I haven't personally heard of the brand 'New' but I would stick with BEST. They have made a lot of improvements over the previous few years

Where you from mate?

LESSONS are the first step before you EVEN consider looking at a kite!

Well from an old windsurfers perspective.
Killing your self seems extraordinarily easy!
Especially if you don't know what you're doing.
I think that's why Elizabeth is stressing lessons first.

wassaby said...

Hey guys new to this forum. How is everyone.

Very well thank you. There are actually kitesurfing specific forums on this site, this thread may do better there. I can't move it for you, but perhaps Laurie will when he sees it.

I am looking at taking up kite surfing but dont really know where to start. What is the best kites out there?

That's like asking what is the best car, or shoes. There are a lot of different kites that have different characteristics and different people find different things work for them.

I was looking at a NEW kite which is the Brand for $799 which came with a pump bag kite and bar. its a 14 m one too. Anyone herd of this brand before? I have pictures will post later

NEW is the kite brand owned by NJPornstar, one of our sponsors.

I was also looking at best the new 08 waroo kite for $899 just for the kite. website below

http://www.bestkiteboarding.com/08-Waroo

Any advice would be good thanks

There is a gear review forum as well as the general kitesurfing forum. Have a look in there. Use the search function.

Im from mackay QLD. Is it hard to get the hang of.

It's different for different people. Back when I learnt someone told me it took on average about 10-20 hours of water time to start going upwind. This was probably about how long I took (more like 20...). This time has probably reduced these days with new kite technology, bow style kites weren't around then. For beginners nowadays bow style kites are much easier to learn on.

Where to start is to get professional lessons on school equipment. Not only do you learn important safety information, you get to 'try before you buy'. Then your instructor can help you choose the kite that is right for you. Be aware that they may be biased if they have a commercial interest in some particular brand of kite. Ask questions here, most of us are friendly...

Yeah mate go the lessons for sure, try to get an IKO qualified instructor, go down to the local spot / kite store and ask some questions of the locals and shop guys. Dont worry about a kite just yet, the instructor will let you trash his gear. Also join the local branch of the AKSA (Aussie kite surfing association), it helps to keep beachs open (yes it is that dangerous that it has been banned at many locations around the world). Do a Google search for 'kitemare' then read the results for a few days. Also check out kiteforum.com there is plenty of safety talk and a much larger (global) community there, browse around and read lots, it very important to be as prepared as possible to get the most out of your lessons and to be able to filter the crap. Buy a training kite (after doing all the reading), or borrow one from one of your new mates down the beach, and learn to fly it one handed without looking at it... then get the lessons.
Good luck, it a life changer :)

(Also NEW is and Aussie brand from geralton, the guy who runs it is on here somewhere)

Hi Wassaby,
Check out the website www.newkiteboarding.com
Theres plenty of info there on the kites.

If you end up travelling around looking for ideal kitesurfing conditions you'll probably end up in Geraldton W.A. one day.

That's where we are based all year round.
Its one of the best places in the world for wind/wave direction and its completely uncrowded most of the time. Many people including international travellers visit here for kiting during summer.

The kites work well and most of the better riders around here ride NEW kites if that means anything about the kites.

My advice is...

Don't take up kitesurfing it is a terrible sport.

In fact if Kitesurfing is to be considered a sport then smoking combination ice & crack cocaine should also be considered a sport.

It is addictive.
It will have you selling your first born child or you own mother to keep paying for the habit [I did try selling the pair as child plus grandmother deal, but couldn't find a taker, so now recomend selling the items separately].
You will become obsessed.
You will have difficulty concentrating at work.
Your wife, partner or significant other will find you disinterested in sex (you'll at least have to ask her/him or other to go on top as you'll be way too tired).


Remember: Friends don't let Friends to kitesurfing

Hi Wassaby,

Have a read of the FAQ's on my website. I am in Perth so can't help you with anything except information. There are a few guys in Mackay who can help you out. Go down to the local spot and talk to the riders at the beach. The kite to get is probably the one that is stocked by your local retailer, that way they can service you and help you out with spares, advice, lesson leads, etc. Developing a relationship with the locals is the best place to start.

Yes, you definately need to get lessons from a qualified instructor. I think Joe Millen of ARSA (Adrenaline Rush Sports Australia) is an active IKO qualified instructor and also a retailer who can help you out in Mackay.

kiteboardingschool.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=37&Itemid=80

Good winds,

general_dude said...

My advice is...

Don't take up kitesurfing it is a terrible sport.

In fact if Kitesurfing is to be considered a sport then smoking combination ice & crack cocaine should also be considered a sport.

It is addictive.
It will have you selling your first born child or you own mother to keep paying for the habit [I did try selling the pair as child plus grandmother deal, but couldn't find a taker, so now recomend selling the items separately].
You will become obsessed.
You will have difficulty concentrating at work.
Your wife, partner or significant other will find you disinterested in sex (you'll at least have to ask her/him or other to go on top as you'll be way too tired).


Remember: Friends don't let Friends to kitesurfing

Ummm - I have to agree with general_dude. You will be hooked the second you get your first waterstart right and cruise 10meters before falling off your board. And there's no turning back. You will constantly be reading reviews on the latest gear, watching windfinder, windguru, seabreeze for any sign of wind, develop very strong views on whether bindings can be backless or not , and generally put everything else down the order of priority in your life. Your holiday planning will centre around good wind spots and if it comes down to taking your equipment or your wife/girlfriend - you'll miss her..... (actually you won't as you'll be tearing it up on the water).

BoardCrazy said...

If your from Mackay then head into see Joe or Mel at adrenaline rush sports aust, they have lesson, advice on all the gear and can hook you up all the way through. With great brands like slingshot an best :-)

Are you from mackay are you?

i did my first lesson like 2 weeks ago and within one hour was standing,
by the next lesson i could stand the whole time.
this was only because i could fly the kite easily because i had a trainer.
Its worth the money at the start.
and isnt very expensive

So what is it exactly that you gain from the trainer?
You pull left on the bar and the kite turns left, you pull right and it goes right,this is not a brain storm
Honestly,i may be very wrong but i believe that the only way to learn is to be connected to the real thing
Unless of course if you are a retard(lol please don't give me agro,just kidding)
Get some lessons tho as the safety stuff does matter.

you learn how the kite reacts
get a feel for it.
and the first time you fly a trainer its not as easy as you say for some people.
but i understand what you mean about actually hooking up to the real thing it does feel different/harder
but you dont wanna waste money on lessons if you cant fly the kite yet

Yeah im getting a 2 hour lesson tommorrow.

If its one thing ive learnt its that there is a tone of gear out there. So hard to choose between boards and kites. So many with different features.

So with a trainer kite what size would i get and does it not hook onto you seat harness??

so trainer kite is just to get the feel of the kite you dont actually surf with it.