been kiteboarding for 3 months now, and love it. however when I got my first kite I thought how cool is this the only thing I need to buy is a board and harness, Easy you would think and it is.You turn up at a popular spot like Brighton QLD and talk to a few people and they will steer you in the right direction, HA so I thought. 2 weeks into kiting and I find out that I am ridding a wakeboard and using a sailboard harness (not safe) as a sailboard harness is not load rated like a kite harness. And the wakeboard, try going upwind with a board that is designed to be pulled by a boat, hey it works ( but not that well or the point).. I was mislead and I was non the wiser, even with plenty of boating exeperience. So BECAREFULL and do your homework a guy on the beach selling stuff is not always cheaper in the long run. And as an example when you are learning you dont want to have it in your head that a 16m kite is suited for a 30knt wind. Moral is talk to more than one guy and get leassons, not only can it save you money buy also keeps it safe............