dont get the SS turbo desil, a local guy said his is abosoulte crap, and was going to put it in the bin, he wouldnt even resell it it was that bad. So bad choise.

absolute crap is right - not the kite but the comment.
I have flown ??? more than 12 different brands/styles of kites (no names here) over the past couple of years and without doubt and by a very long way my Turbo Diesel is by far the best - IMO & for me.
No one kite will ever be THE BEST for everyone but to say that a kite which is very stable, relatively quick turning, cranks upwind, handles gusty conditions with a huge consistent smile across its leading edge

and is safe & forgiving is crap REALLY IS crap.

Get your mate to PM me - I'll gladly pay postage rather than have him dump it. (specially if its a 12 or 14

)

JAKE123

QLD

314 posts

JAKE123

QLD, 314 posts

19 Dec 2006 2:36pm

i am in melb for the next wek an have an 11m gk sonic for $650 including bar an lines. call me on 0422216228.

jake

SurfConnect

QLD

1674 posts

SurfConnect

QLD, 1674 posts

22 Dec 2006 1:47am

Hav a look at our site, got tons of xmas special, new and used kites.

Macca Wollongong

NSW

295 posts

Macca Wollongong

NSW, 295 posts

22 Dec 2006 3:02am

quote:
Originally posted by puppetonastring

quote:
Originally posted by Macca Wollongong

dont get the SS turbo desil, a local guy said his is abosoulte crap, and was going to put it in the bin, he wouldnt even resell it it was that bad. So bad choise.

absolute crap is right - not the kite but the comment.
I have flown ??? more than 12 different brands/styles of kites (no names here) over the past couple of years and without doubt and by a very long way my Turbo Diesel is by far the best - IMO & for me.
No one kite will ever be THE BEST for everyone but to say that a kite which is very stable, relatively quick turning, cranks upwind, handles gusty conditions with a huge consistent smile across its leading edge and is safe & forgiving is crap REALLY IS crap.

Get your mate to PM me - I'll gladly pay postage rather than have him dump it. (specially if its a 12 or 14 )

It was acctully a 7m, it just didnt fly right, mabey a sole bad built kite who knows, i had the TD at the top of my list untill the instinct came out.

St Kite

VIC

73 posts

St Kite

VIC, 73 posts

22 Dec 2006 10:37am

While you are deciding, you can hire the latest equipment, 8m, 10m, 12m and 14m Bowkites, 135 and 145 Nobile boards and 138 cardboards for $80 a day at St Kilda West beach. It's about getting out there and doing it.

Nic

awilson

QLD

14 posts

awilson

QLD, 14 posts

22 Dec 2006 1:43pm

Go out and do it is the best advice you'll ever get - probably doesn't matter what you start with, just go with what you can afford because you will want to make a change as soon as you are confident/competant .. and you WILL crash whatever you have. I started with some cabrinha gear i bought as new from my instructor and picked up boards/harnesses from people on the beach - I've had a number of diffferent boards, kites/harness combos and am always looking to trade up at any time - there is always gear around as people are doing the same thing as you - just ask !

I've got a Cabrinha 04 14mtr (see the for sale section) - $400 or make me an offer - I'm off overseas in a few weeks - taking my new Cabrinha Bow with me.

Happy kiting

echostorm

QLD

1245 posts

echostorm

QLD, 1245 posts

22 Dec 2006 4:06pm

quote:
Originally posted by Macca Wollongong

quote:
Originally posted by puppetonastring

quote:
Originally posted by Macca Wollongong

dont get the SS turbo desil, a local guy said his is abosoulte crap, and was going to put it in the bin, he wouldnt even resell it it was that bad. So bad choise.

absolute crap is right - not the kite but the comment.
I have flown ??? more than 12 different brands/styles of kites (no names here) over the past couple of years and without doubt and by a very long way my Turbo Diesel is by far the best - IMO & for me.
No one kite will ever be THE BEST for everyone but to say that a kite which is very stable, relatively quick turning, cranks upwind, handles gusty conditions with a huge consistent smile across its leading edge and is safe & forgiving is crap REALLY IS crap.

Get your mate to PM me - I'll gladly pay postage rather than have him dump it. (specially if its a 12 or 14 )

It was acctully a 7m, it just didnt fly right, mabey a sole bad built kite who knows, i had the TD at the top of my list untill the instinct came out.

I have a 12m td, its an awesome all round kite. I also have a mate of a mate of a mate that thinks the earth is going to explode but until I see the facts i dont believe him. Macca u havent flown it so you dont know shyte, go back to school and start another rumour. Id definantly go the turbo deisel, or the sonic (depending on the damage).

sunseeker

QLD

1203 posts

sunseeker

QLD, 1203 posts

24 Dec 2006 9:01am

SSTD 14m has been a great kite for me. Echostorm and I have been on these kites the whole year and not had any trouble - the build quality is so good on these kites. The thing with these kites though is that there are some people who have ridden them and don't like them. That's going to happen on all kites. I have advanced really quickly on this kite and have seen people learning and teaching on them.
The GK sonics build quality is no where near as good as the SSTD however are a good kite to fly.
Waroo's seem to be good however I'm not that impressed with the PRO for the price you pay.
I reckon the the 12m TD is good for 990 as long as it's had no damage.

NorthSide

238 posts

NorthSide

WA, 238 posts

24 Dec 2006 11:13am

Hi hec,
The best Waroo is WELL over priced! Especially considering a friend got one for less than that brand new. The North Vegas is the best I can see from your list for price and quality. Forget the depower comment as the modern day learner has become extremely soft! They will be wanting airbags next...LOL. Seriously though, you just have to pick your conditions more carefully with a 'C' kite and as you advance you willl be able to cope with stronger conditions. The Vegas has a very good reputation so I don't think you can go too far wrong. Make sure the harness fits and if not tell him/her you will take the kite only (+ bar and lines) and get him/her to knock a couple of hundred $ off the price.

For another $400 you can pick up a great kite board and be kitted out. I would recommend an underground board as they are 2 years in front of all the other board manufacturers. Hope my bias but honest opinions help.

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About to buy kit - any advice?

hec

kurt

brooksy

Hurley

Macca Wollongong

maxim

Munter

puppetonastring

JAKE123

SurfConnect

Macca Wollongong

St Kite

awilson

echostorm

sunseeker

NorthSide

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