Ok, so I've had a few hours lessons and tried a mates kite for a bit and can get myself from point A to point B relatively ok (although I still look like a tea bag taking a dunking). But now it's time to look at getting my own gear to progress (will be second hand stuff due to $$$ constraints) and am after a few opinions.

I'm based in Auckland am about 88kg and after talking to a few people I'm looking at getting 2 kites, probably one 16m (med aspect) and one 12m (slightly higher aspect). People tell me they should cover the wind range fairly nicely.

Do any of you have any opinions on these size choices? Also any thoughts on what size board would be good? I can't remember at this stage what the size was I learnt on.

CHeers,
Azza

that takes me back....

low aspect is the way to go. when i was learning I got a shit older high aspect kite from a kite shop in orewa :roll: the kite was new and the owner assured me it was all good and it handled just the same as any newer kite. Failed to mention the leader lines were like elastic and the bar setup was dangerous.

anyhow thats enough of my chipped sholder! I got an Guerilla 13 now and its a breeze to use. It zeniths a treat and has a fair range of depower. My kiting got stagnant until i got a nice kite.

I'm selling to guerilla 10 and 13 on the trading part of this site, and will do a package deal. But I'm only 70kg so you may need the 13 and say Wayne's G15 on the trading post (say i refered you)

hey and do what i failed to do , before purchasing ask people around the world on this forum and www.kiteforum.com about the kites so you get a fair amount of opinions.

david martin

Hay Azza

don't buy a low aspect kite you will be pissed off with it after a week
I would go for something in the medium aspect range like say the
slingshot fuels which are great for learning & even better once you
get cranking. I learnt on 03 fuels which are a good kite and really affordable now or get 04's if you can afford it
Probley an 11m & a 15m would suit you
Get an inflatable rather than a sleeping bag they're 95% of guys use
so there must be a good reason
as far as board size I learnt on a ss sx141 which was more than big
enough & I would be a similar weight to you
good luck just be sure to go over the kites carefully before you buy

Thanks for the great advice guys. I learnt pretty mainly using Naish X2's and so will be looking for something similar to build up my skills on. Must say I'm already liking this forum for the great info provided so far!

Cheers,
Azza

Hey azza why not just stick with your X2's? I've been ktiing for 4 years and still have my 12m X2. It's lookin a tad shabby now but it's still got the goods. The 12 is a real nice kite but like most (all?) high AR kites it can be finicky with the sheeting and tends to like speed more than anything else to produce power. Gotta admit around where i live (east auckland) there is allmost unaminous support for slingshot as being a no nonsense kite for those guys who just wanna get out on the water. All the guys around here that now have a 2005 Fuel have improved heaps since they've started using them saying that it makes every day a kiteable one. We can get pretty gusty conditions out east as anything with west in it has to traverse the whole of Auckland to get over here... in summer that means heat currents off hills and the opposing effect of the NE Sea breeze. No worries with the 2005 Fuel though.

I don't ride slingshot, i don't sell slingshot, infact every single kiter i've had a bitch with (and that's quite a few) uses slingshot kites. But they are good kites, i've used one and they would be great for any level of kiter. Very impressed.

But look around, get something that you know will work for you. If in doubt keep your X2's as it's a shit load of money to part with if you don't know what you want.

www.monkeykites.com

read some write ups on www.kiteforum.com

i know the importer / distributor for nz

good well made, well priced kites.

David Martin

Dam rite, slingshots are the bomb.....
I have two very nice 04's for sale 11 and 15, both brand new Dec 04

I'd say you'd been talking to people who weighed a damn sight less than yourself mate. Anyone giving you good advice would ask what size board do you ride as well?

PS Anyone riding older than 2 yr kites cannot comment accurately on new kite windranges.
PPS Aspect ratio is becoming irrelevant as a seach on *any* kiteforum will show