Hi all, First post of hopefully many so let me start by saying a big HELLO to EVERYONE ;-)

Im 26 and have just decided to get into traction kiteing (wish i would of found this sport sooner...). I eventually want to get up on a mountain board once i feel confident i can control the kite, the only kites i have every flown are 2 line stunt kites so i understand the wind window etc but im a little scared of the raw power of these kites.

Yesterday i bought i my first power kite a Flexifoil blade 2 6.4m with the two line control bar with all the lines + spare lines and everything for £120 delivered... was that a ok price?? (plan on buying handles and new lines in a month or so). I still haven't used it but im now thinking i should of bought something abit smaller to start with like a 4 or 4.9, I only weigh 11-12ish stone.... is that 6.4m going to fly me away Mary Poppins style??? Should i get a smaller kite first and use my blade 2 when i have more experience?? Any safety advise i should know??... i am mad not insane... i don't want to get hurt too badly.

Thats all folks!!

Well.........i'll go first. A very big welcome try not to spend too much time here, it can cut into your flytime. Get a smaller kite.
Keep that one, you guys will get along in time, just not right now. Think 3/4m.......keep the blade at home right now. Welcome and Enjoy!

3m is a great starting size. I would leave the Blade in the bag for a while. Anything lifty is a big no-no when beginning. I have seen (and experienced) quite a few injuries due to new flyers learning on big, lifty kites. Try to get you hands on a 3m in one of the following:

PL Viper (2.6 or 3.9)
Ozone Flow
HQ Beamer
Flexifoil Sting
Prism Tensor

These are all very stable, predictable, and forgiving kites. Coming from a 2 line stunt background, you should find the power these kites quite ample to start off with and later on as your skills develop, they will become your high wind weapons.

Welcome to the addiction!!! Fly safe

+1 for leaving the blade at home get a different type of kite too. A beginner or intermediate kite. The blade is a more advanced kite. The standard list of starter kites, sorry if I leave one out guys, Ozone Flow, HQ Beamer, PKD Buster Soulfly, and Flexifoil Hornets. Welcome to the forum and you may want to hide your wallet.

Welcome to the forum.
I agree with the advice posted above. Aditional great kites (available on your side of the pond) Flexifoil Bullet,
Flexifoil Rage (<--this one is my favorite). A 2.5m or even 3.5m will be a good choice for you at this stage. Even after you'll be more confident in your abilities, there will be days when flying a small kite will be the only option.

Thanks for the replies guys, sucks i wont be able to use the blade just yet... but its better than injuring myself or someone else.

I didn't know that different kites where available in the uk and us... whats with that??

I can get a peter lynn hornet 4m, ozone little devil 3.5m or a ozone Imp 3.5m for a good price... Any of these kites be ok for me to learn with?? Do they have enough traction to pull me around a land board??

2M Hornet was my first "power" kite. A 3 or 4M size would be an excellent choice. A Hornet is newbie friendly but is a kite you will always have a use for, even as you become an accomplished pilot. The Hornet is a great value for it's price.

a .5m kite will pull with enough wind Any of those sound pretty good. If landboarding is what you see yourself doing then using a bar vs handles will probably be your best bet. Not to say that you can't use handles while landboarding nor a bar for buggying. Just that most people that do landboard seem to prefer a bar. Then again, when the day is over, we all seem to prefer the bar.

I was landboarding in 30mph+ winds yesterday w/ a 3m hornet on handles(170lbs). Close to having both my arms pulled off. Wish i had had somthing else to put up there.
i wouldnt worry about landboarding yet on this purchase. Get a 2/3/4m doesn't really matter. The need will always be there to have these kites.....again, leave the blade home you are gonna be tempted but not yet

Welcome to best kite forum in the universe!

"I can get a peter lynn hornet 4m, ozone little devil 3.5m or a ozone Imp 3.5m for a good price... "

As you can tell from the other suggestions, any one of those kites you mention would be a good choice to start with, and any of those will get you going on a board.

:wee:

wait until you see what a3m kite in25 mph wind can do. You will not be ready for that blade for a bit. That is a LIFTY kite. And at over 6m ,it can toss you like you were made of styrofoam.Please don't be a statistic... Welcome to the most fun you will ever have with your clothes on!:wee: Hide your wallet, cut up credit cards.:evil:

thanks for all the advise guys, looks like i'll be picking up one of the smaller kites next week (if i can spare the cash).

just seems a shame to just leave my blade packed up... i have just payed for it.lol At least i have it for when im ready go bigger.

If you don't have the ching to buy another kite, offer your Blade for trade here or at KiteCrowd if you are in the UK. I know the guys here will see to it that you get a fair trade. I imagine KiteCrowd would be the same.

The key thing is to get a manageable kite in the sky as soon as you can!

^^its a good idea but i think i'll keep it, would only end up buying one again in the future.

I've found out that here in the uk (dont know abouth the states) the older blades are well liked.... Due to them being grunty and unforgiveing.

Besides you know you have something good when people warn you about owning such a kite.

double post