Lauro13 - 15-2-2015 at 12:01 PM
I live in San Francisco and surf during the winter but every spring the winds pick up and I'd like to get into kite landboarding. I have no experience
and I'm child sized. 5'2" 100lbs. Was looking at the modded Hydra 3 or 3.5. Is that too much kite for a beginner? Open to recommendation and would
consider buying used.
Bladerunner - 15-2-2015 at 07:47 PM
Check out the tutorials at www.coastalwindsports.com . There is tons of good information there and a section on selecting your 1st kite.
The modded Hydra will likely be too little kite.
abkayak - 16-2-2015 at 06:44 AM
i think everyone should fly fb/handles early in their kitting (i wanted to stay on the bar)
imo...you at 100# will move on a landboard w/ that hydra or a 2.5/3fb...either way
hydra will get you out on a longboard in the water so there is that...lot to be said about being able
to play in the water w/ your kites...i'd just be worried abt you destroying it before you getting good w/ it
buy a used 2/3 and the 3.5 hydra....pblm solved
welcome aboard 
hiaguy - 16-2-2015 at 07:23 AM
Welcome to the forum and the addiction:-)
^ +1 for what those guys said.
Here's somewhere else to start:
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=28759#pid27...
You're the same size as my son was when he started flying and it wasn't long before he was on his landboard.
He started with a HQ Rush Pro 300 (not significantly different from the Hydra other than the closed cells). He quickly (within weeks) moved to 4 lines
with handles (instead of 3 with a bar) and never looked back. I'd suggest starting with a 3meter - 4-line - and keeping to lighter winds until you
have the hang of it.
Here's a good deal:
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=29800
Of course, at some point you'll consider moving to a de-power kite and harness (someone else'll chime in with that soon enough) but you gotta get the
basics down first.
Everybody needs a 3 meter kite. And a Helmet.