![]() ![]() Wherever you want to end up though, you'll generally be best off spending your first few session on a twin-tip (freestyle board). You can, of course, use different size kites with the same bar though, so look at picking up two of the same model kite and one bar if you can.īoardIf you didn't know when you began your kitesurfing career, then after a few lessons you'll probably have a good idea of the direction that you want your kiting to go in: freestyle, wave, or racing for example. Never mix and match bars with different kites - safety systems and bar set ups are always kite specific so mismatched kit could be lethal. ![]() (Although it probably won't be long until you invest in a 4 or 5M kite for when it's seriously on!)Īnd remember (especially if you're buying second hand) that bars belong with kites. The right quiver should get you out most days at your local beach. Popular options are a 7M, 10/11M quiver, or a 9M, 12M combo depending on your local conditions and your weight (with heavier riders needing gruntier sized kites). ![]() Great options that will take you comfortably from beginner through to intermediate (and beyond) include the Cabrinha Crossbow, which offers heaps of depower and is one of the longest serving and most refined kites on the market, and the Best Kahoona which offers superb depower as well as plenty of hangtime when you start popping those first airs!Ĭan I get by with 1 kite? Modern kites do have excellent wind range, but don't believe the manufacturers' hype about a kite being usable in anything from 9 - 39 knots! This may be possible, but it won't be much fun at either end of that range and, in reality, you do need a minimum of a 2 kite quiver. (For more detail about types of kite check out this article) So steer clear of C kites (like the Naish Torch or the Hadlow Pro) as, although these have much more depower than a few years ago, they are freestyle power machines, and a lot less forgiving than Bow (full depower) and Hybrid (high depower) kites. Being able to ditch the power is great for confidence when you're at the start of kitesurfing's steep learning curve. Kites Most modern kites have excellent depower - which is what you want when you're starting out. The trick to buying your first set up is to choose kites and a board that will take you comfortably from beginner through to intermediate. This is great for getting you up and riding and for teaching you the basics of wind awareness and kite skills, but in reality if you buy this as your first set up then you'll have outgrown it in a few weeks. It you've had lessons at a kiteschool then you'll probably have used their beginner specific kit. So, assuming you know your pump from your pigtails, it's time to get to the shop and invest in your kitesurfing future! Modern kites are very safe, but only once you know what you're doing, and you should never just buy a kite, go to beach, and 'give it a go'! The best advice - even if you're an experienced surfer or can land loops on your windsurfer at will - is to take a couple of lessons and get to grips with the controls and, most importantly, what to do if everything starts going wrong - at the very least make sure you're learning with a mate who knows their stuff. ![]() (Although if you've really got the bug then 'next year's kit' might be too tempting to resist!)īefore you get started though, it's important to remember that unlike other sports (such as surfing or windsurfing), you can't really 'ease yourself into' kitesurfing - you can't simply drop the sail, or ditch the board, and then just have another go - kites are incredibly powerful bits of kit and if you don't know what you're doing then you can easily find yourself wrapped around a groyne or stuck up a tree. Realistically you can expect to get around three years of good use out of a kite before it's time to hit up the plastic again. On the plus side, modern kit is built to last and - as we'll look at later - if you make the right choices then your kit won't be outdated for a few years. Unlike other sports (tennis say), you have to invest quite a few bucks (more than the cost of a racket!) to ensure that you can get out on the water whenever it's on, and to have kit that performs well and will ensure that your riding progresses. Deciding to take up kitesurfing can feel like a pretty big step. ![]()
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