Beginner - Where do I start?

Hi folks,

First let me say its great to find an ACTIVE online kitboarding community after looking for weeks.

I'm looking to get into some kit based activities for Fun and fitness and was wondering where I should start?

I'm currently looking @ buying this DVD on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=290309453561

I was also told by a friend of a friend that kites that I should get a training kite and practice for 6 months over the winter before I think about getting into the water next summer. Would that be a good move along with the DVD?

I'm hoping to buy a kite from ebay or a shop in sydney with my Rudd money in a next couple of weeks. And then a board after winter. I'm also looking @ buying a mountain board aswell so I can do both? Its pretty similar skills and work with the kite, yes?

I'd also like to add that I'm 32, 175cm and a bit overweight (105kg), but I skateboard a bit and have pretty good endurance.

Any and all tips, help and recommendations would be MUCH appreciated as I would really like to start ASAP.

Thanks

Grant

Thanks I looked in the beginner section and saw some relevant stuff, but was hoping to get some advice on the DVD, etc.

I'd really like to go in and get some first hand advice, can anyone recommend a good store in Sydney (not central coast or the shire preferably), maybe one that does lessons too, the sort of place that likes beginners and is friendly and helpful :)

I'm in Sydney, Merryland currently to be precise, but I'm off OS in May for a month and then moving back to the Inner west (prolly around Enmore) so I'm probably looking for a shop, south of Sydney harbour but north of The Shire.

Welcome to Seabreeze..(& kiting!)

Here's some handy articles if you've not read them already:

www.seabreeze.com.au/Articles/Kitesurfing/Summary.aspx

This one summarises them all, and has a listing of kiting shops:

www.seabreeze.com.au/Articles/Kitesurfing/How-to-start-Kiteboarding_2274949.aspx

Enjoy

Thanks folks I'll read the links and look into things... will probably also check out the store in San Souci. Cheers, will let you know my progress :)

Your idea to get a trainer and a mountain board is very good one over the winter you will be ready to ride on water with minimum profess. lessons, perhaps 2 or 3 at the most. the idea to get lessons first is STUPID, STUPID and one more time STUPID, not to mention costly.
Have fun on your moutainboard it really is especially in winter, after you master basic landboarding, kiteboarding will be piece of cake, make sure you get at least 2 or 2.5m trainer 4 lines with the bar so its no diffrent than proper kite.

Didnt say 10 hrs, but thats right that would be minimum before you even think about lessons that way you make most of them, keeping in mind that you take 3 prof. lessons as most people do.
The more time you spend on the trainer (ideally on a mountainboard)the less time you spend in the water playing a kook its as simple as that.
That doesnt of course apply to someone with unlimited cash who would like an instuctor in tow for much longer than few hrs.
It is also obvious that very gifted or experienced in similar sports would approach the whole thing in diffrent way.

Most people coming into this sport is well off they can afford quivers of 3 kites and replace them every one or two years for the people not that well off there is 2nd hand market and this is really cheap not to look far my example, I paid for my 2m 4 line OZONE trainer with 4 line Ozone bar , leash, belt harness and mountain board ( 80 kg load) about $800 its all like new cond. happy to sell it for $250, few month ago I "SOLD" another Ozone trainer 1.5m in brand new cond. since I used only 2m one with moutainboard( 1.5m was too small for the board), I SOLD it for $0 try to beat that, I think anyone can afford that amount of money, but even current $250 is cheap since someone can use it over winter and sell for the same $$$ or more later on .
The schools do supply trainers but its not the same and very often thats 2 line crap on handles- waste of time.
NOTE: if somebody is intrested in my gear it must be picked up in Melbourne.

another thing is that if you are starting off with lessons and no prior kite flying experience, the whole initial learning curve and the power of these huge kites could be overwhelming and scary... i know people who have given up after couple of lessons. I've ridden land kites for two years before taking lessons... well it was one lesson (on safety/launching/landing pretty much), and i learned to ride the board in two self learning sessions. This would have taken me longer if i haven't had land flying/riding skills.

My personal advice is you may get a bit frustrated looking/waiting for the right wind if you are starting off now when the wind season is over. The winds over winter are not as reliable (that may differ depending on where you live). Yet you can still land board during the winter and then be perfectly ready right at the start of the season in october. And the land setup is 5 minutes unlike with water kiting. And you don't need lessons if you are using trainers (you can use safety leashes connected to your wrists so if you can't control the kite, just let go and the brake lines make it gracefully fall out of the sky - talking about foil kites with handles)...

cezary is right... you can pick up the land gear cheap... you don't need brand new or 1000 bucks board to have fun...

Oh, and in terms of skills, land boarding and kite boarding are quiet different actually, but land boarding would give you invaluable appreciation and respect for this sport.

From my viewpoint (been kitign only about a year) you certainly seem to be playing it safe, which is great. And your kite skills will be better than the normal beginner when you eventually hit the water.

Havign said that, I never used a trainer kite. I had my 3 standard IKO lessons on a full sized kite, bought my own gear, then hit the water. Alot of people do it. Providing you have a good instructor and adhere to the safety messages you've learnt, there's no reason why you can;t make it that simple. Then the money you save from not needing a trainer kite and landboard can go towards a better/newer kite.

Mightn't be suitable for everyone, but it does work for some. Just a thought!

You don't need lessons to fly trainer kite if you start off with a smaller size kite and know how to use the brakes. I bought a 3 m trainer as a first kite, and in light winds it was easy to fly and not dangerous at all. You should be able to find videos on youtube on how to do it. Just lay down the kite, unfold (make sure you put a bag with a bit of weight on the trailing edge of the kite. You unwind the lines, attach (thicker line to the leading edge of the kite - the one with the wind pockets). You walk to where the handles are. Grab them.You simply pull on the front lines (grab each handle so that the front line on each handle passes between your index and middle fingers), and that should launch the kite (warning - in strong winds, lay or sit down to avoid being dragged to your face). You always launch down wind (unlike with water kites - LEIs). If you have too much power and want to land the kite, you shift your hands to the back of the handles and pull the back lines all the way down. 3 meter foils are very fast kites, and will give you enough power to ride land boards in winds 18-20 knots and above. In lighter winds it's fun and helps you master flying skills, but it gets a bit slow on the land board. You can figure out how to ride the board by your self... if you need any info just PM me. I also used 5m foil kite, and that's when you start talking about slightly more serious power - i got couple of minor injuries with this bigger kite flying in 30 knots winds.

(Just one thing - once you experience kiteboarding on the water, your land gear may never get used again )

Hey there,
liquid force havocs are pretty good, especially if you can get it in good condition and for a good price: under 900 would be alright.

Thats a pretty long board tho mate, It will help for the first few sessions to get you up and going and also for those light wind kite sessions... But as you progress you probably would want a shorter more maneuverable board ( for your weight probably something in the 130-140s)

And remember to still have some lessons and never go out by yourself as a learner and never go out in overpowered conditions as a learner

Good luck, good winds!