I'm new to this kiting malarky. After having a play about with a mate's FlexiFoil 6, and enjoying it, I splashed out on a WindWing 330 last
weekend. Couldn't get it to fly on the first day, as there was no wind (gutted!!). The next day was soooo much better, and sooooo much fun!
Can't wait to get out again this weekend.
Once I can fly the kite pretty well in strong-ish winds, and can jump about a bit, I'm planning on having a look at kitesurfing and ATB'ing.
Okay - some questions for you:
What's the general consensus on the WindWings? I was advised not go for FlexiFoils (Blades, I think), and that a 2-line rig would be fine for
what I want (playing about, getting into the sport, then getting a bit more serious on a board). Was I conned into getting the wrong kite? I has to
be said that the guy in the shop was incredibly helpful, chatted for ages, is a keen kitesurfer himself, so I trusted his advice...
Is there anyone out there kiting in South Wales? And if so, which beaches can I find you guys on at the weekend?
Cheers all
south wales
BK - 18-6-2004 at 05:51 AM
Pendine is the place!!
You will find Powerkiters and buggy types
most weekends
BKPeanut_UK - 18-6-2004 at 06:02 AM
Figured Pendine would be worth a look.. might well be there tomorrow/sunday.. :Ddoomwheels - 18-6-2004 at 11:02 AM
Quote:
What's the general consensus on the WindWings?
I've never flown one, but the info I get from various sites is that it is a
stable, gust absorbing kite good for beginners to intermediate. It is an open-cell foil so it will not work well for kitesurfing, but should be fine
for kite ATB. I would look into attaching the included 3rd line (brakeline) if you want to be able to loadup the kite enough for jumps.
It sounds like a fine kite to start off with. Though I've not flown one, it sounds like you've already enjoyed flying it around and that is
probably the best measure of a kite's value.
Eventually, you may move on to something higher performing (certainly if you plan to surf), but this should be a good investment so early in the game
and once you've upgraded, you can use it to teach others. Enjoy.SteveB - 22-6-2004 at 06:44 AM
Can i jump in on this thread too? I'm considering getting into kiting but have no idea on what i want to do, be it power kiting, buggying etc.
can I get a kite to use for everything and what size and does it depend on the person flying it as I'm 6'2" and 220lbs (100kg) ? loads
of questions sorry.doomwheels - 22-6-2004 at 11:21 AM
Some kites can be used for a variety of kite sports, but there is not one kite for all. Tube style kites are commonly used for kitesurfing and ATB
landboarding, but not buggying or kiteskating. Quadline foils are best suited for land traction though some foils have closed cells along the leading
edge specifically for water use.
The best thing to do is decide what type of kite sport you will be doing most and invest in a kite designed for that purpose. Most likely this kite
will also be useful for other kite sports even if to a lesser degree.
But once you have decided what type of kite to buy, you still have to choose a size. This depends completely on the prevailing wind conditions where
you go kiting. If the wind is typically light, you will need a big kite. If the wind commonly howls, you'll need a smaller kite. Many people
acquire a small range of sizes to accommodate varying conditions.
When researching a kite, the most useful information comes from your local kite club or kite shop owner... people who know the conditions of your
area. Meeting up where people fly is a good way to try out different kites and get tips on gear. Many kiters are happy to help steer you in the right
direction. However, if you are looking to buy one online (like folks from the UK seem to prefer), you may end up getting what you pay for and be left
completely on your own to figure out a lot of stuff.
My advice is to decide what type of kiting you want to initially pursue and look for a kite built for that purpose. Once you know the style of kite
you need, the rest is simply finding one you like and the absolute best way to do that is to try out a few. Once you've have a couple kites in
your hands, you'll find it easy to pick the one you like.
