Ok

A number of the StK schools will be as good a place as any to start.

DO NOT spend 3K on equipment that may not be right for you. A number of shops are trying to offload last years gear, which is a great bargain but you have to know what you are buying and what will suit your level of experience.

I am not going to pimp any of the schools down there but go for one of them that is not trying to sell you gear. Just get a feel for the instructor and if you like him / her then away you go.

Lessons do not cost much (in comparison to purchasing equipment) so have as many of them as you need to know wether its for you or not.

Welcome to kitesurfing BTW, if its for you then it could be one of the most life affirming things you have ever done (speaks from experience).

Cheers.

Hi Pete, loyalty should be earned, not demanded. Buy services and products from whoever you like, trust, hear good things about, and gives what seems a reasonable deal. As Junglist said, lessons are a small part of the cost in kiting so don't skimp.

Make sure in advance that your instructor will cover such things as flagging, self-rescue, body dragging upwind as well as down, safety considerations when launching and landing, right of way rules and general kiting etiquette.

These forums contain many pages of good information (and a fair bit of gratuitous silliness) so use the search button to find out more on the above topics.

For quickest progression, buy a trainer kite such as the Ozone Imp and learn to fly it in a large open space well clear of people or obstacles. After several hours flying time, then get lessons, then start considering what gear you'll need.

First things first, stay safe, and you'll have a great time.

This vid from the forum's own Steve McC is a good start

About 1/2 of the instructors kicking around St Kilda this year came out of the same course a few months back. So expect a very similar level of tuition from any of the schools. And so it should be similar, as it is a standardised course designed by the IKO, and schools pay an annual fee to be an IKO affiliated centre.

It's important to note that the instructors are employed as subcontractors, so they can only bill for the hour(s) which has been allocated by the shop. So don't arrive late, and take a toilet break before you start, as you don't want your lesson cut short cos you've wasted time getting in and out of your wetsuit, that being said, most instructors won't mind going a few minutes over, but only if its not too busy.

Also, if budget permits, go for the 1:1 student - teacher ratio, as watching someone else body drag or board start is not the same as doing it for yourself.
Gear has the biggest margin in it (enough even to subsidise all of your lessons), and students needing gear are usually the main feed source for kite shops, so they will be super keen to get your business, but there are great deals to be had on seabreeze for 2nd hand gear.