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September 16 2000 by Paul Harvey  

I wrote this as a response by mistake so I am reposting it.

I'm only just learning about powerkites and kitesurfing and am yet to try it. I love surfing so my goal in this sport is to be a kitesurfer. Can anyone give me some advise on getting started. Do I need to master just flying the kite first and then strap on a board? I have a 6'6" 3 fin shortboard that I used to surf but which I recently snapped. I've repaired it but probably won't surf it again. Would it be worth putting footstraps on it and using with the kite when I'm proficient enough? (I want to do this as cheaply as I can). I think it would be great to have a kite that works really well over water (and would be used primarily for that) but which I could also build a buggy for or use with a dune board. Is there anything out there that fits those criteria but which won't break the bank? Also, is there anyone on the east coast of Australia (I live in Byron Bay) that gives kitesurfing lessons or could help me get a start in this sport?

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September 19 2000 by doomwheels

>Do I need to master just flying the kite first and then strap on a board?

since you already know how to surf and have a feel for the water, i would suggest getting a surf kite and learing to fly as much as possible to give you the same "instinctual" knowlege. this will certainly help reduce risk of injury and make the whole learning process more enjoyable.
learn the kite as you have learned your board, and combining the two should be easier.

>Would it be worth putting footstraps on it and using with the kite when I'm proficient enough?

snapped hmmm? how strong is the repair? remember that kitesurfing is faster than wave surfing and loads more force on the board cutting away from the pull of the kite (not to mention the air tricks)... if the board is sound, it should be alright, but test it out.

>it would be great to have a kite that works really well over water, but which I could also build a buggy for or use with a dune board.

im pushing quadrifoil's "kitesurfer" series this year. it is water realunchable and powerful:
http:www.ks4u.com
i also flew peter lynn's "arc" last week and thought it would be good for land and sea.
no matter what brand you get, one kite alone will not work for all wind conditions... it is a good idea to have a few sizes in your bag.
if you are trying to save cash, check out the kite classifieds for some used equipment:
http://www.primoweb.com/kites/

>I want to do this as cheaply as I can

remember that going too cheap on your equipment can result in a lot of swimming and lousey experiences (or worse). you can be moderate, but dont cheat yourself.

have fun,
bc