You don't see that question too often as compared to the “I'm new what do I buy” question. If you ask me, the second kite question seems more important to ask as there are more options and the dollar investment is greater. If I did it all over again knowing what I know now I would have saved longer and bought a depower…but I was impatient at the time and could not afford the additional cost…(harness, land board, bar system).

bump to unlock

My point was more the 100 dollar lesson compaired to the 300 dollar kite.

dtoast if you bought a beamer 3M new it would have been 250, then next week you bought the crossfire new for around 500. thats 750.

Or you could have taken a lesson for 100 bucks, been told you need such and such size depower and had 650 to go buy the kite and harness ect. You might have to search for some real good deals to get it all for that price but would have been almost there.

No choice but to learn by yourself 3M. Depending on how fast you learn you might be bored with it in a week. So buy used. A 5M is managable in light winds but it only takes one gust at the wrong time to get hurt bad.

I love depower, but still have fixed bridle kites. I just have different fixed bridles than my second or third kites were. I had to feel my way through it. Short version: I got my 3m Beamer, then a 5m blaze, then a 5m crossfire (which I upgraded to a CF II) because I was ready for more power and heck, some lift would be fun. Got a blade 6.5 because even more lift would be even more fun (and it was). Then I got the buggy and the liquidation started so I could get non-lifty fixed bridles. I still have 4 and will add a 3m Scout when they come out but my fixed bridle kites are in addition to the depowers and I don't see myself ever giving up either the fixed bridle kites or depower. They peacefully coexist and I guess they always will. A 2 hour lesson in the spring of 2007 wouldn't have moved me through my process any more efficiently.

My problem with the initial lessons was I kept forgetting ... wasting time learning to rig when I can learn that from a DVD and repetition by myself :wow:

Quote:

Originally posted by BeamerBob . A 2 hour lesson in the spring of 2007 wouldn't have moved me through my process any more efficiently.

Gee B'bob, I have always sort of thought your progression was slowed by spending so much time flying before hooking in and trying depower. A good , safe , respectable pace that was working for you. I can't help but think that if you had taken a good 2 hour lesson back then that you would have broken in to that whole hooked in / depower angle sooner though? Are you sure it wouldn't have altered the course you took a fare bit ?

Even with lessons and a 9m C kite and 3m 3line on a bar I was SHOCKED at the power that my 4.5 Bullet hit me with 1st time out. Handles added to the intimidation having only used a bar at that point.

I talked to th guy who does lessons by me, he said you spend about 15 to 30 min ( depending on the person) on a 3m fix, then he said they go almost strait to a inflatible depower or whatever suits you for what you are looking into getting into. He also said the second kite can start at a 7m anyways, it all matters on the wind. He also said he is going to try to get me good deals on stuff that is used from the shop. So really I think it's worth the one or two lessons to get the hang of stuff, so you don't hVe to spend 200+ on a 3m kite you may or may not use after the first 2 weeks