Jon here, I'm completly new to kite flying and I am looking for advice on buying my first one! I've done some, wind surfing wakeboarding and skydiving so this seemed logical next step.

I am 170 lbs and tall, and would love some advice on selecting a kite. Sadly this isnt an area where kite surfing is big, but maybe i could change that.

Living in Knoxville TN though limits this sport, we have a lot of trees and not much wind... I think on a strong day it might get maybe 15mph tops... Most days its between nill and 10mph. I'll practice first on some grass lots here but eventualy i want to take it to the water as we have lots of lakes and rivers.

I was looking at the new Hydro II 420 and NEO 3 6m kites as my top 2 picks. Both can be used on the water and land, kind of my ideal choices.

The Hydro is some what cheaper, but dosent have depowering and i dont know if i would be able to get up on a board in strong winds... I'm sure it's a great trainer for dragging around in the water, but i will get tired of that real quick.

NEO 3 6m, I know a 6m kite is really large for a first kite, but i heard it's depower is really strong and also considering how we don't have much wind here, i was thinking it would be fine... I was worried about it not inflateing on a really slow day say 4mph and just doing some practice. I wouldn't take this out on a strong or gusty day fisrt starting out (10-15mph)...

I considered getting 2 kites like a 3m trainer and then after a while getting a 8m one later... but i know i will get really tired of the 3m one after a few days... Also i heard that you should get a depowering one so you can learn to correctly use that instead of just a 2 string trainer.

Anyway any advice?
Or maybe anyone got a deal on a cheap trainer then i wouldn't be so cheap to buy 2 lol!

Thanks for the help guys!

noooo...time out...your heart and wallet are in the right place..we'll get your mind right...NEO is too big and too small at the same time and Hydro2 420 is cali code for stuff we are not allowed to talk about here...sit tight some diverse options should be coming your way shortly......welcome aboard

thanks....

Too big and too small?? i think i understand... So your saying i should just get a 3m trainer and like an 8m later for the water?

No there is a kite called the Hydra 420, but it comes out at the end of this month... Not sure if i can wait that long... might just get a cheap trainer off of ebay.

Hydra II 420

no 8m kite in the water is for high winds....don’t come into this thinking you know what to do..us self taught people think we know what to buy, but we don’t...everyone who advised me early on was right and I was wrong...get going w/ a 3m kite...learn to fly it well and take some time to figure out where you want to go from there....one more thing, dont buy a cheap trainer..get a quality kite, used is fine..ebay is not a good place till you know the ins and outs of the sport....imo

Cool thanks agian for the fast responce! Might have saved my life getting a too big of kite :P

With your advice i got a HQ Rush IV Pro 350 $220~ I think it's a good one or so the reviews say. I also got a waist belt to practice flying with one hand. Ill go get a helmet at the skate board shop down the street, or maybe use my skydiving one~

Whew that's some fast shopping
Welcome to the forum. Please start out in the lighter winds until you get used to the pull and learn the wind window until you can fly it blind-folded flying stationary. And ask tons of questions here. Safety first.

I think that was a good move...you really want to get this going, very good..don’t wear the harness first few times out, u don’t want to go there quite yet..don’t take it out if it's blowing real hard..you will be surprised how much power 3.5 will generate....watch any tutorial you can..start in 10mph winds or less grow into this properly and you’ll be much happier...have a blast!!

Totally true. Good choice on the trainer. Plenty of opportunity to do stupid crap with a 3m trainer . I was just out buggying with my 3m on Sunday. Abkayak is totally right. Listen to the wise ones Around here for advice, always wear a helmet, and go easy on the rush to get to a "bigger" kite. One of my 8m kites (depower foil) pulls way harder than one of my 13m (arc) kites. There is a lot to learn and this is a great community in which to ask questions, so feel free to ask as many as many as you can.

I would go with these guys on the get a 3m trainer and fly it alot theory for every kitesport except kitesurfing.

If you want to kitesurf do an IKO course (you will fly a small trainer for a couple of hours on day 1) alternatively get an experienced person to give you lessons but they will need to be willing to take time out and actually teach you. It takes about 3 sessions to get up and riding for short, mostly downwind, runs on average.

Then after the lessons get a 12m kite & a board and get on the water every time its 15-20mph. Then when you are riding about consistently (even if you haven't cracked upwind or turning) get a 9m kite and get on the water if its 20-27mph aswell.

However if the wind where you live is 10mph or below most of the time and max's out at 15 then don't waste your time trying to kitesurf! Its not windy enough!!!

I got my Kite yesterday and tried it out. Man its a lot of fun, and a good workout! I should have a off road skate board this fridays so i'm getting ready~

I'm sure everyone on here has found this but thought i'd post it Wind Map

Thanks for all the advice... The wind condidtions were about 1-6mph so it was a slow day and spent about half the time on the ground.

Today looks better and tomorrow a front is moving in and expected to have 5-15 mph. I've never looked forward to wind but now i'm just praying for it.

Welcome
Sounds like you made a good choice of kite. Now I hope you can find a good location ?
Be aware that wind flows like water and will be messed up 7 - 10 times the distance downwind as the obstacle is high.
If you struggle at times I expect it won't be your fault but the location and bad winds. So don't be too hard on yourself.
Avoid keeping the kite overhead for long if it is gusty . That is a good way to get lofted by accident.

Quote:

Avoid keeping the kite overhead for long if it is gusty . That is a good way to get lofted by accident.

This.

Yeah i read about this and never keep your kite at 12....

i also found out that the top 101 cities with the lowest wind speed... knoxville is number 7....

101 cities with lowest wind speeds



Over the course of the year typical wind speeds vary from 0 mph to 14 mph (calm to moderate breeze), rarely exceeding 23 mph (fresh breeze).

The highest average wind speed of 8 mph (gentle breeze) occurs around March 29, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 14 mph (moderate breeze).

The lowest average wind speed of 5 mph (light breeze) occurs around September 1, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 10 mph (gentle breeze).