Are new to sport & every one you speak to has a different opinion as to what kite i should start of with.
I am 60kg, majority of kitesurfing will be in south east QLD as i live Gold Coast.
So far i have come up with 3 kites to choose from but can only pick one & will be buying second hand, how old is to old? Have come across a 2008 North Rebel, is brand new but old model is it worth considering at $650
-North-rebel
-Cabrinha-switchblade
-Slingshot-key
Would also be interested to hear from retailers as i will end up buying the whole package,kite, board, harness.

mjkennon said...

Are new to sport & every one you speak to has a different opinion as to what kite i should start of with.
I am 60kg, majority of kitesurfing will be in south east QLD as i live Gold Coast.
So far i have come up with 3 kites to choose from but can only pick one & will be buying second hand, how old is to old? Have come across a 2008 North Rebel, is brand new but old model is it worth considering at $650
-North-rebel
-Cabrinha-switchblade
-Slingshot-key
Would also be interested to hear from retailers as i will end up buying the whole package,kite, board, harness.

Hard to go past the Rebel if new at that price, 2008 isn't as old as people make out, particularly to learn on. You may find you'll fly it for a year then upgrade when you're more experienced. Of the other 2, the Switchy is a good all rounder. As said, 10m for your weight would be plenty, probably could get away with a 9, though the 10 will be better to learn on. My wife is 56kg and flys an 8m bandit dos in SE QLD winds, though the bandit does punch above it's weight. 2nd hand boards are harder, people often still want silly money for them. Go for a new harness unless you can pick up one a year old.

^^^^ gregc It all depends on what your normal wind are where you live . If it is say 12-20 i would go a 12 -13 if it is like 15-30 i would go a 10 -11 . Generally we all get 2 kites 1 for the normal winds and a small 1 say 6 - 7 -9 for the nuken winds . Some of us get 3 . 1 for the real lite winds as with windsurfing if the trees are moving in the wind you want to be out in it . A good friend of my kites in the 11 knots to 15 then gets his sailboard out . Dont knock him is 63 years young and goes ape most of the time .
ps Welcome too the dark side you will have a lot more fun as they have a much bigger wind window than sailboards .
happy flying SAM

Hi i am looking at learning to kite board in broome the wind range ia 12 to 20 knots, i was thinking of getting a 14 mtr switchblade would are they good kites and would it suit the light wind conditions??

So around 100kg and will probably only kite up to 20knots would a 12 get me by or should I be going a 13?

a switchblade has lots and lots of grunt. but i would still go with the 14mt
i also think they would be the best kite to learn on. other kites seeem to be very touchy.[}:)]

suface2air said...

^^^^ gregc It all depends on what your normal wind are where you live . If it is say 12-20 i would go a 12 -13 if it is like 15-30 i would go a 10 -11 . Generally we all get 2 kites 1 for the normal winds and a small 1 say 6 - 7 -9 for the nuken winds . Some of us get 3 . 1 for the real lite winds as with windsurfing if the trees are moving in the wind you want to be out in it . A good friend of my kites in the 11 knots to 15 then gets his sailboard out . Dont knock him is 63 years young and goes ape most of the time .
ps Welcome too the dark side you will have a lot more fun as they have a much bigger wind window than sailboards .
happy flying SAM

True that!