Hi everyone,

I'm a new member but I've been a slient reader of the seabreeze forums for several months. Here's my story:

1. Read all "noob" advice on this board before getting into kiting.
2. Bought a trainer kite and practiced for about 15hrs solo before crashing it really badly (and injuring myself) while on vacation in Tassie.
3. Subsequently decided that it was time to take lessons from a profesionnal (IKO!) school and really get in to kiting.
4. Had two lessons at SurfConnect, Sandgate Queensland.
5. Did not manage to stand up when tried at the backhand of the second lesson but had a lot of fun nonetheless.
6. Super keen on continuing the lessons towards becoming an independent rider ...

... however all of that was now 2 months ago! I'm an accountant in the city who works long hours during the week so the only time I have is on week-ends.

Since my last lesson I have had 4 lessons cancelled due to a lack of wind and the guys at SurfConnect are victims of their own sucess, 4 week-ends were fully bookout and I couldn't get a booking after having a cancelled class.

What should I do now? Should I start looking for another school? Maybe Kitepower also near Brisbane? How about Ocean Addicts on the sunny coast?

I also know from reading these forums that winter season is coming and noobs like me must be careful before heading out so I'm not keen on buying my own gear before I can actually ride by myself!

I have some leave coming up in the next few months (and I'm thinking about going to WA amongts other places) should I think about booking a week in resort type of place where I can stay near a school and pratice and get lessons everyday?

I'm very keen to get some advice from more experience kiters.


Cheers.

majinn said...

Hi everyone,

I'm a new member but I've been a slient reader of the seabreeze forums for several months.

The problem here is this is time you could have spent on the water, less reading = more kiting. You should have had your first lesson back in October.

3. Subsequently decided that it was time to take lessons from a profesionnal (IKO!) school and really get in to kiting.

Oh yeah, IKO rocks-

kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2373364

www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2355621&sid=bf6fe67c708563e00dbed26bde7fbd61

Prerequisites are testing.......

Candidates to an ITC Level 1 must:
Be at least 18 years old.
Kiteboarding for at least 1 year and be a certified IKO kiteboarder level 3N minimum for a minimum of 6 months (jumping and riding tow side).

5. Did not manage to stand up when tried at the backhand of the second lesson but had a lot of fun nonetheless.

Not sure why you would link your success on a board to the overall level you have achieved in kiteboarding. This is a common mistake.

6. Super keen on continuing the lessons towards becoming an independent rider ...

This would usually mean quite a number of lessons. I would suggest aiming to become an independent kiter. This means competent in all skills which make you safe to go out and practice, irrelevant of your level on a board.

What should I do now? Should I start looking for another school? Maybe Kitepower also near Brisbane? How about Ocean Addicts on the sunny coast?

Take an afternoon off and get a weekday lesson? Brisbane is not a tourist town so 80% of students want a weekend lesson.

I also know from reading these forums that winter season is coming and noobs like me must be careful before heading out so I'm not keen on buying my own gear before I can actually ride by myself!

Yes winter isn't so good for learners, especially if your short on spare time. It has been done before though.

I have some leave coming up in the next few months (and I'm thinking about going to WA amongts other places) should I think about booking a week in resort type of place where I can stay near a school and pratice and get lessons everyday?

In the winter months you will need to head North. The most Northern school I am aware of is in Port Douglas, QLD

An instructor cant control the wind or conditions as i am sure your aware so yes if you can get an early day and have a lesson through the week you will have better chances of success. Go and see Rhys at Kite power. He is an awesome teacher who knows his stuff and has been kiting for a long time.

Can the people responsible for giving the red thumbs to what are, as far as I can tell are reasonable suggestions to majinn, explain.

It looks like instructors slagging each other? Tell me I'm wrong, because if not it makes you look like a bunch of twats.

^^^^ Hmm, Interesting!
Thanks BK.

majinn - i sense you are stressing ... unleash that cunningly disguised surfer guy in you ! - less reading, more kiting, is all you require.

I see you have already been recommended Trevor at Moreton Bay kiting, and joining up AKSA. Just do it.

Find a spot you like. ( it will be popular with other kiters, it will be shallow at certain tides times, it will allow you be safe from yourself (no trees, power poles etc), i.e ..
* Brighton
* Wellington Point
* Broadwater

each of these places has plus/minus .. learn why this is so.

Make friends with locals, make sure they know you WANT to learn, ask them for advice. Yes you will meet a whole bucket of turds who think their effluent doesn't stink, but you will also turn up a couple of gems who will willingly give you time. (bring beer !)

Understand at what tide range is good to learn on and go do your stuff.

enjoy

Hi everyone,

Once again I turn to this forum for some word of wisdom. Wind has been much better around Brisbane lately and I managed to get some more lessons in and I'm progressing slowly but surely!

I'm starting to think about buying my own gear to get a couple more lessons in with the equipement before starting going out on my own before winter kicks in.

Being end of season/Easter, heaps of deals on new gear floating around. A lot of the guys over at Sandgate I had a chat with have 12m or 9m LF Envys which they reckon I should get either as used or new gear. Some of the guys even said if I wanted to go for cheaper I could think about buying 2009-10 Havocs ...

Then today this guy I know from some my travels says he'll be in Brisbane soon and sells.

naish torch 12 m 2010 $1000
north vegas 9m 2011 $1100

I know him and the equipment is in great shape and wants to sell because he's going back home across the ocean. Done some reading and I'm a little scared that these kites (C-kites I think) might just not be best for a beginner like me.

http://www.kiteworldmag.com/2011-kite-tests/north-vegas-10m/
www.kiteworldmag.com/2011-kite-tests/naish-torch-9m/

I'm 5'8, 143pounds ... I'd value any input you guys might have as everyone's been helpful so far.

Cheers,

Majinn

liquid force... You mad?

They are pretty much flogged to death in Bris by SC.. The reason for this is that the retailer mark up on them is huge and they are easy to 'push' to beginners... And it has been working like this since 2008!

I have never seen a LF kite anywhere else in Australia. The material doesn't last and they have a issues with splits from LE to TE. One season I saw 7 kites do this at Sandgate. Hence the owners never bought LF again. If you like SC and want to stay with them don't buy LF.. You will regret it. Also he has tribe of groms using them and as they are young and get kites cheap, they will pimp them to anyone until the cows come home as they 'sponsored'!!! Speak to a rider who is older and wiser and you will get your answers.. But everyone makes this mistake in Brisbane.. They eventually wise up and swap teams after realising they have been blinded by the excitement of cheap LF deal and the band of urchins/groms using them.

Naish kites are nice but a torch or vegas for a beginner?? Sorry but your not ready for a C kite. If you like Naish go for a Bolt or a Park. They will progress you quicker..

Good beginner kites would be.....

Ozone Catalyst
North Evo
Naish Park or Bolt
Cab Switchy
Best Kahoona
Slingshot Rally

Plus others no older than 1 season.. At the end of the day it's your choice.. And I already think 100% you have made your decision regardless of what information is posted. Noob forum lurkers are renowned for being kiting 'know it all's'. Regardless of honest info provided by experienced kiters you will still go with the 'el cheapo' option and then complain when it goes pear shaped in a new topic at a later stage on SB.

RPM said...

liquid force... You mad?

They are pretty much flogged to death in Bris by SC.. The reason for this is that the retailer mark up on them is huge and they are easy to 'push' to beginners... And it has been working like this since 2008!

I have never seen a LF kite anywhere else in Australia. The material doesn't last and they have a issues with splits from LE to TE. One season I saw 7 kites do this at Sandgate. Hence the owners never bought LF again. If you like SC and want to stay with them don't buy LF.. You will regret it. Also he has tribe of groms using them and as they are young and get kites cheap, they will pimp them to anyone until the cows come home as they 'sponsored'!!! Speak to a rider who is older and wiser and you will get your answers.. But everyone makes this mistake in Brisbane.. They eventually wise up and swap teams after realising they have been blinded by the excitement of cheap LF deal and the band of urchins/groms using them.

Naish kites are nice but a torch or vegas for a beginner?? Sorry but your not ready for a C kite. If you like Naish go for a Bolt or a Park. They will progress you quicker..

Good beginner kites would be.....

Ozone Catalyst
North Evo
Naish Park or Bolt
Cab Switchy
Best Kahoona
Slingshot Rally

Plus others no older than 1 season.. At the end of the day it's your choice.. And I already think 100% you have made your decision regardless of what information is posted. Noob forum lurkers are renowned for being kiting 'know it all's'. Regardless of honest info provided by experienced kiters you will still go with the 'el cheapo' option and then complain when it goes pear shaped in a new topic at a later stage on SB.

Funny i have seen three of the kites you list have tears from LE to TE and in three years kiting at Sandgate i have only seen 2 older havocs tear. The only problem i have had with my 2012 envy was the colours running. I emailed LF and within three days i picked up my replacement kite under warranty. I wonder how those other brands would have responded.