i am new to power kiting, actually i dont even have a kite yet lol. i was thinking about getting the rush pro 300. i am 18 and weigh aabout 150 lbs. do you think i should go smaller? what kites do you guys reccomend?
thank you -alek-

The Rush Pro series are good training kites if you want to stay in the two line arena. The rush is basically a two line kite with a steering bar with a third line for reverse relaunching. For about $20.00 more you could get a 3.0m HQ Beamer, and have a great begining 4 line kite that seems to hold its value. The beamer will even take you in to the dark world of kite bugging.

well i figured id start out with a 2 line then move up to a 4 line. but is having a 4 line any more diffulcult to handle than a 4 line? also i was wondering if power kites tangle up easly like stunt kites do lol. do you think ill be over poered by the size of the rush pro 300? any other good starter kites that have 2 lines? thank you very much! =]

Go for a four line as easier to launch and you can then use for buggy or board.

If you want to stay with 2 lines the Rush 300 will probably be a good start size wise, it's a 2.6 sq m kite and most people recommend starting around a 3 sq m kite, so you're certainly within a good range. As long as you don't go out in crazy winds you should feel the power but be able to control it.

A 4 line kite is going to offer more control over anything you fly with a bar. Once you learn to steer with a combination of Power and Brake lines you will really enjoy the response and control of a 4-line kite. Much more agile than on a bar. I personally would start with a 4-line kite on handles, if you're careful and diligent you won't have any problems with the lines tangling.

Another benefit a 4 line kite has over 2 lines is that you can land and launch very easily giving you a chance to rest, the 3rd line on the Rush Pro will probably serve this purpose but may be more cumbersome. My point is that kiting in any kind of significant wind is suprisingly tiring, especially when you first start, so an easy landing means it's easy to take a rest, and maintain control.

I agree 4 line is the way to go. It doesn't really matter what 4 line kite you start with (as far as brand I mean) you will always be able to keep that kite around and use it in the future. The only reason i would recommend the rush is if you knew that you were only going to be flying de-powers in the future. Then the rush would teach you to be familiar with the bar.

a 4 line will give much more control over a 2line kite--i recommend the hq beamer 3.0--it was my first kite and when the winds kick up pretty high,i break it out for some crazy fun.if you get a 4line kite,make sure you use some kite killers with it--to me, they are indispensable --good luck and let us know what you got :

im just scared of nt learning how to fly the kite right and i will be scared away from the sport. are 4 lines easy to control and what is the main difference b/t the 2? im just worried about getting frustrated with the kite and giving up. what do you guys think? also are 4 line kites hard to fly compared to 2 line ones?

I've actually found 4-line kites easier to control than the 2 line kites I have. They aren't difficult to learn, and having the added control of breaks adds to you ability to have a much more agile kite. It's also a safer kite assuming you use the kite killers. If you get in trouble, let go of the handles and the kite comes to the ground, you are still attached to it so pick up the handles and keep going. You can't do that with a 2 line kite.

I think learning to fly on a bar can be more frustrating than with handles, a lot of people try to steer like a steering wheel with a bar, but handles are much more intuitive.

In some ways the control of a 4 line is similar to a 2 line- pull left, turn left. Pull right, turn right. Now with a 4 line, you add brakes. Tip the right handle forward (increase tension on the break line) kite pivots to turn that direction, instead of making a "swooping" turn. Same to the left. Now tip both handles forward and the brakes are on. The canopy will partially deflate and begin to settle to the ground. Kite killers are bungees on cuffs that attach to your wrists and the brake leaders on your handles. Let go of the handles, the kite deflates (almost instantly looses all power,) and drifts to the ground. Lets say the kite is nose down on the ground. Full brakes on both sides, the kite will slowly back into the air, release one brake and the kite will swing to right side up. Now you are off and smiling. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy my 2 line kites but the fun and capabilities of a quad are worth the patience it takes to learn to handle the line sets. Oh yeah and welcome to the forum! The people here are great and can help you a lot.

ok you guys are starting to change my mind lol. so hat exactly do the break lines do? how do you pull on them? i understand the whole pull left turn left thing lol but not how the break lines turn the kite lol. im sorry im just trying get everything down before i commite into buying a kite lol. thank you all so much for the help! =]

The power lines basically alter the shape of the leading edge of the kite to steer it, the brake lines alter the tailing edge of the kite to steer it (like the flaps on a plane wing), you can combine the 2 for extremely fast turns, or just one or the other for nice smooth big turns. It's easy to learn, and a ton of fun to fly. if you put equal tension on both brakes the kite will fly in reverse, allowing you (with some practice) to stop it in mid air, put it in reverse, and land it. And like heliboy said, if you crash leading edge down you can use the brakes to back the kite up and relaunch it with relative ease.

You should let us know where you are in the world, maybe we can get you in touch with some local kiters that will show you the difference between differnt kites and likely let you give them a try and give you some tips.

It's hard to find a kiter that doesn't love teaching another person to fly.

Also, a member here acampbell, put together a really good tutorial for first timers. Hopefully he doesn't mind me posting it here. It helped me a lot when I first started. Give it a read and it should clear some things up for you.

http://www.coastalwindsports.com/101FirstFlight4LineHandles....

There is also a good thread on this forum for first timers (Scoops Guide for Newbie Power Kiters)

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=1985

Ask a lot of questions! There are a TON of great people on this forum that will tell you whatever you need to know.

im loacted in the united states in south east michigan, about an hour north of detroit. thank you all for the help.

The racekite.com site has a good how to section, on that you understand to fly a 4 line and this will help you understand the use of brake lines.

im in toledo and i would be glad to let you fly some of my kites so you can get a better idea of whats going on....u2u me if you want to hook up,it sounds like youre about 2 hrs away--thats not too bad.....don:singing: ps.make sure you eat a big breakfast --you'll need the energy!!

about the 4 line kites vs 2 lines. i have a 2 line stunt kite mind you it was a very cheap kite, under 20 dollars lol. i was wondering if i pretty much mastered that if moving on to a 4 line would be nearly as hard to master than not knowing how to control a 2 line kite. basically what im asking is that sine i can control my cheap kite wouldnt it be easrier for me to learn a 4 line compared to someone thats never flown a 2 line stunt kite. also im confused about which knot to attach the break lines at the bridles. i was told ther is more than one knot and placing makes a bigg difference on the performance of the kite.

read the post directly above you--its not often you have a chance for someone w experience to help you that lives relatively nearby.

oh i know sry lol. but i still have questions about power kiting and how things work lol. i just have so many questions casue im a newbie lol sorry. =] also i dont know if a can drive out to you i would love to but i dont know if my parents would let me. i would love to though! im so sry for asking all these dumb questions.

thats ok--i didnt realize you were so young! as someone has already said,read the tutorials on coastal wind sports website--then go to racekites.com and read up on their tutorials,finally stick around here and ask lots of questions.........THEN...............GO FLY A KITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:wee:

no its ok lol i was wondering if you would reccommed the dvd power kiting--how to guide. i think im going to go for the hq beamer III 3.0 meter what do you think as far as ease of set up?

just thought I'd chip in as I've taught a few folks to fly lately...

two line exp is good, not necessary but good. it gives you understanding of the wind window and basic turning skill. But twenty minutes in good wind is usually enough time to get past the crashing stage, figure out the wind window, and get the basic turns down. you've likely got that with your stunter, cheap though you say it is...

with the 4-line kites you'll get a bit more complexity and a ton more power in the right winds. With the basic skills above, it's easier to deal with the power.

the biggest hurdle in getting comfy on 4 lines is, yes, figuring out the brakes. A lot of people use them unintentionally, usually as a consequence of gripping the handles too hard so the brakes are partially tensioned and the kite stalls out really easily. Your handles need to pivot around the power lines, as do your hands, so the brakes move towards and away from the kite easily and quickly. you don't need much tension on the brakes before they begin to work. Once folks figure out how to activate AND release the brakes to help with turns, then it's on to reverse relaunches and after that and a packing lesson folks are ready to borrow a kite and start flying a variety of winds....

It's so easy to show, but hard to explain. DVD's are good but youtube has plenty of material to learn from if you don't want to spend the bucks. researching forums and looking for links is also good...

Do try to link up with geo gones or any other experienced flyer -- they'll make all the above crystal clear in minutes! And we all enjoy getting somebody started kiting, it's a real buzz seeing somebody learn enough to start taking off on the kite learning curve!

You can't go wrong with the beamer, if it's new the set-up guide will be solid and the kite will be ready to fly with a minimum of fussing about. The Q's you had above about knot placement and bridles and such will be very simple to answer for yourself with a quick look at the stuff that comes with the kite.

A 2 line to get used to kites is good to get used to the kite window. I still like a static fly with the 2 line as it moves well arond the sky, It is good for others to try a kite as well. But as for getting into power kiting 4 lines is the best way to go.

youve made a good choice with the beamer--i think most people here would recomend it....setup is pretty easy--theres a booklet that shows you how that comes w the kite--power lines and brake lines are green if memory is correct,so they are easy to sort out--if youre confused about where to put the kite killers,go to racekites.com theres a tutorial about how to attach them over there--and while youre there look at the parapacking tutorial--its a simple way to pack up your kite without tangling up your lines--then next time youre ready to fly,stake out your handles,roll out your lines and youre ready to fly--takes about 30 seconds.....dont want to scare you,but be careful flying this kite--you should be ok if you take it out in light winds--just remember to let go of the handles if you feel overpowered.......im sure you'll have fun---just remember it is a POWER kite.good luck and let us know when you fly this:singing:

ardrouin, I'm in Algonac MI. You said you were in Southeast Michigan, and that can be a little vague. Let me know!

geojones, I don't make it to Ohio often, despite living in Michigan all my life, but if you're willing to show some newbies a thing or 2, I may be able to drop down in the spring to see you fly=) I'll be getting my first kite(s) very soon and I'm terribly excited!

Last active: 5-26-2009 at 09:10 PM


Try the Email in his profile and welcome to the forum!

I just started flying myself and bought a Rush 250 2 line. Listen to these guys and read acampbell's stuff. I learned a TON. The two line is nice but really difficult to reverse relaunch. You will figure out the 4 line really quick!

If you do still decide to go with the Rush...do yourself a favor and get the pro 3 line version for reverse relaunch. I have not flown one but it sure does look easier to get back off the ground.

If you can though....get the 4 line...you will love it.