Jimbo1973 - 4-10-2008 at 05:18 AM
Hi,
I am new to powerkiting and looking for some advice, I have a HQ Symphony 1.4 - which i enjoy flying in all types of wind, but am looking to step up
to learning to control a 4 line kite.
My aim is to eventually get to kiteboarding but really want to learn to control a kite before getting my feet tooo wet. And then get a few lessons so
i don;t end up in a shipping channel somewhere swimming home with a big water brake.
I am torn between control bar - or handles to start, and quite a lot of entry level kites 2-3 m seem to have four line handles and only 2 line bars. I
really want to learn to land a kite than just fly it out of the window and watch it ungracefully hit the deck.
So I am looking to you guys for a bit of advice on what sort of kite would be a good starting point. - 6'0 - ~ 86kg, - aging discracefully but hey
never too you to learn new ways of getting aches and pains.
Also - any pointers in the yorkshire area, leedsish of who sells kites and offered good sound advice.
All other advice would be greatly welcome
Thanks
J
Bladerunner - 4-10-2008 at 08:59 AM
Welcome !
It's refreshing to have someone come on here who understands the RIGHT way to go about things 
You have a good plan of attack !
Since you want to ride on water it will be best for you to go straight to a bar. ( Have a pint or 2 for courage and then hit the kitelaunch ! 
) Seriously, HQ puts out a very good kiteboard trainer package with all you need (
accept a harness ) in one nice bag. The newest model is the Scout. Last years model is the TSR. Both will work well but the Scout has a " crossover "
bar for better brake input. HQ also make the Apex. While it is just a bit more tricky to fly a depower kite, that is what you will fly on water. If
you can afford the little extra an Apex will allow you to have depower worked out before your lessons. saving time. I am very BIG on people who will
end up flying strictly depower kites starting out on one. Learning with a fixed bridle creates some minor bad habits when moving to depower.
Don't go to a 2 line system and a bar. The only truly relaunchable 2 line out there is the Senei. With the Sensei you will need to purchase a D-loop
for hooking in to your harness extra. It is the cheapest but not the best I can suggest.
You seem to understand all the advantages of brakes. You are correct that they aid in landing and reverse launching. That will be good for your foil
kite but with water kites you will learn to bring the kite down to a partner to be caught at the edge of the wind window. That is how yoy launch and
land big kites. Practice controlling the kite in that manor so you don't waist time with it in your lessons. Also get used to flying hooked in to your
harness before lessons. The pull is just enough different you will want be comfortable with it to save even more time on lesson day.
Lessons will be the best money you will spend in this sport ! They will propell you in to self control staus in no time. Learning on your own, you
won't have all the important safety and self rescue knowledge and be much slower picking up the needed skills. If you have a local kite beach go down
there with your trainer in hand and don't be shy to meet the folks. If you have a kite you ARE a Brother and they will fill you with local knowledge
Take a look at www.kitesurfingschool.org for some good info to get started !
I like your approach! Please feel free to ask more questions
The sport is changing a bit but I think you will be pleased with the large number of us Old Guys that are getting in to this sport . It was mosltly
O.G's that had the cash to feed the companies at 1st. 
:wee:
Jimbo1973 - 6-10-2008 at 12:13 PM
Thanks for the info -probably gonna go for the scout to train then get a water kite after that - just to try and keep the costs down a little
Will check out the website
Thanks for your time
J