I almost always self-launch. Big empty beach. Slide launch, pulling rear line until kite catches and rotates onto side for launch. Works great but does put some wear on kite from sliding on the sand ~10 feet or so each time. Landing I pull safety on Airush (flag out front line) and the kite just sit...

Definitely worth it. Do not get Camrig, get U.go. I have both. Camrig gets caught and is actually a terrible safety hazard and should be taken off the market before someone gets looped into a pile of rocks. U.Go does not get caught. Just had a long session the other day and was intentionally putting...

Just buy the highest end wetsuit with hood combo from one of the big manufacturers (Oneill, ripcurl, Xcel, etc.), super thick booties, super thick gloves, and a lifejacket. Then only kite in safe onshore/sideonshore conditions. You will have a great winter with lots of warm sessions. I have ripcurl ...

definitely can foil the sound there but you will want the short mast. Can easily foil the oceanside and the waves actually get decent when it blows >20knots. I have done many downwinders there, it's an awesome place

I just got the UGo as well, seems very high quality (unlike the ironically named "Beastmount") and no hooks for steering lines to grab on (like the CamRig deathtrap). Customer service is excellent as well.

It was gusting offshore winds solid 40 in central NJ last weekend. I went surfing, waves were 5-7 foot and perfect clean barrels, much better day to paddle surf than kite in crazy gusty winds

Any kite basically works fine if you don't drop it. I used to ride an old 12m airush varial x down to 8knots foiling regularly. We have a super reliable wind meter and that was my cutoff (and still is), lulls over 8knots and I'm foiling! The problem is that you have to be really careful flying regul...

Never ridden a cloud but I've ridden lots of wave kites and Reos are probably the best around. If you have good winds you should just buy Reos and be happy, once the wind is above 15knots this sport isn't rocket science, you could ride an old Waroo and have a great time I ride airush ultra which fit...

Thanks Mike. I have 145 lightwind Crazyfly TT but mostly ride surfboards in the 5'8 size fairly wide with smaller kites 185 lbs. The 14 can be a bit much in the surf sometimes. The idea here is to replace the older 14 with something newer for those marginal days when I just want to get out and ride...

I have ridden in many tropical storms, it is generally good wind day before and after. Just be prepared to drop your kite on a dime and leave when the rain/lightning/wind arrives. If known lightning it's not worth it at all, don't want to become dead Ben Franklin flying kite in a lightning storm