G'day all, I'm just getting into kiting and loving it!
I'm looking at buying a PL Venom and/or (probably and)a GK Sonic 11. I've tried both kites out and really liked both. I'm a pretty big guy at 112kg so thinking that the 19 Venom will get me going in lighter air and the Sonic in the stronger stuff.
I've been surfing for over 20 years and got into wavesailing some years ago so would like to end up in the waves on a kite so was looking at getting a short surfboard and putting footstraps on it, I've seen other guys riding similar types of boards.
My thoughts were something along the lines of about 5'5" - 5'11' and pretty wide me being a big guy and all, any thoughts from the masses out there? As I said I'm just starting out had a few lessons with St Kilda kitesailing in Melbourne plus a few times with other friends who are in to it so not real knowedgeable on the matter and would like some feed back from you guys?
cheers

subsea, did you bother to read my post on surfboards www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16632

Anyway, at 112kg I'd say forget about a 5"5. Especially if you're just getting into it.
And I don't know what your learning curve is but a twintip might be easier to begin with [}:)]

Cheers,
S.

One of the issues with a surfboard is gybing. On a twin tip you can just fudge a turn and start travelling back on the other tack. On a surfboard you will either have to ride switch footed or change stance during the gybe. Both of these are completely doable but a bit harder than the twin tip option. If you're learning then it means you'll be in the water at the end of each run - not a massive drama but something to consider.

I fly a sonic and absolutely recommend it. At 105kgs you probably won't need anything smaller and be able to kite with it up to about 30kts (once you've developed your skills for a while).

Thanks for the advise. I thought about the gybing bit and thought I'd be in the water a little til I got used to it, but I figure my surfing and sailboarding experience will help out there. I'll probably get a twin tip board as well but try to go with the surfboard for now only because I already have one in mind so its free apart from getting the footstraps to put on it.
Good to hear you like your Sonic I've heard and read quite a bit of good stuff about them and I really enjoyed it myself when trying it out, not that I have a lot to compare to but it felt good which is what its all about. I also really liked to PL Venom too which is why I think I'll end up with both, they both seem to have their advantages and disadvantages.
thanks again.
cheers

Before deciding, you must try the Best Waroo. Kicks ass.

hey I learn on a surfboard and there are some advantages,

Advantages are

1) heaps of volume so you are not so effected by lulls and can consentrate on flying the kite not tea bagging.
2) when you hit the water a surfboard sits higher in the water and the wind will help blow it back to you, especially if the tide is going against you.
3) You can always sit on a surfboard and paddle it back in if you get stuck.
4) jibing is not that difficult to learn

So all these things make it a bit easier to get going. the down sides are;

1) they carry speed and get up to speed easily, so if you are oversized, have too much kite up, then they are hard to keep the speed down.
2) even though you think you can ride against your natural stance you wont be able to, it will take a few hours to master, its not really like a sailboard, more like surfing against your natural stance with somthing trying to pull you off.
3) its harder to edge the board ( too much volume)
4) you will compress the deck of your boards, so use an old board, an 80's one with heaps of glass, the shape doesnt really matter you will be going in a straight line.
5) Big fins, dont wear the leggy, you dont want it flicking you in the head or landing on it, learn to body drag up wind.

What ever you use you will have fun

Hi, I am also a surfer an have learnt recently on a directional board and found it easy...YOU DONT have to gybe!! being a surfer you just ride toeside ..it is so easy for us surfers to do this as it is what we do while surfing anyway I recomend learning on a directional anyday over a twin tip as some of my mates did and guess who is riding the waves quicker.
Directioal boards are not that hard to find an cheaper too.
I have one for sale if your interested.
Also the learning curve is a lot more fun as you progress a lot more quickly...just get one (one surfer to another!!)
cheers...Phil 0412644537

Blownaway(Phil)
Do you live in Melbourne? If so it would be good to catch up with you, I've seen quite a few guys down at Ricketts point using surfboards and down the Island as well.
i've already got a surfboard being fitted with strapes now should be ready in a couple of days.
Cheers Tim

Hey Tim, naa sorry mate I live in Queensland and yes surfboards are great but be aware they also break very easy when you do even small jumps !!
And you will do jumps during your learning curve!
Its all good fun no matter what you do.

gidday subsea
I,m in the same boat, surfer ,wave sailer with the sole intention of kiting in the waves I weigh 95kgs. I started with putting straps on my McCoy 6.8 and didn,t listen to advise from all the kiters around me that its quicker to learn on the twin tip and progress to a surfboard. After a couple of weeks I tryed a twin tipped and found how much easier they were spending less time in the water and more time learning the kite movements. I feel they were right by learning on a twin tip it will get me back on a board faster.
Aboat board size my opinion is your normal board size you,d use for surfing. regards glenn