I am a relative NOOB to the sport and my advice FWIW is don't get into the sport expecting to do it cheaply....its a crazy expensive sport and particularly as a beginner buying second rate cheap gear from someone desperate to offload it only puts yourself and others around you at risk.

I am not saying buy new, but going into the sport with an attitude of doing it cheaply IMO is the wrong approach. Fork out the money for a coupe of lessons and figure out if you are really going to get into it or not then be prepared to be broke but well rewarded for a long time to come.

It is going to be much cheaper doing a handful of lessons with good gear and figuring out if the sport is for you.

the expense is relative

buy cheap used and abused kites

and keep having to buy cheap used and abused kites

buy a package deal off a retailer like kitepower

new gear, lasts longer, back up service,advice, etc etc

The kite, bar, lines, and harness are vital elements to the sport. don't be cheap on them.
The board however, whilst it is key to the sport, is where you might consider tightening your belt.
since it's your first board, you'll probably lose it pretty quickly anyway.

but don't buy anything until you've done the lessons,
the schools will lend you free hire gear with your lessons,
and once you've actually tried it you'll have a better feel for the type of gear you want,
and the instructors advice will be invaluable in helping you choose the gear that suits you.
the lessons may seem expensive when ur trying to be cheap, but they're a lot cheaper than an accident

Thanks for the advice.

Lambie said..

Im surprised by some of the responses - 2009 - 10 kites that have had little use are still really good buying!!

I agree. Many post-2009 kites are fine safety wise. The real challenge will be finding one which has had little use!

The older a kite gets, the less chance it will be in good nick.

Really, the best buys are the last season kites which are being on-sold by riders who are upgrading multiple kites annually.

As a noob I'd rather be slamming my 400 kite into the waves, than a 1 year old 1000 kite.

If I was teaching someone id tell them to try a cabrinha switchblade with ids.

I bought a cheap 2007 Cabrinha and the depower on it is poor (side ring on the line as opposed to depower down the middle), but I use one of my newer bars and it's fine. Cabrinha thought after 2009 that too many people were mixing kites with other brand bars and created their IDS system, which means all post 2009 Cab kites must use their IDS patentent bar system or the kite will not fly properly (not that I can vouch for that, as I was told that by people in the business). However, the kite on its own is a great and lofty kite and would pass anyone's expectations of a rideable kite even today I think.

BWS ,easy to fly, good for beginners ,bulletproof tough,stable,use for surf or flat water and cheap,Absolutely love mine $ 500 2013 model 10m with bar,they get good reviews off MOST people, simple comfortable bar system,No stretching to reach the depower,short bridle system so no turning inside out if you F#$k up and did i mention cheap as chips for a last years model.Im a noob myself an baught mine off ebay sight unseen and i got a cracka .buying on line is always risky but if you ring and have a chat to the person you can usualy tell if there full of **** or not,I just baught my second kite a second hand 2011 liquid force envy 15m and got that for $500 with pump and bar and old mate recons he used it 5 times and parked it up in the shed cos he had no time,,He sounded pretty fair dinkum and i scored again as its as crisp as the day it was made,bit of a weird bar system but ill get used to it. I think you have to just keep surching till one pops up that sounds like a good deal then read reviews etc weather they r any good .plenty on here in the buy and sell ,gumtree,ebay,or as someone else mentioned ring a couple of KS shops and see if they have any demo models that they r getting rid of to make way for next years kites..anyway happy hunting,,,,