marius Posted January 2, 2004 Report Posted January 2, 2004 I would really like to join a kitesurfers' group in Sussex area but don't know anybody practicing this. Most of my friends are in rock bands. Is there anyone taking pleasure in guiding someone completely new to kite surfing? I am a medic so I could be the first aid guy..hehe ... I am rather big (6foot3, 200 pounds) but quite agile (former basketball player). What size kite should I start practicing body dragging with for the average wind power found in Brighton&Hove ? I would rather buy just one second-hand kite to begin with so maybe someone could recommend an older model ? Alternatively, I am also looking for a second-hand Flexifoil Bullet (3.5 or 4.5) to start practicing on land at the moment. ANYONE SELLING HIS? Ta, Marius Quote
FredMurphy Posted January 2, 2004 Report Posted January 2, 2004 The BKSA forum is a good place for chatting to UK kitesurfers and sorting out someone to go kiting with. Lots of helpful people there. Fred Quote
Pugsleythefirst Posted January 2, 2004 Report Posted January 2, 2004 A great place to start is to get some lessons. Dont go to Boost in Hove for Group Lessons as kite time is low. Ideally you should get some one to one tutoring- Boost offer this too. As you start to fly youll begin to get to know people and some may offer guidance. The best places(in my opinion for a beginner) is Lancing as its very sandy and the tide goes out a decent amount. Goring's good too and really friendly. Im a beginner too but have a lot of experience now on Frenzy's which depower and get you used to the concept of using a bar with that facility. Dont buy a frenzy just for this purpose though as they are expensive! Dont rush into buying a kite either- if you have lessons get a feel for the kite and decide if thats the one for you. Generally for your size and weight a 2 kite quiver would do; a 11 or 12 and a 15 or 16 for lighter wind days. If youve not flown before thats a big step and a bullet wont really help you to learn depower/power. I would have the lesson and dont buy any kites for the time being. Decide if you like it, then take it from there. As a newbie, there will be lots of people about willing to sell you non-suitable kites. Hold on to youre cash till youve had the lesson and gained some knowledge! Quote
marius Posted January 2, 2004 Author Report Posted January 2, 2004 Thanks Fred, thanks Pugsleythefirst My aim is to start body dragging by June and learn flying on land before that. I think starting in cold water can really put me off big time. Do you think that learning to fly a kite on land before next summer is too ambitious? Marius Quote
Pugsleythefirst Posted January 2, 2004 Report Posted January 2, 2004 No - You would be fine to pick up land stuff by Summer - just keep looking out for southerly winds as these are the best to fly in- not too many around at the moment. You could get a land board and learn all about the wind window and work out how to use the kite to generate traction and get moving. It would certainly help with your kite skills in prep for going in the water by June. Quote
Guest NPWBill Posted January 4, 2004 Report Posted January 4, 2004 OK, guyz..... How 'bout someone who is, like, REALLY BIG?!! I mean pro-football lineman size... 250-300Lbs! Seriously- Most surfkiters I've seen are generally "average".... about 150-170Lb and use boards in the range of 140Cm or thereabouts. I hear of them flying sails from 3M² up to 20M², but little mention is made of windspeed. What might be a recommendation for a guy 300lb in 15-25Mph winds? The board size is of particular interest as I have already purchased a Naish 9.5 x2... Thoughts? TIA guys... Bill Quote
yowi Posted January 5, 2004 Report Posted January 5, 2004 Flat (ie no rocker), wide, long boards plane earlier. Flotation has next to nothing to do with it in kiteboards so you don't want any more thickness than necessary. As for kites, well I suspect you are going to need to go try stuff. You weigh twice as much as me so my experience is basically irrelavant. You need alot of grunt on the water. I'd guess 15mph will be pretty much the lightest wind you'd be able to get going in, even with a massive kite. Flysurfer make the 18.5 and 21.5 with guys like you in mind. Give Oceanside (http://www.oceanside.co.uk) a call, they'll be able to give you some qualified advice. Is your 300lbs all muscle or can you afford to lose some of it? Seriously, weight is a bad thing in this sport. Quote
scuttler Posted January 5, 2004 Report Posted January 5, 2004 im goin to the dominican republic to start kitesurfing. lovly warm seas for body dragging ect.. Quote
jonnybfive Posted January 6, 2004 Report Posted January 6, 2004 Marius, Get down to Shoreham Beach and go and see the guys at Sussex Kite Surfing. It is ran by a guy called Jon, who is really helpful. I think he is still in Australia at the mo but is back mid Jan. There is always someone down there looking after the shop and are really good to chat to. If you ask nicely, they might set up a Blade or something for you so you can see what its like to fly a land kite and the amount of pull they have. The shop is in an old bus shelter right on the beach. Follow signs from Hove to Shoreham and then to Shoreham Beach. Best of luck, might see ya down Hove lawns with your Bullet soon then??!!!????!! Quote
NJblade_flyer Posted January 7, 2004 Report Posted January 7, 2004 Hey, you mentioned a man by the name of John who's in australia at the moemnt. You wouldn't konw if he had stopped by first in the U.S. to do some kitesurfing cuz I met a guy down onthe beach who was from the UK, he said after the tuop in the states he was off to australia for a bit, he was flying an F-one kite he had a whole quiver tho of Niash too. Just wondering if we're takling about the same guy. Quote
jonnybfive Posted January 7, 2004 Report Posted January 7, 2004 I doubt Jon would have been flying Naish and F-One kites. His shop mainly stock Airush so I guess he'd have a whole load of them with him. I know he was teaching out in Oz but not sure if he was going to the US first. I'll ask him when I see him next and let you know! Jon Quote
Kite Guru Posted January 7, 2004 Report Posted January 7, 2004 Hi NPWBill, Lost cause do a good board for the bigger kitesurfer its only 155 long about 45 wide I beleive it goes in next to nothing. There is a 18 stone kite surfer at Calshot got one with a 20m kite and he is planing in 10 knots of wind. His telephone and email is on his web site at lostcauseboards.com Quote
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