Hey guys just picked up an ocean branco 16m, Im new to the sport and just read that that is a pretty hard kite to fly. I want to figure it out and plan on using it in lakes here in Texas. I hear this is kind of sketchy and would like to hear some do's and donts. I read the manuel for the kite so I understand some of the basics likewind direction, powerlines, ect. There is no way I can afford the lessons so Ive been youtubeing it up. Any further advise or videos I should watch would be greatly appreciated. Havent gotten kite yet but I know it comes with bars and string Is there anything else I need to get like a harness? I have life jacket and a wake board that I plan on using.

Thanks guys!

You say you can't afford lessons...can you afford to destroy your kite? Or can you afford a trip to the hospital? Can you afford to take 3-4 weeks off of work for healing and injury?

Texas is one of the best places on earth to get lessons from, many instructors are available for all different types of prices.

You MUST use a harness to fly that kite! What type of harness? Well, with lessons you will be able to try several different types and figure out what harness works best for you....or you can waste your time and money and just purchase 5-10 different harness to find out that most of them are not what you want. You will also need a board. You can take a lesson and try several different sizes and types to find one that fits your style, riding conditions and weight....or you can waste your time purchasing dozens of boards till you learn what you do and don't like about different models until you find one you want.

You have already wasted your money on a kite that you may not be able to use most of the time. 16m is a huge kite and most people in Texas will be using something more around the 11 to 13 meter size. You would have learned this from a lesson where an instructor would have custom matched the exact kite for your size, weight and for the area you will be riding in.

I would save yourself a ton of wasted money and time and just take a lesson. There is a good chance that if you took a lesson instead of purchasing that kite, you would have been up and riding right now AND have a hands-on idea to what kite, gear, harness and board you want to buy instead of typing on here trying to figure out what to do....

Or you can go the expensive route with the possibility of destroying your gear and/or ending up in the hospital.

Wenk519- Listen to the above man! He's 100% correct! There are two ways to learn to kite, the slow&painful way is to buy a huge kite and no lessons, try to figure it out, hurt yourself loads, maybe hurt other people, often destroy the kite. You're already headed down that path! Don't continue in that direction, switch to the fast way to learn, take a lesson!

If a you think a lesson is too pricey, check your local coupon sites, like groupon/amazonlocal for a deal on one.

Make sure that your Last Wishes are made known; a new kiter on a 16m, using a wakeboard without a harness, with a couple of YouTube viewings to substitute for lessons.

You're going to get hurt or killed, kid.

Worse yet, you might end up hurting or killing someone else.

If you can't afford lessons, then you should be meeting with other kiters who can keep you from getting killed.

-joedy

Is there any way you can get out of that purchase? You are waisting money !!!!! THAT is why you got it so cheap!

That kite will scare you or kill you. Your only hope is that you pop bladders faster than bones.

Red Flags are all over this one ! Wrong kite ! Wrong board ! Wrong approach.

Sorry if you aren't hearing what you hoped. People aren't trying to be hard on you but to help you see the reality of your mistake.

An Ocean Rodeo Bronco is an old C kite. C kites are very dangerous for beginners, especially if you are inland with the gusty wind. Where about are you?? We have plenty of kitesurfers here in houston that would rather teach you for free than let you kill yourself or hurt others. If you are near the coast, talk to the kitesurfers out there , they will give you good advice on where to get the cheapest lessons and gear. I ran into a few guys that are experience and was willing to teach for $70 a lesson. The shops usually charges $300 a lesson around here.

:eekdrull: I get it guys apprciate it backed out of sale. What do yall recommend I have $250 to spend total (in college). Really dont want to get one and have to sell it in a month because I outgrew it. Looking for more of the free style type of kite. I am 6' and 175 pounds I have to kayaks rigged toether as a platform so planning on going out in the middle of the lake where no one is around to figure it out. I am in DFW area so no coast or people I could ride with that I know of.

Great move backing out of that deal !

You have the same problem many have getting into the sport. An expectation that one single kite will take you from zero to hero. Unfortunately that kite doesn't exist.

Like it or not, with your budget you will be best off buying and selling as you advance.

The big problem is that a big kite just overpowers you. You spend all your time on the defencive and not really learning control. It is all about controling the kite and setting memory reflexes at 1st.

The only approach I can suggest on your budget is to get a trainer kite. Go down to the local spot and fly it while meeting the local crew. They will likely take you in and help you step up. If you buy a quality used trainer it should sell at almost no les than you paid. Sell and use the money to buy the right kite for your location.

Check our www.kitesurfingschool.com

Also kiss the notion of a set budget toward kiting goodbye. There will always be something else you want / need . Wakeboards don't work well with kites. Harness, wetsuit ....

Mike is in your area. He's a dealer and member of this forum. Contact him so he can help you find a trainer kite to learn with.

Www.bigmikeskites.com

ya, don't do kitesurfing solo....get somebody to guide you. Learning on land with a small kite is *possible*, but on the water, you need a ton more power to even go anywhere....so a guide is the only way to go (whether it be paid lessons or somebody who show you the ropes for free).

Also, reality check, $250 is not gonna get you riding really. Being in college is a tough time to start kiting cause of the investment needed. It's sucks, but that is the nature of the sport - gear intensive. Wouldn't buy a kite that's older than than 2007, and those go for around $250 at the cheapest (unless they are in really bad shape, and then you don't want them). A used harness another $100, a kiteboard another $200 (wakeboard has too much rocker), and probably a wetsuit, another $50-100. And that would be finding all the right gear at some really really good prices. So, really, expect a bit higher bill than that. Best to have that money in hand before being serious about kiting.

Yes to everything above. I live in south Texas and have tried Canyon Lake and the coast in Corpus. You do not want to be in a lake with the water over your head to learn. The winds are gusty and shifty and that makes it even harder. Go to the coast where you can stand up and the wind is consistent....like Wildcat in Corpus. I will tell you it is going to be difficult or impossible to learn if you are not willing to get to the coast.

Get ahold of Mike Reedy....he is by you in Dallas and can help you out.

I thought just like you and did not want to do the lesson but it was well worth it. Talk to the guys at Kiteboarding.com. They are awesome certified instructors that can help alot and keep you in one piece. If you really want an in depth 411 u2u me and I will give you a number to get me at. How much flying have you done?

The best thing you can do for yourself is to buy a smaller trainer kite (1.5-2.5 meter size) and used the rest of the money towards lessons. Fly fly and fly that trainer until you know it inside and out. At the very least you should take a lesson that teaches you how to properly set up a 4 line kite, how to use all the safeties on the kite, launch and land techniques, depower the kite, the wind window, how to properly size a kite, and recognizing dangers in your kite spots. A lot of places give lessons in steps and if you call a local shop I am sure they could work with you and your budget.

Also, get down to a local spot with other kiters and talk to them. Listen to their advice and get to know them, you never know when some one might be selling some gear that you could score.

A reckless kiter is a danger to himself and to the sport.

Go to your local shop.
Ours offers a free intro every second Thursday. Others rent trainer kites. Without lessons your only logical choice is to buy a trainer and fly it until it's part of you. Save hard while your learning and shop for a good deal .

Yeah bud, no way you are getting kitesurfing on $250. Get a trainer kite and enjoy that. you will get the flying skills that are the basis of all kitesports just by flying it alot and not much can go wrong until the winds get up around 30mph... Do get something that has some pull though or you will not learn to react to it. I'm your size and I learned on a 3.5m foil (which i still fly quite often)


To save money on lessons get an instructional DVD too. The "progression" series is really good for kitesurfing and land boarding.