I currently have a 1.3 HQ Symphony and a 1.8M HQ Flux so was looking to upgrade it which is how I found this forum by accident was trying to find a 5M or a 3M kite for snow and sand boarding eventually want to get into kitesurfing too.
Currently Im 5ft 3in at 180lbs so was wanting to work out abit and weigh at around 140 or 160 for the sport. In the mean time im learning the kites and seeing how they work.

So, I just bought the 5M Ozone Flow that someone was selling on here.
Eventually ill have to find a bar for it for the harness but was wondering if any brand of bar works since I notice some of the C type kites for kitesurfing have 5 lines more than 4 lines for retraction or something like that.

Btw I live in California so not really familiar if there is any groups out here that do group kite stuff. I notice that the forum has the buggy kitters. Looks fun but dont own one of those yet but eventually slowly starting to get my stuff.

Welcome to the PKF. First, how long have you been flying the small kites? We recommend starting with a 3m first. You are going to make mistakes ,so you need to not be overpowered ,or you likely will be hurt. You live in a great spot,you're surrounded by kite spots and kiters.

Well I live in the Bakersfield area so im 2 hours away from the Mojave Desert and 1 hour and 30 mins away from Pismo.

So, I been flying the mini kites for about 2 months now. They are both 2 line kites one has a bar the other one has 2 handles one red and one blue.
Usually wind doesnt get past 15Mph and gust of 20 if lucky I guess.
I was debating a 3M Kite but I didnt want a 3 line kite since all it adds is the relaunchable is easyer. I wanted to try out the reverse flying and I knew the 4 line kites would do that.

I understand the concepts since I been watching videos of people flying the 4 line kites with the 2 handles and I understand how the brakes work. My brother on the other hand I have to watch since he made the Symphony kite crash a few times.

I was seeing a video about crossing the lines and doing a loop to loose altitude in case you do go flying but I never really practice it. Im really good at telling the kite where to go though just hate crossing lines.

So, it will be a while before I can buy a 3M kite since I just spent on the 5M kite and I know eventually ill want a 10 or 12M kite for when the wind is less than 10MPh.

Also, I was curious about the NAPKA membership stuff. Since I dont know anyone over here that does powerkites and of events not sure how all that works out.

They make 4-line kites in all sizes. You will have a few in no time. Don't be scared to cross lines just fly the other way to de-cross. NAPKA is a organization we pay dues to for insurance for events and to help organizing events . The So-Cal boys ought to be chiming in soon.
Here is my Vimeo page ,it's got a bunch of kitebuggy vids on it. https://vimeo.com/user2580342

from your first post it's evident you would benefit from a look at the "what to buy" thread. I just bumped it. Have a look in the kites lines and accessories thread.

Well thanks the buggy stuff looks cool, and I have seen that post that you bumped before just didnt post there. I saw a guy selling a PKD Buster SoulFly PRO 3.3 m just wont be able to get it till the following month.

I know I need to practice jumping for sure my 1.8M kite can drag my feet a lil which is fun on the dirt but its not constant.

FWIW, 3 line kites are designed to reverse launch. The third line is used for both braking and reverse launch. Not as nice for reverse launch or landing as a 4 line (lacks reverse flight steering precision) but still a lot more fun than relaunching the two line kites. :D

In case you find a nice 3m that's 3 line for a good deal.

Jumping... The quickest way to see the inside of your femur.You need alot of sail and skills. Best left alone until you have both.

welcome aboard...get a 3m/4line, you will fly it more often and become a better pilot sooner
get control of the getting dragged(scudding) its key...drop the concept of jumping for a while

I have the 1.8 which is a 2 line kite and I was reading that a 3 line kite is just a glorified 2 line kite.
If anyone is selling a 4 line 3M kite can I be notified?

So, is 2 handle system mostly used for buggy? or can it be used for other stuff?

I was seeing the trick kites and the reverse flight seem fun since you can control the position of the kite better and keet it stationany.

The handles are used mostly on buggy, as it isn't very comfortable to use handles for much else. The truth is that is just how the majority of kiters use it, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do whatever you want. You get very direct and precise control on a fixed bridle with handles, but fixed bridle kites themselves have areas of the sport that they are better and worse for.

Trick kites are not power foils, so a power foil flies like crap compared to a decent $150 Revolution if all you want is static flight. If your ultimate goal is locomotion by using the kite as an engine, then you will have to compromise on reverse flight and stall performance because those are things you do not want in a power kite.

The reason I was wanting reverse was so I can recover the kite quickly if it's going down or turn it over to go back up

That's what a 4 line(handles) does...but better

Once you learn how to fly, you won't really need the reverse launch capability as much for crashes because hopefully you won't be crashing.

Yeah I been practicing flying with out really looking at it but then again im using a bar right now so I know how the bar moves when its going down it lets go on tension.
I was seeing some videos that said you keep one eye at the kite and the other on the dirrection your heading thats what the idea is suppose to be. So, been practicing that.