HI Cas.I think you have enough time to get lessons and get started.wouldn`t it be nice to get it happening this season so as your ready for next year?The season this year is only realy just kicking off and i`m sure we are in for another 3 months of good winds.There is a lot of second hand gear around,and a lot of it is good stuff from last season or the one before,some guys like to update every year and offload their old kites even though there is nothing wrong with them.I`m sure you could get a starter kit second hand for around $800-$1000.always if buying second hand gear make sure the bar system has an appropriate quick release system and kite leash.Most guys/girls selling gear will be more than happy to explain how everything works and maybe even show you the gear in action.I would say a 6-8m kite would be agood size to start with going on your weight and bord size would depend on your previous board skills(surf/wakeboard/windsurf).i would go for something big and floaty if you have no previuos board skills like you say a 165 would be good.if your a bit more confident you could probably go down to 150-155.I have fair skin and manage to not get burnt wearing boardies and rashie,just keep applying sunscreen wear a hat when possible(some wear hats in the water)Sunnys.you could wear a full length wetsuit,but i couldn`t think of anything worse on a stinking hot day.I like a seat harness because my waist harness rides up and crushes my ribs.I`m sure there are better ones on the market now but i just seem to feel comfortable in a seat harness.I`m sure some girls will comment more about what works best for them.I think its personal choice really.See ya later good luk and have fun.
If you need more info on gear/lessons try talking to

Neil Hold the line kites(wembley)93875676
Jess/Ian airborne kitesurfing(osb park)92444474
John SOS surf and sail (freo)94307050

hehe - lucky you asked the foil vs LEI question here and not kiteforum

both are good these days

pick the kite that is most popular at your launch (obvious what this will be eh ), as this will give you more access to advice on kite tuning, bladder and canopy repairs, relaunching etc you can always fly a foil later when you are confident

feel free to ignore this advice if there are regular foil flyers at your local spot, or you dont mind getting tips off the net

Hi Cas
Welcome to the wonderful world of kitesurfing.
Good advice so far and here's my 2 cents to add to it.
A good rule of thumb for kite sizing is to divide your weight by 7 which works out for you at 6-8m, I think that you will get more use out of an 8m.
For boards look for a 130-135 to start with and expect to end up on a 125 or smaller with the 130-135 becoming you lightwind board.
You are so light that your biggest problem will be keeping the edge in the water and will find that the board picks you up and runs away down wind.
To help with this look for narrow boards to give you more leverage on the edge, boards with a concave bottom and large fins these things will help.
A seat harness is my pick but you will never know for yourself until you have tried both types.
For sunburn look for a long sleave rashy and have a look a www.kitechicks.com
The great debate inflatable or foil you will never get a straight answer on this one and each has it's good points.
My advice you will get more help from your local crew with an inflatable simply because there is more of them.
There are lots of good teachers in Perth but I can only personally recommend the person how taught me and that is Jason Lewis Full Tilt down at Safety Bay.

Well good luck and remember when your struggling back up the beach absolutely stuffed ITS FUN.

Cheers
Pete

i was just wondering if there is any kite schools in the hillarys area?

good call richo - i went to the cable ski at logan recently and it was a blast - definately on my no wind to-do list

There was one at Trode St in Perth but they closed down!
Anyone know where else in perth has Cable Ski?

quote:

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Thanks again to all of those who responded, I'm taking it all on board and am blown away by how helpful everyone has been!

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That's because you've got big... (As per Jim Carrey in Liar Liar)

ha ha ha

Everyone's thinking it, I'm just saying it (Pirates of the Carribean), possibly because you're a girl...? p.s. are you single and of an appropriate age? No? Sorry, don't mind me. Would love to meet a girl who kiteboards one day. Even just meeting a girl would be a good start. Getting off topic here, sorry...

When I was a beginner it took about 5-10 minutes to set up my inflatable, now it takes about 10-15 because I'm not so desparate to get out there in a hurry anymore. Don't worry, it's a piece of cake. One-pump and its imitators make it even quicker.

Yes, inflatables are easy and dangerous to launch, so is driving a car. I worry when I see foil flyers launch directly downwind and drag themselves across about 8 metres of sand in the process. What if there's a sharp rock/shell/bit of coral/used syringe right in front of them? At least you stay in one spot with a blimp. Landing inflatables a bit trickier, I don't think there is an easy way to do it, but I'm still searching/experimenting. Some people claim there is.

Even if you don't know someone at the beach pretty much any kiter will help catch or launch a kite, and most will keep an eye on you if it is obvious you're a beginner. The rest will probably keep an eye on you because you're a girl

I haven't ridden a foil but after Ian Young's efforts at the Gero blast they look like a fantastic option for lightwind. He claims they have a good windrange too.

Can't answer on 5th lines, but have heard they're all the go and believe it.

Cheers

The Green Baron

I'll get you yet Von Richtofen, you fiend.

IMO Just get an inflatable kite Cas then you don't have to worry about crashing it into the water as you will do this a fair bit when learning. When you can kite well enough not to get your kite wet each session then a foil (a.k.a air matress) might suit you better.

I noticed that Cas got 4 times as many replies to the same question as me!!!

Gonna change my name to bigwavesharon now!!!

Hey Cas, don't become a Tubie!!!! Stick with the foils - they are way better trolling, trolling, trolling

Hey Cas

Followed everybody's advice and got some lessons!!! 3 weekends and 8 hours of lessons and I am off and going. It beats anything else I have tried!!!
Borrowed a mates Wipika inflatable 14 and a 142cm board. What a blast

Hope you keep at it!!!!

yo i dont like kiteboarding anymor i had a bad experience with launching a 15m inflate yess well a strong gust and a semi-fling parachute isnt very nice especially wen im attached 2 it.......... well 3 fractures in 1 leg and a 13degree hip relignment u can juust imagine how high i flew (considering when the advertising says "get high lern 2 fly") into a canopie of trees tearing my beloved, ****kin expensive inflate and sending me too a painfull fall....

well after all that i got into cable and boat pulling raileys,tantrum's nuclears, bak&front rolls toeside stuff too i havent looked back. (sum ppl wernt ment 2 kite)

Draw a line pointing North, a line pointing North-North-East, then another one a bit past halfway from N to NNE. Stand facing N then turn to your new line, that should be about 13 degrees you have realigned your hips

There you go. I saw this thread and thought I should reply to it then saw that I already have, almost a year ago! Geez wasn't I a ****er back then? The **** some people write

Another point on the gear selection process I was going to make was in harness selection, a female friend of mine just having gone through the process, was one of logic often overlooked. Sure it comes down to personal preference in the end, but don't forget that boy bits that are sensitive are between the legs where seat harnesses can ride up, girl bits that are sensitive are located on the chest where waist harnesses tend to ride up.