New to sport and need kite help

[John C]

I just started lessons. I am looking to purchase 2 kites. I Weight 190 lbs and plan on kiting st. pete and Sebastian. Not sure what sizes or what kite to go with. I have been looking at the best waroo. Possibly a 12 and 16 or maybee 9 and 16. Any help on what kite and sizes to buy? If anyone can tell me if they have a waroo and like it or not. Thanks John

[inferno]

i just got a 9m, have not flown mine yet, but ive flown others, i havent really heard to many negatives about them, they are awsome kites for a great price

[BigR]

For a two kite quiver I would reccommend a 16m and a 9m,
I'm also 200# and that is a range that completely covers me



besides waroo you could also look at the 9m Crossbow, its also a great kite.

And I have a brand new one I bought less than a month ago on ebay right now for ( $549 ) that is $50 less than the same size waroo

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cabrinha-Crossbow-9-Meter-Almost-New-Bow-Kite_W0QQitemZ120016024865QQihZ002QQcategoryZ11426 4QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The waroo bar is $229 and I bet you can find a cebrinha bar to go with this kite for $75 less so you save over 100 smackers

[JoshTaylor]

i'd get a 16 and 9, and definitly look at the crossbows, and switchblades, very nice kites.

very stable kites.

i've noticed the waroos are very unstable and flutter alot, and are more prone to inverting

[John C]

Big R I checked out your kite on ebay. What is the reason you are selling it? Also how often do you guys use the 9m vs. 16m. Thanks

[BigR]

JOHN

i WOULD SAY that a 16m XBow would get used 80% of the time during MAY to October ( if there was even any wind ) and then a 9m XBow would get used 50% of the time from November to April . if you could afford a third kite the a 12m Xbow would get used 10% during summer and 30% during winter ( split equally among all 3 kites , maybe favoring the smaller sizes )

reason the 9m is bieng sold is because I only needed it for a vacation in the Gorge in July and now already have the 2007's so I won't use the 9m anymore

[bayflite]

18m, 12m, 9m
get a 12m first...this is the favorite size of most kiters
the waroo is an awsome kite.
in fact...all kites rock.
honest.

[Skyway Scott]

John,

Please don't overlook the importance of the board. In my opinion, its more important than the kite, especially for a begginer. You are a moderately big guy (compared to me, anyway).
I would consider not getting anything smaller than a 140 by 42 to start with. (May be even a little bigger, like something 44cms wide). It will speed your learning curve drastically and we ALWAYS need light wind boards in FL.

I honestly believe at your size that a 12 or 14m Contra coupled with a board like a Glide and also something like a 137 by 40-41 could cover 10 to 23 knots. :)

I have been using the 12m Contra in 10 to 22 with no problem with the use of a Glide and another board.

[Big G]

My vote is also on that the board should be a new riders concern over the brand of kite.

Being a new rider myself with no board skills, I struggled with getting up and riding long after learning to control the kite. I was on a SS147 Jarvis which is a good beginner board for most riders. After using Chris M. Underground FLX152, not only was I riding better but I immediatly went upwind.

Later that same day I again switched to my 147 Jarvis and could not go up wind...of course always using the same kite.

I bought that Underground FLX152 the next day and use it almost exclusivley as my prefered board.

Stats:
215 lbs 5"11
SS 17M Fuel

Big G. (

[Skyway Scott]

Nice Gary :) (I am still a UG pimp, btw... 8))

[BigR]

SScott, I thought you were just an all-around pimp nowadays! LOL! :lol:

[Skyway Scott]

Yeah,

But, now I literally get paid for it, unlike before :shock:
Seriously tho, we do have enough brands that I don't have to "push" anyone into anything. Hell, I even sell Cabrinhas :?

[BigR]

Can't beat getting paid to do what you love. :D

SScott, have you tried the XBow II yet? it's a helluva nice kite

[inferno]

And I have a brand new one I bought less than a month ago on ebay right now for ( $549 ) that is $50 less than the same size waroo

The waroo bar is $229 and I bet you can find a cebrinha bar to go with this kite for $75 less so you save over 100 smackers

not to prove you wrong BigR but i just purchased a 9m waroo, used one time, for 400 bucks (includes small and large pump,repair kit and upgraded pullies), and its easy to convert any bar to work on the waroo for another $125 (used bar and converting it), thats only $525 bucks for a waroo complete that is basically brand new :)
you just have to keep your eyes open and be patient

[BigR]

Yeah but you bought it on ebay or one of those auctions from a real person not from a retail store right Danny?



Moot point, my 9m sold already anyways........

[inferno]

bought it from i guy on the best forum, not ebay, it never would of went for that low on ebay, i just happened to be checking the forum right after he posted it and got first dibs on it :)

[BigR]

$200 off retail and it looks like you got real lucky, congrats

[bryanleighty]

def. a great pick up Danny..

i suspect that by the time the season is in full bloom here that there will be a number of slightly used high performance bows around (waroos and whatnots) for some great prices..

patience is the key...


I'm looking for 14 and a 16 waroo myself.

[inferno]

act quick cause the guy i got the 9 from also has a 16, i think he wanted 700 for, only used once

[John C]

Ok so I think i will try to get 3 kites. 9m,12m and a 16 I'm still not sure what brand but I am looking at the Xbow2, switchblade and Waroo. I see waroo is coming out with a kite called the waroo pro does anyone have any info on this?

Also I can only buy two kites to start. what sizes should I get first?

Do I need a bar for each kite?

[bryanleighty]

1 kite is good to start.. really..

as a beginner you will want a medium range kite .. you want to only go out when the conditions are good for your mid-range kite.

i had a 15m yarga to learn on and it was perfect (i weigh 185 or so)..

something in the 12-15 range is perfect to learn on .. if its blowing too much for that kite, please get off the water and just be patient.. you wont learn anything by going out in conditions you are not ready for. if you have a small kite you might be tempted to get back on the water.

once you have a number of sessions under your belt, are riding upwind with ease.. you are set to get your other kites..

if you have different types of kites (bow / c ) etc.. you will need a bar for each. i have one bar for all my c kites (4 of them) and one bar for my waroos (2 of them).

now..... did you take lessons? gotta ask man.. gotta ask.

[John C]

Thanks for the info.

Im taking lessons with Randy at the skyway. Hoping for wind to finish.

[BigR]

Start with the 16m and buy the next smaller size down whenever you are standing at the beach kicking yourself cause you cant go b/c of too much wind

[inferno]

Start with the 16m and buy the next smaller size down whenever you are standing at the beach kicking yourself cause you cant go b/c of too much wind
i second that :D you could get by with just that 16m for a good 2months before we start getting are cold fronts, then get the 12m and your good to go

[bayflite]

most 12m kites Wrk good in light winds(12-15mph)
many big kites(16m+)have too much power after 15mph especially for newbies.

15-20mph is the wind you want to learn in.

randy is a great guy no doubt you'll be kiteboarder very soon.
L8r

[bryanleighty]

get a big/wide/flat board too...

i cannot stress how much of difference this made in going from just staying w/ the wind to TEARING upwind.. in one session.

a small, thin board with a lot of rocker will slow your learning down considerably.

if you are handy you can make your own ply board for pretty cheap. once you are ready for performance, you can prob test drive some others boards to help decide....

good luck!

bryan (one of many in the area..)