Recommend Me a Kite!

[SoutherlyBuster]

All the above advice is good. What has not been mentioned is that when you are learning, I would not recommend to learn with 25 to 35 knots going by what Peace has said regarding typical daily wind speeds. Some may say, just get a smaller kite, ok but these will fly a lot faster, loop them accidentally and a biginner is bound to hurt themselves. I would recommend to work you way up in wind speed, start out 12 knots, then 15 knots with a small kite, and pick a day when the wind is not gusty --- you will enjoy this a lot more than being frustrated with gusty winds and possibly injuring your self. As Imjimbo said, look at his thread on injuries --- I was there that day, it was gusting from just enough to keep the kite in the air to ready to loft you if you did not watch out.

For the small kite option, get one with a low aspect ratio, it will then be more stable, just what a beginner needs. That is why Spartan suggested the Ozone Access to start with (low apsect ratio), and not the Frenzy (medium aspect ratio) or not the Manta (high aspect ratio). All the kite manufactures offer such low aspect ratios, ie HQ, Ozone, Flexifoil. The Peter Lynne people may also have one.

Personally I like the depowers best for landboarding, just let the power out when a gust hits and no getting yanked over the board ready for a face plant. However a small stable fixed briddle like the Flows on a low wind steady day will do fine as well to get you started. As I said before my 10year old son flys a 3m Ozone Flow when landboarding, but he picks his days to go out wisely, if the wind is too high or gusty he stays home.

Happy hunting for the kite to start out with.

Regards,

Norman

[budha]

hi V-rap

i live on garden island (walk to beach you will see it if you live near perth)(yes iv meet people who live in perth and dont know that)

iv got a 4m buster II which i can sell you ill just have to get it brought over from qld,

i used it for my land boarding back in qld, and know a bit so i can give you a hand learning to fly/ride if you like

Carl

[0tto]

Ye your right the Montana's ok, but some people cant be bothered with working the kite to boost.

How can you say this when this is not right when you make the kite above you and pull the bar it will lift you. We see your video here in norway long time ago with your roler blades and you kite nice but you do not jump very high so from what we see you can not say things like this if you don't know. We make the kite pull us more 20 meters from the snow in winter and then you can find out which kite really works. Two of us ride now the montana 4 and now we buy one montana 5 to see and this kite pull much more aggressively and higher from turning faster but we also use apex 2 in smaller size and this is nice.

[jabroni]

but you do not jump very high so from what we see you can not say things like this if you don't know

Oooh, you just got served!

[SoutherlyBuster]

As I kite with George often we naturally talk about our kiting. For your information from what George tells me, he purposely does not boost that high on land to keep it safe in case some thing goes wrong. So basing your comments on the video is a bit harsh. Remember that we kite on land without snow and if we boost too high and stuff up, the landing hurts. But yes, point taken you manage to boost the Montana's pretty high.

I do a similar thing with my Venom II 13m2 and Synergy 8m^2 --- on the land (landboarding) I would not boost as high and as agressively as I do out on the water (kiteboard) with the same kites --- it's a safety thing.

Norman

[lawsonpipes]

Yeah, I agree Norman. When I fly my blade, I never jump high on the land. On the beach it is a different story. I still think that the sizes you are talking are way tooo big to learn on though!

[SoutherlyBuster]

I still think that the sizes you are talking are way tooo big to learn on though!

Those size were not meant to be recommended sizes to learn on, just making a point regarding jumping on land. Around the 3m^2 is good starting point for learning on, as others have mentioned. I learnt on a 2.3m^2 home built NASA kite, then progressed onto the 13m^2 but did get some professional lessons from Goshen at kite power. When I progressed onto the 13m^2 for a while I did limit the wind speed I went out on.

Regards,

Norman.

[Spartan]

How can you say this when this is not right when you make the kite above you and pull the bar it will lift you. We see your video here in norway long time ago with your roler blades and you kite nice but you do not jump very high so from what we see you can not say things like this if you don't know.

Dear Mr Otto, Regarding that Video you're talking about, that was taken when I first started kite skating,

and was taken in 7-8knts of wind with a Ozone 10m Access XC and as you should know the Access is not designed for boosting, and in that low wind I couldn't go any higher no matter how hard I would try. Now days I use an Ozone M3 Manta, which has a similar flying charactaristic as the Montana..So yes I do Know. .

So please dont comment if YOU dont know.

Joel and I have been waiting for some southerly winds to do some filming, so as soon we get some footage you will see a difference, from that old Video.

Spartan

[Craig Hansen]

This post sounds Like a one eyed Ozone monster fest!!

Why would you want to buy a DE-power kite? Buy a POWER kite and learn how to fly it properly, they are cheeper, smaller, faster, easer to fix, have better upwind the list goes on...

I agree DE-power kites are nice big SAFE blimps, but they are not the only answer!

Craig

[Spartan]

This post sounds Like a one eyed Ozone monster fest!!

Craig

Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone, Ozone.

..I cant see what you mean Craig..

Ps If Dan OK didnt like me before, he's going to hate me now...

Pss. Yes its a boring night at home with nothing better to do, and there's been no proper wind to do any kiting for the last three weeks to take away this fustration....

[skinduptruk]

Hi V-rap,

nice to see a west aussie - i don't understand your claim that you don't get much wind, i thought WA was windsurfing heaven?

my 2 cents:

start asap - as small as possible. i bought a 1.5m two line trainer from "new" (based in WA) off ebay. great little kite, still play with it, and lend to new people to try. will teach you basics.

i would suggest de-power over foil for landboarding, and for learning especially. the de-power allows you to keep your balance much more easily.

you said you want both land and water. best to buy a LEI and land kite, but consider a Peter Lynn. I have a 13m scorpion and it works on land, have not tried on water but it is possible (land kite would get wet and stop). PL are also able to handle gusts well, which suits my ACT location. also have heard it's good for gusty snow kiting, but again I have not tried that myself yet.

think about body protection. i use knee pads, padded crash pants, wrist guards, gloves, body armour, helmet, sunnies (impact + UV), sunscreen. it's annoying sometimes, but i always regret when i skip on something, the injuries you get are usually quite unexpected, unique and painful I've learned that bruising and ligament damage takes around a year to come good - and i've only had minor crashes. guess what - it happened when i skipped on the crash gear!

finally, since you are into kitesurfing, why not get lessons from a local professional instructor and learn that first, then try land. the kite control will be good to know, and water is softer than land. that's what i did, and i think it helped a lot.

Kurt.

[Spartan]

Hi V-rap,

start asap - as small as possible. i bought a 1.5m two line trainer from "new" (based in WA) off ebay. great little kite, still play with it, and lend to new people to try. will teach you basics.

i would suggest de-power over foil for landboarding, and for learning especially. the de-power allows you to keep your balance much more easily.

you said you want both land and water. best to buy a LEI and land kite, but consider a Peter Lynn. I have a 13m scorpion and it works on land, have not tried on water but it is possible (land kite would get wet and stop). PL are also able to handle gusts well, which suits my ACT location. also have heard it's good for gusty snow kiting, but again I have not tried that myself yet.

think about body protection. i use knee pads, padded crash pants, wrist guards, gloves, body armour, helmet, sunnies (impact + UV), sunscreen. it's annoying sometimes, but i always regret when i skip on something, the injuries you get are usually quite unexpected, unique and painful I've learned that bruising and ligament damage takes around a year to come good - and i've only had minor crashes. guess what - it happened when i skipped on the crash gear!

finally, since you are into kitesurfing, why not get lessons from a local professional instructor and learn that first, then try land. the kite control will be good to know, and water is softer than land. that's what i did, and i think it helped a lot.

Kurt.

Great advice Kurt..especially the body protection..

Spartan

[jolli]

Unreal i'm off-line for a few weeks and miss all the fun!

Montana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, MontanaMontana, Montana.

Ok ... B.S. A side... If it's jumping safely you want to do then -De-power's are the way to go (large De-power) means loads of float / heaps of lift. Once you get over the sudden wosh as you go up (controllable from the bar) the landings tend to be more controllable. A large Montana V, Manta 3 or even a PL Scorpion will do the trick. I have either owned or flown all of them and each has it goods and bad's.

As for Fixed Bridle kites... As Craig mentioned they are also great for Jumping... Just not as forgiving in the event of a mishap.

Now to the debate about having to work the kite or not to get you off the ground, I find myself agreeing with Spartan to a point, like any kite

the amount of input required tends to be related to the wind and kite size in order to get off the ground. A 12 m Montana V doesn't take

a great deal of wind to take you sky bound. Where as a 10 will require more wind in to get you off the ground.

I purchased a De-power for 3 reasons.

1) Safety

2) controllability (on take off and landing)

3) Oh! and last but not least the overall price of ownership. individually they are possibly more expensive but overall they probably cost the same as same less kites are required to cover the same wind range as fixed bridles.

[Spartan]

Another great opinion. I agree with joll's advise there.

If people cant get it right from all this information given so far,

go out and try all the kites in the Extreme kites Demo range, and I'm sure you'll find the right kite for YOU.....