I recently saw a bunch of guys kiting in Montana at Georgetown Lake and was interested in kiting. I was wondering which kite was the best for typical Montana winds.

Well you wanna start with a trainer then work your way into the big stuff. For water you will need a Bow or a LEI kite basically a (blowup kite) allows the kite to float while you relaunch it. For snow and land you can't beat the quick setup of a Foil kite which you're first trainer kite most likely will be anyway.

Check out http://www.undergroundkitesports.com for lessons and info for G-town.

Yeah I would recommend using a trainer to learn the muscle memory required to steer the kite.

I'm not sure what the winds are like in Montana but basically you can use a 10m foil kite for alot of different wind speeds. I would recommend getting a 10m Ozone if you want to get into snowkiting. If you want to get into water kiting you will have to get an LEI like Craz Z said.

So - If you start out flying a foil for landboarding & snowkiting how much learning curve is there once you switch to a good LEI? Is it altogether different or is it easy to progress once you've really gotten the foil working well(not that I'm close to that yet)?

2nd Question: Is there anything you experienced launchertypekitepros can verbally say that would help a person get onto going upwind? The downwind riding is getting more comfortable & fun with every outing & I'm managing to make some gradual turns until end-of-window-kite-death. I'm guessing its just another progression by feel type thing but???

Well to answer your questions.

1. There is NO learning curve on a Lei the only thing that is a bit different is relaunch the rest is exactly the same on a LEI. Some companies (the only one that comes to mind is slingshot) is a atl or all terrain launch which actually backs up the kite just like a foil and then one brake line flips it. Otherwise a 5th line system you get it near its back and pull one side kite flips to the side then launches. I guess the other thing is how to hookup a lei in the wind.

2. Are you comfortable in your harness yet? Meaning can you leanback and put more tension on the kite? Really all it takes is dialling in on your right and left windows oscilating your kite hard in light winds and edging hard on down strokes and easing up on up strokes. if the wind is heavier just set sail and fly one side and lean back bend your knees and tell that kite where you want to go. Sounds like you're still at the stage were maybe the kite is pulling on you and you (go with it) Very common until you get to the stage where you put the kite exactly where you want it and hold it there indefintely. typically i start high then once moving set low and pull hard against it with your body and rail up wind. Also if you're in too light of winds it will be nearly impossible to go up wind the kites have ranges that work best for upwinding.

All i've heard and experienced thus far is edge to boost edge to upwind edge, edge, edge. It will come and on snow i think it will come faster than on land. IF you haven't got on a buggy yet if you get to try one you will see what i mean almost instantly cause buggies have the least amount of resistance next to ice skates and roller blades. You almost can't fly the kite without going upwind to some degree cause if you fly too much toward the kite it will for surely stall.

take a peek over your shoulder when getting on your line then start shooting your board that direction kite tensions up even more and although you may move slower you will be going upwind.

In nuking winds keep the kite high get momentum and you can virtually go on a straight line up wind.
Also higher aspect and more performance kites will fly faster in the wind window allowing you to leave the beginers behind on a upwind race

Sounds like everyone is covering this question pretty good. Like everyone said the big key is your edge. The more you edge the more tension you are putting on the lines. This tension is what helps to build up your speed and pop power.Think or stretching the lines like a bungee. When they get to their threshold you release the edge and off you go, in theory that is. Boosting can take time to get comfortable with and to get your timing down. If you wait too long to release your edge you won't boost as well and if you go too early you won't boost as well so practice, practice, practice.

, i am going to buy a new kite soon, i have a Flexi BLADE III 3m, & iv been flying foy 4 years, so i think im reddy to upgrade,

i was thinking of getting a Flexifoil SABER2 (9.5m) or shall i get a OZONE manta2 (10m), they are about the same price,
what do u think? i would appreciate any advice. thanks

What kinda flying do you wanna do?
You've been on a kite for 4 years what took you so long to upgrade?

I would do as much research as possible and pick whats right for what type, style, and aspect of the sport that you wanna do.
Need some more info.

Welcome to the forum dark hunter