hi,im over 200lbs guy looking for a first powerkite for jumping on a field.i have problem with my wrist so id rather to use a control bar and a back supporting harness(even for a first kite|)
My question is: whats the best kite for a Begginer like me (it can be a 4liner. Please send me plenty of examples if possible .
ps. i live in kent, england and a wind range is beetwen 7-20mph usually. )

That's a deadly request when jumping and first kite are the same goal. You'd be best served with some kiteboarding lessons to gain kite and safety skills along with product advice.

Get a lesson or break a leg, wrist, hip! http://www.thekitesurfcentre.com/kitesurfing-lessons-kent There is a local school near you, give them a go! You need to learn kite basics before you get to the jumping part, and jumping of any kind on land is very dangerous! (but very fun!)

Don't be this guy! (broken arm, broken hip, cracked vertebrae, concussion, broken leg all resulted from this fall)




A good school will allow you to learn safely, and help introduce you to other local people in your area who kite, and most likely one of those locals will be selling a used kite that should be perfect for you.

Have fun and be safe!

Get a 3m Flexi Rage/Sting, PKD Buster, Zebra Z1, HQ Beamer, Ozone Flow/Octane and learn to fly the snot out of it first. Then when you've got that dialed in and you know about inland/onshore winds etc, then you should consider your next kite and you'll have a good idea about jumping. But if you start off with, say, a 7m Twister for jumping inland....I'm pretty sure it won't end well.

Before you jump with a kite you have to be able to control the kite without even looking at it. In order to learn how to handle the kite you need something you can control. Too big a kite and you just end up defending yourself from it . Not learning much and likely getting hurt.

The tried and true method is to get about a 3 - 4m and learn the ropes on it. This is just the perfect size in that they fly in very light wind and produce big power in stronger wind. Allowing you to go out and learn in most conditions so get the most possible fly time in. Start with too big a kite and you will end up going out overpowered and in danger. With a proper sized kite you will be in charge and able to try new things without getting lifted / sent downwind as much when you make a mistake . You will progress in your learning sooo much faster with a smaller kite at 1st that the investment really pays off. If you want to go with a bar look into the Ozone Turbo Bar .

Now here is the catch. I big guy like you will need a large canopy to float out a jump. You won't be wanting to use your 3 - 4m to jump . It will lift you and then drop you like a rock.

Accept the fact you will be best off buying and learning on a 3 - 4m foil and that you will need to purchase a larger kite for jumping once your skills are up to it. You can always resell a quality trainer kite at a good price since most folks hold on to theirs. They are great for high winds and teaching friends so always have a place in your " quiver " . No single kite does everything. Accept that you will need more than 1 kite to cover your needs going in .

Nothing wrong with getting a harness and hooking in as soon as you feel comfortable / safe. It will increase your fly / learn time each session since you won't get as tired out. Get a seat harness.

Start sucking up to the Wife now 'cause she will have to accept some spending. Valentines and all !

Trust us,... The consensus is the consensus for a very good reason. Start small (3-4m) like Bladerunner said above and you'll not regret it. There is SO much to be said for learning to fly over trying to survive. I started out trying to fly too big of a kite ended up almost hurting myself, then found myself overly nervous every time I flew that kite.... I picked up a smaller kite and learned the ropes and was much more confident whenever I picked up the bigger kites.

And don't underestimate what the small kites are capable of... I'm 200 lbs myself and have had LOADS of fun with my smaller kites in the right winds... Take a look: http://vimeo.com/85508225

Hi royal9559,

Probably not the answers you were hoping for but it worries us when a beginner asks about jumping.

It takes a fair amount of skill. Sending the kite through the power zone whilst running in the opposite direction then a perfectly timed redirection of the kite is what's required. As a beginner you can expect to wipe out often.
I know people who have life long injuries after jumping. I've seen friends air lifted off the beach and some unlucky souls have checked out permanently!!

OK, enough of the doom and gloom. Some tips.

The most important thing you need to learn is the nature of the wind itself. This is an ongoing life long lesson.
Be aware that wind comes in many guises. The most obvious type of wind to avoid is heavy gusts, coincidently they occur mostly in a field near you. Gusts are obviously fleeting by nature, they can pick you up suddenly when you least expect it and drop you from great heights. Mother nature enjoys kicking ass, face and balls with equal enthusiasm.

What you need is a nice steady steam of air you can rely on for jumping. You'll hear the term 'clean winds' often.
The best place to find clean wind in your case is at the beach, so check the tides and forecasts before you set off. Don't bother with the TV forecast it's not detailed enough. Instead go to XCweather and type in your location.
For now I can let you know when the tides are 'good to go' if you're unfamiliar how to read them.

If you see red arrows on the wind forecast or big blue arrows or worse still big red ones then stay home and fly another day.
Medium sized arrows is what you're after. est 15mph-18mph.

Another important thing you must learn when jumping is to never allow yourself to become distracted.
Hands on bar, eye's on kite. Don't be looking behind you for applause once you've glided back to Earth. Land the kite, secure it then take a bow.

Oh and leave plenty of room in front of you (downwind), say 50m, in case you mess up. You want to avoid hitting people at all costs and trees and such.

Harnesses. If you need a harness then a Peter Lynn Backstrap might be the way to go as you can easily get out of it by simply touching your toes and the kite does the rest.
It wraps around your back and under your arms rather than strapped to you with buckles, belts and clips at the waist.

As forum member 'erratic winds' says, get a lesson to familiarize yourself. Thomas at the kite-surf-centre at Cambersands and Eazyrider (if he's still going) will give you some great tips. They also teach kite buggying.

I can't get down to Camber as often as I like but there's usually a few of us most weekends. You're more than welcome to try our kites. We're a friendly bunch.

Where about's in Kent are you from ?

hey,thanks for the massive lot of information.
After what i read here i will surely take necessary lessons, yet i would like someone to answer me some more Q.
does a trainer kite which i assume will need for a start have a big inpact on forearms,wrists?Could it be possible to attach myself to a harness at the beggining and use control bar instead handles.I really need to put most of my weight and kite pull on my body instead of my wrist,is there any swafe way/solution for this??


Redsky,i live in maidstone

Oh yes, a trainer kite can pull you off your feet in high winds. This is why you got to be smart when it comes to the wind.

Maidstone is a stones throw (pun intended) from Greatstone and Cambersands. Call the kite surf centre and arrange a lesson, it's a lot of fun!
They can advise you on gear. His kite shop stocks all manner of kites right on the beach and he will allow you to demo any kite.

If you want to go it alone then buy a seat harness.
Buy a kite + bar package specifically made for use with a harness. Familiarise yourself with the safety features.
Wear flat shoes or trainers not grippy boots.
Try not to fly alone and have fun.

This can be attached to any trainer/4 line kite with a bar ..... this way you can use harness .... but please ... train in light winds until you git full control ....

http://www.powerkiteshop.com/accessories/mauimagicharnesslin...

If your able to I would recommend getting a 3 meter 4 line kite on handles to start with. One of the ones John Holegate suggested. If you fly it between 8-12 knots it should not pull so hard that would hurt your wrist and you would get a feel for the wind window and get a feel for how the brake lines affect turning the kite. If you get a trainer kite on a bar you won't learn as much about the full capability of the kite IMO. Then adding a backstrap would be a inexpensive option to take the strain off in higher winds once you get the basics down.

If you have a particular problem with your wrists, then sure, you can buy a crossover or Ozone Turbo bar which suits most fixed bridle kites. They're a tad expensive and bulky compared to handles and while they don't give you the full range of control you can get with handles, there's never anything that I've needed to do with a kite that I couldn't do with the Turbo Bar. You'll also need a harness - I've used rock climbing and tree surgery harness which work ok but a proper kite harness is lighter and more suitable. ie: Ozone Base harness or Dakine Speed seat. Here's the turbo bar:

edit: oh, and as for 'Trainer Kite' - a good 3m power kite is a power kite regardless. It's just that as your skills progress, it will become your higher wind kite. My 1.5m Nasa Star saved my bacon at a recent buggying trip on several occasions when the wind was horribly gusty up to 30 knots and I was able to buggy quite confidently with the 1.5m.

What a great review of the Turbo bar John !

I really think the turbo bar is the answer to you wrist / wanting to go to a bar question 9959. I don't have personal experience with them but think they are far superior to the " crossover " bar system or a basic bar set up.

As John explains part way through his review. You lose some individual brake control with a bar. This is why so many are saying go handles. He goes on to explain how little that individual control is needed.

Again. No problem with hooking in as soon as you feel comfortable / safe doing so. The Turbo bar requires you to be hooked in to work proper.

Riding is by far the most fun you can have while swinging from a kite. Do you have plans to ride down the road or just static jump ? Odds of hurting your wrist are much greater static jumping than riding in a buggy.

Lessons are always the best way to go but don't let not taking them stop you from getting a good 3m and flying . Notice how most of us avoided using the tern " trainer kite " . A quality 3m kite becomes a valid high wind engine as you grow into it.

hi.should i go for cheaper pansh or more expensive flexifoil.
i have found this kite on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Flexifoil-Kite-Sting-Sizes-1-2m-1-...

and a control bar John have recommended me: http://www.powerkiteshop.com/ozone_turbo_control_bar.htm
not sure if they can work togheter,
also dont know what harness exacly i need since there is so many to shoose...
ps. what wind shall start with?

The Sting is an excellent kite. Super stable and a kite that you will want to keep if you choose to buggy.
Go for the 3.3m

I'd go for the excellent Flexifoil traction bar EXTREME! :D and it's 20 quid cheaper than the Turbo.

I had one and they are the mutts. You can jump and lean without the harness, no problem. The Turbo can ONLY be used with a harness. The Extreme Bar comes with safety and a BIG chicken loop so you can attach it to your harness and unhook and hook back in while flying. You can also hand it over to a friend to fly. The Turbo isn't so social. Your friends will all need there own harness or wait for you to swap yours over, assuming they're the same build as you.

http://www.powerkiteshop.com/accessories/flexifoiltractionex...

You'll get the Sting flying in next to no wind. It would make sense to start off in gentle winds first and gradually work your way up until you're comfortable with the power.

The powerkiteshop sells the Sting for £10 less than your eBay listing. Make sure you call them first to make sure it's in stock. Don't trust the 'In StocS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K- bit. They have a huge website seemingly stocking everything ever made but I've been kept waiting many times. The eBay listing is from Flexifoil themselves.

+1 for an ozone harness. They are one size fits most and I find it very comfortable. That is if you decide to go the harness route.

so i can connect sting with turbo bar or cheaper Flexifoil traction bar EXTREME?
it seems that kite cost only 90pounds on www.powerkiteshop instead of 150 on ebay...
could i get an example of what (cheaper) harness i could get please. and im ready to take some lessons under instructors supervision

gosh,so much of information,i think i will go through all that again

@redsky: On the flexifoil extreme bar, do the power lines hook to the outside leaders and the breaks to the inside? I'm assuming they do from the picture but couldn't tell for sure. If that's the case than the extreme bar is basically a crossover bar with a chicken loop added??

CAn someone just tell me what harness i should go for one of this control bars?
it would be nice to have a back support in it, but from what i see there is not much avaliable under 100pounds

Harnesses are a very personal choice.

Most folks will agree that a seat harness is best for static flying. After that it is hard say what will work best for you.

You get what you pay for in this sport . I have a Mystic harness and love it but it is expensive. There are cheaper options that will work. I suggest you shop for seat harnesses that are in your size / price range and then ask about peoples opinion before buying.

The Turbo bar and the Flexifoil bar will control your kite in VERY different ways. I suggest you get a good understanding of the difference before buying. I have plenty of experience with crossover style bars and even though I have never tried a Turbo bar I am sure I would go to one if I ever had to go to FB on a bar.

Stick with quality brands like Ozone, Fexi etc.. They cost a bit more but will be issue free and fully backed if you do have a problem. Once again, you get what you pay for. Sting is an excellent choice and I agree that 3.3 would be a good size. It will fly in very little wind. Produce power with winds about 10 KPH and you will eventually be able to take it out into the high 20's.
Anything from 7 - 17 KPH winds would be a joy to learn in. Less and you will struggle to keep the kite moving. More and the power will be a lot to take.

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

@redsky: On the flexifoil extreme bar, do the power lines hook to the outside leaders and the breaks to the inside? I'm assuming they do from the picture but couldn't tell for sure. If that's the case than the extreme bar is basically a crossover bar with a chicken loop added??

Yes and I guess so. It's been more than a few years since I rode with one and my memory is a bit cloudy. I can't remember if there was a pulley that the brake lines ran through..or not. Although I remember thinking that I wish I had discovered the bar sooner. A year later I downgraded to depower.

Looking at the picture of the Extreme bar, it's interesting to see that there's no donkeys 'tool'. It never occurred to me before and I guess I thought it was normal back then.

I never bothered with a leash either but I don't ever remember it accidentally unhooking unlike my depower experiences with a dick. Probably because the power is always full on with FB.