Ahh, the freedom of upwind. That was a good day, as was first boost, first landed boost (a couple of days later), first backspin, double backspin, first backroll... (that's all I've really got)
Don't lose heart dude, if you're in Perth then the wind is meant to be still picking up, that rig will probably still do you fine. Especially if you lose a heap of weight as a lot of us have (I lost 15kg when I took up kiting). A bigger kite would come in handy though, I've had my 17 up a few times in the last month or so and I'm only 105kg.
The harder you try the bigger the stoke when you get it. It took me 5 days to get up on the board, that was pretty disheartening. I only had a 17 at that stage and was on my own in 20+kts all week. I was so overpowered but didn't realise. Just kept smashing myself. Sheesh, some days now I wish I was that overpowered. But when I got it I was the man.
So yeah, if you're going to persist with that kit for now go for the high wind arvos. Rig on high power. Be scared - fear is good for safety, if you're not scared you're stupid. There's my advice. Go for the safer spots though, like Safety Bay, while you're still a beginner.
The Green Baron
Terror of the skies and vanquisher of poor spelling everywhere
(now I'm going to look silly if I make a spelling mistake)
. For a beginner it was a stupid choice, intimidating and unstable. Found my self underpowered on the 12 and not wanting to put up the 17. Get a 15 or 16 (the 15m spectrum 1 was perfect for me not to big and not to small). Stay with the board. But the thing that really helped was spending 5 or 6 sessions at cable ski world. It was not easy at first but it did not take long. Once i could ride around course with left and right foot in front i went back to the kiting and away i went. yahoo.
