Training Kites - Why do they differ from Kitesurfing Kites?

[inHell]

Dear Community,

my sister and I are just taking up our new hobby of Kitesurfing. After we finished our 9h course in Egypt we bought us equipment in order to practice, practice and practice until we get to a point where its useful to take another course. I have to add that the course in Egypt went very poorly: little to no theory, bad instruction, sometimes contradictory, no patience, harsh and unfair communication and the rush to finish the course while going through all the steps. This is why we decided to buy us our own gear, educate ourself and just head out and practice (we learned so much more by just watching good instructors on youtube).
Its a lot at once and as a beginner its hard to start building up the awareness in so many areas like feeling the weather, controlling the kite and handling the board.

My sister and I think that we should take our time to really learn how to control the kite, build up some muscle memory before we try to get on the board again. This is why we decided to buy a training kite to use our free time to increase this ability and awareness.
As we were searching for training kites I noticed that they differ from the normal kites which are used in Kitesurfing. They are foil kites, non-inflatable kites and are more like PG (Paragliding Kites) which inflate by air moving through them.
- Why is this the case?
- What are the differences between the kites and what do we have to expect from a training kite if its non-inflatable?
If I want to train with a kite I think its reasonable to train with a kite that is almost the exact thing i'll use later on the water except the size ofc.
I know that the bar is there but it feels like there are differences in regards of structure and its behavior in air.

Please educate a noob like me. Also here is a link to a training kite we found, maybe one of you can tell me if it suits our goal.
I also wanted to add that we are aware of the dangers in teaching ourself. I don't know how this community feels about this but tips and advise in this regard are always helpful (if they are constructive). We know all the safety rules, we know that we have to pick the weather and location carefully and that we need to learn handling the kite to increase our safety.

I hope I didn't bored You with the additional information besides the initial topic question. For the ones that bothered, I hope the highlighting helps

All the best
Rick

[Sceotend]

I don't know the reason. There aren't very small LEIs AFAIK. I guess the power is just too low for other than nuclear winds.

I would definitely buy a small depower kite for practicing. Just make sure that it's not too windy. There are small single skins and ram airs.

[knotwindy]

They are cheap, easy to make & you can smash them into the ground with less chance of major damage. They are fine for learning about the wind window in the very beginning but you should move to a 4 line small depower kite fairly quickly.
3 or 4 companies make them. Ozone has a 2.5 Uno that would work but you won’t be able to use it to actually water kite with it unless you are 25 kilos or foil in high wind. They (and others, I’m sure) make slightly larger kites, maybe 4 or 6 meter single strut inflatable 4 line depowerable kites to play with as well. Best of luck with the new addiction.

[GregK]

Ocean Rodeo have an inflatable 4-line trainer kite - https://oceanrodeo.ca/products/react

[Slappysan]

The best kite to learn with I have found is the Flysurfer Peak 4. While it's not an inflatable it's still a "real" kite in every sense and you can crash it on the beach and not pop it. The Peak 4's steering response in light wind is lightyears ahead of anything else making it very beginner friendly to learn on in gentle conditions.

[Wind Runner]

Price. No one wants to pay a lot for a trainer kite that will only be used a few times really.

[joriws]

It is a sad thing to read your experience in Egypt. Those "pros" running schools just to take your money away and sell you new gear with premium margin. To fool you..

A lot of your decision should be based on your location with wind atlas and water condition. It determines the kite-type and size and also if you can practice in safety. Big waves and high winds with 20cm volcanic pebble, well take a another course locally from your country and area, first ask around about the school or people running it. Don't be fooled by a beach bum living his dream.. There are also good schools, I am not saying that.

Trainer kite is kite with design of no pull on lines and kitesurf kite is the opposite. Besides steering the kite purpose is also learn the sheeting which 2-3 line trainer kites cannot teach, but 4-line trainers can like real power kites. Also with trainer kite you should learn all handling and malfunction of the kite (front stall, deathloop) with more safety as kite does not pull too much. But sure for playing around you can purchase very cheap 2-line small kite with handles and replace handles with stick. Practice flying at wind window, diving the kite to get pull, flying nice arcs to lengthen the dive to flying upward and keep some pull coming etc.

Modern trainer is the Peak4 kite which has many trainer like characteristics like not explosive pull even in the middle of power zone but it is a real kite moving you around. Although not recommended to be used on water it can be used. But like pointed out, it is cheap as new and almost in-destructable and can be used on snow&land as a beginner and water with some basic understanding and skill developed already.

With your 11m Airush (kite on your profile) you can practise, maybe 5m/s it flies properly so you can do steering and diving practises. Have a competition with your sister who can make longer skid-marks on sand on kite power to learn power development. If there is a cable wake boarding track near-by you could go there for a session with our twintip to learn ride the board if that is totally new to you.

[tomtom]

The best kite to learn with I have found is the Flysurfer Peak 4. While it's not an inflatable it's still a "real" kite in every sense and you can crash it on the beach and not pop it. The Peak 4's steering response in light wind is lightyears ahead of anything else making it very beginner friendly to learn on in gentle conditions.

1+++

I was making living kite instructing - teaching countless friends and family. There is no better kite for learning. My friend have kiteschool and they use it even for water lesson /at some stage they switch to leis/

[Havre]

What would be the lifespan of an inflatable kite used for beginner courses? 3 days? Not to mention the safety aspect. I have been smashed by beginners on trainer kites several times. Just annoying. A small LEI and I could imagine that would have been rather painful.

[jkrug]

just because you had a bad experience with one 'teacher' doesn't mean they all suck, find another one. if there are truly no other choices where you are, then videos and chat with other kiters will have to do. at least it's good that you understand instruction is extremely helpful for you (and those around you).

training kites are not only NOT that different from kitesurfing kites, but sometimes they're one and the same. I use training kites Ozone Uno 4m and 6M for foiling regularly. And the 6m for crazy windy surf sessions. I also use Peaks, but would not recommend going out on water with a Peak as a beginner, for the sole reason beginners put their kites in the water often, and Peaks aren't easy/good relaunchers. But overall, training kites are typically just very small kites and whether they're ram air or LEI doesn't matter.