Getting back to kitesurfing - after 8 years break. How about equipment?

[Andreasjsor]

Starting to have more spare time and spend more time at the beach so I am thinking about starting kiting again -- last time I was on the water must have been in 2010.

So a few questions:

1) Have kites changed a lot and if yes how? I have Best Waroos must be 2008 models. Size 7 9 11. Do not plan to change them for now, just curious to understand if the difference to a 2018 kite will be massive or marginal

2) Should I replace the lines and bars? I am a bit concerned about safety. The lines and bar seems to be in good shape, they have been stored in a very dry place.

My plan is to go for a few rides and if it is fun, I might upgrade and get a new kite with a new bar and lines.

Thanks

[Matteo V]

Lines should be good if still in tune, but if you are at a crowded beach, you need to take that into consideration. If a line breaks and you hurt someone, you may need to take up windsurfing once you get kiting banned there.

Check your release too. If it is a 2010 best RP bar, the releases had issues through 2012. Then some different ones up till 2015 or so - when ever they switched over to the North release.

Air up your kites and make sure the bladders hold air, and don't trust origional bladders for a long tack out in the ocean.

Brush up on your swimming skills. You are a swimmer first, then a kiter.

[Andreasjsor]

Lines should be good if still in tune, but if you are at a crowded beach, you need to take that into consideration. If a line breaks and you hurt someone, you may need to take up windsurfing once you get kiting banned there.

Check your release too. If it is a 2010 best RP bar, the releases had issues through 2012. Then some different ones up till 2015 or so - when ever they switched over to the North release.

Air up your kites and make sure the bladders hold air, and don't trust origional bladders for a long tack out in the ocean.

Brush up on your swimming skills. You are a swimmer first, then a kiter.

Thanks. Good advice.

Spent a lot of time swimming last 8 years as I indulged in triathlon so hopefully that should pay off if a bladder blows.

[edt]

if not used and stored properly your kites and lines should be fine. As said above I would replace the control bar. The old best control bar was a mini-5th and all modern kites now require a single line flagging control bar so you will need a new control bar no matter what when you buy another kite. You can get last year's naish conrtrol bar for about $250 or get last year's Best control bar for relatively cheap. Also, as said above I've never seen that generation of Best control bar work properly in emergency conditions. The real improvements in kites over the past decade have been on the foil kites and the hydrofoils, the inflatables have had just marginal improvement.

[marlboroughman]

I have Best Waroos must be 2008 models.

I was just giving lessons to a guy who had 2 old Waroo's. One was terrible, jellyfishing 2007 I think, and the other was OK. So make sure yours are not the ones of the jellyfishing, inverting kind. The bars on both were ancient but I figured we were at a very safe location so, OK. Close to hard objects - thanks but no, thanks.

[Windigo1]

2008 was the best year for Waroo they are good kites and lots of people still use them. Getting a newer safer bar is a good ideas the bar was pretty bad back then in terms of safety. They are not one pump so less likely to leak when aging. The valves are easy and cheap to replace. I still have a 5m 2008 barely used it still looks new and flies great!

[Clew In]

Hey,

I would check the valves on bladders and I would probably replace or re-glue them. I have had many valves dry out (Not certain if that is correct terminology) or come unglued (sorta like the glue deteriorated).


Clew In

[Hugh2]

Good advice above. I still have all my old Waroos as well, and they fly fine, but if I try them after my new Naish Pivots, they do feel clumsy. The Pivots are amazing at everything, while the Waroos were just okay. Depending on what size you use the most, get one and it will work fine with a newer single-flag line Best bar, which is what I use. Just add pigtails to the tails of the kite to overcome their kook proofing.

[Archer77]

1) Have kites changed a lot and if yes how? I have Best Waroos must be 2008 models. Size 7 9 11. Do not plan to change them for now, just curious to understand if the difference to a 2018 kite will be massive or marginal

Yes big gap, just demo a new North, Cab, Ozone, Slingshot, Airush (f-one bandit too!) to feel the difference!
(but I'm not an expert, is just what I read in forums and what all my teachers told me)

[FLandOBX]

As others have said, the 2008 Waroos should be fine if the bladders and valves are okay. The real question isn't whether you'll NEED to upgrade, but rather whether you'll WANT to upgrade. I think your plan is good. Use your Waroos for a while to determine if you want to get back into the sport. If you do, then demo some new equipment. You'll feel the difference and probably WANT the newer stuff.