my son has been wanting to get into kitesurfing for a while now having surfed and wakeboarded for years but the problem for him was price. he has just graduated uni and wanted to get him a kit as he busted his nut for the last 4 years and has had a bad run of luck for last year or so. i know he has kitesurfed before with mates and has got a grasp of basics. i want to get him a kite and freestyle board that will give him the best performance for local metro area city beach scabs that he wont be thinking he needs to upgrade anytime soon. he is 73kg 1.78cm tall what size and kite would you suggest? this is a supposed to be a surprise but i need some help as i myself am not a kite surfer and need some advice. it would be greatly appreciated if someone could point me in the right direction for kite that would suit him.
Contact Darren at AKS in Scarborough on the corner of west coast hway and Brighton rd. Or give him a call, quick google will give you his deets, he's a really knowledgeable friendly guy, with plenty of options he could help you with.
Hopefully he can anyways, he usually heads north for the winter
Gday Benno,
You will find that you will get a lot of different opinions with most people just recommending what they ride.
In order to get a better understanding of your sons requirements a bit more info would be helpful ...ie: where are you located ?
the average wind ranges vary so much that what may suit a 75kg rider in Melbourne would not suit a 75kg rider in Perth....ok a more stark difference would be Melbourne and Geraldton etc....
Let us know what state and or area your son will be riding and I am sure you will get some replies or at least get pointed in the right direction to a retailer or kite school in your area.
At a guess if you are in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and most places in between a 10m Hybrid/Bow would probably be the best size for a 73kg rider to get started and make the most of it this summer. This size should see him comfortable from 14knots to about 21knots.... if the average winds are higher in your area perhaps am 8m would be better if they are lower a 12m ( although thats getting pretty big as a one kite quiver for 73kg person )
good luck I am sure he will be stoked
are you chasing new or second hand?
You'll be needing a 9 or 10 metre kite, no more than 1 year old,and a 132 - 136 twin tip age not so important.
Any kite shop should give you reasonable info. (darren at AKS is obviously your nearest shop, may even have ex demo or last years stock)
as for brand of kite ? he definatley wants the kite his best mate is riding , so ask him.
I recommend Slingshot RPM 9M with an Underground 132
and dont forget his waist harness size small
I'd go with Daggy's advice in regards to size of kite and board. For the money, it's hard to go past a 2009 or 2010 Cabrinha Crossbow 10 metre for a beginner. Used boards are easier to find now than they were a few years ago. Anythijng from 132 - 136 depending on the board. My Cardboard freeride 134 does better than my Skywalker 138 in light winds, so brands do differ. Buyer beware, but you can pick up some bargains on ebay. Try and buy something local with the chance to inspect before bidding. Your local kite guy has a vested interest in keeping you happy and well advised, so that's a good place to start. Alos take Daggy's advice on harness size. I bought a large when I first started and quickly realised a medium would have been better.
Hey Benno
If your down round Freo call in. Its good advice to go 2nd hand as first up kit. Like most kite shops at the moment we have a great range to select from. Very cheap in winter.
I like to think we match our riders to gear with a lot of consideration & care.
The advice on getting the safety stuff on board is very good - mates teaching mates doesnt usually cover this (IMO) essential basics.
Hey benno56,
Dont no much about wa or kiting, though my tribe are
kicking off, i have per chased 2 x 11 mt kites over the last couple of months.
I wanted them to learn in lighter winds, and have the ability to get going in calmer conditions. My call is get as much advice as possible from your local crew.
Heres one of mine been going since qld school hols.
Pics are not real clear sorry