Hey guys
Im 15 years old and i have just finished lessons and am in love with kiteboarding.
Im looking into buying some stuff to continue the sport
What size kite should i get and what type? Im leaning towards Cabrinhas.
Board size?
And anything else that would be of help would be greatly appreciated.

Im sorry if there has been lots of these topics started if so i will delete my thread.

Thanks for your time

----->Scotty

Scotty,
Firstly, sit up straight and don't swing on your chair. I'd appreciate it if you looked at me when I'm speaking to you too.

Be good to your mother and father as I'm sure it was just a freudian slip when you said you were looking at purchasing gear as I'm sure your parents will be the source of most of your funds.

Here's my tip and, it looks like your'e on the right track already.....DO lots of research, and trying out gear BEFORE the pretty colours and skulls and stuff suck you in. Then; and this is the important bit.

Sit down with your parents and explain ALL the detail to them, especially the safety aspect of the gear you are looking at getting.

Your best friends when you are 15 are your cashed up, vehicle driving parents who love you to death and would love to stay connected with you in some shape or form as you go through the "adjustment" period out of adolescence into adult hood. Remember, statisitics for parents are simple:
1: Keep boy alive until 21, then the chances increase by 70% that he will survive most things.

So kiting isn't going to be cause for Mum sleeping soundly unless you educate her.

So remember: Mum's anchor - safety. Dad's anchor- you have done your research and considered the cost.

Now go find that kite and board.

Well thanks for your replies and how did you know i was swinging on my chair thats just creepy man haha. Umm i weigh around 65 kgs and im planning on paying for as much as i can seeming i have a job. TARGET i know guys dont be jealous i know you want to work there like me haha. Umm ive been using Cabrinhas during my lessons and they have lots of safety features. So my instructor said.

Yes i do love my mum and dad and i try and catch as much public transport to and from kiting places aka St Kilda

Thanks for your replies as any help will slowlly persuade my mum.

-----> Scotty

Losing your license is just like being 15 all over again... except this time you don't have your mum or dad to nag for a lift some where!

Anyway, don't just lock yourself into one brand because you learnt on them. I was learning on EH Beasts and Slingshot Fuel's, as well as flying a Naish Aero II i picked up off a mate and one thing i've discovered is that whatever your flying... your still kitesurfing! Any of the '06 or newer bow/SLE/hybrids will do you just fine in terms of safety features, so aside from that just pick one you like the look of and can afford.
Some people (instructors with vested interests) will try and convince you to buy brand new but with the price of last years gear being ~60-70% of new, and 2 year old gear being ~50%... it made sense to be to buy a 'last seasons' kite until i knew what i was doing, knew how to fly, and most importantly knew what sort of kite i wanted!

Keep an eye out on the Seabreeze Buy & Sell and you'll pick yourself up a '06+ bow/SLE/hybrid for ~$700 without much trouble. All up, you can get your own gear for ~$1100-1400 which is still far less than the price of most new kites!

Congrats on your new found adrenalin outlet and look forward to seeing you on the water soon.

In terms of gear?

Had trouble majorly with Cabrinha in the past, bad quality, apart from their boards
which have been amazing.

Decide if you want to learn kite with training wheels, aka bow kite.

Don't know where your located but Vico 15-25kt.
Get a C kite 12m if your under 70k and a board no less than 130cm and put the time in.

Don't be afraid of a old 4line banger for $100 you won't die when you touch the bar, it's a load of marketing crap, captain saftey bolocks. I never listened to Hector the Cat , heard he got hit by a car..

Get a cheap kite and kill it, even it's got a punture who cares, 1 hour of hardcore practice with no compromises.

Haven't seen any world champs on a pensioners bow kite, have you?

cheers and good kiitng

As Napoleon Dynamite might say... "lucky!"

I was into sailing at 15, but both sports are comparable, there is no substitute for time on the water. Practice Practice Practice. Buy good quality second hand gear, show your parents that you look after it like it was your first born and they will help you out with future purchases (as they know you'll look after it). Gear every present event (Xmas is coming, YES!) around kitesurfing, even if its just the little things, like a spreader bar, or some good sunscreen, a new rashie... it all helps.

Make friends on the beach so that when your parents do bring you down to see how you are going they see that you have a bunch of people there who keep an eye out for you in case things turn to stink.

Living in Melbourne, you are lucky as you have good PT access to most spots on the bay. This is an awesome way to assert your independance and convince your parents that you might be turning into a responsible adult eh? Oh, and it saves having to ask them for a lift every summer arvo, especially when it's a school day and they aren't home from work yet ;-)

Thankyou very much for your replies guys!
Ok i have decided its either a Cab swirchblade or crossbow
Now i need to do some research on a good board and harness
if you have any suggestions then fire away!

----> Scotty

Kite?
www.seabreeze.com.au/Members/Classifieds/Gear/2007-Cabrinha-Crossbow-2-9-metre.aspx?id=cqlp&search=yxrOHND3sv5FnadTYIDzPy%2fvE3v6p8Xh

Board?
www.seabreeze.com.au/Members/Classifieds/Gear/2007-Cabrinha-Imperial-128-cm.aspx?id=cvvb&search=x2wbC7D1FhvgxXmGhqueTS3kPBrpEwv0

Harness?
what size should i get
my waist is 73cm with no shirt on

thanks again for your help
keep the replys coming

--------> Scotty

I think definately go into a shop and try on a few harnesses. To get the size and feel right. Dont want an uncomfy one..
From there you could buy new, or second hand, but there arent many harnesses around scond hand i found when looking.
Good sounding kite and board, and fair price.

or the 9m Vegas here
www.seabreeze.com.au/Members/Classifieds/Gear/2006-North-Vegas-9-14.aspx?id=cgei

----> Scotty

Cant see the link to the vegas for some reason but if its no older then 06 and good condition that'd be the best option in my opinion, the other options sound just as good though, and the board sounds about right.
cheers, Leo

is a board that is 132cm to big for me? I am approximately around 160cm tall but i dont know if board size is judged by height but ill just chuck that in anyway.

please reply

---->Scotty