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Forums > Kitesurfing General

Best size kite for kids starting out

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Created by mattn > 9 months ago, 24 Feb 2014
mattn
NSW, 90 posts
24 Feb 2014 11:21PM
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G'day.

Just after a bit of advice from anyone that has started their kids out in the sport.

For a 10 year old what's the best size kite to get them started on.

They can handle a 1.5mtr quad line OK so was thinking maybe a 5mtr. Happy to take on board any recommendations.

Also how'd you go finding a harness that was small enough for them. Is seat or waist the preferred option, which brands do one small enough.

Thanks.

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
24 Feb 2014 11:18PM
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Wind and weight? Older reo in a4mtr or north buzz in 2.5 or 5 tried and tested on 10 year olds of normal weight , epic kites do groms harnesses or dakine do some lightweight seats ,head gear?

Puetz
NT, 2183 posts
25 Feb 2014 8:31AM
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Select to expand quote
cauncy said..
Wind and weight? Older reo in a4mtr or north buzz in 2.5 or 5 tried and tested on 10 year olds of normal weight , epic kites do groms harnesses or dakine do some lightweight seats ,head gear?


... just to add, a good PFD and as they get experienced a good impact vest then some crow to eat as they start kicking your a r s e, won't take long !

COL
NSW, 551 posts
25 Feb 2014 11:00AM
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For my 1st son I just tied some webbing under the harness to go between his legs & stop it riding up. PFD a great idea. Main features of a kite are easy relaunch & staying aloft in light wind. Rallys are great. I've got a 6m for when my 9yo is ready, but that's a way off yet.

25 Feb 2014 11:07AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
mattn said..

G'day.

Just after a bit of advice from anyone that has started their kids out in the sport.

For a 10 year old what's the best size kite to get them started on.

They can handle a 1.5mtr quad line OK so was thinking maybe a 5mtr. Happy to take on board any recommendations.

Also how'd you go finding a harness that was small enough for them. Is seat or waist the preferred option, which brands do one small enough.

Thanks.


Just visited WA saw Jason Lewis's daughter Brook out kiting, she was using a flying objects harness and a 5, then 7M Reo, but the Ozone Catalyst works well too. Brook did not crash the kite, and I'd estimate she weighs 30-35kg, winds were around 12-15 knots. We have all the gear you would need, including vests.

Kitersmini
WA, 19 posts
25 Feb 2014 9:09AM
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Hey,im a kid kiter and i started when i was ten.
Get a 7m and a 5m aswell, but also make sure their not a heavy kites because smaller kites are for bigger winds and designed for men.
I have a 7m Naish park and a 5m airush flow, so start him out on those because they hardly luff and there a good kite.
i also like that above bar power thingys because i find the cleat hard to adjust.

shunter
WA, 441 posts
25 Feb 2014 1:24PM
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What would be suggestion for 13 year old girl, 45kgs 176cm, skinny and tall. Has good water skills (surfclub nipper, surfing etc) I have a north dice 8m so maybe a 5m? to start on. Has flown a 2.5m ozone imp for the last summer, time to get her on the water, also have an 11 year old similar weight bit shorter same skills set.

Cheers

hipppo
QLD, 8 posts
25 Feb 2014 4:11PM
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My boys were both about 9 when they started (now 10 and 12) Started on a Naish Cult 6m - sits back in the window and doesn't overfly. I ride Rally's so they do too now - they use a 9 from 12-17 then a 6 from about 17-25. Flat water and in the surf. They weigh 40-45kg. When they first started, I used a quick release spreader bar that slingshot used to have, had an eject button on the spreader hook. Help bring everything closer as their arms were pretty short. Can't remember what it was called but it worked well.

Best tip - flog the trainer kite to death. Both boys actually got going on one of my surfboards and the trainer kite way before we put them on a real kite.

Take your time with them, its well worth it.

AquaPlow
QLD, 1053 posts
25 Feb 2014 4:18PM
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Started around 11 yrs with mine - just when it happened..
Was at the 40+kg mark...
Safety safety and safety...
I went with good impact vest with moderate floatation but not PFD level, helmet, and ability to swim well - did nippers and some squad training.

The main aspect which will come up is reach when they are smaller, so the shorter the throw for depower the better. The harness style which has comfort + a smaller hook. I also ended up making the chicken loop smaller. We started on a seat but he soon made up his mind he wanted a waist harness. Bought a 6m which went well for the first 3-4 kids who have learned on it.

Masses of beach work, a lot of shallow water work, then when he was getting on the board - he did a couple of lessons. I wanted him to get another take on safety etc... In retrospect I probably held him back as I went safety first...

The big leap came when he did a grom fest with Kitethrills - Andy Yates put the pedal on the metal for 3 days - shortly after that what Puetz said...
He is working on his latest video - here is last years....



If you have as much fun as I did helping your kid - you will have a blast..

Cheers
AP

Flat Water
VIC, 16 posts
1 Mar 2014 5:48PM
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Great info - my son is 12 and weighs 43kg and is in the middle of getting lessons. I took him for some body dragging practice on my 7m Core Riot XR in 15-17 knots and it was the wrong kite. Just didn't like being flown in that light a wind strength and I'm not sure how I could have trimmed it differently to be better. So now I'm shopping for a 6-7m kite that will suit him, using it in 15-20 knots on flat/choppy water and (hopefully) be easy to relaunch in that wind strength too. The posts above sound like the following are good:
- Ozone reo or catalyst
- Naish Park or Cult
- Airush Flow
- Slingshot Rallys

Any others that I should look at? Any help would be appreciated.
cheers, Al

STELLA01
WA, 126 posts
1 Mar 2014 3:22PM
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Started my boy at 6 with a Wainman school series 2.5 will be moving him up to a wainman school series 5 next season.
The wainman school series is a perfect kite to start with, nimble, easy relaunch, and punchy enough to get him up and planning. He weighs around 25 kg now and the 2.5 is enough to boost him when kite looping. He uses a standard wainman bar with I think 23m lines this slows the kite down enough to make it manageable when riding. Give Westoz boardsports a call for info on the kite that's where I got mine. The harness is a Flying Ojects Minx XS







Flat Water
VIC, 16 posts
4 Mar 2014 11:42AM
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I've narrowed my search down to an Ozone Catalyst. Not sure what size to get though as the weight is so different than adult sizing. My son's weight is 43kg, but rapidly heading upwards as he is going through a growth spurt, so the next couple of years, which is the expected use of this kite as his main kite, he could get up to 50kg?. I need him to be able to stay upwind in 15 knots and the kite be easy to relaunch in that wind strength.

What do you think? 6m? 7m? 8m?

cheers, Al

juicerider
WA, 790 posts
4 Mar 2014 9:23AM
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Hi
My kids now weigh about 48kg and they use a 7 park from 15kts up to about 23kts. So maybe a 7 or 8 would suit your son, depending on what the top end you want to use it in.
Also just as important when selecting gear for kids is the bar. My boys have used a few different systems but the only trim system they can use by themselves is the ATB system that has a toggle pull to depower and a toggle to pull to power up. They just cant get cleats, and have to come into the beach and stop before adjusting the depower, or more ofter they just wave for me to come and do it for them.
I got the naish ATB bar this year and they love it, they can easily adjust it as they sail along and the bar diameter is reduced making it easier and more comfortable for little hands.
If you are getting the ozone cat, I would consider a different bar. I don't think the ozone quick release is particularly instinctive, as it works the opposite way to other bars, also the cleat is hard to use for little hands when under load. It also has hard unforgiving bar ends, and a large diameter.
Hope this helps
juice Rider

Flat Water
VIC, 16 posts
4 Mar 2014 7:51PM
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Many thanks, great advice about the bar

Nissey
VIC, 64 posts
5 Mar 2014 12:35PM
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My 10 year old has a 7meter north neon 2012 and loves it, his even named her Shelly. his 42 kilo tho at almost 5foot

sebol
WA, 753 posts
5 Mar 2014 12:01PM
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My 12 years old daughter weight 35kg and uses a 4 meter REO so we can go out together in decent wind.
It is also my favourite kite when the wind is nuking



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"Best size kite for kids starting out" started by mattn