Trainer kite

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BurkeyBoy
BurkeyBoy
QLD
549 posts
QLD, 549 posts
2 Jan 2013 3:07pm
I have 40kg kids that I want to teach. Am thinking of a 3m trainer that they can use on a stonker once their handling skills are ok. Any suggestions as to what would be best? LEI or foil style? What would be good for kite handling training and then also good for water relaunch once onto a stable board or even a waxed body board on sand?
Also, suggestions on where to buy. There are no kite stores nearby. Also, only interested in full bar type not handles.
Cheers, Steve.
suface2air
suface2air
QLD
701 posts
QLD, 701 posts
2 Jan 2013 4:51pm
hey burkey boy try to get a uno or a reo 4 meter just my 2 cents worth . they did tell me that the uno dose need a fair bit of wind though some where 15-20 to work properly but the reo is good from 10 kn so i have been told .
James
James
WA
549 posts
WA, 549 posts
2 Jan 2013 3:00pm
This question pops up regularly, here's my 2 cents worth. I had a mate who bought a 3 metre trainer to learn with (around the 70 kg mark) . I watched him get dragged around like a rag doll with that thing, not much fun outside the top end of moderate wind. I would suggest a 1.5 to 2.0 metre trainer.

You can have a lot of fun with those kites in light, as well as heavy wind and develop your kite flying skills without having to be hooked in. Hope this helps, cheers, J
AquaPlow
AquaPlow
QLD
1066 posts
QLD, 1066 posts
2 Jan 2013 5:29pm
Top of the NYear Burkey - LEI for water - before You buy get your youngsters to harness up and use the bar. The critical element is their reach..

Certainly get a small power/trainer kite - but not for water use - most are simple ram air and have zero relaunch from water once wet.

Did you read this thread...
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/kid-bar/?SearchTerms=kids,bar

Will pm U.

Cheers
AP
Martyflyer
Martyflyer
NSW
131 posts
NSW, 131 posts
2 Jan 2013 7:51pm
I just saw that airush do a 3m inflatable trainer kite with bar and lines, check them out on westozkiteboarding.com
cauncy
cauncy
WA
8407 posts
WA, 8407 posts
2 Jan 2013 5:08pm
a local here has had his young bloke on the north buzz, i havnt seen him on it for ages so it might be up for grabs, the reo and catalyst should be worth a look both have near 100% depower , also shinn do a kids twinny called the master jack , another option is speak to mike walker from kitethrills colundra he runs groms camps im sure they are on ozone kites and he will point you down the correct path
EastCC
EastCC
QLD
356 posts
QLD, 356 posts
2 Jan 2013 7:34pm
Hi burkey
Epic Kites do a 4m junior pro kite and bar/lines for kids. See the topic aquaplow posted. PM me if you want some more info. Trainer kites generally won't have a decent bar and lines, can't be trimmed or are two lines.
suface2air
suface2air
QLD
701 posts
QLD, 701 posts
2 Jan 2013 8:17pm
go epic ^^^^^^ i tred to remember them in earler post but they have got it down pat . the problem with small kites that they are design for high wind not lite wind small people . if you are after a trainner for a test fly for a while come and see us got a b2 slingshot you could borow but not for long as son still gets on it with boggie board and dose some sweet rides (downwind) in the lagons still .
NSW, 4382 posts
2 Jan 2013 10:47pm
BurkeyBoy said...

I have 40kg kids that I want to teach. Am thinking of a 3m trainer that they can use on a stonker once their handling skills are ok. Any suggestions as to what would be best? LEI or foil style? What would be good for kite handling training and then also good for water relaunch once onto a stable board or even a waxed body board on sand?
Also, suggestions on where to buy. There are no kite stores nearby. Also, only interested in full bar type not handles.
Cheers, Steve.



You can buy online here in Oz, from dealers that have the kite in stock and who will give you local support and service. The best size would be 5 or 6M inflato, like the Ozone Catalyst or Reo. The Uno is another option but it is a one strut kite and will not have the performance the kids will want once they learn the basics, the Cats and Reo's also fly better. The C4 also comes in 5M.
There is the Cab 5.5 Drifter, 5M Vector (harder to find) or 5 or 6M in the Switchblade.
For price the Ozone Uno is hard to beat and will do the job, is very safe and is easy to relaunch, personally I reckon the Reo or Cat in 6M is the best option.
KiteBud
KiteBud
WA
1615 posts
WA, 1615 posts
2 Jan 2013 9:16pm
+1 for Ozone Uno 4m. I flown it the other day on short lines (15m) in barely 15 knots and was very impressed. The great thing about it is it will fly better than a standard 4-5-6m multi strut kite in lighter winds, due to it's design and light weight. I tried it next to an Ozone Catalyst 4m and 6m and found that the 4m and 6m Catalyst were unresponsive and hard to keep stable clock positions (again in 13-15 knots).

I did find it helped to remove the short (10cm ish) line extension from the wing tip attachment points of the Uno 4m to make the kite more powerful. It helped in avoiding to have the bar pulled in all the way to control it and surprisingly didn't choke the kite at all when I did pull the bar all the way.

With inflatables trainer kites improving in design and performance, I see less point in buying a foil trainer kite to train someone to then switch to inflatable kites. There is too much adaptation to do from a foil trainer to an inflatable depowerable kite to justify its true training purpose/potential over extended hours of practice.

IMO you could use the Uno all the way till downwind and upwind body drag, but should then consider upgrading them to slightly bigger multi-strut kites
INTHELOOP
INTHELOOP
QLD
1855 posts
QLD, 1855 posts
3 Jan 2013 8:13am
Hi,
we use North Evos in our school and the 5m Evo is awesome for a kids learning kite.
Stable, easy to relaunch, big range and you can adjust the bar throw trim-line so the kids can reach the bar after they let go with their short arms.
The Evo is the toughest kite we have come across so the kids can bash it around without breaking it.





aro
aro
VIC
52 posts
aro aro
VIC, 52 posts
3 Jan 2013 10:23am
Hi im 11 and i started learning on a 3m trainer kite when i was 8 and then moved up to a 5m inflatabel kite when i was 9.Now I weigh 38kg and ride a 7m and a 5m C4.

Good luck
BurkeyBoy
BurkeyBoy
QLD
549 posts
QLD, 549 posts
3 Jan 2013 9:44am
Thanks all, lots of good info there.
kiteboy dave
kiteboy dave
QLD
6525 posts
QLD, 6525 posts
3 Jan 2013 1:27pm
^^^Came to post that, I bought 3 -good pressies for kids!

ps normally $20, on sale
James
James
WA
549 posts
WA, 549 posts
3 Jan 2013 12:19pm
jquigley said...
Just bought one online. Add $7.85 for postage.


! ! ! ? You could have walked to that shop , J
Monkers
Monkers
WA
258 posts
WA, 258 posts
7 Jan 2013 12:08pm
My 10 and 12yo daughters are learing at the moment. They weigh approx 40-45kg. They started on 2m foil kite and have been mucking arond with it for the last couple of years. its a "NEW" brand and is really stong. brilliant foil kite that will be fun for years..hard to find now cause NEW has stopped making them .. but i saw some Kite Surf Sup in Scarborough ( WA) have some in the shop for $179 .
3 months ago bought a 2.5m Ozone Uno from Jason at West Oz Kite Surf in Saftey bay ( WA). Was around $300. Grom harness as well for approx $90. The kids use the kite with the bar from my 6m or 8m Switchblade.. That has gone realy well as long as the kits have plenty on time on the floil kite first. Have used it on the land on 14- 16knots wind and in the water on 16knots plus. Have put kids on it who havnt flown on the foil kite first and they realy struggle and get pulled around and freaked out.
After appox 3 months with the 2.5 UNO they have now moved to a 6m Switchblade which im finding is too big .. its basically lifting them out of the water and freaking them out a bit . May need to get the 4.5m Uno or 5m Switch to fill the gap..

My general advise is " baby steps". 2m foil then 2.5m UNO .. before going for a bigger kite.

hope this helps. Cheers Jim.
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