I'm looking for a good kite to learn on in between school and work. I can go up the road to fly in a nice 15 acre hay field or down the beach on LI Sound. I'm 165 lbs, and an avid skier. After watching some peeps out in CO with the power kites a few years ago i thought I might look into it now that i have a place to Kiteski. Local winds are light here in inland CT. I'm think 3-8 on slow days and gustier 10-20 when the storm fronts come through. I would like someting that would get me stated quickly learning now with the hopes of possibly kiteskiing with a different kite this winter. I was hoping for the freebie raffle from Todd, but wasn't soo lucky... Thanks for the opportunity Todd, was thrilled to see that when i first signed on to this site. How about a Pansch 3.5 to learn on and then something else to ski with. I haven't flown any 2 handled kites but fly a mean $2.00 plastic one. Thanks for the help...Any comments on the new HQ Hydra...

Adam

4m PKD buster $125 kite only, you can get lines for cheap on ebay at the moment, handles can be bought many places or asked for on the forum.

the kite is here:

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=10759

4m maximum for your first kite, 3m is better.

Sounds like you have done your research...

3.5 ace is only good in smooth winds and it is a angry beast in big winds, not a great kite to start on. quite a bit more potential power than the buster.

The best thing to do is to find some local kiters, must of us are happy to meet up and put a couple hours into getting somebody started off right...

I'll need to see what I have set up but I might have the lines and handles to go with it and I'll make it 150 even but let me double check. Please email me if interested blake.clifton@ymail.com

Furbowski is right. 3m would be the right size. You can get by with a 4m. But when the winds are stronger, you may hope for a smaller kite. The 4 would get up without any effort on the lighter wind days.

Mike

You'll need a good collection of colourful helmets, kite killers and zippers too :D
Welcome to the sport! And this whacky place

Thanks for the info... I think a 3m would be a good start, and going into the fall, the wind will start picking up. However, I don't want to be having a harder time flying the kite becuase of lack of wind on the day that I have to fly it. What would be good for 4-6mph wind? How would a peter lynn compare to a HQ? What brand would be a good kite later on? I see a lot of people saying to by a good 3m that will just become a nice high wind flier later on... I have a good plethora of helmets for all occasions, kite killers look like a good idea, but not sure what a zipper is? :puzzled:

Any Kiters in CT?

I'm currently selling an HQ Scout 3m. The Scout was based off of the HQ Beamer which a lot of people recommend as a first kite. http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=10766 I'd be willing to drop the price to $250 for a newbie. It's a great kite, comes on the HQ crossover bar that came with it. I only flew it once on grass. I'm selling it to recoup some of the money I just spent on arcs.

Have you read this yet? http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=1985

That will help you figure some basics out.

If you are wanting something to fly in 4-6 mph wind a 3 meter will be too small. I have a Pansh Blaze 3M which is a great cheap beginnner kite. I don't even take it out though unless the wind is 8mph +. I have flown in less but you are walking backwards a lot and it is just not any fun.

I would recommend a 4m for first kite. As long as you promise you will only take it out in light winds to get the hang of it untill you are in complete control. Then you can dare to take it out in higher winds (with kite killers and helmet and pads)

however my 3M is a blst on days in the teens or 20's. It drags me all over the field. So maybe that will help you make a decent decision.

What do you guys think about the PL Twister II 4.1? The website said it was a easy flier good in gusty winds. It said it had average power and above avg lift. Is this a kite that i would keep around after/if I could learn on it? Thanks,

Above average lift is not a good thing for a new kiter, particularly in gusty conditions. Other than that, the Twister II is supposed to be a good kite.

Quote:

Originally posted by TerraKiter The website said it was a easy flier good in gusty winds.

It's all relative, but no fixed bridle is comfy to fly in gusty winds compared to a depower, I had my second flight on a synergy 12 today in gusts approaching 20 knots windspeed, my crossfire 3.2 was lofting me in slightly stronger and somewhat smoother conditions a couple of hours later.

From what I hear, the twister is smoother than most lifty FB kites. But that's like saying the marlboro lites are a little smoother than full strength red marlboros, they're both going to be pretty nasty to a non-smoker.

I recommended a twister 4,1 to a gentleman last winter who has since started big mike's kites, and he is a very good kite anchor, was 20 stone at the time, and he had to sell the kite on because of his gusty winter winds. In the same conditions he was getting by on a 3m beamer, if I'm not mistaken.

It is definitely a kite you'll keep around, I'd like a 4m jumper someday and this puppy is on my list along with a 4m blade. It's a terrible kite to learn on, but doable. You'll want to get a stable 3m as soon as possible unless your winds stay below 10 mph or so....

If you had easy access to smooth gentle winds, I'd say you'd have a lot better time with the twister. gusty conditions say 5-15 would be frustrating at best and dangerously unsafe at worst, you would need a stable fixed bridle like the beamer and the willingness to quite a few hours behind the handles, but yes, especially with the right kite, gusty winds can eventually be quite flyable.

VERY difficult in the beginning, especially with a fast lifty kite.

I haven't flown one, but from what I've read I think that would be an excellent first kite.

Again as long as you PROMISE you will only take it out in light winds to get the hang of it until you are in complete control. Then you can dare to take it out in higher winds (with kite killers and helmet and pads).

Otherwise this kite could really hurt you. There are lots of hospital stories of new kiters being to daring. We don't want you to be the next. The wind is a force to be reckoned with.

As long as you stick to the 6-10 mph winds to begin with you'll be fine. And learn to pack it up when it gets too much or skip a bad day to in order to kite another day instead of spending a LOT more time on this forum because of a broken leg :megan:

Hey guys, thanks for all the advise. I'm going to try to get some local advice from some kiters in the area before making a desision/ Right now I'm leaning toward a 3m for easy learning and safety. I could always go to the shore if I need more wind I'll keep you posted...

That is right,

The Twister is a handfull in N. Texas during the winter. I'm a big anchor and it was dragging me everywhere. But my winds from Jan-May avg 15-20mph. I fly in a field where there is nothing between me and Oklahoma. This summer's winds are below 10 and the 4.1m is great to fly. The winds will change with the seasons. A 3m is a nice safe middle of the road kite. It'll be harder to get going less than 5 mph than a 4m, but will take you farther in stronger winds.
Hangin' with the locals is always a good thing. They'll be a good source of advice and it will give you someone to fly with as well.

Have you ever flown a BEST trainer or a sensai III? Was recommended locally and what seemed like a good price (180)for a new complete trainer? I'll let you know what happens when I can finally get out there and play!!

I've flown both, sensei is better early starter in low winds, and BEST trainer has good pull in winds above 15mph or so. If you're powered up, landing can be a pain with 2 lines on a bar, make sure you have a helper or a plan b4 your launch!

So the senseii would be easier to fly in low winds but weaker in strong winds. Will I need power from a trainer? or do i want a trainer with power so I can fly it when it is very windy? :bouncy: What would be better to keep in the long term?

Thank you

Quote:

Originally posted by TerraKiter So the senseii would be easier to fly in low winds but weaker in strong winds. Will I need power from a trainer? or do i want a trainer with power so I can fly it when it is very windy? :bouncy: What would be better to keep in the long term? Thank you

can't say much more, I've set them both up for kite-surfing wannabee buddies of mine, flown them for fifteen minutes, and gone straight back to my FB's on handles without a second thought nor any desire to try them again, to be perfectly frank. The sensei did seem to be the better all-around flyer. (btw, it was a sensei copy from China, and so quite likely the real article sold grey-market without labels, happens all the time in China)

The power of a kite depends on many things, speed and AoA being among the more important. In others words a kite with low AoA can fly lots faster, and thus access some power that way where the kite with high AoA will fly slower with high AoA and thus access a different kind of power. So you'll get power from both, just different kinds.

I'm kind of weird, I'm happy jumping static and have been for a while, getting on water would be nice, another way to play with the power of the wind. The BEST and to a lesser degree the sensei have been designed to fly more like a park n ride kitesurf kite than anything else, which seems to me to limit their performance compared to 3-4 m fb's on handles. It's kind of possible to use the trainer kites for water given enough wind, but it's really a stunt, not a regular practice for anyone.

So my advice would be continue getting a decent FB in the 3-4 meter range, handles are best for learning, later you can go to a bar on something with real pull.

IMHO, you can learn more from a kite on handles than on a bar when
starting out.

I guess my bias is pretty obvious, but for what it's worth you have a couple more of my pennies...

Quote:

Originally posted by TerraKiter I'm going to try to get some local advice from some kiters in the area before making a desision/

keep working on this one, mate... your locals have the best info and the best deals in the area, and the landkite crowd in general is friendlier than the kite surf crowd, many notable exceptions to that gross generalization out there, tho.

and yes your locals recommended kites I'm not too enthusiastic about, but in the end it's your pocketbook and your decision, best of luck with it!

I have flown the BEST 3m trainer on a bar. It fly's good, but like it was said above, flying on a bar in higher winds makes it harder to land the kite. I am a big fan of the beamer series kites. I think maybe you should try the beamer 3m or 4m and stay in winds 10mph and below for a while. The nice thing about 4 line kites, they are easier to land. The beamer series is a nice beginner kite and can be used later as a nice buggy kite. That goes more for the 4m than the 3m. Very versatile kite. Both sizes will fly in 10mph winds nicely with some power becoming very apparent after 10mph winds. Not a very lifty kite at all. Being able to apply brakes to the kite to slow it down and also to land is very handy in the beginners world!IMO It still comes down to right kite, right winds, right mind! Whatever your choice fly wisely! Take a friend!

Does anybody have any comments on the HQ Rush lll 300 pro as a first kite?
My specs r I'm 210lbs with wind ranging from 5 to 20mph.

Great forum for us newbies!

The rush lll 300 pro is a great beginner kite. It flies on a bar, but it is still a good trainer.( I like to fly on handles). It has the third line for relaunching which comes in handy if you choose to fly by your self. You will be able to learn kite control, and learn the power window safely in winds you speak of. Although at 20 mph a kite this size will really be moving and could become a handful. Overall a nice kite!

Hi Guys, Thanks for all the help, and sorry for the late update. I ended up getting a demo Beamer 3m for a good price thanks to Mikes Kites. Well I have been out 3 times so far in 8-10 mph winds and have been having a blast. The kite is plenty big enough for those winds. I have been working in on figure eights and spins and learning the window. Overall I think its a great kite and def. satisfy my needs right now. Later I may learn that I need something better but right now this thing is great. Thanks for helping me get into the sport.

have fun out there, keep us posted and let us know when you want advice about kite # 2!

sounds like you are off to a great start!