Nuubie in search of some guidance

WOP · Post by **WOP** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 1:30 pm

My name is Todd and I live in S.F. I'm new to your sport, but have been following it for about a year. Time to get my feet wet! I am good at all board and motor sports... not a pro...not sponsored...but can do it and have fun at it. I've already taken my instruction with Wind Over Water with Jeff and was able to kite back and forth across the bay. My board skills are fine but my kiting skills and being safe around other kiters and nonkiters are lacking. I might have to call Jeff for a confidence boost. I have been reading your forums and I'm leading towards the ww rapture2. I'm 5'10",185lbs. If money was no object (FYI it is) what would you get. Nobody talks about boards, length of line, bindings, harness, etc. What do you think about Dakine board short diaper harness? Keep in mind I like to buy the "best" but do not want to have to buy again at least for the rest of the season. I learn quick. Safety first. Sorry for the lengthy thread.

jjm · Post by **jjm** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 2:38 pm

I'd say demo before you make final decision if possible.

I'm guessing that Xtremebigair.com will be putting on another KiteXPO (hopefully with wind this time) down in Pismo next year ('05 was in late April I think?). This will let you see in person a bunch of the different brands and models, and hopefully fly them.

You probably won't get much riding time until next spring. You could make a purchase from either Best or WindWing and time it so that you can get a 30 day trial period to make sure you're happy with the gear early season. Basically, you could have gear to use, if timed right can compare them against '06 line up at the KiteXPO, keep or return based on your experiences? Worse case, you're out some shipping expenses. In doing so, you could build up some experience that would make demos more helpful in that you would be able to tell the difference between gear.

I think live2kite.com distributes best, that might save you shipping, hopefully without them taking the hit? They also seem pretty open to demoing equipment if memory serves.

Otherwise, something to consider is that bestkiteboarding.com is currently clearing out their '05 yargas for $250 (11m), and $299 (other sizes left in stock). They claim that this is leftover stock from when their headquarters got hit by a hurricane. Check first, they may be "sandy", or have gotten wet, so will not likely be sold with their normal warranty. I would assume they would at least sell them in like-new shape.

The prices above are kite only. You would need to purchase a bar. In doing so, you should consider what kites would function with the bar (i.e. a 5th line bar would not be compatible with the new flat kites you may have read about, without tweaking). Oh, and supposedly the 05 yargas need, or are highly recommended with 5 lines.

I haven't personally flown best or windwing, and am not very good, so take that into consideration :) But that is what I'd do if I could go back to this time last year.

WOP · Post by **WOP** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 3:33 pm

Smart info. JJM are you the one who is the moderater of Alameda Discussion (private) because I applied but know response!?!? Thanks for the advice on the topic. =D>

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 4:46 pm

Consider buying a used kite because you may crash it hard and rip it to shreds. But always get a new bar and new lines.

And also consider getting a light wind board (wide + flat). Kiting in light winds is less intimidating, and learning to relaunch in light wind is invaluable.

charlie · Post by **charlie** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:54 pm

or get your rapture,1 or 2...depends on your coin, rapture1 and b safe bar
would be the least coin,and ....
right now i would point you at a..132 undergate.
it might take just a bit longer to learn on but you will never out grow it.
i use it as a light wind board that gos upwind very well. but you can useit in higher winds too i use this board ,80 percent of the tiime. as far for the feet, strapes my man you can change it later if you want . i have not used the board shorts harness., i do like the dekind seat harness. lots of people were waist harness....?
also get the bar too... i spent a loooonG time tune n bars till i got it right.
if your new it will make getting started ez er. kite and bar, lines ready to go ,spend the coin.
now what size and kite..?
with the rapture you dont need a fifth line.

OliverG · Post by **OliverG** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:59 pm

For what it's worth, we've got a 2005 Rap1 12m Demo in great shape for $325.

I didn't care for the boardshorts harness after having a few sessions on one and subsequently sold it. It just didn't offer much support and was actually painful at times. I just bought a new Dakine Fusion seat harness which gives a lot of support and can be much easier on your ribs in big wipeouts.

VanSimms · Post by **VanSimms** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:26 pm

I just started also and caint get enough of it. I am getting upwind and jumping a little. I got a Cabinha Waist and dakine spreader bar pad.
It works really nicely and almost never rides up, its a great alternative for people that dont want to deal with seat harnesses and it provides great impact prevention for your back. Also sice I come from a wake/snowboarding backround I really like the LF deckpads and the M1 (martin tech) straps. (asking for both for chistmas)

-good luck

WOP · Post by **WOP** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:35 pm

"BayAreaKite" Where do you work?

WOP · Post by **WOP** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:41 pm

Tried to look at the 132 undergate at Live2kite but their site is down. Are they the only ones who carry undergate because "GOOGLE" seems to think so.

elli · Post by **elli** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 10:15 pm

Maybe "underground"?

BayAreaKiteboarding.com

Nuubie in search of some guidance

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