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June 3 2002 by Paul Allan 

Hey all,

I'm looking to rip in to some serious Kite Surfing this summer in Central Canada, but I have no idea about what kind of equipment I should get my hands on to start. Is it a good idea to buy used gear? If so, do you have any???

Any info about a good all around setup for winds ranging from 6-25 knots would be really cool.

Cheers,
PA

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June 3 2002 by doomwheels

>Is it a good idea to buy used gear? If so, do you have any???

Used gear is the less expensive way of getting your feet wet (so to speak), but I would suggest not skimping on instruction.

I believe there are a few kite surfing schools in Canada and would suggest looking in your area for some qualified instruction. New surfers who start with lessons advance quicker and usually get more out of the sport. Plus schools will sometimes offer deals on equipment.

Otherwise, here are a couple links to check for used kitesurfing gear:
kites: http://www.wickedwind.com
kites and boards: http://www.primoweb.com/kites

Good luck,
BC

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June 4 2002 by paul

Cheers, and thanks for the info. I checked out the classifieds and found a couple leads.

I'll be doing inland surfing with winds ranging from 6-25 knots. What is a good size all around kite to learn on? Would a 9 M kite do it?

Thanks,
PA

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June 4 2002 by doomwheels

>I'll be doing inland surfing with winds ranging from 6-25 knots.

This is a fairly wide range and there is no one kite size that works best in all wind conditions. The rule is, you will need a large kite for light wind and increasingly smaller kites for heavy wind.

>What is a good size all around kite to learn on? Would a 9 M kite do it?

Continuing my thought from above... not only is the preferred kite size relative to the wind conditions, but to the type of kite as well. A quadline foil such as a KiteSurfer XXL (7M) will pull more than a tube kite of the same size.

So, how to get started...

I suggest If you weigh between 165-190 and plan to fly in winds of 15-20mph, you could safely start with a 7M quadline foil or a 9 -11 M tube kite.

As the wind conditions decrease, you should consider a second larger kite. Increases... a third smaller kite.

Hope that helps,
BC

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September 7 2002 by Brock

Hey there, I have two suggestions, first of all, have you ever flown traction kites, cause if not I'd highly suggest you buy a trainer kite first (such as a Slingshot B-2 trainer) that would be the best way not to kill yourself. Secondly, the person who can answer lots of questions on traction kiting is Jeff of www.kitemare.com and let him know that Brock sent you.

Good winds,
Brock