Yep you are on the right track, the schools swear by the importance of trainers but I'm less than convinced myself unless you are restricted for time on the water or have some other limitation (immediately after lessons), it's something that you have to decide for yourself based on what other experience you have (stunt kite, sailing etc). There was another thread on here a while back that became a total bun fight but amongst all the personal attacks is some useful information (search trainer kites and it'll come up).

To be honest the difference in size between something 1.5 and 2 isn't really important what you are looking for from your trainer is to understand the wind window and how the kite feels in each part and recognise that by feel. In the thread I mentioned above steve (kitepower) posted a trainer kite vid, watch it you get the picture of what is going on and will help you decide for yourself if there is much value in them. I have several including an Ozone uno and the new Switch kites 1.5m prime trainer, $150 so in your price range (which makes an astounding amount of power compared to others I've flown) they are great fun and good to have around for friends etc. the UNo's good to give a sense of depower but I would't spend the extra money on it.

unless you want it for later just go for lessons and then see if you can hire a trainer off them to get practice on between lessons would be what I would do but

A couple of points. Most of the old crew who learned kiting at the start are self taught. There were no schools in those days. We were very afraid of our gear because it had the very real potential to kill us and other people. Modern gear is much much safer but the potential for disaster is still very real. Use your head and never lose that little bit of fear and listen to it when it tells you to stop.

Kitesurfing is 80% kite flying skill. When you get a trainer kite you will get bored with it in an hour or so and think you have learned all there is to know. You will be completely wrong. If you're bored with the trainer kite then work out new stuff to do with it to keep your interest up and to develop your skills. If you can't do that then you're screwed from the beginning. You need to be able to fly the kite without looking at it and without thinking about it. Pay particular attention to keeping the kite flying in light winds and when it is excessively depowered. Any cretin can fly a kite in smooth, strong winds. It takes skill to fly a kite in crap conditions.

I learned to kite on a 4m buggy kite (non-relaunchable parafoil). I actually kitesurfed with that kite on a 9' surfboard. When I got a proper kitesurf kite it was ridiculously easy to get up and get going.

Hi Guys,

Cheers thanks heaps for the advise. Glad to know I was kinder on the right track. I have started looking for trainers online.
I am willing to learn the basics and can be a patient person to pick up the skills I may need. So boredom after an hour or so of flying a trainer won't really be an issue.
If the sun is out and I am at the beach, Its all happy days.

Once again thanks for all of your comments.

Cheers Locky