Newb looking for advice!!

TheOnlyWalton · Since 26 May 2009 4 Posts New Member

I moved here last summer, and watched in agony from my new house over looking spring creek fish hatchery, as hundreds harnessed the power of the Gorge!

I have to get out there this season. I am an athletic person, with wakeboarding background, and am a very quick learner.

Aside from getting a trainer, and taking my lessons, i need to get a kite. But have no experienced guidance for what to look for. I want to spend less than $600 for a kite, bar and lines.

If anyone sees a kite for sale on the classifieds here, or somewhere else, that would work for me, please advise me on it.

Like I said, I'm new, and clueless, so all the help I can get will be awesome!.

Thanks Question

Tommy · Wed May 27, 09 12:05 am

By all means, get a trainer and take some lessons... but you might want to wait on the kite for a bit. I'm just getting into kiteboarding this year, and am at the point where I've got the trainer down, more or less anyway, and I'm now looking at lessons, possibly as soon as a couple weeks from now. I'm keeping my eye on the For Sale section of NWKite, as well as the used/consignment gear at Gorge Performance to see what's out there in the way of used gear, but I'm holding off until I've had at least one three hour session with an instructor so I'll have a better idea about what I need. I figure it's a sensible approach, and have been told as much by any number of different folks on this forum and elsewhere, and it's the approach I would recommend to anyone else who's just getting into this. Here's why: About five years ago, I got all geeked up about kiteboarding, just like I am now, and made that classic mistake of buying gear before getting lessons. Long story short, my situation changed and I put kiting on the back burner, but not before buying a used kite which is now pretty much useless. Oh, it'll fly, but kite technology has progressed to the point where the kite I bought is ridiculously obsolete, if not outright dangerous given that instructors teach on drastically safer gear nowadays. Lesson learned: Be patient. Don't buy any gear, save for the trainer, before at least some amount of professional instruction (and if you do buy a kite before that, do not fly it until you know what you're doing; the kite will eat you - and anyone else who happens to be nearby - if you give it half a chance).

Of course, it's worth remembering that I'm pretty new and clueless myself, but this is what I've learned over the short time I've been looking into all of this. And I would definitely recommend you get your hands on a trainer and fly it every chance you get. Best investment you can make at this point on the learning curve, and they're a lot of fun... Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or thoughts. Cheers!

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

There is an instructor by the name of Rob Devine. Without a doubt he is the most patient and knowledgeable instructor in The Gorge. Tell em Ron sent you.

Don't buy anything yet. Just commit to take 3 to 6 hours of lessons from an IKO/PASA instructor.

Rob is the best.. Very Happy

Tommy · Wed May 27, 09 4:49 am

Ron's right, Rob Devine is a good cat!

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

Hey man - welcome to the sport and the forum.

Take lessons first - talk to your instructor about what kite to buy.

If you got $600 bones for a kite then you should be set. Go with an 07 or something - you can find plenty of good kites for wau under $600.

The size of your kite will also be dependent upon your weight. but dudes around 190ish generally will ride 10s or 11s most of the time.

see you on the water - oh and try not tomahawking anyone Laughing

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

one more thing - be cautious of people telling you that the kite they are selling is perfect for you. Maybe it is - maybe it isn't - but there are way too many kiters that are overly anxious to dump their gear so they can get the newest stuff.

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed May 27, 09 9:48 am

I wrote some kind of used kite buying guide for newbs post awhile back..can't find it though.

umm, yeah I can..

http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-10564.html&highlight=used+kite+buying