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Mixed recommendation on kite size
Main Post:
I got a 9m RPM online and when I was at a local shop buying a board the guy was saying I needed a 12m since my 9M is for 19+ knots but a local experienced kiter told me I should get the 9m and can use it in 13+knots because it’d be more fun.. anyone got an option on who’s more right and/or what the least amount of wind I need for this 9m puppy
Edit: I’ve done the lessons with the instructor g2g skill wise
Top Comment:
9m and can use it in 13+knots
On a foil, sure.
I want to start kitesurfing. Can you answer a few questions?
Main Post:
Hi r/Kiteboarding,
My girlfriend and I are interested in trying kiteboarding (kitesurfing?) but we are absolute beginners. Neither of us have ever tried something even remotely similar. We both think that it looks great and it must be a ton of fun. Yesterday, I went to a local shop in Montreal but I just feel that the associate just wanted to sell me as many things as possible and not answer my questions. This is why I come to you reddit.
First of all, if I decide to buy a kite, will I be able to use it in the winter time? (remember, I am from Montreal). I don't want to buy a kite for the summer and then one for the winter.
What type of investment are we talking about? Once I get started, what equipments are must haves and what should I avoid? Remember, I know nothing.
Is there a kite community in the northeast? (Quebec & new England) In other words, once I get started and I am good enough to join groups, are there such groups?
Where should I start? The person at the kite shop wanted to sell me 6-7 courses at $100 an hour plus a kite. I don't know if I'll like kitesurfing but I sure know that I don't want to pay $600+ to find out. Are there beginners courses or is there a redditor out there located in the northeast willing to help me find out?
How dangerous is it?
Thanks!
Top Comment:
Yes take the lessons from the shop. The $100 an hour seems to be the going rate, even around here.
Must have equipment? First lessons. Get lessons, then buy equipment. 6-7 hours sounds a bit extreme though. I'd say it's usually 3-4 hours of total lessons (1 hour on land, 3 in the water) and then a lot of trial and error by yourself.
The good news is 2015 gear is coming down the pipeline which means the 2014 stuff should be in clearance soon.
As far as investment.. you and your girl should be looking at spending probably around $1000-$1500 a piece on gear. There's very little gear that you two are going to be able to share in the beginning.
This seems like a decent resource in your area: http://masskiting.com/forum
Kiteboarding | Kitesurfing
Main Post: Kiteboarding | Kitesurfing
Best tip you got for beginners
Main Post:
What is the best tip you ever got from someone when you just started kiting or overall?
Im taking lessons and can just do a waterstart but it doesn't work all the times, its still hard to predict how far to steer in to start properly, riding comfortably and how to properly stand on the board.
What was THE tip you ever got what clicked in your head about what to do and caused you to kite better.
Top Comment:
When learning to get up and going on the board, focus on going downwind first and gradually turn upwind.
I spent so much time getting up only to move about 3 meters before being back in the water, all because I was fixated on staying upwind so I refused to point my board downwind at any point.
How hard is it to pick up kiteboarding if you have experience with other types of boarding?
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I am thinking of taking some lessons kiteboarding, but I would like to get a sense of how hard it is to learn for someone with my experience on other types of boards. I have been snowboarding for over 20 years and have no trouble on the toughest of double black diamond trails on any mountain in North America. I picked up surfing on the first day I took a lesson, probably only been surfing 5 times but didn't need more than one lesson to get up on my own. I was able to stand up wake boarding on my first try, by day three I was landing jumps in a wakboarding park in Singapore. I have gone wind surfing on several occasions, I can get up and steer a bit but not that good, but I haven't put too much effort into it. I also skim board several times per year. I have never had instruction but it is pretty fun to goof around. (Anyone ever gone skimboarding at Skaket beach in Cape Cod? It is amazing!)
Videos of kiteboarding look awesome and I'm sure I would love it. I just want to know what I am getting myself into and which experience is most transferable. Kiteboarding looks really hard and I am hoping I can figure it out.
Top Comment:
Half is the board skills (your experience will help), half is learning to fly the kite, and the last half is putting the first 2 halves together.
lets go kite surfing they said.
Main Post: lets go kite surfing they said.
Top Comment:
So at what point would some of you say fuck it and let go?