Hey everyone. Just reporting in.

I?m a brand new kiter, have had two lessons and been out once on my own. Got some more lessons planned soon but I wanted to space them out. Want to practice each step first before paying someone to show me the next step. I can get up and ride left foot forward fairly easy now. Goofy is a little bit harder ??.

The last time on my own I was demoing a 2011 FlexiFoil Ion 14.5. I?m 114kg (and coming down, hoping to be under 100 in the next 6 months) so it didn?t seem way over powered in the 12-15kts. But I just felt like I was fighting it the whole time.

After a lot of reading online and taking a few shops advice with a grain of salt (obviously only recommending products they have) I have bought a 2013 Zephyr (second hand, owned by local Ozone rep apparently, in immaculate condition), Mystic Warrior 3 harness and 2014 Axis Inferno 139/42 board.
Next on the list is a 13 or 12 Edge.

Hoping to get out this weekend and try out the new gear.

Would appreciate everyone?s thoughts on the setup, what I?ll find good/bad. Being heavier and buying kites is the same as clothes shopping. You go in the store and there are 40,000 different shirts for skinnier guys to try and you get 3 to choose from. Also with kites it seems there are such WILDLY differing opinions, coming from guys who do seem to know their stuff, but just not being heavy themselves they seem to be guessing a bit. Have read every thread on here with the Zephyr in it and reviews from other heavy guys

Thanks
A month in and the first thing I do every morning is check WindGuru etc.

I spent 5 years wakeboarding, snowboarded/ski'd all my live, skated as a teen and learned to windsurf at about 16, but didn?t really get in to it. So I'm hoping I will have a steady progression in to kiting?.

Ok sounds like you are the exact person I need to speak to.

Will spend most my time for the first while just at Point Chevalier in Auckland, New Zealand. Varies between 8-24kts most the time.
Interesting you comment on the 13m Edge being too much of a crossover. Everyone talks about having no more than 3m between your kites, but seems this is a) more of a guideline; b) more accurate for the 70kg guys on a 9 and a 12. There seems to be an exponential relationship as kite size and weight increases.

Hey fush and chups
I was in the exact same position you are in now
115 kgs ex wake boarder / skater/ surfer
This is the best sport of them all trust me you will become addicted
There is so much good advice to be found on sea breeze if you ask
I had big problems with running out of power and sinking while everyone else was zipping around having the time of their lives
If this happens make sure your not choking the kite and also make sure that you have 40 % of your weight hanging off the kite
Not just standing with all your weight on the board ( just lean back on to the harness)
Learning this sport has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life

iggypop said..
Not just standing with all your weight on the board ( just lean back on to the harness)

Yeah I was impressed with myself the other day when I went out in 12 knots and was able to edge and kite in 10 to 12knots of wind. All because I leant back thinking if I do I'll put on the brakes, but no - it was the opposite. Very happy chappy.

iggypop said..
Learning this sport has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life

Spot on brother!