Help me decide what kite to buy

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General Gear Reviews Newbies The Hookup Foiling Lost & Found WA NSW QLD SA VIC TAS

nomad joe

4 posts

nomad joe

WA, 4 posts

20 Feb 2007 3:29pm

I want to take up kiteboarding, but I am not getting the same advice from any two salespeople. I have only had one lesson and managed to get up and riding and also did a deliberate jump - apparently that is quite good progression. I do a bit of wakeboarding and snowboarding, so I'm sure that helped. I am into adventure sports so I want big air. I only want to buy one kite so a large wind range would be a bonus. Budget is not a massive issue, but I don't want to waste money. I am looking for advice - all i've found is reviews that say this or that kite is good.
Is there anywhere I can go for a comparitive review of the diferent kite options?
Can anyone recommend a specific kite for me? Is it worth the extra money to get an 07 model?

890Falcon

NSW

383 posts

890Falcon

NSW, 383 posts

20 Feb 2007 5:43pm

All I can say is go out and demo all the kites that are reccomended to you, if your going for a one kite quiver maybe you should demo the rhino 07 or a kite that is an sle eg switchblade , boxer ,ozone,best warroo,rebel or the liquid force assault just to name a few.These kites do have the biggest wind range.Although the new Rhino is really not for beginners but demo it and see, I really liked it and rate the kite highly.

Remember salespeople will not always sell you the kite that is best suited to you.Talk to as many kiters as you can as they will often give you an honest opinion of different kites and read the magazines in the kite review sections.And yes get the 07 models most of them are great kites especially the c kites with the added depower and range.

Good Luck

bigmark100

NSW

584 posts

bigmark100

NSW, 584 posts

20 Feb 2007 5:43pm

buy 2nd hand.
buy a well known brand.
buy a kite thats not more than 2 years old.
for best wind range - go bow or hybrid.

there is not one kite that beats the rest. each have pro's and cons.
no 2 kiters will give you the same answer - unless they both own the same kite.

bigmark100

NSW

584 posts

bigmark100

NSW, 584 posts

20 Feb 2007 5:45pm

actually - i would recommend looking at a 2nd hand slingshot link. 12m. seem to be a few of about, they are cheap as chips because of bad rep. i have a 9 and a 12 and very happy with them now that the problems have been sorted out.
they also have excellent durability so will last.

Saffer

VIC

4501 posts

Saffer

VIC, 4501 posts

20 Feb 2007 5:50pm

Spend the money and buy an 07 Bow/Sle. All of the 07 models are pretty good, whereas 06 produced a couple of duds that I would not put in the hands of a novice. Some of the 06's were slow turning but very stable, so they are worth a look, but you may get frustrated with the slow turning speeds after a while. The points in comments are generalisations, so you might not have the problems but those were the ones I was aware.

Whatever kite you buy, it may take a little time to get used to the havier/lighter bar pressure but you will get used to it and enjoy it.

Kites this year that you can't go wrong with:

Cabrinha Xbow or Switchblade 2 (06's had some invert and leading edge issues)
Takoon Nova 2 or Enova (06's were slow turning)
Naish Shockwave or Boxer SLE (06's were slow turning)
Flexifoil Ion 2 (Ion 2006 was actually pretty good)
Waroo 2 or Bularoo (06's leading edge issues and weak bridles)
TD2 (06's dropped out of the sky a lot)
Add more here (I'm sure there are plenty more like the EH, Airush etc but I don't know all the models)

I'm sure there are plenty more to add to this list, but you shouldn't go wrong with any of the above.

harry potter

VIC

2777 posts

harry potter

VIC, 2777 posts

20 Feb 2007 6:31pm

Nomad Joe,

Saffer

quote:
Spend the money and buy an 07 Bow/Sle. All of the 07 models are pretty good, whereas 06 produced a couple of duds that I would not put in the hands of a novice. Some of the 06's were slow turning but very stable, so they are worth a look, but you may get frustrated with the slow turning speeds after a while. The points in comments are generalisations, so you might not have the problems but those were the ones I was aware.

Whatever kite you buy, it may take a little time to get used to the havier/lighter bar pressure but you will get used to it and enjoy it.

Kites this year that you can't go wrong with:

Cabrinha Xbow or Switchblade 2 (06's had some invert and leading edge issues)
Takoon Nova 2 or Enova (06's were slow turning)
Naish Shockwave or Boxer SLE (06's were slow turning)
Flexifoil Ion 2 (Ion 2006 was actually pretty good)
Waroo 2 or Bularoo (06's leading edge issues and weak bridles)
TD2 (06's dropped out of the sky a lot)
Add more here (I'm sure there are plenty more like the EH, Airush etc but I don't know all the models)

I'm sure there are plenty more to add to this list, but you shouldn't go wrong with any of the above.

Is right on the money.

Buy a kite from that list and get out there.
If it is your first season you cant go wrong with those and it will probably get a fair thrashing anyway. Next season you will have a better idea as to what specifically you want out of a kite.

colinwill78

VIC

1395 posts

colinwill78

VIC, 1395 posts

20 Feb 2007 6:55pm

Get a red one, i have had 4 kites and the red one is definitley the best.

LEWISS

NSW

335 posts

LEWISS

NSW, 335 posts

20 Feb 2007 9:10pm

like all the kites listed there are BOW kites. Why not take a look at something like a "C KITE"

you might just like something without bar pressure and bridals with pulleys that WARE out and break quite often.

CONSIDER:

NAISH TORCH 3
or

F.one TRIBAL 2- even better for learning- has got FULL depower like any "BOW" Kite.

congo abrezio

285 posts

congo abrezio

NT, 285 posts

20 Feb 2007 8:37pm

peter lynn arc

silviu

VIC

663 posts

silviu

VIC, 663 posts

20 Feb 2007 10:16pm

Jope,
Just try as many kites you can and see which one fits your style and level.
Good luck

Saffer

VIC

4501 posts

Saffer

VIC, 4501 posts

20 Feb 2007 11:06pm

quote:
Originally posted by LEWISS

like all the kites listed there are BOW kites. Why not take a look at something like a "C KITE"

you might just like something without bar pressure and bridals with pulleys that WARE out and break quite often.

CONSIDER:

NAISH TORCH 3
or

F.one TRIBAL 2- even better for learning- has got FULL depower like any "BOW" Kite.

They still make C kites? I thought they took them off the market because they caused global warming...

dave......

2119 posts

dave......

WA, 2119 posts

21 Feb 2007 12:06am

out come the kite pimps!
demo em!

elizabethb

QLD

2081 posts

elizabethb

QLD, 2081 posts

21 Feb 2007 1:31am

Go to your local dealer, kiting instructor or shop....

If THEY don't let you demo one (after you have had a kite lesson and can control it of course etc), find someone who will let you take out and try it. Then YOU know, and aren't going by what someone else says; it will be what YOU prefer.

Everyone is different when it comes to kiting and what they prefer. That is why this sport is so unique and brilliant

GreenPat

QLD

4107 posts

GreenPat

QLD, 4107 posts

21 Feb 2007 1:38am

Why does everyone insist on getting 07 kites? If you're at all normal you should spend a bit of time crashing your first kite and damaging it. Even if you can do jumps already on your first lesson, and may progress faster than most, you should still crash it a few times and possibly have it wash up onto who knows what sort of shells and rocks on the beach. Otherwise you're not trying hard enough

.

I'm just jealous because I don't have an 07 kite, and I don't much like either of my 06 kites

.

Slingshot, IMO, make the most durable kites on the market. Use it, don't use it.

And you may wish to consider getting a second hand kite as your first one.

greenleader

QLD

5283 posts

greenleader

QLD, 5283 posts

21 Feb 2007 1:58am

quote:
Originally posted by silviu

Jope,
Just try as many kites you can and see which one fits your style and level.
Good luck

yes, i tried them all and they all dragged me like a rag doll across the paddock! then a bull charged me and i realised my kite should not be red!

ASSORTED NUT

VIC

38 posts

ASSORTED NUT

VIC, 38 posts

21 Feb 2007 8:26am

I'd think the kite would be fast enough that you can get away, seeing how it was red,

I don't have a red kite so I drilled some nice speed holes in the one i have

Mr float

NSW

3452 posts

Mr float

NSW, 3452 posts

21 Feb 2007 9:20am

Don't buy an 07 kite .They are old news .Wait a few days and the 08 kites will be coming out .They will also cook you breakfast.!!

colinwill78

VIC

1395 posts

colinwill78

VIC, 1395 posts

21 Feb 2007 10:57am

quote:
Originally posted by greenleader

quote:
Originally posted by silviu

Jope,
Just try as many kites you can and see which one fits your style and level.
Good luck

yes, i tried them all and they all dragged me like a rag doll across the paddock! then a bull charged me and i realised my kite should not be red!

I know what you mean. When kitesurfing, i find it very hard to keep away from bull.

i still say get a red one.

silviu

VIC

663 posts

silviu

VIC, 663 posts

21 Feb 2007 11:13am

quote:
Originally posted by colinwill78

quote:
Originally posted by greenleader

quote:
Originally posted by silviu

Jope,
Just try as many kites you can and see which one fits your style and level.
Good luck

yes, i tried them all and they all dragged me like a rag doll across the paddock! then a bull charged me and i realised my kite should not be red!

I know what you mean. When kitesurfing, i find it very hard to keep away from bull.

i still say get a red one.

Yeah... RED kites fly FAST[}:)]

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