Hi. I am just getting into kitesurfing and want to do it on a budget. I'm 80ish kg. I have a cabrinha recoil bar from 2015. Wondering whether a 9m and 12m RRD obsession would be a good place to start. They're MK4 from 2012. Would the safety features be OK with that age? Thank you in advance!

go for it
what's the worst that could happen

That really depends on your location, this is an Australian forum so advice given may not suit where you live.

2012 kites are too old for a beginner, you will spend more time fixing bladders than actually using them. Find an instructor, do some lessons and allow the instructor be your guide of what gear will suit.

Hi saundersaw,

Yes, I'm a kite retailer so my goal is normally to encourage you to buy new. I'm going to give you some general advice that I hope makes sense without pushing you to buy new gear.

As a complete beginner without any experience, my strongest advice is to not buy used gear without an expert shopping with you AND coming with you to inspect the gear before forking out the $$. You'll find more tips about what to look for when buying used gear in the article below.

I did that mistake not once but twice as a beginner. Bought used gear without really knowing what to inspect. Turns out the first kite I bought was leaking all over the place and it took countless hours to fix those leaks only to realize there were more leaks and that in the end I should've just replaced all the bladders (This usually cost at least $300 if you do it yourself). The second kite I bought used, the canopy was just so "tired" that the kite ripped in half the first time I crashed it in the water. It wasn't worth repairing it because the canopy was finished.

Safety systems have evolved a lot with regards to bars. It's important that you get a single front line safety system (not sure if that's the case on your Cabrinha bar or not) See article below about safety systems.

If you're on a budget, another advice is to buy used gear from a kite shop. This means the gear has been inspected and the shop will offer you some support in case something is wrong with the gear. You will typically pay a bit more when buying used gear from a shop vs the online ads but at least you'll have peace of mind knowing that 1) it's the right gear for you and 2) it's in good working order.

I would not recommend buying kites this old (2012). Back then all valves were glued on the bladder regardless of the brand, which means that over time they will eventually ALL peel off. Even if the kite hasn't been used much. Australia is one of the worst placed to be for these old valves (heat, sun). Changing all the valves or replacing the bladder will cost you more than the kite is worth. Post 2016 kites almost all have HF welded valves which means that the valves are welded on the bladder instead of glued. In other words, they can't come undone.

As far as sizing, you forgot to mention where you are and what's the average wind speed during your kite season (see article below)

If you stick to this sport, you'll eventually realize that it's not a budget sport and that if you want good gear that performs well, you'll have to spend more than you thought at first.

Some more reading you might find useful:

www.kitebud.com.au/kitesurfing-online-courses/kitesurfing-safety-systems/

www.kitebud.com.au/6-things-to-look-at-when-buying-a-used-kite/

www.kitebud.com.au/how-to-choose-a-kite-size/

Hope this helps,

Christian

Always rig for the lulls

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cbulota said..
Hi saundersaw,

Yes, I'm a kite retailer so my goal is normally to encourage you to buy new. I'm going to give you some general advice that I hope makes sense without pushing you to buy new gear.

As a complete beginner without any experience, my strongest advice is to not buy used gear without an expert shopping with you AND coming with you to inspect the gear before forking out the $$. You'll find more tips about what to look for when buying used gear in the article below.

I did that mistake not once but twice as a beginner. Bought used gear without really knowing what to inspect. Turns out the first kite I bought was leaking all over the place and it took countless hours to fix those leaks only to realize there were more leaks and that in the end I should've just replaced all the bladders (This usually cost at least $300 if you do it yourself). The second kite I bought used, the canopy was just so "tired" that the kite ripped in half the first time I crashed it in the water. It wasn't worth repairing it because the canopy was finished.

Safety systems have evolved a lot with regards to bars. It's important that you get a single front line safety system (not sure if that's the case on your Cabrinha bar or not) See article below about safety systems.

If you're on a budget, another advice is to buy used gear from a kite shop. This means the gear has been inspected and the shop will offer you some support in case something is wrong with the gear. You will typically pay a bit more when buying used gear from a shop vs the online ads but at least you'll have peace of mind knowing that 1) it's the right gear for you and 2) it's in good working order.

I would not recommend buying kites this old (2012). Back then all valves were glued on the bladder regardless of the brand, which means that over time they will eventually ALL peel off. Even if the kite hasn't been used much. Australia is one of the worst placed to be for these old valves (heat, sun). Changing all the valves or replacing the bladder will cost you more than the kite is worth. Post 2016 kites almost all have HF welded valves which means that the valves are welded on the bladder instead of glued. In other words, they can't come undone.

As far as sizing, you forgot to mention where you are and what's the average wind speed during your kite season (see article below)

If you stick to this sport, you'll eventually realize that it's not a budget sport and that if you want good gear that performs well, you'll have to spend more than you thought at first.

Some more reading you might find useful:

www.kitebud.com.au/kitesurfing-online-courses/kitesurfing-safety-systems/

www.kitebud.com.au/6-things-to-look-at-when-buying-a-used-kite/

www.kitebud.com.au/how-to-choose-a-kite-size/

Hope this helps,

Christian

Possibly the most useful helpful post I've ever seen on these forums.

I learnt on a 2012 Evo
Cost me 100 bucks. I got a newer 12 a bit later and it is so much more stable. Old bars will probably be out of tune, mine is. I haven't had a problem with the valves leaking YET. I have also had problems with my chicken loop opening when you crash a jump. I bought a 2009 C kite. $50. Pretty much no depower. Two of the valves have peeled off. Not really willing to pay to get it fixed so I just put some of the glue that is used to reglue rubber ducky boats over the top of the valve. Works for now. If you can afford a good kite then try to get one. You will learn so much faster.

To all beginners 1. Don't buy a new kite ,its costs alot of $$, main reason you will wreck it and cost money to repair and kite value drops . You may realize you dont like the sport quickly after and lose money selling a $2000 kite... 2. Don't buy used W .A. kites ,coz their summer season may be 60 to 100 sessions while N. S. W. summer season might be 20 to 30 sessions , my last 2 n.s.w.crap summers were only 15 sessions each..so W .A .used kites are well used.!!! 3 After your pro lessons hang at your local kite beach and ask the regular kiters there you want to buy , and they always have a used kite to sell to you ...these locals will look after you with tips and launching ,and used gear ....4 Buying a used traded in kite from a kiteshop , ive been told the shop says to buyer ,the kite is sold AS IS , if the buyer has a problem after purchase with bladders or other..it costs you extra . 5 . Don't buy ex kite school kite from shop, coz its been smashed by a number of beginners ,as beginners do ..

Best thing I did as a beginner in January was buy a lightly used duotone 2020 neo. Safe, efficient and fun.

Good choice. Buying a 1 year old kite saves about 50% of new price. Not sure why anyone would recommend a brand new kite to a beginner, especially when there is so much good second hand gear available and no significant improvements in last 3-4 years in any brand.

Most (not all) shops are reputable and usually have good trade-ins for sale.

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towradgi said..
To all beginners 1. Don't buy a new kite ,its costs alot of $$, main reason you will wreck it and cost money to repair and kite value drops . You may realize you dont like the sport quickly after and lose money selling a $2000 kite... 2. Don't buy used W .A. kites ,coz their summer season may be 60 to 100 sessions while N. S. W. summer season might be 20 to 30 sessions , my last 2 n.s.w.crap summers were only 15 sessions each..so W .A .used kites are well used.!!! 3 After your pro lessons hang at your local kite beach and ask the regular kiters there you want to buy , and they always have a used kite to sell to you ...these locals will look after you with tips and launching ,and used gear ....4 Buying a used traded in kite from a kiteshop , ive been told the shop says to buyer ,the kite is sold AS IS , if the buyer has a problem after purchase with bladders or other..it costs you extra . 5 . Don't buy ex kite school kite from shop, coz its been smashed by a number of beginners ,as beginners do ..

I would also add don't buy large kites from Qld/Nth Qld, they usually see a lot of sun while sitting on the beach waiting for wind

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Peahi said..
Buying a 1 year old kite saves about 50% of new price.

Where? You might get 30% if you're lucky, and not fussy about the size...

Or do you mean: now it's 2021, so a 2020 kite that was made in 2019 is a year old...?

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Dangerous said..

cbulota said..
Hi saundersaw,

Yes, I'm a kite retailer so my goal is normally to encourage you to buy new.

Possibly the most useful helpful post I've ever seen on these forums.

You had me at "Yes i'm a kite retailer "

Select to expand quote

Kamikuza said..

Peahi said..
Buying a 1 year old kite saves about 50% of new price.

Where? You might get 30% if you're lucky, and not fussy about the size...

Or do you mean: now it's 2021, so a 2020 kite that was made in 2019 is a year old...?

I bought a 2020 8m kite for $900 hardly used, full retail $1960, so it could have been made in 2019, but purchased some time in late 2020 so not even a year old but more than a year since manufacture. Equally an ex-demo 11m for $800 usually retailing for $2200. Brand new runouts at 30% off from 2020 would be hard to find though from lack of stock due to the spicy flu, and the silicon chip shortage

Select to expand quote

Peahi said..
I bought a 2020 8m kite for $900 hardly used, full retail $1960, so it could have been made in 2019, but purchased some time in late 2020 so not even a year old but more than a year since manufacture. Equally an ex-demo 11m for $800 usually retailing for $2200. Brand new runouts at 30% off from 2020 would be hard to find though from lack of stock due to the spicy flu, and the silicon chip shortage

For love of god, where?! right place at the right time huh.