I've heard the Best Waroo goes alright.

The naish park is worth a look as it has great reviews about user friendliness. I dont use naish now since they stopped production of the helix. Such a pity.

And professional training and advice. Do NOT go out without proper training and local knowledge. I am a beginner and it really helped me.

Agree, for first kite any leading brand delta would be great, the technology is very sound now. You will smash it, so take that into consideration for price versus year versus condition. Employ someone around you who has some knowledge about how to ascertain the condition of the kite. Once you have learnt the basics then you can begin narrowing down the kite that suites your riding style.

I got some Naish Cults for sale if interested?

See Buy n Sell section

Cutsic said...

Thanks for that guys
Puppetonastring what do you mean by (delta) (delta-ish)

I included Delta-ish because lots of brands have a free ride, super user friendly bridled kite which by strict definition is not a delta.
For eg Slingshot have the 'Rally' they describe as an "Open Delta C" kite. Its a Delta with a mini wingtip which does change the flying characteristics to a degree but for all intents & purposes it still is super user-friendly, very forgiving (what newbies want most), relaunches even better than a true Delta (imo) and has all the max depower etc etc which is essential for newbies.
Not brand plugging there - every major brand does their own version of a Delta with a build quality that is well up to the task of turning mere mortals into kiters without falling apart at the seams. (pardon the pun)
Interesting thing is that the latest generation Deltas - besides being the best beginner kites out there - are the also the best free-ride kites for a huge majority of kiters even including those with years of experience & skill.
Again all just imo but backed up by the type of customer who comes in raving about their new Delta(-ish) kite.

Also have to partly disagree with those suggesting you will trash ur first kite.
It used to be that we ALL trashed at least one kite by continually slamming it down on water & land. These days, with such forgiving kites, thats not likely to happen.
Back then it was certainly good economic sense to buy a 2nd hand, 1/2 price kite to sacrifice to the learning curve. Still valid but not as necessary now. Yes you may trash your 1st kite by hitting something hard once or twice or more but you would have to be a total kook these days to trash a new kite by repetitively smashing it around while learning to control it.
Those days are gone.
Luckily there are still a few of us who survived to remind you guys how easy you have got it. And thats coming from someone who never had the 'pleasure' of the 2 line days . Now that really was living on the edge.

puppetonastring said...

Cutsic said...

Thanks for that guys
Puppetonastring what do you mean by (delta) (delta-ish)

I included Delta-ish because lots of brands have a free ride, super user friendly bridled kite which by strict definition is not a delta.
For eg Slingshot have the 'Rally' they describe as an "Open Delta C" kite. Its a Delta with a mini wingtip which does change the flying characteristics to a degree but for all intents & purposes it still is super user-friendly, very forgiving (what newbies want most), relaunches even better than a true Delta (imo) and has all the max depower etc etc which is essential for newbies.
Not brand plugging there - every major brand does their own version of a Delta with a build quality that is well up to the task of turning mere mortals into kiters without falling apart at the seams. (pardon the pun)
Interesting thing is that the latest generation Deltas - besides being the best beginner kites out there - are the also the best free-ride kites for a huge majority of kiters even including those with years of experience & skill.
Again all just imo but backed up by the type of customer who comes in raving about their new Delta(-ish) kite.

Also have to partly disagree with those suggesting you will trash ur first kite.
It used to be that we ALL trashed at least one kite by continually slamming it down on water & land. These days, with such forgiving kites, thats not likely to happen.
Back then it was certainly good economic sense to buy a 2nd hand, 1/2 price kite to sacrifice to the learning curve. Still valid but not as necessary now. Yes you may trash your 1st kite by hitting something hard once or twice or more but you would have to be a total kook these days to trash a new kite by repetitively smashing it around while learning to control it.
Those days are gone.
Luckily there are still a few of us who survived to remind you guys how easy you have got it. And thats coming from someone who never had the 'pleasure' of the 2 line days . Now that really was living on the edge.

You got more experience in teaching etc so are probably right, but from my experience what you have said is complete Bullsh1t, again from my expereince and you have way more than me with beginner kiters and lessons.

eppo said...
but from my experience what you have said is complete Bullsh1t,

Cmon eppo - WTF - a bit harsh just cos u reckon ur kite is a bottler.
Im always open to criticism and really appreciate hearing alternative views - hence my often used "IMO" for just about everything I post.
But complete Bullsh1t ???
Pls explain.
Are you saying that the most user friendly, most forgiving kites out there - as claimed by almost all manufacturers (who also make the other less forgiving kites) are publishing complete bullsh1t as well.
Im not saying EVERY beginner shouldnt be on that precious kite of your choice (as you keep telling us). Similarly I am not suggesting I never sell RPM's or TS's to newbies - sometimes I do.
I would just like to know why your own kite preference - which undeniably requires a bit more skill to really show its potential advantages - should make my comments on Deltas "complete bullsh1t"
Read the manufacturer hype (any manufacturers hype). They all place their Delta-ish product as their general free-ride, excellent allrounder. To me that pretty much = excellent for newbies.

these are sposed to be the go.any instructor worth their salt should have recommended one these lil rippers

clockout said...

north rebel

As a beginners kite? No can't condone this.

Very true and sorry again I can stand those that use such a tone and I broke my own rule. Yep we will meet someday.

LOL!! As long a we are talking kites, I'm fine with that.

jas73 said...

I dont get it. If someone is learning or has learnt with a reputable instructor, surely they would be the one to recommend the right kite for your conditions. your only going to get a rough guide on here. What did your instructor recommend.

Isn't it more likely that the instructor will recommend whatever the school he works for got in stock at the moment?

I'm far from being an expert but I agree with puppetonastring that most delata(ish) kites should work for a beginner.

I learned on F-One Bandit and then got myself an Ozone Instinct that worked fine to learn on. I would also consider North Fuse as very good kite to get started with, or why not get a Switch Element?

It will take at least a year before a beginner can start promote or ditch any brand or model cause until that point the rider skills aren't consistent enough.

When it comes to the question if you should go for new or used there is no good correct answer on that one. A used kite can be good value for money but it an also have serious issues and as a beginner it's hard to tell. When friends ask me if they should buy used or new I tell them to go for a new one if they can afford it cause it's always a risk u take if u buy an old one.

If u decide to go for a used one, watch out for:
Worn out lines(can be replaced but that will add to the price)
Repairs - Indicates that the kite have had some hard duty
Check the leading edge, if the canopy starting to get thin and u can see lines trough it the kite is getting old


Any objections or agree's?

Let's not make this thread to a flame war, I think we all just want to help anyone that ask for help.(that's why I didn't brought up the brands that I flew which I consider as **** kites...)

Mask said...

eppo said...

clockout said...

north rebel

As a beginners kite? No can't condone this.

Why, because of expense and that crappy bar system?
I thought that 5 lines was supposed to be so safe, so should be good for beginner?

I was wondering when you'd poke ya little head out. LOL. No because of the tremendous albeit smooth power of these kites. No forgiveness! The fifth line is more than a safety feature, it helps produce the above, no pulleys, no delay, short bar throw. But as a beginner kite, yeh the fifth could save ya, killing the kite completly or could be your ruin, if twisted and doesn't activate.