Hi I'm looking in to kite landboarding I would like advice please on what kind of kite I should get. I'm 5ft 10" and 115kg and advice would be great full as o
Looking at getting second hand kite so cheaper the better but not the main thing.
Cheers Mitch

If possible would like a kite that can pull me in a 15 knot wind but is also useable in a 40 knot wind as I live on the coast. Thanks in advance

What is your experience level ?

Not many kites can cover that wind range effectively and 40kts is bordering on the atomic. There's only one kite I'd feel safe flying in 40knts and can cover that range effectively but still, high wind still needs experience and judgment whatever the kite.

Do some searching on this site. People come here with your exact question very regularly. The advice is very consistent.

Bottom line is that you need more than 1 kite. You want to start with a 3m foil and a helmet.

Riding in 40kt winds is not advised!

Trying to do this sport on the cheap is not easy.

I don't have any experience. As for the 40knot that's what it gets up to at my local beach. With being a large guy was under the understanding that a smaller kite would not pull me along. As for cheap not wanting to be paying more than £300 for my first kite as want to see if I can get to grips with it. So it's the ride / kite weight ratio or will you be pulled along with any kite size just so I can get a understanding of it. As got a app and it says I 3meter kite would need a 47 knot wind and this confused me a little.

Go to www.coastalwindsports.com and read the tutorials. It's packed with good info and has a section on selecting your 1st kite.

Notice that we all have a variety of types + sized kites in our signatures. I have 2.5 to 19m kites for different winds. No single kite will do it all. Sad truth!

Yeah, forget the app, it doesn't apply to kite traction activities involving human beings. You've done the right thing by asking for advice.

As Bladerunner said, start with a 3 square meter kite and a helmet, in light/moderate winds, to get an understanding of what flying is about. The kite will serve you well for a long time - buy quality - not cheap. (Inexpensive does not mean cheap. There are lots of good deals for good quality used kites on this forum.)

Here's the kind of info that we consider important:
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=28759#pid27...
(This post should be a "sticky" on the PKF home page!)

Let us know where you are; there are lots of us around that'll be willing to help you though your learning curve.

And think about the sanity of flying in 40 knot winds. If there's enough wind to bounce around a car, it won't hesitate to bounce you too.

I was out in 35mph winds with a 1.1M2 NPW 5 on a land board and That little kite pull me like mule.
You do need more than one kite, if you like kiting, just start with one kite and go from their. Also if you are just going to be on the beach a 3M sure do you fine.
:evil:

Cheers for the advice will get a nice 3meter one

Hi Mitch, quoting £s I guess your in the UK, I'm sure there would be someone willing to give you a go with a kite and give you some tips. The HQ Beamer is a good kite to start on and are @ £179.00 RTF (ready to fly) they are a good stable kite and will become your higher wind kite for traction if that is the route you eventually take. The more time you spend static flying the easier it will be to progress on to a board or buggy. Just take it easy to start with no medals for trying to do too much too early in too much wind, that will come later :D

FYI:

Coastal wind sports website has been out of commission for at least a week....

Yeah I'm in the north west of the UK. Will have a look at the Beamer. Stupid question but will ask. Are getting a power kite airborne hard or Easyer than normal kites like a stunt kite for example. Sadly not seen anyone locally that does wind sports. Are the DVDs / YouTube channel that can give a beginners tutorial ??
Thanks again

Try putting a post on kitecrowd, there are guys in the North West who would help, I met up with one while I was working up there. Getting a power kite airborne is really easy (he said forgetting being a beginner), do a search on youtube there are loads of clips showing how to set-up. If you buy a new kite it will probably come with the lines / handles not connected, the manual explains how to set-up. Just make sure the first time out the wind is less than 10mph, may be worth getting a anemometer (wind meter) until you can gauge the wind speed. It's all about getting to grips with the kite control and building your kite fitness up. You will also find out about the wind window and where the power zone is.

Ah yes on the handle front is it better for a beginner to have 2 handles that are not attached or the bar that attatches to a harness ??

Handles that are unattached will be best. They usually come with your kite. You don't want to be harnessed to the kite in the early stages. Look into buying some kite killers, these retain and safely kill the power to your kite should you let go.

Oh you've fallen in to the great handle / bar debate, for a fixed bridle to start off with I'd go handles. You have more control and will learn a lot quicker, plus if you're overpowered at any point you just drop the handles and let the kite killers bring it down.

This sport is popular enough that if your beach was any good you should see somebody?

I suspect your sand is too soft for a board?

No sand is nice and hard how ever is dependent on the tide as when the tide is in very stoney so only get sand when tide is out or very low tide

I'm also in the UK, and learning to board/buggy. This weekend I was out in 20 knots gusting to 30 knots. I didn't fancy even 3m kite in that wind, and in the end I put up a little 1.5m Peter Lynn Pepper that I got for my 6 year old kids to play with, to teach them how to fly a 4 line kite. I'm not exactly a featherweight, and that tiny little kite that literally fits in my pocket was pulling me along like a rag doll.

So have no doubt about a 3m's ability to pull you along. It will have plenty of power at 15knots+, especially if you work it (fly it up and down in a sine wave as you are moving). At over 20knots it will be a beast, and over 30knots you're probably best staying indoors until you've had plenty of hours of flying!

I also would say handles to start with. Gives you an easy option to bail out to kite killers, plus will teach you more about how your input affects the kite.

Thanks everyone for the brilliant advice. Can make a better and wiser choice. What are kite killers and what do they do. Final question.

They are wrist straps that allow you to let go of the handles and the kite just falls out of the sky.

Watch this:

Ah seen them just did not know what they were. So do have kite killers on the bar setup as well. Im going for the handles just for future reference

Hi Mitch, have a look at this too...

Thanks for both of the vids very very helpful. So has anyone gone from land boarding to the wake / kiteboarding and is that a easy transmission as this is my long term goal.

Yes , they have a safety on bars. It is not wrist straps like with handles. There are MANY types of kites on bars and a few different ways of going to safety. Bars are best with depower kites. Depower kites are best for kitesurfing and advanced land boarding. Unfortunately a 3m Fixed Bridle is the tried and true way to get started. Buy a quality 3mish foil and if money is tight sell it to fund your next kite. Eventually you will NEED to have a few sizes of kites to be able to ride in all wind speeds.

We don't mind you asking questions. FAR better to ask ahead than to waste money on gear or injure yourself.

Transferring from ATB to kite board is a little easier since you hopefully have your kite skills down. It is not advised to go out on the water without lessons. Knowing how to self rescue, how to travel with other marine traffic, etc. is important for your safety and that of the others on the water. Moving to surf will get very spendy!

I still find it very curious that you never see anybody kiting if your beach is functional. Hard pack has to be very hard to ride on with a board! Like your car wheels don't sink in at all? Typically only beaches with an open surf get hard enough to board on.

No sadly my local beach is taken up with motor X bikes or landrovers or dune buggys. Seams more petrol based fun as have been there my self and think wind sports is a good clean hobby to have and don't have walk far for the beach. Every one is petrol heads locally

where abouts are you in the north west

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