Global Dave

The North isn't too bad either. A 9m set up with 15% discount it works out at £765. I've been flying 4 line kites on handles for 3-4 years. Have had the odd go on a landboard but as I live in Devon its the water I really want to be. Within an hour I can be on teh North Cornwall coast, or even closer is Exmouth, Paignton and Bantham so there seems to be a beach for every wind direction. Got my first taste with an LEI and a bar at Watergate Bay last October and have been back for a couple of lessons since but have been on a "mid winter break". I finished off with board starts so need to practice a few more of those and then move on to being continually powered. The North Gonzales board comes in either a 135 or a 143 at the same cost. Whilst I am just 6 foot I am a little under 11 stone so not big.

Hmmm... The trigger packages are a similar price but with powerkiteshop there is that tempting discount! For instance, was looking at a 9m F-One Bandit package for £949. Once you get 15% discount that makes it only £806...... Plus they are offerring 0% interest free payments over 6-12 months which suddenly makes getting into the sport very affordable! (am practising telling my wife that!)

So.... I am part way through a kite surfing course up at Watergate Bay. Had to stop before Christmas just when I was starting board starts and need to pick it up again (once I have finished a current DIY project!). The intention is to be up and riding this year but ideally I need some kit. At the moment http://www.powerskiteshop.co.uk are doing what looks like the best priced package deals. I got an e-mail from them saying they have 15% off anything bought before end of February plus they are now running an interest free payment option which suddenly makes buying some kit seem a lot more affordable. Question is..... if I can get my wife to agree to me buying some kit what do you think would be the best starter package. By the way I am 6 foot and 67 kgs. When learning I found a 9m proton gave me loads of lift in 15-20 knots even when depowered. Package 1: Powerkiteshop Price: £899.95 - £959.95 Cabrinha Convert 2010 - 7m, 9m or 12m Kite Cabrinha IDS Powerdrive Control Bar with Flying Lines Naish Haze - 136 x 40.0cm Kitesurf Board Package 2: Powerkiteshop Price: £1049.95 - £1138.95 Liquid Force Envy - 8m or 12m - Water Relaunchable Kite Liquid Force CPR Control Bar with Flying Lines Naish Haze XL - 136cmx 40.0cm Kitesurf Board Package 4: Slingshot Key HD / Crisis Package Deal: £899.00 - £999.00 Slingshot Key HD - 7m, 10m or 13m Kite Slingshot Keychain Control Bar with Flying Lines Slingshot Crisis - 134cm or 137cm Kitesurf Board Package 5: North Neo / Gonzales Package Deal: £899.00 - £999.00 North Neo - 7m, 9m or 12m Kite North 5th Element Control Bar with Flying Lines North Gonzales - 135cm or 143cm Kitesurf Board Package 7: Powerkiteshop Price: £899.00 - £1029.95 F-One Bandit III - 7m, 8m, 9m o r10m- Water Relaunchable Kite F-One Bandit III Control Bar with Flying Lines Juice Evolution - 134cmx 44.0cm Kitesurf Board

I found my toes were starting to go numb after being in the water for the best part of 2 hours and made it all the more difficult trying to feel my feet going into the straps.

A progress update..... Went up last Wednesday and the weather was looking great. Onshore winds around 17-20 knots and I was the only student so had 1 to 1 instruction. Unfortunately it was spring tides so we only got 2 hours in but 2 hours was enough as I was knackered. There was a 3.3 swell and although we stayed in the edge of the surf the water was moving fast particularly with the incoming spring tide. It definitely gave me a work out. Having done all the land based tuition we went straight into the water with a 9m. Started with a couple of downwind body drags which was great fun, nearly managed to lift myself clean out of the water.... just my toes dipping in as I steered the kite. Then it was on to sideways drags and upwind dragging. Took a couple of goes to get the hang of controlling the kite one handed, especially when getting battered by the surf but I soon had it nailed. Finally I practices balance dragging which seemed easy.... until the board was introuduced. The breaking surf, moving water and now a board on my feet seemed to make it difficult to hold my position... however, picking a spot between the waves I gave it a go at a board start......... I got up and then went straight down again! I expect thats entirely normal. Next effort saw me submarine for a while before surfacing and regaining control of the kite. 3rd didn't go anywhere but 4th go worked fantastic. I suddenly found myslef up and away moving with more acceleration than I had imagined and LOVED it! After 30m or so I ran out of steam, tried to change direction and... yep... ended up in the water. The wind started to pick up pace a little and I had to adjust the depower on the kite. I'm only 10.5 stone and the instructor who was 15 stone was easily motoring when showing me what to do. Couple more goes later never got quite as good a run as kept getting knocked off the board by the breaking waves (watching kite not waves) before finally being launched 20 feet up in the air having lost the board from a wave and for a moment I had that flying feeling..... but what goes up must come down... and I was glad I had a thick winter wetsuit on. Water is definitely more forgiving than land. Sadly the tide put an end to any more attempts but I had got up on the board and got my first taste of kitesurfing!!!! Have about 5 more hours in the bank to redeem which I will do 1 to 1 as I was really able to progress. Can't wait til the weather is right and I can get another day off work!

Really looking forwrad to today. Blue skies and around 14-16 knots so should be great! Body armour on the beach would have probably been useful... the sand hurt! Hoping the water is a lot more forgiving!!!!!!!

I first saw kitesurfing 8 years ago and thought at the time... I want to do that. Its something thats been gnawing away at me over the years. I've been messing about with land kites for a couple of years but just didn't quite feel satisfied. I live in Plymouth so have the option of the South Coast of Devon or the North Coast of Cornwall whereas there just isn't a huge amount of options for land kiting. Here its all about the coast. My wife bought me a voucher for a 2 day course at Watergate Bay and after sitting on it for a couple of years (bad summers and work commitments) I finally cashed it in and enrolled! Sadly the 1st day had to be split into 2 afternoons (wrong kind of wind) but we went through all the basics, kite handling, set up, emergency packdown, self rescue etc etc. The 1st afternoon we even got a 7m up in the sky but it was a bit gusty and it caught me out. I have never supermanned with land kites having always used handles but using a harness and bar was a whole new experience. I couldn't at first get the whole deal with the force being through the harness and not through my arms... I oversheeted and sent it straight into the power window just as a gust caught it. Knee took a bit of a bash as wet sand is like concrete... 2nd afternoon the wind was calmer and more consistant but not enough to get in the water. Still it was enough to try the 9m and I spent the afternoon gaining experience with the bar and harness, skudding along the beach. The instructor finished the afternoon introducing the board and I practiced dry board starts. With my gangly legs its a real effort to lift the board over my knees to get my feet in whilst holding a bar... I can see this being fun in the water! So..... tomorrow I head back to Watergate Bay.... the wind is looking ok, and I am all set for getting wet. Hoping to progress and get going on the board. Will update on how it went!

they called it puppy love

and they called it puppy love

cheers... will take a look.

Thanks for the advice, bit of a mixed bag by the looks of it. Hmmm... not sure what the bar was that I got, will have to check to see if its a "turbo bar". A littel worried about losing turning speed but will definitely try it out on both bar and handles to see how it is.

Hello, Hoping to find some peeps in the Plymouth /South Devon or even Cornwall areas. The Plymouth Kite Club website is currently down and there doesn't seem to be any posts here in the meets section for them. If you are around... hello!

chocolate custard!

I am now the proud owner of a 5m Flow I got it with a bar as I already have a decent pair of handles with my Beamer. Question is... for starting out on a board is it better with the handles or a bar?

when curly wurlys were 10p

greetings from a "noob". I reckon you're all fairly harmless. Hope to try and get to know some peeps from down my way (South Devon) and find some new kite spots.

its all or nothing now.... we have to bowl agressively for the win and pray the weather gods hold out!

Things are looking good for a win here!

hoping to rearrange for next week. Just a bit frustrating as had a day off and the tides were right.

Yeah, I just got teh 5m flow for boarding too. Sadly, I just got a call to say the lesson is cancelled as an instructor is ill. Really annoyed...

GOt a lesson at Watergate Bay today. Hoping it will point me in teh right direction. May be a little damp but hopefully there is just enough wind.

nice advice... I'm going for a landboard lesson tomorrow to help me get started as I got teh board but kind of didn't really know what to do with it.

I live by Central Park and the trees are looking a little bendy so thinking of heading out for a session. Anyone round here fly in Plymouth?

wind guru bbc weather easytide.co.uk would be interested to hear which site people think are more accurate in their predictions.

These guys make kites in Devon down my way (stumbled across them on the web)... Wondered if anyone had any experience with these kites as they are reasonably priced. http://www.cirruskites.com/