This is all so damn interesting and a bit confusing too.
My interests are in all forms of the sport (bugging, surfing, jumping, skating, scudding, etc) and I DO need to buy a 'learner' kite. That much I DO know.
Since the weather is nice (Cleveland area) and I'm a pretty fast learner (and stunt kite flyer), I hope I'll actually be able to do more than scudding before the weather keeps me out of the water.
Ya, KiteSurfing would be myfirst choice.
Here's the questions.
It seems that I will need a 'floater'. Is there, infact, several types?
I see what I believe are called 'hybrids' where bladders form the leading edge and several "ribs" and the kite is basically 'single surface', but isn't there also an 'inflatabel' where a double surfaced kite IS the bladder and the whole thing is pumped up?
I believe that I'd prefer a 4 line (two line biased) kite that I can kill to some extent and, if that's the case, could I get a kite small and controlable enough for a relative novice and yet big enough to drag me around some (preferably on the water as well as scudding)?
Barring that, is there a point to learning on a 3 meter foil when my "power kite" will be a surf type.
Appreciate any guidence you can offer.
Alex

I think Hybrids are the best inflatable style kite. They usually give you nice power like a C-Kite but have plenty of depowerability like a bow kite. That being said, as a learner, a bow kite would be very user friendly for you and ease you into the sport more.

I don't know what you mean by a double surfaced kite, you might be refering to my beloved choice of kite, the flysurfer. This kite inflates itself, like a foil, but the air stays in through one way air intakes, so it will float on water (but not forever). Or you might (and are more likely) talking about peter lynns, which are shaped like arcs, inflate themselves like flysurfers and are very user friendly kites, would be a good choice as a beginner.

So, here's a run down:
This is a Peter Lynn kite: (And Arc)


This is a flysurfer:



This is a bow kite:



This is a hybrid:



This is a C-Kite:


There is a very good point in learning on a 3 meter foil in that you absolutely NEED to have complete and utter kite control before attempting to get in the water, the last thing you want is to kiteloop yourself into your own painful death, or crash the kite into some poor bystanders. That is the purpose of a small, relatively harmless foil. However, I think, as do most people, that getting yourself a good and proper lesson is the best way to go about doing things, teaching yourself is never much fun or useful to yourself.

Good luck, have fun and be safe :D

Get a sheetable trainer kite so you can learn with depower and bar on a harness....

http://www.powerzonekitesports.com/trainer.html

kite landboarding also really helps to accellerate your skill preparing for water.

i start people off on a 3m or 4m trainer with depower.... once they've "mastered" that then they get a 7m depower kite, then a 10 or 13m and the're fine....

Many thanks to 'domdino' for the excelent rundown of kite types and to 'powerzone' for the advice.
I'm going (internet) shopping.
alex