welcome mate, its a great sport, not sure who advised you on your gear, but not the easiest gear to be learning with. Dont get me wrong - its great gear. just your learning curve will be a little harder because that kite and board are more suited to advanced riders and are a bit less forgiving when you f**k up.

Actually, as I havent flown one, I so cant comment from experience.
If the octane is truely an update from the REV, then its no doubt a great kite and should be fine.
But the previous version of the OCTANE (ie 2007) was definately for Advanced riders.

Im just basing it on what Ive read recently


www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=61016
slingshotoctane.com/

ie it says : "Advanced to expert"

The board is definately more suited to a more advanced rider.


I think mitch88 will be fine as you cant go wrong with slingshot in terms of good gear ... (unless its a 2007 Link), but I still feel that it will make the learning curve a little steeper.... but this can be a good thing, in terms of progression.