Power Kite Forum

Power kite for an 11 year old

Jonnysoper - 22-12-2015 at 01:36 PM

Hi all my son wants to get into landboarding what do you guys recommend he will only be using it in fields as we don't live by the sea he will have safety gear on but I want him to have fun and not to kill himself thanks in advance

flyguy0101 - 22-12-2015 at 02:11 PM

I started my son out on an HQ scout 2m and 4m. seems bar is easier to fly than handles when starting out and with the let go bar safety it is a nice setup- I am assuming you already know how to fly and will be teaching him- if not need to learn because these kites will hurt people- still remember the day I had to call my wife and let her know that her baby was in the ER with a concussion because he got supermaned- just warning
Scott

RedSky - 22-12-2015 at 02:12 PM

Can he currently fly a power kite ? Its highly advisable to learn to fly first before combining the two. He'll need to master the wind-window.
Any power kite can teach this and the simpler the better in my opinion. The greatest danger is obviously the wind strength, stay below the the recommended upper wind range of the kite you choose and avoid heavy gusty wind at all costs.

PHREERIDER - 22-12-2015 at 02:18 PM

what are the conditions, if they cannot judge condtions then it will be up to you, everytime....or they will get hurt. this is a limiting factor for minors in judgement and safety so they HAVE to be supervised at all times by someone with reasonable knowledge and understanding of what going on, because most likely they won't unless they are sailors already.

knowledge of wind , like in sailing, is paramount to the wind dependent sport esp. local thermals/ seasons etc. what kites do you fly?


Jonnysoper - 22-12-2015 at 02:38 PM

Thanks no he will be a total novice I'm learning to but I want to make sure he's going to be safe

abkayak - 22-12-2015 at 03:02 PM

please read all tutorials at coastalwindsports.com
it will help alot:thumbup:

B-Roc - 22-12-2015 at 03:11 PM

How much does he weigh? My kids started when they were 4 and 6 and both started on a 1.2 Sting and a 1.5 Li'l Devil but have flown my 2.5 ET Instinct as well. They prefer small kites in high winds as its easier to keep the kite moving and they don't have to worry about stalling. Both fly on handles with kite killers. They learned very quickly but become intimidated when conditions get sketchy or gusts create a surge.

My youngest is the only one that still flies (he's now 13) and he still prefers smaller kites (2.5 and below in higher winds). I think you'd do well on a 1.5 or 2m low aspect kite with either handles (w/killers) or a bar (will killer). Kids learn a lot faster than adults so long as they fell safe.

hiaguy - 22-12-2015 at 05:50 PM

He looks a tad younger than 10 in the photo.:lol:

My son started at 10, and here's how it went:
He started by learning how to fly (actually at about 7) with an HQ Rush Pro 250. At the time he was about 110 lbs.
He progressed to the board at age 10 - it looked absolutely natural since he didn't have to worry about the kite - and quickly picked up using 4-line kites: 2-meter Hornet to start, and moved to larger foils as his skill and conditions allowed.
He's now 15 - weighs 125 lbs - and happily buzzes up and down the beach on his board with kites up to 8.6 square meters.

Let us know where you are located. There's likely someone close enough to you to help out.

Start small. Build. Be safe. Always wear safety gear!

Welcome to the family :bigok:

shehatesmyhobbies - 22-12-2015 at 07:06 PM

My son first started flying at 7, first flew a 2m on a bar then quickly moved to a 1.8 on handles. Picked it up quickly and knew his wind window and what to do just in case things got out of hand.

Key is knowing yourself what to do and how to fly, so you can relay it to him while teaching him. Take your time and do it right. In the end it will be so worth it.

Having your location in your post or in your bio will help,others locate you and possibly be able to help in getting you both going safely.

Last note: please put some sort of head protection on him and maybe your self as well while learning, it's just a safe bet.

Jonnysoper - 22-12-2015 at 11:31 PM

Hi all sorry I live in wellingborough,northampton uk my son is small for his age but then I'm only 5ft 2 😆 as for his weight ?? Small but strong as he does kickboxing.I'm guessing something up to 2m and only take him out in light winds to start with

Jonnysoper - 22-12-2015 at 11:55 PM

Hiaguy we have a property in whitby that I get to about 3 times a year so we will get to fly on the beach a few times but it's mainly going to be at the park

Jonnysoper - 23-12-2015 at 01:13 AM

Think I might just get him the big buzz ???????

Jonnysoper - 23-12-2015 at 01:30 AM

Or the hq symphony

MotoFoo86 - 23-12-2015 at 02:55 AM

I'd get something that's a 3 line Kite, you can train him to reverse launch it and save yourself a lot of effort on flipping kites over. So that would be flexifoil control, HQ rush pro, ozone ignition, or Peter Lynn impulse tr. This kites will also get him used to the preferred control system (bar) that most landboarders prefer.

That being said nothing wrong with either the symphony or the big buzz. Plenty of kiters have started there.

Jonnysoper - 23-12-2015 at 03:29 AM

Thanks motofoo i will look at them

John Holgate - 23-12-2015 at 03:43 AM

I'd put in a vote for either a 3 line or 4 line kite too. My first foil was a prism snapshot 2 line - great fun but a pain to relaunch. Once I got a 4 line Ozone Imp, I pretty much never flew the 2 line again. And the difference in getting use to 4 lines (or 3 lines) over 2 lines is probably only an hour of flying time. Maybe a 1.7m Flexifoil Sting?

Feyd - 23-12-2015 at 04:41 AM

I think your on the right track with the Smphony. The HQ Fluxx 1.3. Replaces the Symphony. Amazing little kite and though I would definitely agree that a kite with 3-4 lines and reverse launch ability would be my first choice form most cases, the Fluxx is a great little kite and easy to relaunch even as a 2 line kite. We use them in our intro to snowkite lesson package which is designed solely tongive you the basics of flying and you get to keep the kite. Awesome with smaller kids and for adults who are a little timid.

We also use them for one of our middle school kite programs. Affordable, tough and fun.

Here's a video of the older Symphony in one of the classes. The video was made by one of our students.:D. The winds were gusting to just over 20kts

https://youtu.be/XCZJxqdNwYM

Windstruck - 23-12-2015 at 06:46 AM

Warms my heart to see a father teaching his child the joys of power kiting. Good stuff.

I want to throw another contender into the ring, the Peter Lynn UNIQ TR. This is a three-line SINGLE SKIN kite flown off of a bar. It comes in 1.5 and 2.5m sizes, so I'd consider the 1.5. I haven't flown it but I used to own its big brother the Uniq Quad. The 1.5m UNIQ TR will fly in a puff of wind too making it more likely that your son will be flying and engaged, not getting bored staring at a clump of nylon on the ground.

UNIQ TR

The beauty of a single skin in this application is that it can be slammed into the ground nose first under power and it won't withstand any damage. Two skin kites have baffles or cells and may burst with a lot of crashes. Not saying that is a sure thing, but it does happen.

Good luck!

RedSky - 23-12-2015 at 09:03 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck  


The beauty of a single skin in this application is that it can be slammed into the ground nose first under power and it won't withstand any damage.

Two skin kites have baffles or cells and may burst with a lot of crashes. Not saying that is a sure thing, but it does happen.

Good luck!


:D You may want to check that first paragraph. I think a lot of blown cells are due to the use of water proofing products that block the breathability of the fabric.

hiaguy - 23-12-2015 at 02:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by RedSky  

:D You may want to check that first paragraph. I think a lot of blown cells are due to the use of water proofing products that block the breathability of the fabric.

Thread veer coming up...

Sorry. Waterproofing a foil kite will not make it less likely to remain intact when slammed nose-down into the ground.
Likewise, removing the waterproofing from a kite will not make it less likely to blow apart.

The small amount of pressure relief through the upper or lower skins are insignificant compared to the sudden pressure loading of a ground-impact.

Install relief valves and you have a different kite.

Use a single-skin and there are no cells to blow. Period.

Return to regularly scheduled programming...

ssayre - 23-12-2015 at 02:38 PM

"Use a single-skin and there are no cells to blow. Period."

Did somebody mention single skin :D

Don't have anything to add. just got excited

abkayak - 23-12-2015 at 03:14 PM

damn, wish i could like or unlike posts :D....its almost 2016

RedSky - 23-12-2015 at 06:09 PM

Quote: Originally posted by hiaguy  
Quote: Originally posted by RedSky  

:D You may want to check that first paragraph. I think a lot of blown cells are due to the use of water proofing products that block the breathability of the fabric.

Thread veer coming up...

Sorry. Waterproofing a foil kite will not make it less likely to remain intact when slammed nose-down into the ground


No need to apologize for expressing your opinion. Mine is unchanged.