I've started teaching kitesurfing and am thinking about replacing my old 1 meter "trainer" kite. My old trainer has served me well, but because it's not depowerable and because it has such poor stability, it's actually not very easy to fly for a noob. What I'm looking for is a kite with the following qualities:

- roughly 1 - 2 meters in size
- depowerable
- open cell
- works with a bar
- good lightwind performance
- very stable
- relatively cheap price

Any suggestions?

suggestions:

U-Turn Butan 2.5 w/ UDS ... you can also convert back to 4 line / Handles in seconds.

Gin Zig Depower 2.0m

Hq Apex 3.0

i'm sure there is more out there but thats all i can think of at 2am.

Parameters 1,2 and 4 are at odds with each other as I don't know a de-power kite beides maybe a flysurfer (aint cheap) that will work in light wind unless you get up around 9-12m.

Otherwise I would agree that the Apex 3m meets most of your needs: De-power, open cell, stable, affordable.

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Parameters 1,2 and 4 are at odds with each other as I don't know a de-power kite beides maybe a flysurfer (aint cheap) that will work in light wind unless you get up around 9-12m.

I'm not looking for a kite that will have any appreciable pull in light winds, it just needs to be able to fly in light winds (say 8 mph and over). How does the Apex perform in those kinds of winds and does anyone know where I might pick one up cheap?

I have an Apex 7m demo that I can let go of at a reasonable price but it would be tough to fly at even 8 mph. Even they you would have to get it moving right away in a buggy or on an ATB to get it to behave right, and that would not suit your purpose.

Your best bet might be a light 2-line trainer like a Rush. It effectively teaches the dynamics of the wind window and can be used in light winds. And it's certainly affordable. Somethinkg like that is what the instructors on our beach use to teach and it doubles as a passtime to play with -maybe with an ATB - while waiting for the wind to build enough to un-pack the LEIs.

Thanks Angus. I've got a 2 line trainer already and it'll fly in darn near anything. The problem I think my students run into is that it is actually harder to fly than the 7 meter bow that they'll be moving up to for the second part of the lesson. I know Best Kiteboarding makes a 3m bow which costs less than the Apex so that might be the way to go.

we teach on and sell a sheetable trainer foil kite. its a Depowered Profoil 2.5m kite . we call it the Z-one depower trainer.

the package comes with a training harness, Kite, Bar, Lines, bag... all for $250.

bar can be removed and flown on handles, or the mainlines can be moved from the Depowerline to the ends of the bar to fly in 2 line mode like other trainers.

http://www.powerzonekitesports.com/trainer.html

... ahhh... now that looks like what I'm talking about. Any discount for the kite and bar without the harness?

email me to set it all up. how many do you want?

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Originally posted by powerzone http://www.powerzonekitesports.com/trainer.html

Nice! Very well done. I'll mention it to the guys on the beach...

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Originally posted by powerzone email me to set it all up. how many do you want?

I'm just the instructor, not the shop owner so this will be coming out of my own pocket so it will likely be just one. But ya never know, the students may want to get one also... I'll drop you an email...