i'm a freestyle jet skier and yes, i know how surfers and kiters feel about jet skiers

i am licensed, registered & abide by the rules 100%

i am even a maritime ranger, so you don't need to hate me as i have rescued surfers in trouble and brought in a drowned surfer back to life last year at cronulla where i usually ski

i am wanting to start kite surfing as i love wave jumping, but sometimes the wind picks up and makes it yucky to ski, so would put the ski back on the trailer and take out the kite in windy conditions

i don't know what type of kite or board to buy and would appreciate some feed back please

i feel that i have the ability to pick up kite surfing quickly with my jet ski riding, but know that they are two completely different types of sports, but don't want to start too low as a beginner and have to then buy a different type of set up a couple of weeks later

so is there a kite / board package that is popular in the mid range of ability and winds?

roookie said...

i'm a freestyle jet skier and yes, i know how surfers and kiters feel about jet skiers

i am licensed, registered & abide by the rules 100%

i am even a maritime ranger, so you don't need to hate me as i have rescued surfers in trouble and brought in a drowned surfer back to life last year at cronulla where i usually ski

i am wanting to start kite surfing as i love wave jumping, but sometimes the wind picks up and makes it yucky to ski, so would put the ski back on the trailer and take out the kite in windy conditions

i don't know what type of kite or board to buy and would appreciate some feed back please

i feel that i have the ability to pick up kite surfing quickly with my jet ski riding, but know that they are two completely different types of sports, but don't want to start too low as a beginner and have to then buy a different type of set up a couple of weeks later

so is there a kite / board package that is popular in the mid range of ability and winds?

WHAT?????????

Are you on a comedown from too many disco bikkies??

To rookie where in oz will u b kiting

As it sounds like you're in Sydney area, I'd say get in touch with Kitepower over in Sans Souci and have a chat about lessons. No point going out buying gear 'til you've had lessons and are able to get up on the board coz a) you'll trash your own gear very quickly, and b) possibly have to be rescued by one of your Jetsons counterparts if you try to learn too quickly too soon on your own....

And yes I agree- you're experience of watersports thus far will have very little benefit with regards learning to kite other than the fact you no doubt have the greatest repsect for the ocean

roookie said...

i have spoken with some shops and will go for at least 1 lesson and then get advice on what package to buy

If it's one lesson, make sure it's an intense, all day of a job!

First lessons tend to be theory & safety- you'll be lucky if you even get in the water! Usually beach based flying a trainer kite or small LEI to grasp fundamentals of wind window etc etc.

Second lesson usually in the water practicing body dragging and self rescue etc.

From then on, it'll be trying to get up on the board. It takes some very little time to get "up". whils tothers struggle for months until it finally "clicks".

Whilst I admire your optimism and enthusiasm, please don't skimp on the lessons- you'll only pish people off at your local kitebeach as you get in the way and make a nuisance of yourself trying to learn yourself. You could of course seriously hurt yourself too. You only need to spend a bit of time on t'internet to see riders of 10+ years experience in kiting being seriously injured or worse.

Kite equipment is $$$ so if you can afford the gear in the first place, you can afford at least 3 lessons.

roookie said...

i have broken away from the jet ski group and just ride on my own

its a little risky if something happens, but i'm sick of the cowboys disobeying the rules

i don't want to be part of them and their misbehavior

i thought that my skiing skills [coming 5th 2009 championships] would be useful for kiting, but everyone's advise is get heaps of lessons anyway

i have spoken with some shops and will go for at least 1 lesson and then get advice on what package to buy

will hopefully meet the kiters at cronulla soon and will give you all heaps of laughs

Having done both, not a lot of similarity. Closest sport is wake boarding although windsurfers would have an advantage because of their understanding of the wind. Less make a huge difference, you'll cut your learning curve by 80-90% compared to trying to learn on your own, not withstanding the fact that you're trashing someone else's gear instead of your own.

On the kite, my advice would be to go anything from about 2009/2010 onwards. If you're worried about what you're buying, post in the newbie section about the gear or a link to the ebay auction. There are a couple of terrible ebay auctions where 2001 gear is shipped as ideal for getting into kiting when realistically its a death trap. Most people here would give you an honest opinion on the gear and tell you whether you should avoid it.