Buying my first kite and gear advice

[DeGi]

Hi fellow Kiteboarders,
I'm new to this forum and to the kiteboarding and I'm buying my first kite. I'm looking at Ocean Rodeo 2015 Prodigy (this looks like a good deal). I read that it is a good beginner kite, but would like to get a second opinion. I'm 140lbs and my wife who will also be using it is 132lbs. The closest beach to me is Alameda, and I guess this will be my preferred spot. So according to my weight and the beach, will 9.5m2 be good for me&my wife? I don't have a preferred style, as I have not kiteboarded before. I've just used my 3m2 trainer kite for a few hours so far, and I'm going to Cancun in January where I will take proper lessons, like advised by many on this forum.

Also, I've read here about “safety bar” or the “above the bar”. What kind of bar should I get for this kite? Does it have to be from the same brand? Do I have to buy lines separately?

Also, I know this is very generic, but any tips on buying harness & kiteboard? Any links very welcome

Thanks

[iriejohn]

Welcome to the forum.

Best advice is not to buy anything now, do your kite lessons in Cancun, only then if you've both made enough progress should you think about buying.

[clint2070]

Hi fellow Kiteboarders,
I'm new to this forum and to the kiteboarding and I'm buying my first kite. I'm looking at Ocean Rodeo 2015 Prodigy (this looks like a good deal). I read that it is a good beginner kite, but would like to get a second opinion. I'm 140lbs and my wife who will also be using it is 132lbs. The closest beach to me is Alameda, and I guess this will be my preferred spot. So according to my weight and the beach, will 9.5m2 be good for me&my wife? I don't have a preferred style, as I have not kiteboarded before. I've just used my 3m2 trainer kite for a few hours so far, and I'm going to Cancun in January where I will take proper lessons, like advised by many on this forum.

Also, I've read here about “safety bar” or the “above the bar”. What kind of bar should I get for this kite? Does it have to be from the same brand? Do I have to buy lines separately?

Also, I know this is very generic, but any tips on buying harness & kiteboard? Any links very welcome

Thanks

I agree with Irie John ! Go get lessons for the both of you and when you get back home,Go to your local spot and see what they're flying. Its a bummer that you and your wife are so close in weight because you could share a quiver if you were heavier. You should have at least 3 different size kites and 2 boards. Taking turns with the same gear will suck. You'll want to kite together.

[Peert]

Prodigy is a good kite to start with. Price is okay but not unique, so waiting till after lessons would not harm.
Size is also fine for both of you. Will give you the best windrange tot learn in. (14 - 22 knots at your weight)

So if you are 100% sure you will continue (also if learning proves difficult) you could buy it and rake it along during your last lesson to get familiar to it.

Any 4 Line bar single frontline flagout will work.
Get a short chickenloop specimen if you can find it.
At your weight your arms might be relatively short.
Short CL is in that case nice to start with.

[Dave_5280]

Get Fatsand's Kiteboarding Progression Beginner DVD Second Edition.

[bri7]

What are the average wind conditions like in your area?

[ChickenD!ken]

Buying before you’ve done lessons usually goes wrong. Sure you can get a proper kite just from speaking to your local shop but your instructor is the one who’s advice you need to follow for now..

Have fun in cancun!

[DeGi]

Thanks guys for very insightful answers, I think I'll postpone buying the kite for after the lessons. Otherwise, can you recommend any good links about buying a kite? I have so many questions...

[ChickenD!ken]

I recommend always doing a search for your topic here on the forum. Otherwise, just fire away here if you have specific questions. But until you’ve gotten your first impression on the water and spoken to an instructor, most of the answers here won’t be very useful to you.

[async3]

Hi DeGi!

Don't buy the gear now, first take the lessons, that way you and your wife will learn what type of depower system you like more. I personally prefer over the bar depower, as I think its safer and doesn't damages the rope like other systems do.

After the lessons, go to the place you will be practicing the sport, talk to local kitesurfers and learn how strong is the wind in that place, how flat is the water and the seasons to practice. Then you will have more insight on the size of the kite needed, as it depends mostly on the strength of the wind and your weight.

When you are ready to buy, I recommend you get a good used equipment, because as beginners we tend to wear the equipment faster as we learn how not to "windenburg" the kite (crash it). This equipment should be good to use for about one or two years, after that you will have enough knowledge and experience to buy the perfect kite for you guys.

I just finished a couple articles: Kitesurfing for Beginners and Kitesurfing Gear explaining how to ride and what equipment is needed. I would really appreciate your feedback on them as really nobody has read them yet and I really think they are useful for you

Best!