Hi to all. I'm a noob on here and was after some advice from all the experts. I've recently been bitten by the power kite bug and made the mistake of
buying a brookite airattack 460. I know but it was cheap. I want to take up kite surfing next year and want to buy a more usable kite than the one i
have , to get some practice in before i take lessons. I want a kite that i can still enjoy on land once i am kite surfing. I've been looking at the HQ
hydra which i like the idea of or would i be better of getting something like a HQ beemer or similar Flexifoil kite.
Any advice on this would be so appreciatedMaven454 - 8-10-2009 at 08:37 AM
The Hydra is primarily a trainer kite, but it is water usable. The other HQ kite that is water usable is the Neo. That's about all I can tell you as
I've never flown either and never flown on water.ragden - 8-10-2009 at 08:51 AM
Welcome to the forum.
The Hydra is a hybrid kite that can be used on laund, snow, water, whatever. Its a fixed bridle on a bar. Probably not a bad kite so you can get used
to flying with a bar. I know a guy who has one (i've never flown it), and he says he has kite surfed with it, but I'd think you would be better off
with a full blown depower to actually ride with on the water. I bet it would work for land riding if the winds were high enough.
If your ultimate goal is strictly kitesurfing, then I'd say go for the hydra as a good trainer kite, and to get a good depower later once you are used
to flying the hydra. If you plan on doing some land riding (buggy, landboard, snowboard, etc), pick up the beamer or something similiar so you can get
used to flying that.
Personally, I think flying a fixed bridle on handles is the best way to go, and would recommend that to anyone who is still learning how to kitesurf.
Its a great way to start and leaves your options open once the water gets too cold (or freezes over). I would also recommend that you get with people
in your area and see what they are flying.
For kitesurfing, get a lesson. Master you kite first, then take a profession lesson. There are so many things that you have to learn to kitesurf
safely. Flying the kite is only 50% of it. An important 50%, dont get me wrong, but you will learn a lot from a professional instructor.
Best of luck to ya. jacflash - 8-10-2009 at 09:07 AM
I do like the idea of the beemer as i also want to enjoy it on land, as you said when the water gets cold( does it ever get warm over here). If i go
down this route what size would you suggestMaven454 - 8-10-2009 at 09:11 AM
The issue with the beamer is that you really can't use it on water. At least, not if you want to be able to relaunch it.jacflash - 8-10-2009 at 09:15 AM
Thats not a problem. i thought the water launchable side of the kite was a nice touch but how many times am i going to use it in the water ?? Once
into water( and after lessons) I'll be looking for a proper kitesurfing kite. I'm just looking for something to hone my flying with until the water
gets warmer next year ??? Something thats more controllable and user friendly than my airattack 460 (bloody thing you get what you pay for)Maven454 - 8-10-2009 at 09:19 AM
Ahh, fair enough then, I guess I didn't pay enough attention. Though for my money, I like the Ozone Flow better than I like the Beamer. But that's
just my (generally outvoted) opinion.ragden - 8-10-2009 at 09:29 AM
Depending on weight, and general wind speeds, most people go with a 3m Beamer. Its the most popular size, and if you dont like it, resell value is
pretty decent. Though most people hang onto them.
Where are you located at?
edit: The Ozone Flow is probaby a better kite, but its more expensive. Most people go with the Beamer because its a lot of bang for your buck. Ozone
makes great kites, but you pay the extra price for their R&D. jacflash - 8-10-2009 at 09:31 AM
What size would you recommend as i want a kjite that i wont outgrow to quick oh and thanks for the adviceragden - 8-10-2009 at 09:32 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by jacflash
What size would you recommend as i want a kjite that i wont outgrow to quick oh and thanks for the advice
Size is determined by wind speed and weight. Share these and we can better suggest what to get for ya bud.
Even a small kite is a great investment as when the wind starts to kick, you an always go grab that 3-meter Beamer that was gathering dust in your
closet. jacflash - 8-10-2009 at 09:35 AM
i weigh around 105 kilos but this is coming down( dont want to look like a whale in a wet suit lol) wind would be anything from around 6 mph upwardsragden - 8-10-2009 at 09:40 AM
Well.. You could get the 4-meter then given your weight. But you have to bear in mind that getting a larger kite means you need to pay attention to
the wind range on it. Whatever kite you get will eventually become your high-wind kite. I'd say you could go with either a 3-meter of a 4-meter. Your
call really. Either would work.jacflash - 8-10-2009 at 09:43 AM
I'm located south east uk and thanks for the advice much appreciated. dont want to make the same mistake i made with my first kiteragden - 8-10-2009 at 09:52 AM
At this point, you could probably pick up just about any 3-4m kite to work with. The beamers are popular on this forum as they run for decenet prices
and last pretty well. Very versatile and forgiving kites. You did mention Flexifoil as well. The rages are amazing kites. In my opinion they are
better kites than the HQ (please dont shoot me), but you pay through the nose for them. Beamers are popular because they are great for what you pay,
but if money is no object, I'd grab a Flexifoil Rage in a heartbeat. Just my personal opinion on the matter.
Having said that though, since this is going to be a trainer kite for you, you might be better off saving the money you'd spend on a Rage and pick up
the Beamer. Then spend some money on a good depower for the water.
Let us know what you end up getting, and how you like it. Best of luck bud.jacflash - 8-10-2009 at 10:05 AM
Thanks again will keep people informedJack1988 - 13-10-2009 at 11:42 AM
if only they did a hydra 5m, i can dream.. although the actual hydra is very good price at under 200 pounds, i dont know much about lei and depower
anyway, my first kite for surfing will be the hydra though without a doubt.stetson05 - 13-10-2009 at 03:51 PM
The hydra is a great kite. It works great on land and will allow you to start on water. My 8 year old was able to fly it in 6mph because it holds
it's shape so well. The only problem with the hydra is that it is small. The larger one is 2.8m. I like my hydra, better than a 3m beamer III that
I have flown because of its wind range. I personally wanted a depower mod for my hydra to use it as a depower trainer.Bladerunner - 13-10-2009 at 04:17 PM
I may be wrong but I expect HQ keeps the Hydra in small sizes only is because it is a trainer. Any bigger and people would confuse / use it as a kite
to actually ride on a board with. I think it is supposed to teach you kite skills. Next you take a lesson . : Then the Neo is designed for that next step.
You can ride on the water with fixed bridle but it is more old school than correct.
: Then the Neo is designed for that next step.