I've been training with a 3M Hornet on handles for more than a year and am looking into going further. I'd like to get some wheels under me. I'm thinking a board, but I'd even be willing to try offroad skates. I also own a snowboard, so this would be an option for me too in the winter. I like the idea of freestyle, so some small jumps are definitely in my mind.

I had initially thought just a 5M Twister or similar fixed bridle was the best choice (certainly the most affordable), but after speaking with a number of people, it seems that going with a depower kite and bar may be a better long term choice. I'm still planning on getting the Twister, but I'll probably use that for the "less windy" afternoons and the occasional jumping without wheels.

Any recommendations for a good depower to start with? Note: I'm a small guy (130lbs), so I'm not looking for something that will kill me, but definitely give me a ride.

I'm 145#s and you can see my quiver in my signature. You should be thinking similarly sized kites. What you start on depends on whether you want a moderate to low wind foil (7.5 - 10m) or a higher wind kite (4-6m). I use all the kites in my quiver but my favorite is my 10m and that is what I ride from around 10 - 17mph depending upon how clean and smooth the wind is. If you typically ride in more wind think smaller size. I would not recommend going larger as a first purchase and given your weight, a 12m may be all you need on the light wind days.

If you are thinking more grunt and stability and less lift, think Access or Apex. If you are thinking more speed and lift think Frenzy or Montana.

If you are thinking you'll go on the water eventually think Flysufer or Peter Lynn.

What is your typical wind like ?

What speed? Are you inland = gusty or near water = clean winds?

5m Twister isn't exactly a low wind kite . Nor is it big enough that I would jump with it ? My 7.7 was too small to serve me as a low wind kite but was nice for jumps.

No single kite does it all. Plan on using your hornet as a high wind kite, look for something sized to fit you average winds ( size for gusts ) . Then look for a larger low wind kite to round things out.

If depower is in your future start with a harness and your Hornet.

Thanks for the advice. I'm inland, so the wind isn't exactly clean, and can get gusty. In the spring and fall when the seasons are changing is when the most wind comes (yesterday we had untypical 17mph with gusts to 30). However, during the summer months, the wind is MUCH lower (usually 4-8mph). So as you can imagine, any day in the summer with higher than 8mph, I'm definitely out flying.

My dream is to eventually get out onto the water. It all sounds fun though, so maybe I just need to buy one of everything :frog:. For depower, it sounds like the Access would be great for buggying and the Montana for freestyle boarding.

So from what I'm hearing, a 5.5M Twister sounds like the next logical step and I need to continue with bigger kites for the "less windy" days. This is going to be an expensive sport! I'll look for a harness and maybe even one of those ozone bars used for fixed bridle kites.

Can the harness I get also be used for a depower kite when I get there?

Turbo bars are expensive. Far better on a budget to just put a strop on your handles . Learn to fly hooked in using only brake turns. Hold your handles parallel like a bar. Think about how what you are doing applies to a depower bar and kite.

Harnesses are a very personal choice. What is comfortable for one isn't for all. Go with a seat harness and see if it is comfortable. Get one with a hook spreader bar to use on all kites.

I've used the turbo bar on a couple of Peter Lynn kites and while it's worked, I don't think that PL stuff in general really suits the turbo bar. My Hornet was ok, but if you pulled a little too hard on the bar when turning, you could feel the air go out of half the sail and the kite was just starting to stall. The Reactor II was much worse on the bar, stalling nearly everytime I went to turn it. I get the feeling that PL stuff likes more front line input than the turbo bar provides so I wouldn't be at all surprised if it wasn't very good with a Twister.

I've have the Apex and Access depower kites and think they're very good in gusty conditions, particularly the HQ Apex which I think is better value for money than the Access. Though recently I've been using the Nasa Star 2's in gusty conditions and find them even better than the Access. And you can buy a full set of NS2's for the price of an Access - although the NS2's won't work if you're looking to jump as they're the least lifty kites that I know of.