Hello to everyone! I'm seriously looking for the perfect kite to start out with, but there seems to be so little information I can find about trainer kites that's suitable to me. I weighs around 150LB and aiming towards to do kitesurfing/kiteboarding eventually. I never had any experience with traction kites but been flying dual-line stunt kites for some years. Currently I have my eyes on the HQ Hydra, Ozone Flow, and Ozone IMP Quattro. Still I can't be sure which to choose from.. Any advice will be gladly appreciated. Thanks!

i would recommend a kite suitable for landboarding and buggying in the future, too... keep your options open. i got involved with kites with the sole intention of surfing about 18 months ago, and i found out that i love all the kite-sports. i would have regretted getting a "trainer kite" i think.

some sugestions from me would include

hq beamer
flexifoil rage
pkd buster
pkd brooza
ozone flow

and im sure there are others out there. start with a 3mish size kite. i dont know what "trainer kites" are going for, but you might get more use in time from something with more practical applications.

Are there any comments about the HQ Hydra 3.5m? I'm leaning towards it because I read a thread in the forum saying that it maybe possible to mod it into a sheetable depower trainer.

HQ Hydra 3m closed cell

If you live near the water and one of your goals is to kitesurf on the water I think the Hydra is by far the best choice that I know of. But i'm certian I saw another company has a water relaunchable trainer out this year ?
Being able to work things out on the water like Body dragging and water starts should speed up your lessons a LOT when it is time to take them. The extra level of use / fun you can have with that kite in water will make it more than worth the little extra $ at 1st ! So much of what you want to learn with your trainer will be done safer out in the shallows ! If you can practice in the shallows don't hesitate to get a 3.5m. Try it with a surf board and skim board once you know how to body drag etc...
I took my open cell foil out on the water when I was learning and only wished the Hydra existed.

I body drag and have played about with water starts on my bigger fixed bridle kites, with some skills you won't crash much.

If I were starting out with a loose budget I'd get a 3m flow on handles for the all-round versatility and chance to build a wide range of skills almost anywhere it's possible to fly a kite. tight budget? shop around for used. The list above is good.

The second and the third kites would be the ones to get with bars and depower, once the skills are there you can go a bit larger and get something with enough grunt. You need a lot of wind to scud, body drag, and water start :o with a three meter kite!

I've gotten maybe a half a dozen folks sorted out with their brand new trainer kites on bars, once they get going on those I offer them a fly on one of my smaller 4 - lines and quite often the trainer ends up on the sand for the rest of the session...

It all depends on your plans, if you want to go straight into the water then maybe the Hydra would be good but for general skills and versatility the 3m 4-line on handles is the way to go I reckon...

The Peter Lynn 3m Hornet is a good starter kite too.