{"id":270,"date":"2015-07-12T14:59:40","date_gmt":"2015-07-12T12:59:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whenitswindy.com\/wp\/?page_id=270"},"modified":"2015-07-12T15:39:42","modified_gmt":"2015-07-12T13:39:42","slug":"guide-to-buying-your-first-kiteboarding-kite","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.whenitswindy.com\/wp\/?page_id=270","title":{"rendered":"Guide to buying your first Kite."},"content":{"rendered":"

So you’ve finished your course of kiteboarding lessons and are thinking about taking the plunge and getting your own gear?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Good decision!!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Getting your own\u00a0gear will allow you to get out and practice more, using those skills you have just learnt to have LOTS of fun on the water.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Alejandro<\/a><\/p>\n

A kite is a large investment but there are hundreds of kites to choose from, so here’s a few tips on what to look for and questions to ask.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ask your instructor!<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If you used a particular model of kite during\u00a0your lessons,\u00a0you really enjoyed it and\u00a0found it easy to use, then this may be a good starting point for you. You will know some of the finer points of this kite and you probably won’t get any nasty surprises. Ask your instructor for recommendations when you complete your course. We get asked this all the time and we really like to help.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Which Style of Kite ?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You should look at LEI<\/b> (Leading Edge Inflatable) kites aimed at beginners, freeriders or kites for waves. Water relaunchable foil kites do work very well on the water but as a beginner I would steer away from them. The main reason being that they can be very difficult to perform a self rescue with.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

These LEI kites come in a variety of styles: Delta, SLE, Bow, Hybrid, Bridled C and C kites <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As a beginner I would avoid p<\/b>ure C kites<\/b> and Bridled C kites, and race kites<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0C kites\u00a0usually have a smaller wind range and are more difficult to relaunch. Race kites will be built\u00a0using lighter less durable materials.\u00a0You\u00a0 really want life to be as straight forward as possible at the beginning of your kite life.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Typical<\/a>
Typical Shape of a C-Kite : Very curved leading edge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Delta, SLE, Bow, Hybrid <\/b>kites are very easily relaunched, with some it is almost automatic. They are very easy to fly and have a larger wind range than C kites. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Swiss<\/a>
Slingshot Rally – A typical Delta shaped kite.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What size kite do I need to buy?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This is possibly the most commonly asked question by beginners. The answer will depend upon wind strength and your weight. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In the ideal wind range<\/strong> of 12-20 knots<\/b> for beginners a kite between 14 m2 and 10 m2 should serve you very nicely. Someone of around 100kg would need a 14\/13\/12 for this wind range whilst someone of 65 kg may need a 10\/11.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Big kites of 10 m2 and larger move more slowly giving beginners more time to think and react. Small kites pack a punch in the higher winds and tend to be very fast and twitchy. To start with using small kites can be frustrating for beginners but with experience can be a lot of fun.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Remember: <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Higher winds need smaller kites and lower winds need bigger kites.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Heavier people need bigger kites than smaller people.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n