psycat90 - 28-4-2008 at 08:33 PM
Hi there.
Well, where to begin. I've always loved simple kiting, but what kids don't love kiting?
I spent this past weekend camping in Bodega Bay and attended my first kite festival - the 'Castles and Kites' or something like that on Doran Beach.
I was excited about building sand castles and flying my simple delta kite and checking out the 'real' kiters. I had no idea how awesome it would be!
I sat on the beach and watched in amazement as people slid down the beach holding the lines of their kites. I've seen the kiteboarders out on the SF
Bay and have always thought it'd be so awesome to try, I just had no idea something similar was done on land. My husband and I owned a sailboat for a
bit I think the power of the wind just floats my boat.
Watching the folks out there with their foil kites was absolutely exhilarating. An instant calling. I had to try this, and I knew I'd love it. Boy,
was I right! I could see this being something of an addiction.
I bought a simple and small beginner's kite right there at the festival, the HQ Symphony Beach 1.7m. I launched it and fell in love. I was going
bonkers with twirls and dives and figure eights and loving every second of it.
I was out there again on Sunday, and today after work, doing more tricks and wishing I'd bought a larger one.
So I'm considering the Symphony 2.7m.
What can anyone tell me about it? Good? Bad?
How about tips or tricks? Books to read?
Any other kite recs?
I'm very excited about this new hobby of mine!
action jackson - 28-4-2008 at 08:57 PM
Welcome aboard! Sounds like your hooked. Look up David Love at candy and kites in bodaga bay...........aj
psycat90 - 28-4-2008 at 09:51 PM
Thanks aj! I think I really am hooked.
And thanks to NWPfever for the tips and info via chat!
DAKITEZ - 28-4-2008 at 10:02 PM
Welcome to the forum. Nice to see another California local joining the gang. You need to give a quadline kite a try. then you will go from hooked to
obsessed like the rest of us.
SCREWYFITS - 28-4-2008 at 11:20 PM
Lots of us in norcal here that would let you fly our kites to get a good Idea Of what you are looS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-n for...
By the way welcome to the community...
Quad lines are a good kick in the pants...
BeamerBob - 29-4-2008 at 02:41 AM
I haven't gotten familiar with the Symphony beach kites yet but I have a 2.2 symphony that I've had for 6 years now. It is a blast and great to teach
with. It turns a tad faster than the 2.7 but the 2.7 has more power. The 2.2 will pull hard enough to wear you out so if your normal winds are over
about 10 mph, the 2.2 might be a better choice for a 2 line kite. This can only lead to you getting a 4 line kite. Let us know when you are ready to
look into that.
Bladerunner - 29-4-2008 at 08:54 AM
I think that you will do well to get a 4 line kite 3m or larger next.
The 4 line can be relaunched easily. You can stall the kite out for safety + back it down when done. Adding a bit of brake also assists with turning.
The nature of how a kite flies seems to change at about 3m. Smaller kites buzz around and create snappy power. At 3m the kite slows down a bit and
gives more usable power.
HQ is good but I suggest you look at a Beamer , TSR or Scout.
Do you plan on just flying for fun or does taking up a buggy or ATB appeal to you ? That will influence the type of kite you want.
psycat90 - 29-4-2008 at 09:28 AM
Wow. Thank you all for the helpful information.
It sounds like a 4 line kite is what I want.
So I've been poking around online and the Beamer kites look pretty nice and right in my price range for now.
I think I'll still spend at least a few more weeks working this little kite and really getting into it before I invest in the quad.
Right now I'm not thinking about sports of any kind. Well, that's not entirely true. I think buggying and landboarding look like sportsI might want
to pick up, but I am <i>trying</i> to take this in baby steps. 
I do want something that's going to really give me nice pull and a decent workout. I want that thrill.
It's pretty windy out today and I'm aching to get out there. I'm keeping this kite in my car and I will probably head over to the park at lunch time.
So fun!
DAKITEZ - 29-4-2008 at 01:23 PM
Oh, its official you are done. We have all been in that situation before. Sitting at work looking out the window at the trees blowing, thinking its a
good time to go fly a kite 
You should try and meet up with us in your
area and let you get a chance to fly a variety of different kites. I have a beamer you can try before you take the plunge and buy one. I will send you
a u2u with info.
SCREWYFITS - 29-4-2008 at 01:48 PM
YEE HAA... another one mother nature got the claws in...:D
this is great looks like you are being smart about this... doing research, getting advice, baby steps... Great...
I agree with dlish... perfect to get you flying other kites so you can make an educated decision of your own... I think that you end up happier with a
decision when you've test drove them first... Plus if the kite is too much you have a qualified kiter right there... Lots of knowledge can be
shared/learned while hanging with other kiter's...
By the way Dlish is genuine to the bone, couldn't be a nicer guy... soon as I have weekends off I'll be trying to hook up with all the local kiter's
to do some good ol kiting...
Good luck and happy kiting...
Screwy
psycat90 - 29-4-2008 at 01:51 PM
I couldn't resist. I put my gym clothes on and headed over to a soccer field just down the road from the office on my lunch break. Got that kite
up there in this awesome wind and spent the next 45 minutes playing. Practicing more loops and twirls and just dancing around all over the sky. Nice
winds today and that little kite offered a few nice little tugs and some decent speed.
I love it!
I would really like to meet up with other kite lovers and give a few different kites a spin.
acampbell - 29-4-2008 at 02:03 PM
Yep, the hooks are in and the spell is cast. Resistance is futile...
Welcome.
Sthrasher38 - 29-4-2008 at 05:19 PM
Welcome to the forum! Lot's of good people and kite lovers here.
stevep - 30-4-2008 at 07:58 AM
hey #@%$#!cat ifyou end up getting a 2.7 it can be converted to a quad line i bought a 3.3 and converted it to quad and was impressed it flys quad
very well so if you get the 2.7 let me know and ill send the kit to convert it
steve
nhlrule56 - 30-4-2008 at 09:27 AM
Hello #@%$#!cat and welcome to the forum. Once you get bitten by the kite bug its all downwind from there. David from C&K let me fly one of his
quad lines a few years ago down at Doran Beach. My pocket book has never been the same since! Now you can find the kids and I typically down at
Doran Beach and Salmon Creek flying as much as we can whenever we see an open stretch of beach. You'll start off with one kite, then buy another for
more pull, then another for different wind conditions, and so on...and so on...and so on. I wish I knew about the Kite Festival down there last
weekend. It sounds like it was a lot of fun!
-- Greg
Bodegalee - 30-4-2008 at 06:01 PM
Hey there,
any pics of you flying your new kite? 
My dd and I had a girls day out and she
chose the beach, so we were there too..... I was excited cause I knew it would be a great opportunity to practice various shots with my camera. What
a gorgeous weekend! I became transfixed with all the gorgeous kites. My question is this: the larger kites I mostly saw adults flying (kind of like
the kites you see pulling windsurfers).. they looked they could pull a light-weight adult off the ground if the wind was just right... Are there
weight recommendations for operating some of these? My dd fell in love with these kites and I did too, yet I know she is too light (and of course not
experienced enough) to fly anything but the easiest light-weight kite. Again, just curious??? thanks much!
Leigh
BeamerBob - 30-4-2008 at 06:28 PM
My then 12 year old 87 pound son has flown every kite I have flown and some I haven't. They include maybe a dozen kites from my smallest delta stunt
kite to a 9.5m Montana III. The right kite is right because it fits the fliers skill and is appropriate for the wind speed. So the right kite for a
person can get larger if their skills increase. I was always timid to let Wexler fly a kite when we would get or borrow a larger or more lifty kite.
Finally, I would just let him fly whatever if it seemed reasonable for him and the wind. The rule is if it drags him downwind, he has to be able to
get back to his kite stake. No compromises. It has worked so far with no injuries worse than a scuff. I have prevented him from flying some kites
in some conditions against his wishes, but that's part of my job as his parent. We can help you choose an appropriate kite if you'd like.
Bodegalee - 30-4-2008 at 06:47 PM
Thanks so much Bob!
the kites that kind of worried me were the ones in your siggy icon... My kids probably arent ready for these types of kites but was just curious as I
havent been around kite flying like this (well ever) and was so surprised by the power. thx much!
Leigh
furbowski - 1-5-2008 at 08:13 AM
hiya...
I'm new here, too.
I've got the HQ symphony 2.2 and 2.7. Had the 1.8 as well, but it went to my nieces last Xmas...
I live in Hong Kong and they are my typhoon (hurricane) kites, and my favorite 2-liner.
It would def be good to jump on a 4-line, but having said that I don't think I've ever seen a symphony for sale second hand -- folks hang on to those
kites. and I don't think I'll ever sell mine.
The 2.7 gives me scuds in 20+ mph, but it's a bit too fast for jumping, too much for my middle aged reflexes and low skill levels. It's grabby and
exciting, a good fun kite with plenty of power when the wind picks up.
best of luck with the kite buzz...
furbo
Sthrasher38 - 1-5-2008 at 02:54 PM
Welcome to the power kite forum!:saint: