Just back from Fuerteventura

[Bigal]

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

[Willg54]

The slingshot revs !! are a great kite for what you want. High depower but still responsive and powerful when you want it to be! The safety on them is one of the best to. Try some kites, see what you like!

 

Lessons on board starts would be quite useful, its the most frustrating, time consuming part of the learning process. Its when everything you have learnt comes together and guidance makes it alot easier! As long as you can body drag up wind, you're ready to go!

[Kite Kid]

yea i would say have a look at revs or cult sport uy naish. personal experience, i allways found there to be a delay in the truning with flexis and relaunch no as good as other kites i have flown.

[Badger]

Did you go with Extreme Holidays ?

 

Steve.

[gazxtreme]

Did you go with Extreme Holidays ?

 

Steve.

 

Sounds like, 5 days to learn 1 days worth of skills and just packdown theory not practice?

Has Extreme written all over it:(

Could be wrong.

[yorkshireone]

I'd say if you were flying Ion2s and you liked them then you may aswell stick with them until your at a good enough level to be able to feel the difference between kites.

 

Buying a new kite can be such a mission these days with everyone telling you that their kite is faster, liftier, floatier etc.etc.

 

Save yourself some hassle and some money and get yourself some second hand Ion2s. Theres a few for sale here

 

As for size, go for an 8.5 and a 12.5 and you'll be fine.

 

Happy kiting.

[blowmeharder]

The nearest school to you is http://www.trykitesurfing.com they do lessons and demo kit...and some kick ass deals on some 08 kit

 

You can contact them via their website

 

Good luck dude

[GSter]

Nobile 555 is a very nice kite across all sizes.

The old Rev was great, maybe the new 2009 is better?

The Ion2 is also a winner (8.5m) is a fim fav of mine

Investing in a 10m Bandit Dos, so try for a Bandit / Bandit Dos or (maybe as a start and credit crunch beater) the F-One Revolt

 

.....not many bad kites out there, probably best to try on the beach before you buy

[Bigal]

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??

[blowmeharder]

The worlds most popular kite is the best waroo - an excellent allrounder

 

but

 

The 09 nemsis is by far and away the best kite i have ever flown ( and i have owned 16 brand new water kites incl North , Ozone , Flexi and best )

 

All that aside

 

Best advice you will get from anyone will be TRY BEFORE YOU FLY!!!!! so ask ur buddies for a shot or get in touch with some shops for some demo kit

[metal_snapper1599968645]

I'm kind of siding with yorkshireone here......If you learnt on Ion 2's then stick with them.....I will add though that the 10.5 size is ment to be like the sweet one of the range....I've been using one (10.5) on loan now for 6 weeks and it's a great kite, not had it out in much more than 16-22knots (I'm 83ish kgs) using a 666 EXT (139x46) in the lower wind range and a Spleene rip 134x39.5 in the upper.....You dont get much more bottom end out of the 12.5 compared to the 10.5 to be honest....i think it's about 1 knot less wind for the 12.5 on the bottom end.....but not 100%.

Depends also on how much you weigh.

 

I'd say if you were flying Ion2s and you liked them then you may aswell stick with them until your at a good enough level to be able to feel the difference between kites.

 

Buying a new kite can be such a mission these days with everyone telling you that their kite is faster, liftier, floatier etc.etc.

 

Save yourself some hassle and some money and get yourself some second hand Ion2s. Theres a few for sale here

 

As for size, go for an 8.5 and a 12.5 and you'll be fine.

 

Happy kiting.

[Badger]

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??

I went with them too in January with a group of friends, and our experience was the same, so I'm sympathising more than anything, keen for others to know to steer clear, and to know that they have little to offer.

 

I bought the Ion2 10.5 after that trip and very happy with it. If I could have afforded it at the time, I would probably have been better off with an 8.5 and a 12.5. I've also had a 1:1 lesson since which was all in the water and learnt so much more.

 

I've flown a 7m Ozone instinct as well and that was really well behaved and re-launched so easily I was very impressed.

 

Steve.

[Bigal]

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?

[Spyke]

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.

 

I went with them too in January with a group of friends, and our experience was the same, so I'm sympathising more than anything, keen for others to know to steer clear, and to know that they have little to offer.

 

.

 

Would you go with them if you can already kitesurf and therefore arent bothered about the tuition quite so much?

[Hentex]

ion's relaunch sucks same as all flexi kites. Get a rev or liquid force session. instant relaunch, super behaved and top safety of all the SLE's.

[C4C]

ion's relaunch sucks same as all flexi kites. Get a rev or liquid force session. instant relaunch, super behaved and top safety of all the SLE's.

 

ill second that, i had hentex's 10m LF havoc off him and its the business. i came from flying foils to this kite and i love it.! re-launch is easy once u get the hang of it and its so smooth to fly, turns on a dime, im a very happy man.

 

liquid force all the way...

[blowmeharder]

 

Does anyone know where I can get in touch with other Scottish kiters?

 

Yup...I'm here and I'm an IKO instructor...pm me

[charliesurf]

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?

 

 

Hi Bigal, you can also check out www.tractionkiting.co.uk

theres plenty of local information on there for you if you so wish

C