I am new to the power kiting industry and looking to buy my first power kite. I have around a $300 budget. I am an avid wakeboarder and advanced in stunt kites. I weigh about 235lbs and am 6'3".

I live in Missouri and the wind is very mild in the summer and around 8-14 mph in the fall and spring.

I am looking for a good all around kite for boarding and jumping. I have been looking at the Pansh Ace 6.0, Slingshot b6- 6.0 and the HQ Beamer 3. Is a 6 meter to big for a first kite with someone my size.

is it better to go with bars or handles? And can you just jump with a bar?

I am kind of crazy but I do only have one life. Does anyone recommend a different kite? I am open to suggestions.

I'm getting anxious to buy and don't want to make the wrong decision.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

OK, you sound a bit more switched on than the average wanna jump what kite? poster....

and jumping is a lure, no doubt about it.

IF you have a good big place to fly with reasonable expectation of wind in the 8-12 range, you can just barely handle a 6m kite safely, esp. if you start in the bottom of that range. be aware that there is nearly a 3X jump in the power delivered between 8 mph and 12 mph. you can fly in much lower winds, esp if you have the right 6m, but the lower the wind the more skill is required.

IT IS really risky to get the jumping bug and go out on a big 4-liner with only stunt experience. A guy went out last year in gusty winds, no stunt experience, and 15 mins later broke his leg.

the stunt experience doesn't prepare you for the pull, nor does it prepare you for using brakes. It does teach you about the wind window and judging good vs bad wind. You don't want to fly a big kite in bad wind (gusty and wiggly: lulls mixed with punches of power, topped with the occasional bowtie, and no clear edge to the wind window = not much fun) If you can make that judgment, your safety will be way better!

Also, quality 6m kite don't come in at under $300, or only rarely. If you're considering pansh, think hard: they're great to start on but folks move off and onward to better quality as quick as possible

You'd be better off getting a kite in the 4-5 meter range, which will allow you to learn safely. Jumping will be possible with those kites in the right winds.

But if you're willing to use good wind judgement and take a few knocks, (and have health insurance) yeah give the 6 a go, there's a good chance you'll get through the first few hours without breaking anything, taking into consideration your weight and prior stunt kite time.

Furbs' advice is good, and there is a lot to be read between the lines.

You are facing the very common would-be jumper's paradox. No kite suitable for a first-timer is good for jumping and no kite good for jumping should be in the hands of a novice.

Your stunt kite experience will help with reflexes but not with management of power. Trying to compensate for a big kite by flying in light winds is actually difficult. Your prior experience complicates things by turning things from a certainty into a crap shoot. You might get lucky starting big.

Conventional wisdom has you spending well within your budget on an excellent 3-4 meter kite that will give you years of enjoyment and that will become your high-winds kite later on. Then move to a 6m kite later on for jumping if you still have the bug.

Sorry to be terse or discouraging, but this subject comes up so often and the laws of the jungle (and physics) have not changed.

How do you guys feel about the 5.6 Peter Lynn Twister on a bar? Is it a good all around kite. Would it be good for land boarding on grass, mild jumps, dragging?

Is it easy to convert the bar to handles? What are the pros/cons for bar vs. handle?

Ooh yeah, there really isn't any consistent wind in the area, there is typically mild gusts at about 6-12 mph wind.

I guess my weight is what is throwing me off. I am looking forward at growing into this sport. I appreciate your responses and the quality of them!

is the Peter Lynn twister 5.6 or the HQ Beamer 3 5.0 a better kite? Or the Blade 4.? Quality, construction, durability and ride?

Thanks for the help!!

The Twister (now the Twister II) is a great kite and very lifty. Good for the land board but watch out for the gusts. 5.6 is a good size for jumping but risky for a starter. But we've covered that.

It takes but a moment and four simple larkshead knots to move from bar to handles. Handles will offer greater finesse and control in lighter winds. The bar lets you free up a hand for a moment. That being said you can have the best of both worlds by putting a strop between you handles and hooking to a harness. But do that later when you are confident with the kite and will know what it will do next in all conditions.

GB, don't try to take the faster than fast track here. Our body dims are almost identical, (well, I've lost 10 lbs since taking up kiting and buggying). I started out with stunt kites that I flew for a few years, then flew an HQ symphony 2.2 for 4-5 years then bought a 3m Beamer III. I was really shocked at how much power it has over the symphony I was so famiar with. After a few months (and a superman) I decided I wanted something larger than the 3m, so I got a Pansh Blaze 5m. It was cheap on the wallet and I instantly doubled my quiver for $130. This kite was still a non-lifty kite under 20 mph winds. It helped me learn what Angus is talking about concerning power management. It was only after another 3 months with this that I got a kite that was suitable for jumping and even then I was wide eyed at the prospect of lift and the sheer power that 5m HQ Crossfire had. 6 months later, I sold that Pansh and another and bought a Blade IV 6.5. That kite can be real joy to fly and jump with in the right hands or it can hurt or kill you. It's performance level is very high and it can be used to magnify your abilities or your weaknesses. The time you have put in with more forgiving kites will determine which.

I can't tell you how many people have taken the route you are trying to take and hurt themselves real bad. Many more have been happy to admit that too big a kite ruined their learning experience.

You see . You don't actually learn anything when you are simply trying to survive flying a big kite. You only start to learn once you become the master of the kite. You can get to that stage much, much faster and safer by taking the proper steps.

Patience is KEY in this sport.

Hey guys, thanks for all the responses. I really appreciate the quick responses. I think I am going to buy the twister 5.6 and use in in light, light winds and also get a 2.5M HQ rush III to start out with. Is $300 shipped a good deal for the 5.6 twister?

yes, that's a good find -- $300 for one of the nicer peter lynn fixed bridle kites. you'll like it, and it will punch hard.

the 2.5 is a good buy as well, great to hear you have a more sensible kite on the way.

do make sure you get comfy on handles as well as the bar, you will likely need the extra control input when you begin to jump.

and as BR says, patience is key. give yourself time to develop your skills. you'll be well powered up in your winds with that twister. having said that, you should be able to hold it down in 6-8 mph, if you're not on slick wet grass or something....

good luck... keep it fun, not foolhardy, eh?