Heyy

I'm completely new to kiting. I've seen it alot on youtube and on TV and I've always wanted to give it a try. I've been researching all I can but it just gets confusing after a while.
What's best to start out on and learn all the terminology.
I'm not looking to bike or surf or speed. I just want to do some recreational flying, maybe jumping. I know I have to learn to crawl before I walk. So basically, where can I start?
Thanks alot in advance =)

watch youtube videos, read forums , ask questions, BUY KITES:bouncy:

start small...

preferably a 3m trainer kite or so...

where do you live, see if you can get anyone who's into it to help you get started by your place.

Get someone to show you the ropes first, and be your kite monkey. Save a bit of frustration!
Welcome!

Heh thanks
My only problem is that there ISN'T anyone around here into kiting. It's pretty much unheard of around here in Tennessee. I'd have to travel to Memphis or Nashville just to even see if it's been discovered there =P
Are there any good sites that just break down the basics? Also, what would be the best brand to buy?
I'm pretty much the clay in your guys' hands. You're all molding a new kiter here. lol

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=1985 - Lots of info to help close the knowledge gap! :bigok:

Some questions that will help us answer your specific questions are:

What are the typical wind ranges in your area?
What is your size? Atheltic ability?
What is your budget?

Just FYI - some others in your boat . . . . . .
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=10747
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=10772
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=9998

i think the best kites for beginners are the flexifoil rage kites... if you can afford them, i recommend you start there.... not good for jumoing, but excellent stability and able to deal well with inland winds.... i recommend you start w/ the 3.5 in lighter winds (around 10mph)....


flexi makes great kites, and they are fun to fly... other "beginner" kite brands that i have tried have proved themselves very aggravating to me... nothing like trying to fly my kites, and having it continually fall out of the sky in a bowtie, or collapsing and then reinflating in the power zone...

a few things you can do while doing the research:

find out what your local winds are year-round. winter winds tend to be stronger than summer ones. buy a summer kite just before the winter winds come, and you'll want another kite... (not necessarily a bad thing to have more than one kite...) what you're looking for is a month by month breakdown of your local wind directions and force, week by week is better.

get to know you local weather sites. also check out weather underground and windguru. search for them, do the wikipedia thing if the searches don't work out.

now that you know what your winds are, find out where your local spots might be. open areas with no obstacles to the wind are best, breezes flowing from big lakes or large flat areas are the best. You want plenty of room if possible, but 100m or so is OK to get going with.

And make it a big ongoing priority to find local flyers. They're the best. 30 minutes with a kite guy is equal to weeks o research on the net when you're starting out. Start another thread on here asking for someone near your location who can give you a hand,

or go for a bit of drive?

or both?

Also let us know how much you weigh and what your general fitness level is like...

the beginner kite with the best and most consistent feedback (on this forum anyways) is a 3m beamer IV.

here's a good review looking at the beamer as well as the peter lynn hornet...

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=10713

You mention "maybe jumping"...

Not to discourage you, but in case you haven't gotten around to putting 2 + 2 together, it's dangerous and unsafe, however with careful development of skills and choice of kites, it's possible to reduce the risks substantially.

The safest first kite is a non-lifty 4-liner with good stablity, usually around 3m. the second kite is a bit bigger than the first and may have some lift. The third kite is usually a good jumper, if you are still on that path by then... it's quite likely you'll be into something else kite-related by then.

It's sometimes possible to skip one of those steps, but think carefully before you do.

good 3m beginner kites hold their value quite well and sell quickly when offered on the forum, but most folks do tend to keep them for high winds.

hope that helps...

Rope a friend in and get them addicted too :D Hell, I made my first stunt kite and got my buddy into it - he made one too! We spent many a happy Saturday afternoon near the beach, car stereo pumping and dive bombing each other :D

Someone's got a bunch of Rages for sale at great prices here ... big ol' list o' them ...

IF you are new, a trainer kite is definitely where to start.

A 3 meter kite is a good overall size that isn't too small and yet isn't too powerful.

3 lines are better than 2 for the relaunching factor so a kite like the Rush 3 PRO is a good start. let me know if you have any questions.

I think you will have more fun with four lines than two or three. If you are not looking to board (land or water), four lines on handles offer way more control. I had a two line 3m trainer for a short while. Once I got a 4 line kite, the trainer never came out of the bag.
There are some great deals in the used section. "Beginner" kites are soon out grown - it will take a bit longer to learn with an advanced kite but you will be having fun anyway. If you think you need a beginner kite kite to start out, buy one of these. The last thing you need to do is spring $300 for a new beginner kite and in two months try to sell it for $100 because you want more. Chances are you are going to want more, ask Tonka (he may have an Airlink he is willing sell). Take the $300 bucks and buy a good used intermediate kite. If you do not beat it to death while learning, you will keep it for high wind days. It will be way more fun than than beginner kite. If you have money buy a new good intermediate. Expect to spend more than $400, but why make a $400 dollar purchase into a $700 one when you dump the beginner kite and get a decent one.
my $0.02
S

p.s. I learned to fly on a Firebee 3m. They were called the poor man's race kite. Most people said they were horrible; but, once you learned to fly it, anything else was easy.

My best advise to you is listen to the guys here on the forum> They all have tons of experience, have owned/flown many kites and won't steer you wrong.

I have been lucky enough to hook up with some of these guys during business travel and was welcomed into their relm to learn....result was more info and help then i could have ever asked for!!! I understand that there may not be anyone close but keep digging and asking questions!!!

And i do have an Airlink that i would probably let go cheap as i'm hooked on SkyCountry kites as they suit my flying needs and wind regions......drop me a message if your interested, if not that cool as i'll fly it anyways LOL.

Scudley is correct though, think about were your going with this as you will quickly want bigger, faster and more wind range kites so choose wisely to avoid the buy and sell sindrome...kites are to costly and you just can't have one!!!