I am really interested in kitesurfing and am going to take lessons soon. I want to know what be the ideal size kite for me to learn on. i weigh 155 lbs if that make a difference.

Get a 2 or 3 meter kite before you do anything and learn how to fly it. You'll get a lot more out of your lessons if you already know how to fly a kite.

What size kite to get not only depends on your weight, but also your local conditions. Where are you located?

Clintopher is BANG ON.

If you get a 3m trainer and learn the basics of the wind window + set your reflex muscles ahead of the lesson it will be well worth it. Knowing this stuff will shorten your lesson$ and set you up to progress through them faster. Knowing where the kite is by feel will make learning to get in to the board and going a whole lot easier.

The Sensie isn't tooo bad a choice. If I am right the Best is not designed as a relaunchable 2 line . BE SURE that if you buy a 2 line it IS relaunchable!!!! 3 or 4 line on a bar is better.

you must learn to fly a kite before even thinking about kitesurfing imo.

HQ Rush Pro series or the HQ Hydra are awesome 3line trainers. The 3rd line makes the kites easier to relaunch and you can use the 3rd line to land and park the kite as well.

The difference between them is that the Hydra is a closed cell foil able to land on water and not sink.

HQ Rush Pro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6fotHNtSlM

HQ Hydra:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNhzGMiQtJ0

I've had over 10 years of playing with stunt kites etc, and watching people who have had a few days lessons going into the water and trying to control the kite and the board at the same time always gives me the willies

HOWEVER ...

It obviously can be done, and I'm sure they might even be better off than I am cos I tend to over analyze what's going on and it probably makes it harder for me. "This should be working grr why can't I do it bah humbug"

Get lessons with an approved instructor - it's worth the money.
Before you buy - rent all kinds of different gear if you can, you'll just click with some stuff and not with others. ESPECIALLY try out the water relaunch capabilities ... I can't relaunch the Best kites for #@%$#! but the Cabrihnas go straight up
If you must buy new, get like last seasons models at massive discounts. Or buy used so you can prang it, learn how to fix it and don't break your heart

One thing I'd check is if they have some kind of communication system - I had a lesson with a teacher who put a helmet on me that had a radio receiver in ... meant I spent more time on the water trying to surf than on the shore watching him fly the kite and show me how to do it, like some other teachers. That good teacher also used a video camera to show me what I was doing wrong. Really helped me, cos I'm a visual kind of thinker ...

Quote:

Originally posted by clintopher Get a 2 or 3 meter kite before you do anything and learn how to fly it. You'll get a lot more out of your lessons if you already know how to fly a kite. What size kite to get not only depends on your weight, but also your local conditions. Where are you located?

ill be boarding in the jones beach area in long island NY. i have offers for a 12m switchblade ids for 1300, and a crossbow for 700 both come w full kits.

I strongly suggest that you do not buy a kite until you've had lessons. Learn how to fly and learn on the equipment the school has. I'd be a shame if you wrecked your new kite while learning. I know many a person who bought a kite too fast and ended up selling it for half of what the bought it for becasue it did not suit them once they learned. It'll be well worth the wait and $'s when you buy a kite that suites your style, habits, and local conditions. Your local school will have these kites on hand for you to try (or wreck!) during your lesson. At 155 at 12m sounds pretty big, I fly mine in 14-23mph and I'm 220. You're instructor will get you on the right track for a kite and a board.

You're not going to want to hear this but another thing you might want to consider is holding off taking it to the water until Spring. I'm not sure how it is up there, but around here the wind is just starting to pic up again and should be smooth for a month or month and a half. After that it starts to get pretty bumpy...not to mention come November the water temp is really starting to go down. My whole point is your learning curve will be much more steady if you can kitesurf for 6 or 8 months rather than kite for a month or two, take a 4 month break, and then start kiting again.

im intrigued by the hydra 3., i saw that once before when i started but didnt know what it was.
Can you kitesurf with it for practice? or is it too small?