Hello,

Can i start by saying what a fantastic forum you have here, so much useful information.

Tomorrow will be my first lesson/experience with kite boarding.

I have already been looking a purchasing gear (Early i know) but the sport looks so additive.

Just wanted some assistance/advice on second hard gear and what size board and kite i should be looking at.

Well i weigh 95kg and about 6.2 tall. Sk kilda will be the main boarding location.

Thanks.

Thanks for the advice,

I asked my instructor and he recommended to get a 12-13M kite and a 138 size board.

I will wait until i do more lessons before i make a decision.

Thanks again.

Willy81 said...

How far did you get in your lesson. I had 2 x 3 hour lessons and was standing up for a very short period, but very uncoordinated. My instructor said it was time to get the gear and get practicing. I thought that I was a complete spaz, but reading around it seems most people get this far by the end of their lessons. Been waiting on some good wind to take the board out. Today the wind arrives and it's 25-30+ knots. Might be a bit much for me (60kg) and a 9m kite.

I'm not even that far yet lol. Just learning to control the kite on the beach which went really well. Next lesson will be body dragging and board recovery, just super keen to get out and give it a go. My lessons are with Kite Republic so i might see how much they charge for a kite/board package.

Doggfather said...

Hi duff

Being part of gen y my only advice to you,especially if you are still planning on taking more lessons is to order your gear online. I bought my stuff on kite-line.com and saved myself more than 1000 bucks. With our dollar the way it is you can't go wrong.

If you email mike at kite line he should be able to put a nice bundle together for you.

Good luck on the water.

Hello,

Thanks for the advice. I was looking at ordering a package from overseas. Just was not sure on the GST and duties fee.

Any advice?

Thanks

hey Duff, I kite at St Kilda too.
You are starting as Autum approaches and the winds peter out (Which is a bit of a joke because there hasn't been much wind to speak of anyway). This is when I started almost exactly one year ago and it's been a frustrating learning process ever since due to the fecal season.

Wouldn't have been as bad had I bought a larger kite. I have an 11m Argo (92kg and 140x42 board) which is supposed to be a bit gruntier at lower wind speed but the point is that you have to be reasonably competent to keep things going with a marginal wind/kite combo. When the time comes to making your first runs, its easier when you have reasonable wind up your kilt and good but manageable power from the kite and most of the time the 11m was shy of this.

In the current conditions and your 98kg's I would think that you'll be needing every bit of that 13m BUT, as with the stock market, the question is: will the trend continue?! I would have been fine with the 11m had Melbourne graced us with her normal summer sea breezes but la Nina fixed that with a wet and cool interior. How about ringing the BOM and finding out if la Nina will still be around next season before you buy

Good luck Duffy!!
(Plenty wind today! 30-35 kts at St kilda as I write. Looking to settle down a bit towards evening tho may remain gusty)

Especially as a noob you'll be dependent on others for advice in advance of purchasing and help afterwards if stuff goes wrong. Buying overseas will to some extent cut you out of that loop.

The advantages of buying from a local shop are that - if they're any good - you get good advice, the opportunity to see, touch and hopefully demo product before you buy, as well as back-up if anything goes wrong.

Further, at this time of the year local shops will do deals that match those OS prices, just ring or drop in and ask them and for sure they'll do you a good deal.

Or perhaps SHQ or Kitepower Geelong 03 52295899 and ask about Cabrinha SB or the Ozone Catalyst 12M $1799
My advice is forget the 5 line Rebel as a kite to learn with, the 4 line version, the fuse is ok but exxy.
Shops can do better prices if you ask too.

$2400 for your first kite is ridiculous.

Shop around my friend and you'll find good kites at good prices with good service. It wasn't a brilliant summer in Melbourne so there will be stock sitting about.

However, some shops will have excess stock of last season's kites because they were duds. (How many beginners thought two Alliances for the price of one was a bargain a while back, only to find that the kites sucked?)

Used is also an option, especially if you have a more experienced friend who knows what to look for in terms of wear and tear.

Naish park is a good kite. It gets high reviews in tests. 4 line, easy relaunch, 3 strutt (easy to rig) & well made. However consider all the other bits of advice.

Found a complete package (New/2011) which seems at a okay price.

Any feedback on the below gear?

12m Cabrinha Switchblade Kite 2011 (includes bar+lines and pump) $1,742.46

145cm Cabrinha Rival Kiteboard 2011 $552.46

Cabrinha Waist Harness 2011 $178.46

Total $2,473.38


Thanks,

Cody