Hey all, ive just moved down from the country and am pretty keen to take up kiteboarding and make the most of this summer....
Im 80 kg and 6ft4' (if that matters) and am yet to have lessons.
Was just wondering a good kite to use along the st.kilda, brighton beach line!
Currently looking at getting a 2009 airush flow (10m) due to only wanting 1 kite in quiver, along with 2011 Cabrinha custom (136cm) and just a naish 2010 medium harness...
is this suitable for st. kilda and any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Kayne, summers quite a ways off and conditions between now and then are generally not so great for learning. The wind tends to be gustier and less predictable which makes it more difficult and less safe to learn.
I really recommend having your lessons first and then thinking about gear. However, if for some reason that cash is just burning a hole in your pocket:
1. The flow should be fine.
2. Get a brand new harness. Try on as many as you can to see what fits you well.
3. The custom is not what you want. I ride a custom so no bias against them, but they ain't for beginners. They're power hungry and have poor upwind abilities and these are two things that matter for a beginner. You want a slightly larger board with less rocker for your first ride.
Patience, as the right conditions make all the difference.
thanks for advice... i did sort of think that about the custom but was getting it for 500 bucks but may just hold off on it! could you recommend a board i was also looking at the rival 2010 not really sure though?
would lessons over winter be worth it necessarily or just wait until summer?
Lessons first eh. The more lessons you've had, the more crew you've spoken to at the beach, the more of their gear you've looked at on the beach and the more questions you've asked and had answered before you set foot in a shop, the more you'll know what you're looking for and the better you'll be able to tell good advice from shameless sales pitches for whatever dud kit they're overstocked with.
No hurry to buy gear, there's always loads of it. If you're on a budget the best thing you can do is delay getting gear until you're absolutely ready to use it.
Meantime, lessons and research. Seabreeze reviews are your friend, one of the most active and vigorous kiting forums on the planet. Enjoy!
mate the way i did i put a 500 deposit on , them i got a course for free pretty much 6 hours, them i had the chance to choose my equipment and have 500 bucks down the price, bought after lots of research a rebel 12 love it, now just bought a evo9 this sport is great , and remember a kite is just a kite, i prefer go to brand new at least im protected in case something goes wrong with the kite...also anything u buy you will have a month to swaap in case u dont like it , so far kite republic has help me out lots and im trully happy with the progression..
Handy reading... was keen to go for lessons last friday as saw the weather was near perfect but ended up not being able to get down which was a bit of a shame!! but oh well always more days!
oh and im from bendigo way, 6ft 4' good ruckmen/chb height lol
