FYI: 8 stone = 112 poundsdylanj423 - 22-9-2008 at 01:00 PM
I guess I'll be the first to ask some questions...
1. Have you ever flown a power kite before?
2. Do you have protective gear? Elbow pads... Knee pads... Helmet... Impact shorts???
3. Do you know anybody that can show you how to fly kites if you havent before?
This sport can be loads of fun, but also quite dangerous. I noticed that this is your first post, and we just want to make sure that you know what you
are doing before we send you off with some advice that could get you, or others, hurt.
It is advised to start with a small kite, and learn how they fly, and how to handle them before you try getting crazy with them. I've been flying for
a little while, and I still take lots of precautions when I fly.
So, please, tell us a little bit about yourself. Welcome to the forum.BeamerBob - 22-9-2008 at 01:31 PM
I saw a 2.5m kite lift a 220 lb guy up out of his buggy and land him on his feet 15' feet away yesterday. This wasn't speed generated either, the
buggy was sitting still. Maybe a 2.5 to 3m would be a good place to start. Let's here your answers to the critical questions though.kiteon - 22-9-2008 at 01:32 PM
wind speed makes a diff tootridude - 22-9-2008 at 03:35 PM
Ive got a 16m Bularoo that will hoist ya..................................Johnn - 23-9-2008 at 10:34 AM
Hi There! Sorry I Sent This Post In A Rush -
1.Have you ever flown a power kite before?
2. Do you have protective gear? Elbow pads... Knee pads... Helmet... Impact shorts???
3. Do you know anybody that can show you how to fly kites if you havent before?
1. - Yes Only A Small 1.2M PowerKite With A Friend
2. I Own Elbow Pads And Knee Pads.
3. Nop - My Friend Did Not Know Much About Them When He Brought His.
Hope This Helps = Sorry For Forgetting
Oh And Im John
Thanks Have A Nice Day!kiteon - 23-9-2008 at 10:41 AM
welcome john,
most of the time i suggest a 2-4 meter kite for any beginner, be carefull!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but have fun.
get a helmet and impact shorts (hip and tail bone protection)
it also depends on where you are flying, inland? a beach?
you are only 112 lbs?Johnn - 23-9-2008 at 10:53 AM
Yes Im Only 112lbs , Am I Likely to get flown away with a 2.5m kite?
I will be flying on a semi sloping hill , which is a massive area with no telephone lines etc around.
Thanks:singing:kiteon - 23-9-2008 at 11:03 AM
i would start with a 2.0 or a 2.5 somthing realy stable thou. i like ozone kites myself, as far as a good stabe kite goes you could get an ozone cult
for $350-450for a 2 or 2.5m
ozone also has a great line of beginner kites that are four line called the imp quattro that is verry stable and easy to use. a couple shops even do
trade ins, so you could trade for a cult or such
Yeah there is the would-be jumper's conundrum: A kite that will lift you and let you down easy (with the proper skills), is too big for a beginner,
and a kite that is suitable for a beginner will not let you down easy.
And you can't start with big kite and just think you can compensate by flying it light winds , because that is actually tricky and would frustrate
you.
Start with 3 sq. meter in winds 15 mph or less. I have been tea-bagged (tossed like a toy) by a 3.5m kite in a gust and I am 200 lbs.
Later after getting experience use a 5m or larger for jumping and kep your 3m as your high-winds kite.dylanj423 - 23-9-2008 at 01:43 PM
Some things you should know... ebay is a great place to find used kites, but search for them by brand name, and do yourself a favor, do not buy
something that is too cheap. This kite looks like a cheap knockoff of a flexifoil, and will probably (IMHO) not fly worth anything you pay for it.
Just my opinion.
Here are some brands to look at, in no particular order:
Pansh- The best of the low-budget kites. May need some guidance at the beginner level. Sometimes they need to be tweaked for optimum performance.
PKD- Has a small reputation, but loyal followers, I havent had a chance to really put mine to the test. But I like what I've experienced... may need
some guidance at the beginner level.
HQ- Loads of people love theirs, I own one, and it does the job OK for me. Medium price range.
Flexifoil- My personal favorite, rock solid, keen attention to detail, and really nice touches on ALL their equipment that makes kiting more
enjoyable, and less stressful. Not to mention the most stable kites I own. Unfortunately pretty expensive.
Ozone- Undeniable reputation, known for very high quality. Price reflects it.
Peter Lynn- Another brand with loyal followers, priced pretty well.
And I'm sure others will offer up some advice, too. But the biggest thing is... do not spend money on something that will only aggravate you and
leave you with a bad impression of this sport. Early on I came across a guy that was ready to give up on it, as he was flying poorly made kites, and
thought the sport consisted of constantly wrestling with his kites, untangling lines, and so on. I haven't seen him since. Hopefully he still flies,
but maybe he just gave up because he thought the sport was a waste of time., I would, too if I only dealt with kites that wouldnt fly and caused me
headaches.
That said... Spend the proper money on a kite, and you will be happier in the end. Not to say that the more expensive are ALWAYS going to be a better
kite, but stick with some names that have some recognition above all.
Happy kiting.dylanj423 - 23-9-2008 at 01:49 PM
I just noticed something else about that kite to watch for. It is a 2.5 meter SPAN... not SURFACE AREA. Almost all the kites made for the sport are
measured by surface area, not span. Not to mention that it is a two line kite. Four line/ or quad line... are the way to go here, they are safer, and
you can re-launch them when you crash them.
