Bigal

Where and what is THE MASSIVE?!

I am planning on buying a wetsuit for the winter months in Scotland, how thick would you all say I need? Ideally i would like to use it in the summer also. What are all your thoughts?? What do you wear??

Yeah I think a few more lessons are in order but I have landboarded and flown kites for a while so I could have covered what we did in a week in 2 days max probably....the majority of the time was spent waiting around. I might go for an ion then.....get the 8.5 and fly it on land whilst I save for the rest of the kit. Big start up costs!! Does anyone know where I can get in touch with other Scottish kiters?

I did go with Extreme holidays and yes I was dissapointed but it's water under the bridge. If you don't have any advice on the stuff I was asking I'd rather you didn't waste time posting. To those who have provided helpful answers, thanks for your help. What kites do you fly most??

Hi everyone. So I have flown foils for quite a while now, broke a limb and have now moved to lei's. They are amazing!!!! I went out to Fuerteventura on a five day kitesurf course but the wind wasn't great. I am happy with flying, relaunching and body dragging. I know the theory behind deep water packdowns and all the safety stuff. I am pretty much ready to enter the LEI market now but what size to buy? Would an 8 and a 12 be good for the UK. Probably based around troon etc. I was flying the flexi Ion 2's which seemed nice but what else is out there? I have been looking at Nobile, North etc but I don't really know the differences between beginner, intermediate and advanced kites. I feel confident with my kite flying and knowledge of the window from the foil days but don't want a kite that will kick my ass. As you can probably tell I am a bit clueless, any help would be much appreciated. Also do you think more lessons would be an idea before trying the board?? Thanks, Al

Thanks for all the advice guys, i think i'll be getting some lessons. Dunno where yet but will phone round.

Hi, I can fly power kites and landboard but I want to learn to kitesurf. I am based in Glasgow, does anyone know of a kiteschool nearby?? I asked in Extreme Zone down in Troon but their instructor has left. Should I just get some kit and go it alone or are lessons essential for being out on the water?

Sup guys. Remember that guy who broke their leg on the west sands last December???????? Well that was me and I'm just letting you all know that I have pretty much fully recovered and thinking about buying another kite. I foolishly sold all my gear thinking I would never fly again and I'm now regretting it.

I snapped my femur with a 4.9 blade 3 in December and im only just getting back to normal, still limp a bit but not really any pain any more. Plus I've got 3 proper scars, a 38 cm steel pin in my leg and 4 screws. Can I win worst injury please?

I was just looking for peoples opinions on this situation. I got a Pro-Limit harness for christmas and i fell on the 27th and the abulance dudes had to cut it off. They cut one bit of webbing and a small elastic bit. Do you think i could get it repaired or do i have to fork out on a whole new one? Also where would i get it repaired?

r2d2........just keep your opinions to yourself. Im not looking for sympathy or looking for something to blame. I was happy with the 3m sami and the conditions were fine. It was just a sudden gust that caused the accident, nobodys fault, just unlucky.

r2d2how can you blame the blade..? it sounds as though you were flying in gusty and probably overpowered conditions for your experience..it does'nt matter what kite you're flying..when you're overpowered or you have underestimated the conditions..an accident is waiting to happen!!! get well soon.I never blamed the blade!!!!!! It was as unfortunate accident and there is no-one or nothing to blame.

Im not really sure what details your looking for but i'll tell the story again and try and put more details in. I don't know how windy it was but i felt comfortable flying the blade. It was p for about 20 mins with no incedents but then a gust just picked me up. I don't know how it happened, im still confused by it. However it picking me up came as quite a surprise and i wasn't prepared for it so my legs were fully stretched searching for the ground and then i dropped down very fast. When i landed i heard what sounded like a whip crack and knew for sure something was wrong. It was lucky that the kite didn't power back p and drag me but my pal Ross reacted really fast and came over and this other guy retrieved the kite. Im very thankfull to all that helped. Anyway to avoid it i don't think i could've done much, maybe just relaxed a bit when i was lifted and bent my legs on landing. Just be very careful when flying this kite.

Yup it was me. I was just flying the 4.9 Blade 3 and a gust came along and picked me up. I wasn't that high (maybe 5 foot) but i was surprised. so i think my legs were stretched right out ;looking for the round and i had a very unlucky landing. I had to get a 38cm steel pin put in my femur and some screws. Im recovering now but i don't know how long it'l be before i can confidently fly again. But ninewells is a great hospital, they treated me sooo well. Thanks for the interest.

Thanks for all the kind words guys. It's not all that sore sitting about but i need to get moving and get on with the stretches. Hopefully won't be out for too long. The crutches are great though, can't wait to cover them in stickers and sray them

Hey guys, im just writing to say. DAM THE WEST SANDS!!!!!!!!! I won't lie the first day home was extremely boring. Thinks it's gonna be a really slow recovery. I would really like to find the guy that helped me into the ambulance and stuff. He was flying a nice flysurfer (might have been a voodoo or a spirit) He retrieved my kite and just helped a lot. Im very gratefull. Plus you guys have a great hospital up there. It was a great ward i was in, better than the glasgow sh*t.

i would just like to take the time tell you all about my recetent day with the blade!!!! I was at the west sands in st andrews and having a lot of fun with the 3m sami but decided to get the 4.9 blade out. It was flying fine for about 20 mins but then all of a sudden a gust pulled me right off the ground and dumped me straight back down. I landed bad and snapped my femur. I've spent the last 9 days in hospital in dundee with the parents having to travel from glasgow to visit. They put in a 38cm steel pin in me femr so its all good now. Its gonna be a long time before im walking and flying again. Just a quick word of warning.......TAKE CARE WITH THE 4.9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's a proper extreme sportsman. People are going to far with the body armour etc.

I agree on the helmet and knee pads but thats all you need. I think the whole body armour thing is a bit much. This is supposed to be an extreme sport, your meant to get a few cuts and bruises. If your going for kiteloops on land or something, sure where some hefty protection but for normal weekend riding and jumping wear a helmet, knee pads and try not to fall off.

So no-one thinks i should save up and go to depowerable then? The 4.9 blade looks nice but im just worried about the wind range of them. I was told that they are only good in certain winds. Low winds can't fly and high winds it kick your ass. Is it fine if your carefull with it?

Is a blade 4 much more powerful than a 3m Sami. I was out at the weekend and my kite just wasn't big enough. I love it in high winds but the weather isn't so great at the moment. I've not been kiting long so im worried the 4.9 will kick my ass. Do you think a 4m would be a sensible option or just keep saving for a bigger blade or a depowerable?

Im going one way then..........going the other way. I might teach you all one day:D

I've asked Santa for some kites but he has told me that he just doesn't have the technology and can't keep up with flexi and ozone etc. This now means i have to buy myself. I have a 3m Sami which i love but i need lots of wind to fly so im looking at something bigger. I want something i can jump with aswell? I love Frenzy's and have seen a few on here at reasonable prices. Do you think it would be better to save and get a frenzy? Get a bigger Sami? Or get a blade? And what sizes would get me jumping? Remember im a poor student so i'll probably be buying second at the moment.

Cheers Tom. I'll let you all know how i get on. Wish I could've come to the festival but ah well. St andrews is amazing....was up on monday. Best session yet, there was just so much sand. I'll hopefully be down at stevie on the 5th so might see you all again.

Im going to Stranraer for an overnight. Is it worth taking the ol kites? I've heard that the beach is good down there? Does anyone know the tide times and is there much sand when the tide is in? Im hoping to go down tomoro afternoon and kite on Sunday, wind looks good for then.