Hey guys, I'm keen to get into kiting and just wanted some advice on the best way to go about it. I've been wakeboarding for years so not too worried about the board control. And I've been using a 3m trainer kite on land for a few months so have a basic understanding of a kite works. I aim to get a few lessons, but from what I've heard the cost is $300 per lesson! Roughly how many lessons do you need before you can go solo? Also when buying kite gear, is it best to aim for new gear as it has the latest safety features or is 2013 gear not that much different, from a technology perspective, to say 2011 gear? Thanks in advance.

Don't forget to buy boardshorts for winter so you can wear them over your wetsuit.

stamp said...
if you have competent, experienced mates, then they can teach you. otherwise get lessons.
don't listen to the hype- there is no need to buy new gear, plenty of kiters upgrade every year and you can score quality second hand kites & boards at a fraction of new prices (this applies when you know what you're doing as much as when you're learning). you will most likely trash your first kite anyway when learning.

Hey Stamp thanks for your post. I'm happy to buy older gear, just prefer a kite that has the latest safety features. I have a mate who has an old North Rhino, but I have no idea what safety features it has.

Plenty of unbiased advice on kites for beginners on this site!

dafrog said...

surfzup said...I have a mate who has an old North Rhino, but I have no idea what safety features it has.

My first kite was a 2005 Rhino 14... I would heavily urge you to buy something else... Great kite but when you know what you are doing... Relaunch was hell and depower was nonexistent... my 2 penny worth. It looks expensive on the outside but once kited it's free and a decent kite will means less trouble and more enjoyment, so don't hesitate to flash a bit at first cause in the long run it will pay of.

yeah I agree. It's tempting to save the $$ and grab the old kite, but I seem to remember him saying it was a bit of a mare to relaunch. It's a shame because it's in good knick. I want a kite that is as easy and as safe as possible to fly!

Chris_M said...
In the old kites (Pre 2007) the reviews used to rate "re-launchability". That category is non-existent now! The new designs have made relaunch worries a thing of the past!

How often does your mate use his Rhino? Like is he an old school legend, or does he just have it kicking around in his garage? I'd be a little cautious if he hasn't really flown the thing much.

A good way to get your moneys worth out of an instructor is to keep at the trainer kite, and do as much kite stuff safely before your lesson as you can, then book an hour or two for some one on one lessons (then the instructor can tailor a lesson to you). Reates should be at about $80 and hour for an instructor to yourself. You will probably pick it up quickly because you sound like a bit of a keen bean! Have fun :)

Yeah it's an old unused kite, so after reading some of the responses here I'm going to give it a miss. With the big fish we have in Perth, I don't want to be spending too much time in the water trying to relaunch!

if your looking for 2012 gear - right now is the best time to buy all the team rides/ people who always need the latest equip would have just received there new 2013 gear and will be selling, also the wind hasn't started yet so no ones buying and people have to reduce prices but as soon as the wind kicks in people will be jacking up the pries again as there's more demand for gear. Also you can pick up some great deals from shops who are trying to get rid of old stock, check out seabreeze buy and sell, gumtree, and if your on facebook try and find a group called the buy and sell swop shop you will find heaps of great deals.

Heh surfzup, much of what I'm about to say has been mentioned on these forums before but in the interest of you not becomming miss guided, when it comes to your health and safety, IMHO, you should not be to concerned with spending $'s on professional lessons. There are good reasons as to why they cost what they cost (which you may appreciate on enquiry with a Surf School). If you have the sence to do so, you may find you will pick it up quickly and require less lessons on reflection of your existing abilities you mentioned but this should be guided by a Qualified Instructor as to your skill level. As a suggestion you should do your homework first and ask as many sources as possible to find out the best way to start up and buy gear etc. A good starting place for this is going to speak with not 1, but a couple of diffrent Kite Shops and get there take on things. Go to a couple of local spots where there are Kiters and speak to them (once they have stopped Kiting of cause) and last but not least ring or talk to some Qualified Kite Schools to get them to explain to you the reasons you should have lessons first before doing anything. I would imagine this could save you a lot of grief and $'s in the long term by achieving the best outcomes and getting the right equipment suited to you. I am prepared to get red thumbed for probably saying all the above and bellow but there is a the easy and pleasurable road to going about things or the difficult, frustrating and dangerous way to becoming a fellow Kiter. Good winds, surfzup and I hope you can find the value in what I am saying

Surfzup,

it's the "mates & bad habits" thing that is always my # 1 concern - seen it too many times @ my local - and # 1 reason why I won't teach mates - I know I've got bad habits....