make sure the kite has a 5th line this will make the kite depower and give you added saftey to the kite, you might want to invest a bit of money into a new SLE Hybrid or a bow kite these are the best for learning and will have a bigger wind range than you average c kite and you will find it will probably last you for around 2 seasons before you think of selling again. spend the money now rather than later.

have a quick look on the site for some selling items from 08 these will a bit more expensive but as i said before its worth spending the money, its like buying a car do you buy the $300 that will break down and cost you more than you paid for it? or the $1000 which will serve you better?


if u feel like you want to save a bit of money, you wont because as soon as you buy your first kite, you will be coming back for more. most people on this site have the addiction already and they will tell you to stop before you sell everything (including you children, car and wife (jokes).

hope this helps,

cheers Coose.

Poor safety system??
I love the way ppl bash a C kite without warrant.
When you release the chicken loop on a C kite it will totally flag to the 5th line or one of the side lines, what could be safer than that??

The truth of the matter is the rider must have the presence of mind to pull the QR where on a bow or SLE just releasing the bar "usually" does the job.

I would look at the style of riding you want to achieve in the long term and aim to find a kite to suit that style, then work to your budget.

Jas
Briskites

My brother had a Boxer Kite, 12m (I think it was 06)
It had two setups for the bar, which he had setup in 2:1 for more depower.
He liked it, found it to be stable and safe. The only fault I had with it is I found the bar pressure very heavy. I had one session on it and ended up with tennis elbow, which I didnt have previously.

blade vertigo awesome 5 line hybrid you will freakin love them, the jews really know how to make a kite!
and at the moment the 08s are running at 800-1000 bucks for complete kit
check them out at www.bladekites.com

or msg hobie on here he will do ya a good deal

wel whoever makes it know what they are doing

mrwizard said...

Hi Guys & Girls,

I am new to kiteboarding, had my first lesson on Friday and am hanging for my second lesson tomorrow at 1pm. Just found out my girl doesn't appreciate kite talk in bed, Hmmmph, like what the??? Hence this is why i'm on here already on a Sunday morning.

Could anyone please steer me in the right direction. I'm approx 5'7" around 80kgs. what sort of kite should I be looking for? I have read reviews on a few, but they all sound good.

I'm going to buy a second hand kite for my first season. From a friend of a friend I can get a 06 Naish boxer C kite (no damage) for around $350... but before doing that, i'd like some recommendations from you guys who are out there...

H E L P

I would wait for your lessons to finish and see what your instructor recommends. If he/she is good they will steer you towards something that they think is good for you, depending on how quickly you picked everything up and your natural affinity for the sport. I did my lessons on an 06 Boxer. My instructor told me that they were good teaching kites, but don't buy one yourself, and that I would out-progress it too quickly and want something with more grunt after a couple of months.

You need to get a kite that suits your local wind conditions and you haven't told us where you are from. I bought a new 12m 07 Boxer SLE, which was the year they went to one pump, 4 lines and 2:1 bar or 1:1 bar. The Boxer also became quite an all round kite that year which means I don't feel like I have outgrown it. I also have an 08 Helix 9m which I wouldn't recommend for beginners. Its fun to fly but definitely isn't as forgiving as the Boxer.
With 2:1 on the boxer the bar pressure is heavy (polish your guns!) but you do get more depower. Its great when the wind is at the upper range of the kite and you want to get out there and learn. On 1:1 the bar pressure is pretty good. The general consensus seems to be about 2:1 that Naish have put it in more as an extra safety feature (litigation etc etc) and that even on 1:1 you get plenty of depower.

I think the biggest contributing factor to learning and progressing quickly is what board you choose. If you get a bigger board you will get up and moving faster, which will help you progress past the early stages.

Anyway, sorry, this is a big reply but:

Try and get at least an 07 kite. Especially now the 09 kites are out, they will be a lot cheaper. The things you need are good depower and easy water relaunch. Being a slave to Naish I would say go for an 07 Boxer SLE, if you can find one. Or an 08 Cult, I haven't heard anyone say many bad things about them either.
Get a bigger board, if you get a bigger one then when you outprogress it you just keep it for light weather.

Just go buy a friggen kite, it is about learning to ride your kite bud.

Naish Cult!!!