I chose skates because I felt more comfortable with my feet working independently. The doomwheels were a fun side project as I got to know kiting. As I started I flew static and with the XC trainers with a 4m fb kite on a bar. I learned about survival mode before I figured out speed control and heading upwind. Good armor, falling practice and luck kept my injuries limited to road rash. Just saying that a small kite can deliver way more than one's initial skill set can handle.

I was really tempted to start with a 5m kite too, because I wanted that first kite to be able to do it all. Well no one kite can do it all. Seeing as you aren't going it alone I would start with a 3m FB kite on handles learn to control it or even fly it blind as it says on so many first kite threads here. I usually read all of those as they pop up–the injury stories too. Wife got me to pick up an additional disability insurance recently. If you're not careful, at least be sensible.

Once I could roll where I wanted to most of the time, I started to get frustrated by the guys cruising past my sining kite and by watching them boosting floaty jumps, so I got a bigger kite and it was like going back to zero. It was easy to be overpowered.

If you're obsessed, your quiver is going to grow and you'll eventually have the right kite for the conditions. I'd just highly recommend not trying to skip steps along the way.

I was happy with the performance of the wheels, but I was surprised that the internal spacer was set to different depths. I incorporated this detail into the plugs I had built for my axels, so the front wheel was just 5mm off the rail and the back wheel could be either centered or 4mm off center. I noticed an advantage heading up wind compared the the trainers.

I think 8"-9" Mtb wheels would be lighter, which makes it more fun sometimes. many options:
https://www.atbshop.co.uk/mountainboard-accessories
What sort of surface will you be riding, Badam?

I trust that you know about Coyote Rollerblades?

They are my choice for a few reasons. The 3 wheels under foot makes for a much shorter wheel base. With the shorter wheel base I can revert to a ( clumsy ) run if I hit soft sand or anything that stops the wheels. There is FAR less chance of busting a leg. ( if you do a thorough search on here you will find a good number of broken legs with the wheels of doom). I can walk around in the soft sand with little extra effort. I can carve a sharp turn. With the longer wheel base you need to carve a huge turn or step turn. Coyotes run on amazingly rough turf and hard pack sand.

The only big draw back I see is the fact I can't go more than 40mph on them. If you can find them on Ebay etc. they don't cost much more than it will cost you to fabricate doom wheels.

If I was fabricating a set of these I would definitely incorporate a binding to release them!

Cheers for the advice Suds and Bladerunner. I think I'll likely experiment with a variety of surfaces. I have ready access to hills, dirt back roads, beaches so will see what works best I guess. I have looked at picking up a set or two of Coyotes but no joy yet. I've looked at those Powerslides too and, though they look nice, don't seem quite so versatile as I imagine Doomwheels would be. I must admit to being slightly apprehensive about the height of Dooms and have looked at a variety of wheel sizes. As yet I only have the inline boots so might rethink before collecting more materials for the build. I thought a 5m kite might be pushing it to begin but after reading about folk using really massive kites thought it might okay and there's a lovely one going cheap on Ebay right now. As well as trying Kite Skating I want a pair of skates for some nice off-road nordic stuff and thought I might be able to get both out of one pair of skates. I currently skate indoor on quads (Roller Derby) and want to get some more outdoor skating done away from tarmac.
Cheers again, certainly food for thought!

I have been assuming you have previous kite experience?

If you don't then starting out with a 5m kite will be a big mistake. This game is all about KITE CONTROL !!!!!!!!!

Putting your partner on a 5m kite with no experience is a great way to turn her off of the sport! Start out with a quality 3m 4 line fixed bridle foil. ( I suggest the 3.3m Buster Soulfly if you are buying new ) Used from a reputable forum is also a good way to go. You will likely want something larger down the road but the 3m will always have a place in your kite collection. It won't be wasted money.

The 3m is the tried and true size for learning kite control. It is big enough to work as a true engine and still small / fast enough to control easily. You can force it to fly in very low wind and keep flying it until the power is too much. This way you can fly and learn in the widest wind range. It is all about getting time on the ropes and setting memory reflexes before you strap on the blades. Not having to think / look at the kite as much makes figuring out getting in motion much easier.

Trying to skate with Coyotes is kind of a drag. They are clumsy and slow with the pneumatic wheels. The short wheelbase starts to work against you using them down hill. Toss up a kite and get dragged by it and all of a sudden :wow:

Sounds grand, I'll be keeping an eye out for some of those but they don't crop up a lot in the UK. I only have stunt kite experience and nothing over 1.5m. I definitely plan on honing kite skills before attaching myself to it, whatever wheels I have on my feet. This has only recently become an obsession (last three days) and I still need to finalise exactly what it is I'm making so this advice and info is invaluable. I think smaller wheels might be a better idea to begin with and am now looking at second hand mountain boards to cannibalise.

Hello again. Okay, I've settled on some 8" wheels and have the right inline boots. My next question concerns the correct type of metal for the skate frames. I have found a local company hat can quite cheaply supply some 1/2" (or any other, equal dimension) aluminium square bar but the only compound they seem to offer is the alloy 6082T6. I know nothing of alloys and wondered if anyone knows if this is going to be good/strong enough. I have read that others have used 1/2" aluminium but not of this alloy.
Any metallurgists out there?