safetyboy said...
I had a 2m Trainer that I flew on and off for a year before I got kiting -I got a bad first inflatable lesson and decided not to take up the hobby, but eventually came back - but in the meantime I took it out when it was blowing 15+ just for fun.
I found that I had an edge in kite flying ability over the people I was learning with that allowed me to progress a little bit faster - I understood the dynamics of the kite a little better and wasn't as scared of the big inflatables. You can really zing a little trainer across the power window and understand what is going on with the apparent wind and why it is powering up.
Given that a 3 hour lessons costs $300+ (I think - I learnt overseas) it makes sense to drop $100 or so on a second hand trainer if it can advance you faster.
I have been kicking around selling my trainer, as I don't see myself using it much anymore - where abouts are you?
When I was in Kitepower the other day I saw them signing training kites in and out - I don't know if they have some sort of rental program or somesuch, but maybe you could look at that.
Yes Kitepower does have a rental program fro trainer kites, but I think its much better value to buy one and use it as much as possible for the first 6-12 months, any kite flying teaches you to be a better kite flyer.
We will trade in a trainer kite that was purchased from us, but in several years less than 5 people have taken that option.
Its better to keep it and loan it to interested friends of keep flying it and improving kite skills.
If you do get a trainer kite get a 3 liner, like the Ozone Imps (version3 in store now), because they have a let the bar go safety, which prepares you for the way the primary safety on most modern high depower kites operate.
The latest version3 Imp trainer flies slower and turns with a wider arc to more closely simulate kitesurfing kites.
Cya and
Goodwinds
Steve
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