Yet another nooby asking the ones that hopefully know better than him topic, sorry.

Ive entertained the idea of taking up kite surfing for about 2 years now, decided its time so im almost ready to buy a neo2 11m and a liquid force wfl 140 (for lack of any board knowledge and price point for sure). thought id fly it buy you guys first to have a go at it.

Bio
I live about 2 hours north of San Fransisco about 40 min inland from Fort Bragg wind range is usually a consistent 5-10mph every after noon, some days it does get better 10-15 25 tops (storm or pressure change) . i am 200lb or less 5'5. Live right next to lake Mendocino and quite close to clear lake, where i expect ill spend most of my time in the beginning.

I've flown 2 line stunt kites from small to big since i was 12 or so (35 now) just got a hydra 350 to try out hq's quality and was impressed. i am not going to pretend i can handle any kite but id call my flying skills abit above most. i can make a kite go where i want it to for the most part, and understand and damn near flirt with the wind. also have a few years as first mate on sailing boats from 20' to 45'.

My questions would be will this kite work for kite boarding in such light wind?
Will i need to get another size real soon to be able to stay up. or will it over power me as i try to learn to kite surf?
Will my board keep me going for at least the first year? or will i be needing something different real soon?

As a side note when i first started looking i fell in love with how sexy the flysurfer speed 3 's are, and wanted one for a hot minute, then oogled at the charges, but as a person who has started way more than one hobby ive learned to start on the cost effective side and build if i fall in love with it.
ah well i think ive asked enough to get the topic started, any and all welcome to input.

I have a 11m here. I haven't had a chance to fly it yet. Come on down and well give it go.

My guess you will need more than 10mph to get going on H2o

I have a Neo 1 11m and it will fly in 5-10 but it wouldn't get me going on water. I can start to roll on my landboard in thick grass at about 10mph. I haven't heard that the neo2 has more power but an improved safety and bar I think.

I think it would get you going pretty good on a landboard on the beach with a 10mph onshore wind. On water.... I doubt it.

hmmm. The fascination is getting out on the water with a kite. Im not into getting more skinned up knees elbows and whatnot, (i got a motorcycle for that) Should i be thinking about the neo 14m then? The other option i was looking into was a charger 15m. Would that get me going for the 10 mph days? Would the 11m work on the days it gets to 15mph or so? lol i already understand im asking for the one shot deal and there is a reason every one has more than one kite. i guess my main goal is to get out on the water on id say 7 to 20 mph range.

I think the neo would get you going arround 13-15mph. It would seem like the 14 would do better but some people seem unsure. best bet is to try and fly one like Dakitez offered

around 160 lbs.(maybe 180) the 11m should be great in 12-15mph on the water to start. any heavier, board compensation may be needed . but in general should fine.

10-12mph is doable. this is a skill element with no current in the mix. fun versatile kite . like a bargain FS

Yea dakitez's offer has me pondering how/when i can do a road trip, and if the winds in galt are close to mine, heh.
I did some scanning on ikitesurf in its archived wind speeds for my area and it appears i was correct on the wind being about 10mph every after noon in the summer, this mixed with about 5 to 10 days getting almost 20's. So does this mean ill sit around jonesing for those 5 day,s a month with the 11m ?
oh and phreerider yea it is the budget fs for me ;-) .looks like you may know something about boards does this one
http://www.calikites.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=2_50...
look like it will work? ( i have studied kites quite abit ,boards not so much)
Any way thanks for all the input so far.

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Originally posted by highazakite I did some scanning on ikitesurf in its archived wind speeds for my area and it appears i was correct on the wind being about 10mph every after noon in the summer, this mixed with about 5 to 10 days getting almost 20's. So does this mean ill sit around jonesing for those 5 day,s a month with the 11m ?

no its the other way around.

10mph is just under 9 knots, you will not be kitesurfing on the water in 9 knts on a NEO 11 - as a beginner -in my experience. A 14 may do - just. But its marginal

On the 5 to 10 days at 20mph you will.

Thats where the cost of a large FS needs to be weighed up against kiteable days.

From talking to Craig at HQ I get the idea that the 14m Neo is more for the heavier rider, 200 lbs/ 14 stone needing more grunt on the water. The added weight and slower turning will not give it a lower low end than than the 11. He thinks it would be too much for most on snow and too much for anyone on land.

Well i looked into the flysurfers and while they look way cool and probably better for what im trying to do i decided the neo2 11m was a better deal. Ordered all my stuff last night (dino ya need to stock leashes if your selling these i would think).

i would like to thank all who provided input it was appreciated and think you guys have shined a realistic light on the gear im getting. thanks.

ill update when i get and what i think.

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Originally posted by highazakite (dino ya need to stock leashes if your selling these i would think).

Not Dino's bad; those leashes have not been available to dealers until just now. Lord knows it's caused me grief, LOL.

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Originally posted by acampbell Quote: Originally posted by highazakite (dino ya need to stock leashes if your selling these i would think). Not Dino's bad; those leashes have not been available to dealers until just now. Lord knows it's caused me grief, LOL.

lol... :smug:

hahah acampbell , is that the leash that got you roasted as the most evil business guy in the world? I could not help but shake my head reading that post. Almost went to your site and bought something just a a consolation for having to endure. I found a north leash from calikites as i ordered my board from them, any leash will do yea? all the same just some diff ways to do the same thing? any way just sent my life history email back to dino so he will sell me my kite, gota hand it to the guy he cares. any way back to work for now.

thanks for the order. I did not put two and two together on this one. I did just get your life history to be honest if it were not for this thread I probably wouldn't have sold it to you

Angus is correct on the leashes. They are in stock and I am sending you one for free with the kite. So send your other leash back. i will have your tracking info emailed to you shortly.

Now stoked as i run out the door to get back to work.
thanks dino for the leash you have at least one word of mouth advertiser for your dedication.

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Originally posted by highazakite hahah acampbell , is that the leash that got you roasted as the most evil business guy in the world? I could not help but shake my head reading that post. Almost went to your site and bought something just a a consolation for having to endure. I found a north leash from calikites as i ordered my board from them, any leash will do yea? all the same just some diff ways to do the same thing? any way just sent my life history email back to dino so he will sell me my kite, gota hand it to the guy he cares. any way back to work for now.

Yeah thanks for getting the reference; that was a nasty insect bite! But thanks for the charitable thoughts. You are in good hands with Dino and he will take good care of you.

Most of our US suppliers are extremely reliable (well then there is Ozone) but it appears to be a universal problem with NEW products, and the HQ leashes are a typical example where the producer does not always know when the first delivery will come out. Same with Peter Lynn and Flexi.

you will need 13/14 mph with the correct board, and skillz to get going...............16/17 would be lower third to midrange for that size...................for 10kts/10mph none of the aforementioned kites will get the job done on water..................................

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or 10kts/10mph none of the aforementioned kites will get the job done on water..................................

I have realized this and accept that 10mph on water is a very specialized and hard to attain tridude. So im going with the affordable introduction and shoot for the windier days. I may decide at a latter date to try for the low wind setup. I only live about and hour from the coast so worst case i can drive on over and wind-ranges are generally about right there. Thanks for the input.

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Quote: Originally posted by highazakite oh and phreerider yea it is the budget fs for me ;-) .looks like you may know something about boards does this one http://www.calikites.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=2_50... look like it will work? ( i have studied kites quite abit ,boards not so much) Any way thanks for all the input so far.

too small for those conditions , maybe if you where <140lbs.

a floaty directional about 6' , skim board for sure, but a bit of kite and riding skills to go with it. light air on the water is challenging to work with. in the beginning you want confident power , you will gain better riding skills well powered.

good call High..................I scoped out the local winds for a good year before I went with light wind gear...........most of us have to balance family, job, etc into the equation too. Ive flown the 11m Neo 1 anf the 8m N1 proto...............I liked them alot..........flying characteristcs and bar pressure basically the same as the Flysurfer Pulse...................good luck and if you need any tips etc let us know..........................

Well callikites.com wins the first ups truck at my door prize (hand out a cookie).
Got my wfl140 assembled and it looks nice for the cheapest new board i could find.
Thanks again for the info phreerider, it may just get handed down to my daughter for her light wind board, she is 12 and probably wont be 140lb for a while.
And tridude thanks for the moral support and making me believe i went the right way.
Ill do pictures tomorrow when i have some time

Was on my porch when i got home for lunch. The kid and i had the containing box shredded in 2.2 seconds. Wow is the 11m neo2 big! The green is an awesome color, did i say it was big? id take pictures of it but i hate picks of flat kites on the floor so ill wait till my harness gets here and take a shot or 2 all blown up, (saved a couple of bucks buying harness on sale, now its on the slowest truck from the east coast to cali, ah well.) thanks again for the safety harness dakitez, the extra mile is appreciated.

yeh kite get some pics up asap

Ok took it out to the park. 0mph wind to sort the lines and check it out, tried out my go pro and did my first youtube upload (a couple of first's today) I used the windows 7 live movie maker after recording in go pros 720p. Quick clip but tell me if it looks alright and the hd works if ya care to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8kPMZ-4MUI

they sure look big laying on the ground like that :shocked2:

Make sure you have the camera rolling on your first flight!

Damn...shouldn't have looked at the video...nice kite...now I want one ;-)

Yea lunchbox it looks way better in the light, was shot after the sun had went over the mountain.The green and silver set off with the orange is just perfect. When i was looking at the online pics i liked it... but when i pulled it out it far exceeded my expectations.

Well good news (kinda) harness just landed in Sacramento from it's long journey from the east coast. Just might get to my door on time tomorrow.

Should even attempt to static fly this thing or should i wait for my wetsuit and hit the water?
Forecast calls for 7mph on sat and 10 on sunday. Sounds on the safer side on sat. Id love to get it in the air and feel it. (yea dino the gopro will be going)
ill wait on input from some others wiser than me.
i have no desire to get hurt.

I would fly it static to get used to it before hitting the water.
Good Luck

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I would fly it static to get used to it before hitting the water.

Yep...I second that. Definitely get comfortable with your kite before you hit the water. As with any new kite, start with light winds to get the feel of the kite and how it flies! 7-10mph you should be fine.

Have fun...looking forward to seeing the vid!