Hi please can someone help.

I am looking to buy a kite with the intention of landboarding on Ainsdale beach in the North West. I am however at a loss as to what kite to buy as a novice. I'm about average height and weigh about 180lbs (13 stone).
I'm looking to board and down the beach but also hope to get some air, however I have recieved very opposing recommendations on kites, One recommendation was for a flexifoil 4.9m blade4, the other a 3m Flexifoil Bullet.
Am I better buying a depowerable kite so that it can progress with me as I don't want to be in a situation that I have to buy again in a few months time.
Please can someone give me some advice on which would be better or perhaps suggest models that they feel might be better suited?

Thanks

Well, the 4.9 Blade III was touted as being one of the most aggressive kites out there. The IV has been toned down a bit from what I hear and it has a bridle adjuster but I'm not so sure it is the best kite to start with. It's likely a great kite and those who have flown it can tell you more but you need to be careful as blades are aggressive, high aspect, fast and lifty kites. It will get you airborne but if you are new it might be a bit too aggressive and you don't want to be intimidated or worse off, injured.

Blades are very different from bullets. Bullets are meant to pull hard and lift a little (all kites will lift in the right conditions but some... blades... lift a lot more). Blades are meant to pull and lift. From a boarding perspective, the blade would be a better kite because of its lift you can fly it higher in the window and lean back against it. Bullets will start to loose power higher in the window meaning you will want to fly it lower in the power zone which means its pull will be more lateral than vertical which can be good for slides but when you get yanked you get yanked out as opposed to up.

You can board with the bullet and do some low altitude jumping and power slides, etc. Its upwind ability probably isn't as good as the blade??? but I haven't flown either so I could be wrong here.

No matter what you buy, one kite isn't going to do it. A 4m kite is a good place to start depending upon your weight and conditions. Alternatives would be a Samuari or Buster (closer to the bullet) or a radsail, crossfire (closer to the blade) or a Brooza (maybe a decent compromise) . Others will have different thoughts and there is always depower - they make jumping easier and have a greater useable range per kite but they have their cons to.

Well said, B-Roc. I am afraid there is no such a thing as "one kite does it all." When I started landboarding, I was looking for that magic kite but now, look at my quiver. You are going to end up with more than one kites, so you might as well start with small one and move up. Besides, you are going to need that small kite for high wind. I started with my Bullet 3.5 and sold it later, thinking I graduated from small kite. I regreted it and ended up buying Rage 3.5. - Brian

T-tree, I’ve only been flying for a short while myself but I’ve tended to go around Crosby and Formby, if you need someone to fly with just drop me a line

Yay! that'd be great... i think assuming all goes well i'll be getting a kite this week so if the offer is good i might drop you a line soon.
thanks

Been to ainsdale quite a bit too, mostly st annes near b pool though, i would suggest a 4.5 bullet as it pulls quite a bit and i use mine from about10mph up to 30mph, not so good on the jumps with it though it tends to drop you quite a bit , and your about the same weight and height as me, but if you get a bullet definately 4.5 or bigger , any smaller and you will be bored pretty quick or in winds under 15mph, blade is a good shout too , better for lifty jumps and landing , you can get a blade 3 4.9 from ebay for about £180, ijust got a 6.6 for £185 so you might get lucky , if you wanna pm me im selling my bullet 4.5 as i tend to use my 7.o mtr mainly now. If you want any more specific details or good spots in the NW let me know , only want £120 for the bullet too so ill give you a first refusal before i list it for sale on here. all the best

I forgot to say before , my mate bought a 3.5 bullet at the same time i got my 4.5 and was a bit bored with it after a coulple of weeks as he was seeing me go faster and higher without trying ,up to you but i wouldnt go any smaller that 4 mtr, hope this helps you