Hi Wruckie,

Definitely not at all recommended for you. Dont even try to fly it.

Maybe have a look at much more recent designs like the Airush DNA, Ozone Catalyst, or Cabrinha Vector.

Thanks for the replies as you know good advise is not always easy to find, I suspected I was being conned but I just didn't feel comfortable bashing 3.5k of new gear around whilst learning.

How old would this kite be?

KPSS Used said..

2002? If you're lucky.

Fark! Any kite older than 2009 should be banned really. Destroyed or recycled.

No NickT, 2007 is still the golden rule just most of the 2007 gear is getting a bit old and worn out now.
yep rhino 2 is 2002 but probably came out late 2001, we had one in for repairs the other day, kite was in good condition, but bladders sadly not

As KPSS said look for something a bit more up to date, and safer by modern standards, ebay is usually the best place to sell old gear to unsuspecting newbies, have a look at what other people are riding on you beach and ask your locals for opinions about what's good and what's not. Just remeber opinions are like A$%#holes, everybody has one!

Any modern hybrid/bow/delta kite post 2007 with no leaks (pump it up and test if buying privately for at least 1 hour), that feels kinda crispy and is not paper thin, or has more repairs than canopy material
Toddy

eezeegowin said..

Wruckie said..

Thanks for the replies as you know good advise is not always easy to find, I suspected I was being conned but I just didn't feel comfortable bashing 3.5k of new gear around whilst learning.

How old would this kite be?

You'd do a lot better shopping on SeaBreeze or gumtree I reckon. Lots of good advice here.
As a beginner you'll trash your new kites (well...I do) so I go cheap and try and look after them. $300-700 ish depending on your needs. Board again was $250 (though I want to get a wider one now.. rookie mistake and will probably pay more in future). Harness was from ebay and is a cheap seat harness that converts to a waist with a handy pair of scissors (again to upgrade soon) $100. Total outlay $650-1050.
That sounds a lot but once your addicted...

The beauty of kiting is it's a once of expense of sorts, it's the initial outlay then small $ here and there for maintenance as it comes up until eventually needing a new kite. In that sense it's quite cheap in the long term. If I compare it to the cost of lets say snowboarding, wakeboarding or cable and compare it to the hours I've spent on the water it would have tallied up a crazy bill.

Wruckie said..

Thanks Guys for the help I was that gear is that old I have inflated the kite in the yard and looks in very good condition just 2 small stains. I will serch for a newer smaller kite and will be off for more lessons in a few weeks, the board is a Naish Haize 153 is that worth keeping i am 168 cms tall and 87kgs?

I think that your issue with the kite will be the bar/depower and emergency release rather than the condition of the kite. I'm told that the pre 2007 kites were not as safe as the current models.
The board sounds big but should be OK for light winds and learning. If you don't like it send it my way as I'm keen for a bigger board

NickT said..

Loftywinds said...

KPSS Used said..

2002? If you're lucky.

Fark! Any kite older than 2009 should be banned really. Destroyed or recycled.

2007 was what I was told 4 years ago, keeps incrementing every year. I suspect it's shops pushing fear into newbies to sell their wares.

Have to agree here. When I was learning in 2008, I got told only purchase 2005/06 and newer.

Whilst I agree new gear is a hell of a lot safer and nicer to fly, you could still quite easily learn on 07/08 gear as long as you chose a suitable kite and not some 16 m C shaped beast with no depower.

Thanks Harlie, I live in Brisbane so was planning to use spots like Wellington Point and Brighton and Golden Beach, I have started looking for a smaller kite. I spent the afternoon at brighton Le sands in Sydney yesterday afternoon watching about 20 guys kiting and had a good chat with one bloke that gave me some good advice.

Wruckie said..

Hello All I have decided to give up on the second hand gear I bought so if anyone is in the market for some very good condition retro gear let me know.

ill buy it (said no one ever) use it to practice kite repairs on. your going to need them if you buy into this bull**** about buying second hand kites when you dont even know how to kite yet how are you ment to know the intricacys of canopy stretching and porosity and stressed seams not to mention lines oh god the second hand lines.

what you want to do is buy an unused old kite like a 2012 or 2013 completely unused. not a demo, not a second hand. itll cost you like a grand and will last you 3 years. 300$ a year? as opposed to MAYBE getting a second hand kite that will last 1 year.

but whatever not my money not my problem