Hi all
I'm just starting to learn kitesurfing, I took a few lessons but have yet to get on the board :(

I'd like to look into buy a kite and harness to practice. Can someone recommend a good beginner kite that is stable with good depower and not too pricy.
Hope to get a good deal on something say kite with lines and bar with a harness for less than 500?

Maybe a cabrinha switchblade around 2011 or newer should get 1 for around 500

And i found a seat harness for 50 bucks

Or ozone catalyst an 8m 2011 on gumtree 375 bargain but depends on your weight

I saw a really good deal on a 2011 ozone catalyst with harness and for less than $400 but not sure if I should go for it...I saw ur post on switch blade vs catalyst.
A few ppl have recommended switchblade but surely there are other options besides that as there are so many different brands of kites.

I am 60ish kg.

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Rob83 said..
Or ozone catalyst an 8m 2011 on gumtree 375 bargain but depends on your weight

I saw that on and am considering it....I am 60kg ish

I learnt on a catalyst i really liked it but they didnt have any stock when i was buying so i went the switchblade even a cabrinha convert is a good kite it was the first kite i brought

Anything past 2010, hybrid/ delta 3-5 struts will be sweet.
as can be read, someone is enjoying their chinese kite of questionable design, but they are enjoying and learning nonetheless, which is all you need as a beginner.

Oh an as long as its safe, hence past 2010. people will say 2008 or 2007, but just go 2010 then its newer as well and won't feel like cotton.

Yer go for the 8 meter ozone just check it over hopefully would be good no holes etc holds air but for 375 its a bargain maybe the harness might fit or u could sell it off even cheaper

lol yes i am really enjoying this questionable kite lol its a mystery but a good one atm i guess time will answer all the questions haha

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flyingcab said..
Anything past 2010, hybrid/ delta 3-5 struts will be sweet.
as can be read, someone is enjoying their chinese kite of questionable design, but they are enjoying and learning nonetheless, which is all you need as a beginner.

I don't know the diff between hybrid / delta or whatever. I'm basically looking for suggestions of brand and models of a kite that is easy to learn on. As I'm not sure how into sport I will get I'm not willing to spend 1500 on a kite.

A really good stable kite to learn with is a cabrinha vector , I have one my self and I love it . I am at the water start stage at present so I am not up and riding yet , but from a learners point of view it's an easy kite to handle . I did buy a 2014 model for about 1700 complete, that might be out of your price range , but if you look around you might find an older model . Good safe predictable kite . Can't go wrong !

struts are the inflatable sections that run through the kite from front to back. The leading edge is the inflatable section that goes along the front of the kite.
here is a list of hybrid kites
Slingshot rally
liquid force envy (cheaper)
f-one bandit (bit more $$$)
ozone catalyst
north rebel (also a bit more $$$ and 5 line depending on model)
carbinha drifter (also a bit $$$)

These are pretty good to learn, I learnt on 2 of these with no troubles.

another tip is to see what your local stocks then get one of their brands, that way they can easily help if you need a spare bladder, chicken loop etc. And they can help you set it up for the first time.

Thanks I will have a look for some of those models. What kind of kite is the switchblade as a few pplnhave suggesyed that but have not seen many in my price range. Are most kite hybrid now as opposed to pure bow or c kite.

A 2011 8m cat will be a good choice.

But check it over first.

Look for the following things

pin holes in the canopy
repairs
worn stitching on the leading edge.

Kites are not like cars. They don't last for years and years. They are tensioned bits of fabric that get a hard life. The stitching wears out and the material is weakened by UV, worn by flapping on beach and launching.

A 2011 kite has most likely been used to a point that it is almost worn out. If it has had little use. Then go for it. If it has had heavy use then look for another deal.

According to seller has had very little use and they claim is like new andnin excellent condition.

Feel the lines and if they are still waxy that usually means the kite has had minimal use, unless he has new lines.
Feel the canopy material and if it feels crispy then its fairly new, if it feels like a cotton tee shirt then its rubbish - this is most evident inbetween struts on the trailing edge where the kite will flutter.
Repairs aren't a bad thing, not even noticeable if done correctly and can actually improve the strength of the kite.

Thanks I ended up getting the kite. It looked good but b I wasn't able to blow it up tho. But material was stil crsip stitch did notnlook worn and control bar lines looked pretty good too. Unfortunately harness was way to small for me but hopefully I can trade it in for something that fits.

Now I just gott learn how to fly it ...anyone wanna help?! Lol

Looks good.


Now pump it up and look at the leading edge stitching. If any is worn through then patch it with sail tape. That will stop the seam splitting and the bladder bursting.

Also while its pumped up. Hold it up to the sun and sitfor underneath at the canopy and look up. If you see little pin holes patch them up too with a small circle of sail tape.

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nycrew said..
Now I just gott learn how to fly it ...anyone wanna help?! Lol

You bought a kite without lessons? BBBbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

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gkawo said..

nycrew said..
Now I just gott learn how to fly it ...anyone wanna help?! Lol

You bought a kite without lessons? BBBbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

OP says he has had a few lessons

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nycrew said..
Now I just gott learn how to fly it ...anyone wanna help?! Lol

haha good work, I did the same thing. watch bulk you tube if you cant get any lessons

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Plummet said...
Looks good.


Now pump it up and look at the leading edge stitching. If any is worn through then patch it with sail tape. That will stop the seam splitting and the bladder bursting.

Also while its pumped up. Hold it up to the sun and sitfor underneath at the canopy and look up. If you see little pin holes patch them up too with a small circle of sail tape.

Will do as soon as I get right pump fitting for it...the guy who I bought it from was selling for his daughter and he didn't even know u had pump it up.

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Plummet said..
Looks good.

Under statement!

Man that bar and lines looks band new!
The white on the bar usually gets discoloured after about 8-12 mths use, that one still looks pure white and the floats aren't even marked....

Excellent buy mate, and a perfect beginners kite.

Why did I get red thumbed??

Looks a steal, that model used to have a slight defect on the inflate valve, if the valves black then it hasn't been replaced with red one , which might be in your spares pouch, just worth checking as a deflated kite when flying can get hairy, but apart from that looks great for the money

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flyingcab said...
Why did I get red thumbed??

I dunno it dont even know how so it wasn't me.

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cauncy said...
Looks a steal, that model used to have a slight defect on the inflate valve, if the valves black then it hasn't been replaced with red one , which might be in your spares pouch, just worth checking as a deflated kite when flying can get hairy, but apart from that looks great for the money

Yes valve is black... thats no goo. ..what kind of ddefect. ..delaminatio? Blew it up and appeared ok...left it for aabout 30 min and no problems.

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cauncy said...
Looks a steal, that model used to have a slight defect on the inflate valve, if the valves black then it hasn't been replaced with red one , which might be in your spares pouch, just worth checking as a deflated kite when flying can get hairy, but apart from that looks great for the money

Yes valve is black... thats no goo. ..what kind of ddefect. ..delaminatio? Blew it up and appeared ok...left it for aabout 30 min and no problems.