hey MDickerson,

I can't really comment on the conditions in Sydney but I learnt on a 10m Cabrinha Switchblade in Perth and I'm just over 80kg's.

I found it a great kite to learn on, very forgiving and stable.
having said that I have tried the xbow but not many other kites.

a 12m should do you just fine for your weight.

best thing is to ask your instructor when you get lessons cause you will get lessons
they will have a good idea of what gear will suite you.

what i learned about picking the right kite as a beginner from personal experience:

- please read the manual before buying a kite to check it's wind range. I.e. i got a 13m C for my first kite, and whilst the heavier guys on 12m bows were flying on 14 knots wind, i was splashing the water with anger coz i couldn't get going only to discover i was outside my kite's range. So same size kites in different brands and types will have different range. If i was starting again, i would get 12m Bow, as they have bigger wind range and greater depower, hence it will save you from having to buy multiple kites initially. But if money is not the issue, getting few different size kites for different conditions is a better option in the long run.

- There has been heaps of debate on which kite is better, but after trying few different brands and types, despite some subtle differences appreciated by experienced riders, they all do the job. THey were all able to get me out of the water and cruising just fine. And as long as you understand that you will not end up buying just a single kite in the long run, it doesn't really matter what you get, as long as it's the right size and not very old.

- As for the second hands - here is some practical advice from my personal experience: - if foil has faded parts of discolourations from original colour = not good. If the foil material near the bladder has small tiny holes that are less than 1mm big (check it by holding the deflated kite up above you against a light source) also NOT GOOD. And if you can detect an air leak after pumping up the bladder near the air valves - also not good - means you'll have to replace the bladder soon.

Guys thanks for all the advice. The advice on how to spot a good used kite is particularly useful. Still flummoxed over which would be the best kite to get, have seen a repaired crossbow available at a fair price, however it does seem the switchblade is a more popular kite?

Have noticed some kites are designed for free-riding and some for wakeboarding - what is the difference between these two styles of riding? Which would be best for me? I will mostly be learning on the northern beaches I suspect, but may pop down/up to the entrance or botany bay for a lesson or two. Just want to be able to get up and ride and learn to tack up against the wind. Tricks and jumps are not at all NB at this stage of the game.

Once again thanks for all the help.

Matthew.