board sounds like it may be too long (unless your pretty tall).
i'm 5'10" 90kg and started on a 141 x ride only to wish i had a shorter board. i now ride a 136.
I'd say you would want the next size down or you will change boards sooner than later. Also look at the north x ride as an option, from what i have been told it's a better beginer board you might keep.

Board is ok to learn on, i'd go with a switch 138 as it has good width and is set up as a learner board.
The lithium is the retail version of the airush school kite DNA
But hold your horses $2.4 k is a lot for last years models, airush will be bringing out new models of these kites/boards really soon, there are some better deals on new gear to be had. pm Kitehard, he's back from northern travels and probably has some better deals on 2010 gear.
Like lot of wind said def spend the money on lessons, trainer kites are cheap to come by s/h.

thanks for the input guys.

Yeah i think i will wait another couple of weeks before choosing my rig, look around for a cheap trainer kite and see if there are any big improvements in the 2011 gear.

The hardest decision is finding a board and kite which is decent for learning but one that i wont grow out of after a summer of sailing. Will look at reviews on the north x and going a size down if i get the airush switch (im about 6ft).
A lot of the salesmen say that i will keep riding the switch and varial combination, but the local kitesurfers tend to think i will grow out of them both relatively quickly

Thinking that my best option is to take the zero to hero kite package and then buy all my gear afterwards.