I was just wondering what are the differences between them and what can you do with each?
Also which is best to start off with?

Buggy: + you are low to the ground so are a little less likey to get hurt learning.
+ people usually are quicker to get going on a buggy.
+ able to ride on soft sand
- The buggy is a minor pain to haul around and set up.
- There is not a lot of airtime to be had on a buggy.

ATB: + AIRTIME !!!!!
+ MORE airtime !!! You fly a blade don't you :wink2:
+ compact and easy to transport. No set-up
+ slightly cheaper than a buggy
+ translates to kitesurfing well
- More potential for injury
- No good on soft beaches


So......... Have you figured out if the problems are with your kite or not ???? How's the flying going ?

I think that snowbird has hit the nail on the head. Having learned a bit of both, getting started in a buggy is easier for sure, since you don't have balance issues to deal with like on the board. Both are fun- so you can't go wrong. If you can find used gear- say a board, you can usually sell it for about the same as what you bought it for if you change your mind and decide that buggying is more your thing.

I started with a board, after landing on my wrists a few times I was done. So I bought a buggy. Best thing ever! I picked it up very fast, easy to get back up wind with and it flies across the field. Yes not much air with a buggy, but it can be done. Even with past boarding experience the learning curve is much shorter for a buggy. Oh and if you have a need for speed. a buggy + board -

I have a (long) skateboarding history, so I'm thinking if I do anything more than static, I'll jump onto an ATB.

Well I think my uncle has a home made buggy which he would let me use but I can only use it in donegal which is a long way from where I am but I'm going there in the summer
As for a board I was thinking of getting a really cheap land board to see what it is like (£20 in argos)

As for the problems with the kite spiralling they are still there when I try to get it to take off, but there is no problems once it is up and I have learned how to counteract the difference in the takeoff so it works :D

I'll address a few concerns raised about ATBs or mountainboards. I was in the same situation as you when I had had stareted kiting: board or buggy? I tried both. Buggy is easier to start with and it was actually quite a thrill! The problem with a buggy is transportation. I have a small car and didn't want to lug a buggy around (although I know people with small cars who tow their buggy).

My early expeirences with ATBs weren't very good or promising. Balancing myself on the board while kiting was challenging. I hadn't skateboarded before so this was all very new to me. Having said all that, I had seen videos of kiters with ATBs and also at my local beach so I had hope. I plunked down some cash for a brand new GI board. Again, I was met with challenges: bindings needed to be set correctly and my shoes were too big. After some adjusting (easily done) and getting Converse c-taylors, I tried again and I had a lot of fun. Here are something of things I did in order that made an ATB fun for me:

1. Correct adjustment of the binding - once I knew what was the right way of setting the binding, I was all set.
2. Shoes - smaller shoes fit better in the bindings and enable better toe-heel action.
3. Instead of taking the ATB to the top of the hill for learning J-turns, walked down to the lower end, near the base, to pracice turning. This is much safer and FASTER way of learning to control your ATB. In few runs I was doing both toe-side and heel-side turns. After every few runs, I'd walk up another 10-20 feet. It worked! I can now balance myself on a board.

If I am not kiting because of weather or wind, I can always take my ATB to a hill for a few downhill runs. I can't do that with a buggy. Going downhill on an ATB feels a lot like skiing or snowboarding.

Start with a used ATB and be patient. Don't forget to wear your pads and a helmet.

ok I have seen two boards on ebay one is a flexifoil airdeck kiteboard it is asymmetrical the other is bluearth 39"

what is the difference (other than the obvious shape) and which one would be better?

I was initially interested in flexifoil airdeck but it's review were not promising (www.racekites.com). I wanted a board that I could ride downhill as well.

Since you are in UK, check out Trampa boards. I have a Ground Industries Flight Lite 100. It's a bit pricey for a beginner/first board but worth every penny.

since your in the Isles/Europe Id look at a Trampa