BayAreaKiteboarding.com

I just statred taking lessons and like to purchase a couple kites and can't decide which ones to get.
I am hoping to purchase 2008 or 2009 model 9m and 12m kites.
Models I am currently cosidering are as follows:

North - Rebel
Best - Waroo
Naish - Cult

The kites will be primarily used at Sherman and Alameda.
I am 5' 11" & 188 lbs.
My riding style would be cruising/freeride.

Thank you for your opinions.

Congratulations on taking lessons and taking up the sport! As a new kiter, you're probably going to trash your kites quite a bit. The Rebel, Waroo, and Cult are all good choices for starting out, so my main focus would be on getting whatever is cheapest. See if you can strike a deal for buying 2 kites + 1 bar.

(I'm sure some die-hard team riders will chime in as to why their brand's kites are better, but really, it's hard to go wrong nowadays buying new kite gear.)

Id recommend buying used if you have an experienced kiter you can trust to check out the kite/price. If not, then buy last years closeouts, you can usually get 20%+ off. As mentioned, most beginners do trash their first kite.

wow. Congratulations.

On this forum, we get an awful lot of posts like this, and this is the first one where I can pretty much say. Yes. You got it right.

Right kite size. Right kite type.

get the one you can find cheapest and newest (you don't want something that's too beat up but there are TONS of those kites on the market so you should be able to get 2 for pretty cheap)

From your perspective, they're pretty much the same. They all relaunch well, they all have lots of depower, they are all pretty safe and good flying.

we all have our brand allegiances (mine is none of those) but pretty much everyone can agree that those are good kites to learn on.

nice work! way to do your research!

I think you will be good with all of those. Like said above don’t get old and beat up kite and the best deal is last years models on closeouts.

As a beginner I recommend that you get gear in as good condition as possible, and avoid lemon models. There are lemons in the kiteboarding world in the same way they exist in the auto world and its different every year.

Waroo: Get 2008 and up
Rebel: It’s a 5 lines kite, which in my opinion is just a potential problem for a beginner. Advanced riders say the performance of the kite is worth the trade off. As a beginner you will not be able to benefit from the extra performance, so I would recommend not getting any kite with 5 lines for beginners. If you do want a north kite, they have a model called Evo which is supposed to be beginner friendly and can fly on 4 lines.

It is important that someone with experience checks the kite. Kites can have all kinds of surprises in them that are not easy to tell. Check wear on the lines, it is sometimes the most visible wear.

2009: 9 Meter RRD Obsession ! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Rebel: It’s a 5 lines kite, which in my opinion is just a potential problem for a beginner.

I learned on a Rebel and found the 5th line to be a great safety feature. The kite will flag quite well from it, and you can help tease the kite into a quicker relaunch when the wind gets obnoxiously light. My friend is sponsored by a company making 4-line kites and chides me that I need to get rid of the "training wheel." (I say "when you get me a deal!").

The 2009 is a departure from the 2008 design and I hear that people love it (turns quicker, back-stalls less, I'm told). I ride a 2008 quiver and have heard to stay away from the earlier years as they could invert and weren't as easy to relaunch. I don't have any complaints about mine but the general advice above is best. I would also add maybe try to stay with what your friends have experience with, as they will have gear tips and tricks you won't find in the user's manual.

you might also give the 2009 Ocean Rodeo Rise kites a try. They have a very simple and easy to use depower system and also are super stable. Its a 4 line kite that has no problems relaunching and unlike kites with a 5th line if you accidently invert it you can often fly it back to the beach with lines crossed.
I am 150lbs and i fly a 8m and 10m year round in the bay area under almost all conditions.
Good luck and welcome to kiteboarding!

I agree that you can't go wrong with any of those choices.

Just so that you have some feedback on the Naish Cult - I have a 9m and 12m 2008 model and this is my second full season of riding. They are great beginner/intermediate kites - super stable in the air, relatively quick turning and easy to relaunch. I'm 6 foot/165 lbs., ride mostly at third ave. and those sizes cover me for most conditions.

But as has been said, starting with the 2007/2008 model year, you can find those qualities in many good kites and your choice will come down to personal preference. I would definitely not buy new - either buy well-maintained used kites or try to find previous year models at a discount.

Some other things you might consider - you mentioned that you just started taking lessons - you might consider buying the model of kite that you learned on, this might increase your comfort level once you go solo.

If you have a kiting buddy/instructor/shop that uses a particular brand or model that might also be a consideration - always good to have a knowledgeable source of information in case you have questions about safety systems, rigging, etc.

Good luck!

Or you could just buy a yellow Cabrinha so everyone knows to stay out of your way. 8-[