gday all, after some tips and info as keen to start land boarding. The omly kite ive ever flown is the 1m imp (just recently bought), its fun but need to step up a bit. im a 70kg heavyweight, and am confused as to kite type/set up. bar with depower or handles, harness, no depower etc ?????? i only want 1 kite and unsure of size. i live on bathurst is (NT) and windy season is here (how strong??) I have the beginner vid which seems to cover a lot and is helpful but would like opinions. I would like to get into kitesurfing but here not really an option. Also the beach has ripples and a little undulating- im thinking med size board with 9' wheels?? any suggestions would be much appreciated thanks. (ps that vid is crackers ).
Hey Sutton,
You can use any kite type it just depends on what your after.
A 4 line kite with handles will give you good control and you can use either brake individually. Look for one thats not too fast and sits well at the edge of the window. HQ Beamer, PKD Buster and Peter Lynn Hornet are all good options.
If you go with a foil on a bar you wont have the same control over the brakes but they can be more suited to freestyle as you don't have 2 handles to worry about. HQ Scout and Peter Lynn Twister are good options.
Your other option is a de-power foil on a bar. These will give you a larger wind range and the ability to ride the gusts better. They will also allow bigger jumps if you get the technique right.
They are more expensive but cover twice the wind range of a fixed bridle kite. Some can be used for kitesurfing as well. Look for HQ Apex, Montana or Neo. Peter Lynn Arc. Flysurfer.
The main thing you will be looking at the beach for is hard pack sand. If it is soft in any way you wont be able to landboard. Don't worry about going for 9" tyres as there is no real advantage 8" will be fine.
When looking for a freestyle board the shorter ones are better but longer boards are better at speed. Weight is a big factor when comparing boards.
The Ozone Access Xc are great for landboarding if you are looking for a de-power kite. I use the snow kite harness with it which was offered with it when i ordered the kite. These kites are great if your keen on getting into kitesurfing in the future as they have very similar characteristics and the depower, bar pressure etc are very similar to the ozone surf kites. Your weight i would recomend getting a 6 mtr to start. I use a 6, and an 8 depending on wind and i weigh 95kg. My partner uses the 4 & 6 mtr and weighs 60kg. Using on land or salt lakes you get moving pretty fast. Make sure you wear protective gear........need it.
Thanks for the info Dredgy. Does the depower mean the kite can be used in bigger wind ranges, so you can adjust the canopy size? probably a dumb ?, theres so many on the market, but this sounds good for me as i was going to buy 1 kite to cut my teeth .Could i simply learn to fly it before killing myself on a board (and maybe on the land), much appreciated sutton.
Yeah sutton, a depowerable kite will be able to be used in a much bigger wind range and will be a lot safer too especially for someone who's learning to fly a kite like yourself.
D
Hey Meredithe the photo was taken at Lake Lefroy salt lake at Kambalda when we were living in Kalgoorlie. We have since moved to Perth and been kiting on the water. I think there is a small salt lake at Rockingham but haven't checked it out yet. As far a kite size goes the 8m is the biggest foil that i use and i way 95kg.
The Ozone foils feel just like the Instincts to fly, light bar pressure good bar setup with good safety.
Sutton the de-power kites will give you a bigger wind range by allowing you to adjust the trim of the kite (the angle the kite flys at) to suit the wind conditions. You will need a harness to get the full benifit from a de-power kite, and these can be used for land, water, snow. I think for your weight a 6m would be best suited allround. 
Hey Dredgy, thanks for that mate. Yes, there are Salt Lakes at Rockingham/Baldivis. I've looked at them whilst driving past and tought they would be pretty good (in my opinion as a land-kite newbie/experienced water kiter). This is right near my place, so if you are keen for a kite down this way (land or water) let me know. Would be great to come check it out. I am thinking of maybe a 12m or so, as if the wind is strong enough I would just head out on the water most of the time.
D
