I'm new to ski kiting and I'm looking for suggestions for a first kite.

I am an expert skier, I have used a skimbat (like a small hang glider) in the past on a frozen lake with skiis. The skimbat was easy to depower and you could just let go of it when things got dicey. I have also done a bit of windsurfing. I have not flown a kite before.

I plan to ski kite on a frozen lake with snow. Winds will be anywhere from 5mph to 20mph and gusty. I weigh around 170 lbs.

My questions are:
what type of kite would be best?
2 or 4 lines?
size?
what else am I overlooking?

I don't want a kite that lacks power to move me, but I don't want one that is too powerful for a beginner. Are some kites better in gusty conditions than others? Are some kites easier to power down if the wind kicks up suddenly?

Oh, I also don't want to spend a lot...

Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks

4 line is best. Most people should learn with a 3m kite to start off with. Many other people will post a whole lot more info as time goes on :D.

Nasa wings may be the way to go. They are a single skin kite that does very well in gusty inland wind and the cost is much less than foils.


You want a 4 lines kite. It gives you more control. A kite in the 3 meter size to learn on would be a good place to start.

Susan (npw goddess)

I think the only issue with starting with an NPW is that they require a bit more finesse to fly well. At least, that's what I find.

They just need more brake input.

Susan (npw goddess)

I was looking a 3m kites and I found a couple from HQ. There is a Beamer for $265 and a Scout for $350. The Beamer has handles for controls and the Scout has a bar. Which would be best for kite skiing?

Thanks!

i like handles... a buddy that flew with me for a while before buying his first kite... bought a 4.1m twister... hes about your size and does a little ATBing with it... i like PL's build quality, and have had good luck with their dealers here in the states... i like a twister or a hornet on handles in the 4m range... twister will be more lift, hornet more beginner-ish... i'm sure you'd like both tho

Of your choices, beamers are great beginner kites, and wether you are looking at beamers, hornets, (insert base-level-flexi-kite here [i forgot]) they all pretty much fly and handle the same... i'd go with handles tho, better control IMO

let us know how it goes!

Either way you go, handles or bar, a harness will be needed to take up most of the load. (to keep your arms from getting too tired) Handles and a harness require a strop to hook between the handles, then to your harness. Bar controls often come with a chicken loop safety release to hook to your harness, though I'm not sure if the Scout bar has this option. There are quick release bar connections available, though. (also known as a 'd' loop) I find that most snowkiters in this area prefer bar control, but must add that many of those have never flown on handles! I love flying on handles due to the fine control not available flying on a bar. I also would not rule out the NPW for learning on. I find that the 2.4M I have seems to be a combo of just enough pull and speed to teach a newbie on, and you would really need very high wind to get hurt with, and then a newbie shouldn't be out flying in that high of a wind, anyway. Maybe it is just because my first handled kite was a 4.8M NPW, but I found it quite easy to learn control with it, and then going to a handled foil was a breeze, possibly because of the added brake input needed to control the NPW.(?dunno, I know others have had trouble with NPW'S after learning handle control with a foil?) I did get quite a ride this past weekend with my new 7M NPW and snowboard. This was without a strop, as I'm still getting comfortable with the kite, but soon I'll be ok with that, too. I know all this doesn't help much with your decision on Beamer/Scout, but both are good trainer/high wind kites, just be aware of the need for a harness, and at least a helmet for safety.

Beamer and Scout are effectively the same kite. The only difference is that one comes with handles and the other with a bar. The Scout bar does come with a 'd' loop attached to it that can be used to hook into a harness. I would not recommend hooking in until you have plenty of experience with the kite. You can get far more control (and tighter turning) with handles.

I owned a Scout and wasn't a big fan of it, but then I'm not a big fan of the Beamer either. Many people love them though.

Where are you located? Maybe someone on here is local to you and you can hook up with them to try some kites out, get some pointers and get a better grasp on which direction you want to take.

Since you have no kiting experience, I would definitely suggest a 3m fixed bridle kite to learn the ropes. The 3m Beamer is an excellent choice and usually one of the top recommended kites for beginners. I also don't recommend flying hooked in any way until you have enough experience under your belt.

And welcome to the forum by the way!

I forgot to fill out my profile, I am in Colorado. There is a group of people who kite board on Lake Dillon, which is only a few minutes away from my house. I should head over there and see what people are flying.

There is a local company that has lessons. I was thinking of that, but the $150 for the lesson could be put toward a kite and I could teach myself. I'm one of the recently unemployed, so I have a lot of time on my hands, but no money.


I agree about not hooking in until I have experience. I used to fly a skimbat and I never crashed it until I hooked in.

I'd definitely try to meet up with some of the locals if you can, the knowledge you could soak up would be very beneficial. I hear you on not wanting to drop the money on the lessons when the money can be put towards a kite. If you CAN'T find someone to help show you the ropes though, i'd still consider it for the type of kiting you want to get into. Plus, some places will hook you up with a discount on gear when you take lessons with them...something to look into.

a guy on the boards here, rudeboysaude (i think i spelled that right) is in CO... never met him, but seems like a really chill guy, i'm sure he'd help ya out...

If you ever make it into Nebraska (Scottsbluff), you're more than welcome to try out my limited stash of kites

Def. get to Dillon, I read a lot goes on there. Someone will probably be happy to get you started. I didn't mean to suggest that you should be hooking in right away, but that a harness would be a necessary piece of equipment eventually, as your safety equipment should definitely come first!

on the lesson front... teach yourself the basics on a small kite, which is not much more than the price of a lesson, and much less if you make your own NPW... The better time to take a lesson is when you start to get on the snow or water with a big kite, but by then you may be more comfy just to go on teaching yourself.

the main thing when teaching yourself with a big kite is to completely familiarize yourself with the safety and quick-release systems before flying it fully powered.

if you've already been spanked by the skimbat, you've got the respect for the wind you'll need, that alone will greatly reduce your chances of injury.