North Vegas as first kite

[baypirate]

I'm looking to get my first all-around kite and found a decent deal on a North Vegas 07 (12m). Would this be a bad choice for a beginner? I really think the safety and relaunching capabilities of the 5th line are a plus given how much I expect to crash for a while.

My only other decent option would be a Best Waroo 08 (all the 07s seem to be gone), but I hate to buy a current year model as a rookie.

Of course, this would be for Alameda and then 3rd Avenue as soon I stop being a "negative externality" for the people around me...

Thanks and sorry for "just another newbie" Q...

[adamrod]

ehhh, i think you're better off on the Best. The vegas is a super sweet kite, but probably not as forgiving for a newbie. the Best will be easier for you to relaunch and will have more range and depower.

so, IMHO, yes, the vegas would be a bad choice given your other options.

[bobbyboom]

I would not recommend the 07 Vegas. The 08 is a different story, the 08 is awesome and the 06 is awesome, too. The 07 is not as solid of a kite. I know I love North for sure and I would recommend the Rebel 07 or 08 as that kite is so awesome and so many people I know have this as their first kite ever and they love it, easy relaunch, turns great, lots of low end, etc. Just putting it out there. Enjoy and have fun kiting. Hope to see you on the water soon!

-BOOM

[baypirate]

Thanks, guys. Forgiveness is definitely an issue.

BOOM, somebody is selling a Vegas 08 too, do you happen to know if it would work with an 06 bar? North charges ridiculous amounts for bars as it is...

Appreciated!

[zgur]

One other opinion, from a person who has owned the 07 and 08 Vegas.

Disclosure: I'm a local North team rider.

Adam - I think it's the first time I don't agree with you about "probably not as forgiving for a newbie. the Best will be easier for you to relaunch and will have more range and depower." Both kites are as forgiving when it comes to sheeting out, range and depower. I actually think the better power of the vegas is better for a newbie, cause they are not good at flying a kite to create power, and need some juice to get going. Just my opinion......


....Back on point, I agree with your assessment that getting a new kite for a rookie, is not a good call.

The two kites are different, Best vs. North vegas.

Vegas: C kite with big range. super stable, powerful, fast turning, good depower and relanuch on the 5th line is easy. The 08 is a notch better then then 07. Both years kites are powerful. Build quality is super. Takes abuse well. For a beginner, I'd go for the 2007, as it will have plenty of performance, and your first kites get trashed, so spend less, ride more and get betta......

Best: This is an SLE kite. Not as powerful. Turns smooth. Relaunches well. Good in the waves. FWIW, last weekend @ sherman, I saw one literaly explode in mid air. I've seen the same year Best and Vegas, and the Best appears to wear quicker. The bar is not the best, sorry for the pun.

Again, just 1 dudes opinion, late at night. Does not matter what you get, just get it, learn how it flies, get a lot of water time and share the stoke w/your bros. A cold beer from time to time is nice as well.....;-)

Get some, Z.

[davewsail]

Yet another opinion. I'm also a local team rider for North. Frankly as a newbie I don't think you could tell the difference between the 07 and 08 Vegas. Just make sure you don't go for anything older than that unless you can get an 06 Vegas. But as Zev says, you would notice the difference between a C-kite and an SLE. I also agree with Z that a high depower C-kite is probably easier to learn on as a newbie because of the constant power. I learned on C-kites and then switched to an SLE the next year (07 Rhino). At first I hated the SLE because I had to re-learn how to fly the kite (prevent backstalling, how far to sheet in, etc). I eventually got used to it but I can imagine trying to do this without solid riding skills. However, the plus of the SLE is much easier relaunch and the ability to let go of the bar for almost 100% depower.

Now I'm back to the 08 Vegas because I like freestyle and it does exactly what I want a kite to do. I will warn you that the relaunch is a bit tricky with the 08 Vegas (the one thing I don't like about it).

In summary go with your cheapest late model option, but I'd lean towards a C-kite like the Vegas. You will thrash it no matter what you buy. Once you get competent, then try lost of different kites to see what fits your style (of course that will change over time also).

[davewsail]

Oh and baypirate, yes the 06 bar will work on the 08 Vegas. But I don't recommend it. The 08 bar is soooo much better. Sheldon Kiteboarding will give you a good deal on a new bar if you want to go that route. May be able to find a used 08 bar also.

[windhorny]

Lets get all the north team riders here.

dave is totally right, you only know the difference after you learn the first few steps. BUT, one thing from my witnessing beginners at alameda is that having a 5th line can save you. For some reason schools do not teach self reliance. They get you on the water and tell you to pull your safety and wrap your lines up. but what will really happen is you will be afraid or hesitant-which you shouldn't be. On a 4 line kite, exception of some newer designs, the safety holds 1 line, as do all kites. I have seen, so many times, beginners crash their kites on the beach right next to people and not know how to drag the kite back onto the water or safely get to the kite. On a 5th line, you pull the safety in 10-25mph or whatever and you can walk up the 5th to your kite safely, no tumbling. It is not as easy to relaunch because you cant just pull a wingtip to reverse launch, BUT as a beginner you will be flying alameda and light winds, which makes that almost impossible anyways. The 5th line will actually be easier to relaunch with a little practice in lighter winds. The 07 vegas has a lot of bar pressure, the 06/08 are nearly flawless kites, I would make an effort to get one of those over the 07, but again if you had an 07 you would probably be pretty damned stoked-and they have a 2 pump!

[wjb]

I learned on an 06 Vegas. Plenty of depower. I wish I had that kite still. I agree with Dave. The 06 bar will work but the 08 is so much better. The bar and lines is not the area you want to save your money. That's all your control and safety.

[Bulldog]

I have a 12M 2006 Vegas that I haven't used for almost a year and would be willing to sell. The bar is pretty thrashed, though, because I used it with my 9M as well (which I flew alot more frequently) and I wouldn't sell it to anyone.

PM me if you're interested.