I had never even heard about power kites until last autumn, when one of my mates told me that I should get one for christmas. Yes, I'd seen people with massive kites surfing, but that was really all I knew about them :P

But I've been looking into this for a good few months now and I would like to get involved in kiteboarding. I probably wouldn't do it as seriously as some might do here, but I think it looks like good healthy fun!

I have seen this beginner's pack that I'm considering buying, from what I've read the kite is good but I'm not so sure about the board. I can buy, for £200:

# Scrub Photon kite board
# HQ Beamer 3 3m power kite
# Scrub kite helmet

I am 12 stone, about 5 ft 11". I am planning on losing some fat in the next year or so but I also want to gain muscle so my weight might change, especially as I'm 17 I might still be growing a bit. Seeing as the kite is 3m, and the board is 90cm (this sounded like it might be unstable to me), would these be good to start with?

Also, is there anything else that I might want to consider before I rush out and buy (which I am very tempted to do, I am really looking forward to learning :singing: )?

That looks like a good set up to get started

Be aware that once you improve you will need a bigger kite. The 3m Beamer wiil serve you well and become your high wind kite as your skills improve.

OK, thanks! I have the money to buy the pack now, but I'll leave it for a few days in case I find something better.

I've just thought - will the board be too unstable at 90cm if I wanted to mess around doing some downhill? If it is unstable, then would a longer board be wrong for landboarding?

Welcome to the forum! New member!:singing:

welcome flattyre! read the thread" 2nd kite already" You have been warned!

Hehe, I wonder how long it will be before skycrack takes me over and I end up getting a second kite, third, fourth...

Instead of buying the pack that I said, I bought just the kite to start with and it arrived today :D I didn't have enough time to try it, but on Thursday I am on holiday for three weeks so that will be a brilliant time to learn!

I'm sorry, flattyre, I can't help you with the addiction.....I'm in a kiter's rehab center right now....Shhhhh...they don't know I brought my laptop and can get to the forum....shhhhhh. My eyes are about to bug out waiting on my kites and researching about buggies. :o

Shhhhhhhhh

Lobo......shhhhhhhh

wait until your on a landboard doin40+ ,prayin to the entity of your choosin ,to not let you bite it. The whole time #@%$#!tin and grinnin and wanting more ... wind... ripstop nylon....mmmmm....ripstop.....mmmmm..

Wow! It was a long time coming, but the weather today was perfect for learning. So my friend and I went to the fields to try the kite :singing:

I was amazed at how easy it was to set up, how easy it was to control and, most of all, how powerful the thing can get :o

On my first few goes I was crashing into the ground whilst trying to learn to control it :P but not long after I was flying pretty well. I felt like I could have done a bit of scudding, but I didn't in the end because I didn't want to reck my shoes :P One thing in particular scared me quite a lot (but left me wanting more!) - when I went up near the zenith, the wind suddenly got very strong and it lifted me off of the ground and took me for a trip a few metres away. Doesn't sound like that far, but it was enough to shock me into reality!

In conclusion - I can't wait for tomorrow

Whoa! I should get my Beamer III 3m tomorrow or Tues. You say it lifted you while at the zenith?!?? I didn't think it would have that kinda lift. What were the winds?? I better mind my "P's and Q's" with this one, hunh?! :o What being a newbie and all.

I haven't done any scudding either....just too rough on the grass for the shoes to break traction, I guess. But, I've just about worn the bottom out of a pair of jeans from sliding on my bottom....ha! My wife says it looks like I'm riding a go-kart....but there ain't no go-Kart. It's gotta look funny!

So, let me know what winds you think you were having when you lifted at the zenith.....I guess a gust?

Lobo :singing:

The wind was a bit unpredictable because the field was lined with trees, but apparently they were about 15 mph. Yes, it was a gust that lifted me! When the kite was at the zenith, it was above the trees, so that's why it suddenly became a lot more powerful.

Trees and objects create squirley winds for something like 7 times the distance downwind as they are tall.

Try to picture the wind as a river flowing and the water coming from behind a rock.

Size your kite for those gusts and you'll stay safe !

Congrats on the fun flight I remember the first time I went scuding across a field. You will never forget and now will alway's want more.

Thanks snowbird, didn't realise that trees would affect wind as much as 7 times the height!

Went for a second flight today, the wind wasn't as strong and I had trouble keeping it in the air, but it was still great fun. I'm starting to feel comfortable controlling it now. I also tried parapacking today, I'll find out whether it worked or not the next time I take the kite out of the bag

One thing that I noticed though was that one brake line was shorter than the other lines by about 20cm - I assume it isn't meant to be like that? To compensate I tied the knot further down the line. I didn't notice anything wrong when flying it after doing that.

Anyway, next time I plan to do a bit of ass-scudding to really get some fun out of the kite :singing: