hi!

I realy want to start kiteboarding, but my problem is that i don't know how big and what kind of kite should i buy! I am about 197 cm tall and weigt about 96 kg, is that too heavy for a kite to lift me? Or maybe i just need a bigger kite? Please advice me, what should i buy!

Thenx!

For Kite Landboarding, depower is the best choice. Check other post in this forum

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=3014

About size, it depends on wind speed and your skill but I would say around 10M (open cell) is a good medium size.

Do you have any kiting experience at this point?

What kind of conditions will you fly in (on grass, at the beach, inland, low winds mostly, high winds mostly, etc.)?

Weight doesn't matter. If the kite and winds are big enough - you will get lifted. Aspect ratio does matter in this respect though. All kites will lift you in the right conditions but higher aspect kites are more lifty and generally more floaty too - but they can be aggressive and down right scary if you aren't prepared to leave the good ol' terra cotta.

I kite landboard and ski and depower (requires a harness) is great but not always the best depending upon the conditions you fly and I am doing well with a fixed bridle quiver.

For your weight, I'd say a 5m fixed bridle may be where you want to start if you want to start with a fixed bridle kite. But that is a big kite so you'll need to be careful and start out in low winds. A 4m would be safer still but would require more wind to get you rolling - especially on long grass.

Let us know a little bit more about your experience and conditions and be prepared to buy more than one kite. One gets you started but many keep you going.

I'd say start with a 4m fixed power foil, then either a larger 8-9m depower, or a 6-7m fixed to complement it when the funds permit.

You really should learn on a fixed power kite, no need to harness in, easy to dump the kite if it goes pear shaped. Anything depowerable will require you to harness in right off the bat.

i have no experience what so ever in powerkiting or anything alike... The only kite i have controlled was a small two line kite, that is sold in practicaly any toystore. I live in Sweden, near the baltic seashore, where winds are quite different from day to day. Since seashores in Sweden are usualy rocky or grassy, i thing i am going to ride at open grass spaces or sometimes in sandy beaches of Lithuania. Since Sweden is a northen contrey, i'm thinking of riding my kite with a snowboard during winter time.

I know that everyone should start small, but i would like to buy something that would be good for a beginner and fun for me to ride when i'm a bit more experienced.

BTW, thenk you all for your honest and helpful answers!

I started my landboarding with Flexifoil 3.5M bullet and it tought me a lot. Of course I started just flying the kite first and later moved onto a board when I felt comfortable. As you are a bigger guy than me, 4 ~5M fixed bridle would be a good choice. And whatever you fly, don't forget a helmet! - Brian

While you may still find Bullets, the current replacement model in the Flexifoil lineup is the Rage. They are fast, hi-pull low lift kites but are stable and predictable enough for a novice, I think. A 3.5 would be a good choice for starters

Another kite in the same class is the Peter Lynn Reactor for the same build quality and a little less cost. It has a 3.8 m size in the line.

An HQ Beamer 3.6 costs even less than both above and is still an all-around good entry level kite. Lower aspect ratio and maybe not as fast as those above but still fun.

The Beamer TSR series is the same kite tuned for and equipped with a control bar. I should add that the Rage is available with a bar option too. The bar is popular with land boarders and skiers. You give up a little control finesse but you free up a hand

Even less cost and in the same category as the Beamer is the Peter Lynn Pepper 3.5 m. Also an excellent entry-level and the PL's are a really good value for the build quality. I have yet to fly it head to head with the Beamer but Scoop's review here on this forum puts it slightly ahead.

This size kite has a wide wind range and you will never out-grow them. Start out in light to moderate winds (3 Bft. or 7-11 knots) for safe fun and learning. As you become more proficient and confident, you will just fly them in higher winds and they will offer the same thrill.

By 3.5m, 4m or 5m you mean m2?

yes, flat that is ...........aj

Hey aj- good to meet you and Meg at the Treasure Island Festiival the other day.

Yeah, the convention is that 2-line kites are usually measured/ sized by their span and the 4-line kites are measured by their area (measured flat on the ground as aj indicated)

what would be the best windspeed for me to start with a 4-5m2 kite?

I think the following expectations are realistic for 4-5m...

5-6 kts/ 10-11 kph: It will start to fly but only well if the wind is steady and even then may require some finesse to keep it flying. May be frustrating for a beginner.

7-10 kts/ 13-18 kph/ 3 bft.: The sweet spot. It will fly and move smartly with enough pull for some good skudding (dragging on your feet). A good time to learn your way around the wind window. A good entry leel kite described above will build power gradually without scaring the crap out of you.

11-16 kts/ 20-29 kph/ 4 bft. : A bit much for the first time This is where such a kite will start to teach respect to a novice. You should know how to stay out of the power zone unless you know how to put the power to work with a buggy, board or whatever your poison.

The Beaufort wind scale is useful to learn. I have an adaptation intended for kiters here...

http://www.coastalwindsports.com/BeaufortScale.html

Mind you these are all generalizations.

You really do still need the smaller kite, Myself I'm 250lbs, just over 16 stone, I still have to drag out my 1.4m and 2m kites from time to time. If you have a decent 3-4m kite, you can use it for a trainer now, and it'll double as your nuking wind kite later. You simply can't get away safely with just a large kite, there will come a day where you really want to fly, the wind will be strong and it'll be sunny and you'll do what anybody would do, go flying. If you don't have a small kite, eventually you'll end up putting up a big kite in high winds and that's when bad stuff usually happens.

Get the 3m-4m ish kite first, practice then buy yourself a nice lifty 5-7m kite.

to Pablo

I just bought a 4m parafoil, it's coming next week! hopefully i'll be allright. i'll post my reviews after my first tries and maybe post some pictures

I am very thenkfull to all your helpfull answers and thenk you Pablo for caring for my safety

Good choice, I've heard lots of good reviews on those kites, Start slow, work your way up and it won't take long at all.

Soon you'll want something like a Blade IV 6.5m to complement the 4m. Once you learn the basics, and have a smaller kite for when the wind picks up you can get away with a more agressive kite for a second.