Bongo

Purely out of curiosity what is 'out of the box'? The kite appears to have a modified profile on the LE - looks like a middle aged mans receding hairline....(which may mean that storing the kite on the beach face down LE into the wind would be interesting - as the wind looked like it could easily whip it over) but then Naish did similar a few years back i.e., modifying the LE profile (maybe even still doing it).... Beyond that nothing is obviously 'out of the box'... Not pooh poohing it, just interested...as nothing's obvious...

....Dick....(Aimed at the solo flyer - not BLAST - just wanted to be clear...)

??? just a reply would be polite....

As kite kid says... Go with / consider the catalyst. I have and love the C4s, but they aren't the easiest to launch, and as a beginner on water, you want something that just comes off of the water with ease. I haven't flown any cabrinha kites for a year, but only because every one I've ever flown to test I haven't liked at all. But that's one persons opinion only. I'd got catalyst. It's a big step up from the flows! And prob 10m going by your weight as a single kite quiver.

Have pm'd you

Based in bath/Bristol Asking £250 Do travel s.wales fairly frequently as far as Cardiff

Selling my Nobile EXT 143 x 48 Carbon Light Wind Machine!

Selling these front seats for a VW T5

thats fantastic news andrew... and here we were, all thinking that you just sat on the forum all day! (jokes) But on a real note it sounds like you've done well. Happy for you

so before you had it at £350 + postage complete... now £300 kite only? for a damaged and patched kite? especially being patched on the leading edge - not even stitched so v unlikely to hold... You gotta be kidding! - £60 difference for loosing bar and lines! Realistic...? me thinks not

price in mind for the 11m and 7m edge? both complete - or otherwise 11m complete 7m KO

£400 and you have a sale....

Thanks for the reply gaz While you do show ways skill is monitored, and I agree it is the best system currently in place world wide tbh, I just wanted to show people that saying "minimum 3 years riding experience" just isnt a realistic measure. With respect to riding in a range of conditions the bksa system does try and account for this... Zero to hero courses and such like are, in my strong opinion, ridiculous! These courses should be reconsidered.... However, as tone said before.... Money talks....

So 3 years experience riding on the water... And able to ride in all manner of conditions... Good suggestions... My first questions are; Your ITC is 7days.... How are you going to measure 3 yrs riding? There are only light winds the week of the ITC, just enough to be able to ride upwind.... How do you measure someone's ability in all weather situations?

Haha... thats interesting to say the least. I used to enjoy watching a well known kitesurfer in Port Talbot kite on his surf board with his lad riding on the same board... your photo takes that to a new level though!

FDVJ it sounds like you've taken a good approach in your experience of poor teaching. With respected to the incident you mention, that was in gusty light winds i believe.... So i think we should ban kiting in light winds and stay with the strong ones.... i haven't yet come across an article (just tried a search too) reporting incidence of injury from school teaching in high winds....? (i am purely playing the fool / devils advocate in my statement - just for those who don't find it resoundingly obvious) But needless to say, i've read and seen lots of comments and opinions on here - few that are constructive - many that are "i think i saw"... "a mate told me".... with few facts and even less positive action such as yours FDVJ The fact remains that some like kiting in high wind, some dont (and as such often condemn those that do) There is no law dictating maximum winds - albeit there are recommendations If you see what you deem to be unsafe teaching practice at any spot, get the facts, and report it appropriately - (if not then you should come on here and vent your opinion at others who are just as frustrated as you that they're at work and the weekend forecast is poop) And lastly, no one on here knows the facts about the lesson that stated the conversation.

seconded....

Did you report it tone?

pattullo if you consider that someone riding in 40knots lacks common sense you need to get out and ride more and spend less time on forums playing the 'big-gun'... TMW I understand where you are coming from but as has been stated already we DONT KNOW THE SITUATION...... and though it can leave devastating affects on friends and family so can being part of your armed forces, or riding a motorbike or even walking to the local shops in the rain.... While there is no incident there is no reason to REACT.... the preventative measures are already in place. Including ports of call if someone see's wrong doing, knows the facts and then can report them accordingly to the BKSA or council etc as necessary. Thats how a sport can progress... stop speculating people! I've seen mates teach mates down the beach with little experience and they are certainly not insured or qualified... are you going to recommend a ban on that too? or that that person be prosecuted....? example: I think i saw my local kiteschool trying to teach a man with no arms and only one leg the other day, and in 60 knots!!! NUTS!. it must be true because i saw it on the misty picture from the local webcam.... we must get to the bottom of this and impose a ban and make examples of them so i can ride when there is just 16knots and its sunny, the wife is away and my kids have grown up and left home... (this is fictional BTW - its just a 'slightly' over exaggerated version of the original - however the responses are quite realistic to the situation) As far as i am aware there was no accident. This is likely due to the skill of the instructor - student combo. While recommendations ARE already in place with respect to wind speeds, group sizes and equipment maintenance - these are all subjective recommendations as is the opinion of the instructor on the day. and yes i am on here because i have nothing better to do.....

FDVJ Who says that 25knts is the limit? (out of curiosity) Who said that students weren't in the water, in offshore conditions with full boat support? While i whole heartedly agree about being on land and the perceived dangers flying 5m in 40 knots.... that wasn't the scenario described. for all we know the instructor was an expert and the student had 5yrs of experience..... i love how angry and hyped up people get on here...

DC there are lots of variables as to why a school might or might not teach in these winds. For absolute beginners it might not be the best experience as things can go wrong quickly, though there is no law against it with respect to wind speeds - it is open to assessment by the school/instructor teaching. It will carry increased risk and is unlikely to be a positive learning experience though - again pending the situation. For example if the student wants to learn how to ride in high winds, has relevant experience and the correct size kites and lines and protective equipment available then it could be fine. The way you suggest 'they were teaching' sounds like total novices in which case its a judgement to be made by the instructor based on his students and equipment etc etc. Due to there being no law (there are recommendations only) against teaching in high wind, provided a risk assessment has been done (which should be done daily with respect to environment) then insurance will be valid. My understanding is the instructor would only be liable if found negligent for some reason, which will involve an assessment of all contributing factors by 'experts' in the field. If the wind is averaging say 25knots with occasional gusts at 40knots (often taken around buildings etc which influence this rather than from the clean sea breeze), so long as the right kit was being used then I would suggest that is was safe to teach adult beginners pending the confidence of the student (another risk factor). It should be made clear - and should be common sense from the student - that if they are uncomfortable then the lesson should be stopped and rebooked.