Hey Lurking Newbie, The best advice i can give you is to take a lesson, if not available, hook up with other kiters at least, talk to them, you have a trainer kite, their cheap and will not kill you, and some come with an instructional video. fly it fly it fly it, A trainer will teach you all the kite flying skills you need so when you do make that big first purchase your, 1. not going to hurt yourself or other people. 2. your not going to trash your kite. Allow your self time to progress. This is more economic in the long run, No doctor bills. No trashed kites involved, at least not as likely anyway.

Buzz is right, start with a small kite, then work your way into a great all around kite you'll be happy with. you'll always have that smaller kite for high wind days. All kites are different depending on the style, but for a foil, I would go for depowerable 4-line in the 5m - 7m range to start, their safe, fun, economical and you'll always use it.

good luck, joel beatty

Art where are you? I agree with all lessons and practice if lessons aren't practical due to no one around you. Start small with a trainer in the 2-3 range then move on up to the bigger kites. I really don't use my smaller kites unless its coming unglued out and i shouldn't be flying in that nasty stuff. I think it also depends on what type of flying you really want to get into. Snow and water go bigger. Land and buggy stay small like 10 meter MAX.

im near salt lake......i was getting ready to call the peeps up at utah kite addiction and see where im at as far as learning the basics..i could prolly learn on my own..im the type to do that, but i kinda dont wanna waste anymore time..id rather take(some) lessons...and get my arse out there and have some fun.....im more fascinated by snow kiting than anything else...who makes a nice,affordable anemometer? i wished i had one that day my beemer made me fill my shorts..lol....are there some kite shops around here im missing somewhere? or a better question might be ,what are the shops around me? its nice to be able to get your mitts on something real instead of looking at pics on a web page.........im thinking of changing my name here to YARDSALE101 what ya think?... lol

HAHAHA gotta love it...lol..

Luring Newbie,
if you are looking for lessons down in the Utah area. There is Les Vierra. He owns Utah Kite Addiction. His web page is http://www.utahkiteaddiction.com. He is a great guy and is P.A.S.A. Certified. Check him out for lessons if you are still wanting some he'll treat you right.

I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH BUZZ YOU NEED TO START OUT SMALL AND WORK YOUR WAY UP. BEING HOW I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER KITERS TO LEARN FROM ,IT HAS BEEN THE SCHOOL O' HARD KNOCKS(SEE MY POST ABOUT KITE STAKES IN KITEMARES). I HAVE BEEN LOFTED UNEXPECTEDLY 10' IN THE AIR WITH A 2.5 RAGE. ALWAYS BE READY FOR ANY THING,WIND IS VERY CHAOTIC AND RANDOM. FOR EVERY LULL THERE IS A GUST! IT IS BETTER TO LEARN WHAT NOT TO DO WITH A SMALL KITE. (FAR LESS PAINFUL) IMHO

strong wind gusts happen, especially in winter, and if you dont have the reflex you might end up in the air, high in the air without control. progressive learning is the key.

I also have this kitemare too !

trying some FS kites on my 2nd year kiting on a strange day with almost no wind.

Started the ride with a FS 13m, then the wind's up, switched to a 10m, ride was fun and fast, kite parked at 10, then my friend yelled at me "watch the snow cloud coming, but could not hear". gust was so strong, the kite went up and I was 15ft in the air. good chance I was on with a 10m, nice parachute but you have to be ready for that

I often practice small jumps at the park. you have to develop brain reflex, kite feeling (blind), etc. but progressively

hey thankyou guys!! ive allready found out what a 3.6m hq beemer will do to you undies in big wind..i got the mesage on that day...ive watched every kite vid on the net i swear,they usually just show the kiter but im left asking myself whats the kite doing?

very good question.