yes to that

no to this

and maybe on the rest of it

looks like spammer........................reported

Hi guys! My name is Ben and I am very interested in this sport. I am new to the forum and very committed to at least try. I met alan1981 in person yesterday in person with his kite and board. I looked like a blast and I have a few questions that I would like to be answered. I also believe that just because I'm 12 years old, I can still learn and try.

Questions:

1) I want to be very safe while having fun. What are some safety precautions and materials?

2) I am interested in learning on the A.T.B.'s. What are some good boards for beginning and for when I get better?

3) I am 12 years old, 5ft 3in tall, and i weigh about 100 pounds. What are some good kites for beginning and some for when I get better? I'm interested in a kite with a harness, release, and bar steering.

4) I'd like to learn some facts and tips for beginning.

5) I live in Spokane, Wa. What wind speeds can I expect for around here?

I longboard and fly a small trick kite by NewTech kites but that's my only experience so far. If there are other questions that you think I should have asked, please tell me! Please remember that I'm only 12 so please keep you kind answers simple, I am very committed to at least try, and I only know a little and have never A.T.B.ed before. I hope I can learn more from alan1981 soon in person. Thank you so much for your help and I hope to hear back soon1

Sounds like you are on the right track already. In reality, your best bet would be to stay learning with Alan1981. If he flies in your area already, he would be the best person to talk to about kite sizes and what your needs would be. All of us will just give you the basic answers regarding kites and starting out whereas Alan would be able to give you specific kite sizes for your winds as he uses those same winds himself.

Also, for learning, to have someone right there with you is the best way to go about it.

Generally, start small and move up from there. Meaning a very small kite would be best to learn on now and as your skills get better and you become more comfortable with the power, you can move up in size as you are comfortable with it.

As for boards, I would recommend looking into the Ground Industries Lil' Bomber. This is a kickin board for lighter riders such as yourself and it is also very affordable. GI makes a fantastic board too so quality and durability will be there for you.

After you get better and are able to try out different gear, you can make a much better decision on what you want to move into.

Welcome to the Forum. There is tons of knowledge here and many who will be more than willing to help you out.

Oh, and one last thing....if you don't have a helmet yet, GET ONE NOW! Be safe and you can ride for a very long time.

Hope this helps....

there you go.......................AWOC check your U2Us

Thanks awindofchange! I see if I can get hooked up with alan1981 soon!

What kind of helmet would you guys recommend for me? Would it be more of a dirt bike helmet or bicycle helmet? Thanks!

The best deals on kites are second hand. The for sale section on this forum is a good place to watch.

To get started look for a quality 4 line foil in about 3m size. Even tough you want to eventually fly a depower kite on a bar this is still your best + cheapest way to get going. After you are total master of the 4 line you will be ready to move up. A good place to start is www.coastalwindsports.com ( oops edited ) there is a terrific turorial section there.

Try and wear a helmet every time you go out even if it's not too windy. Making it habit is a good thing. You never know when you will really need it!

Don't be shy about asking questions BEFORE spending money ! Folks here will not lead you wrong in your purchase.

:bigok:

Zack is a member of our local club - I think he's 10-13 years old (not sure) he uses a 3m Ozone Flow for all of his landboarding and does very, very well with it. At our last club trip, his dad took a whole bunch of photos and put them in a slide show here: Kingston slide show you may get some info from it. Helmet and pads are a must! Have fun.

Quote:

Originally posted by Bladerunner A good place to start is www.coatalwindsports.com there is a terrific turorial section there. :bigok:

Northern accent dropped a letter...

I think he meant www.coastalwindsports.com

Nothing beats having a fellow kiter there to show you what to do, but read everything you can and it helps to put the pieces of the puzzle togetehr.

This kid has a good head on his shoulders. I'll get him on my Symphony to start next time I see him. Which will hopefully be soon cause I forgot my knee pads at the field and he was kind enough to pick them up and emailed me about it. Thank goodness they were 60 bucks. I appreciate that a lot Ben. Call me if you see the trees swaying over near you.

Best grammar used by a 12 year old I've ever seen :o

Step 1 was the most important step, and was also probably a no brainer. You came here! Best and most helpful forum in the world. Here's a few PKF pointers to help you out:

- Many people on here are trusted shop owners and distributers. Talk to them, chat with them, buy from them. They are just normal guys and weekend warriors and love doing what they do. I promise, it will be the best customer service you'll ever receive. They will give you inside offers, and will diagnose you with exactly the gear you need.

-There are many threads about suggestions for first kites. You can read through some of them, but the posts generally say the same thing throughout. I bet even if you click on "Today's Posts" there will be at least 4 topics about beginners and kites.

-Buy used. It's practically the only way to get around since we can't all afford to buy brand new stuff every season. I find that especially with ATBs, after a board is out for a year or two, they stop manufacturing them and that particular item becomes very hard to find. It took me forever to find my Flight 93 and it's only an '08 model. Not exactly ancient history. Also, the value of a kite is significantly reduced the moment it's taken out of the bag. You can get a perfect condition used kite for less than half of the retail price.

-Avoid ebay

-...You might want to avoid Pansh. (You'll see). But, some people really like Pansh.

-As you will soon find out, the technology/technical details of kites etc. is very, very detailed and complicated. Naturally, you will end up doing a lot of research to answer your questions. Many things you will be wondering about won't be clear at all, no matter how many times someone explains, until you try it for yourself.

-Talk to indigo wolf

-Talk to indigo wolf

-Talk to indigo wolf

-Oh, and talk to indigo wolf.

Quote:

Originally posted by Benrocks782 What kind of helmet would you guys recommend for me? Would it be more of a dirt bike helmet or bicycle helmet? Thanks!

One that fits properly. Bicycle helmets are often not as hot or heavy but they are only good for one impact. I have a ski helmet, a paddling helmet, and a bike helmet. Elbow and knee pads also safe some grief when on an ATB. You need a set that won't get dragged out of position as you get dragged downwind on them.

Thanks everyone for your help! Sorry to get back late (busy with school). I'll try to get hooked up with alan1981 soon!