Note for beginning kiters

[Kenny]

One of our local riders that started on the snow has made a successful transition to water by riding a big board and a very small kite. Les Vierra has been riding a Spleene Door which measures 164 x 45 cm and a 7M Waroo kite. I am not sure of the low end with this combo, but he can easily ride in 20 - 30 mph wind. You may wonder if he will get use out of this combo as he progresses. My answer is yes and no.

I think the big board will always be useful in Utah's light winds. As for the 7M, it depends. I would guess that Les is around 200 LBS, so once he is more comfortable he may only take the 7M out when the wind is over 30 mph, which is rare. I have a 7M Waroo and I have only used it twice (once at Utah Lake and once in Maui). I would recommend a 9 or 12M for a beginner, but I am impressed that Les has made the smaller kite work in a lot of places.

This is a safe approach to learning how to kite on water in strong winds.

[lesvierra]

I still have limited experience on water so any of my recommendations to others maybe incorrect.

The cool thing I (235lbs) found with the big flat board and small kite combo is that you can go out with a smaller kite than most would think possible. For beginners, I think a small kite big board is good because a small kite will cause less problems when you screw up, ie lofting and being drug. If I could do it all over again, I would definately start with the Door. This would of saved me alot of frustration trying to stay up wind. Also, I think a smaller kite sits further to the edge of the wind window, helping you to stay up wind, rather than a larger kite that sits back in the wind window.

Its still a tough call when buying your first kite, maybe 9m or 12m like you said kenny. Most beginners only want to buy one kite at first. But definatley invest in a big flat board that someone with experience can recommend even if it costs an arm and a leg. If you buy a glide or door, you'll probably keep it for ever. I'm ready to replace my Hammersurf board with a small board, it did me little good while learning.

Many of you guys were ditching the larger kites for smaller faster more effecient kites with larger boards. Its easy for me to see why.

My first and only other board, Hammersurf ....), is a big board, but it has lots of rocker. The board is great when I'm very powered up, ie 16m waroo 20 mph winds. When powered, I can stay upwind no problem and waves and chop are a breeze. But I'm not sure beginner, intermediate riders should be riding a big kite in high winds. Big kites are for very light wind or going big.

BTW, I never thought I would use the 7m bularoo on water, and rarely on snow. I got the kite for instructional purposes on snow. 9m Waroo was the smallest kite I had last year and I rarely used it. When I did it was blowing 25 - 30+ mph. I currently have the 7m bularoo and 16m bularoo and 15m instinct, and 20m waroo, I'm still waiting for some mid size kites to show up, which they should arrive on my door step today

[Kenny]

Hey Les,

I appreciate your comments! I am curious what board you are looking at buying? Have you considered the Spleene Rip Plus? It is probably the next logical step down from the Door. It is also a fast, flat, efficient board. I ordered the new Monster Door. I hope to get an extra notch of light wind performance.

The onlly comment that you made the I don't agree with is that smaller kites sit further forward in the wind window. It has been my experience that it is the aspect ratio (the length divided by the width). Higher aspect ratio kites sit more at the edge of the window and lower aspect ratio kites sit further back in the window. I have tried all sizes and shapes of kites and this has been my consistent observation. I agree with all of the other points that Les made. I would add that small kites are faster, so you can sine the kite up and down to generate speed. I weigh 185 and Les was out on his 7M Bularoo going upwind while I was out on a 12M with a smaller board.

Kenny

[lesvierra]

I'm not sure which board to get. I have looked at the rip and session as well as some other boards. I'd take very seriously your recommendation or any other of our locals for my next board. Based on your description of the rip, it sounds like it could be a good choice for me. The other factor that would play into this would be a board small enough to travel with on airlines (possibly in a kite/golf bag) that would still be good for most conditions.

I have not seen the monster door, but I will look for it with much curiousity.

I would add that small kites are faster, so you can sine the kite up and down to generate speed.

It is fun "reving up" a small kite kind of like a kids toy that you have to rev up by pushing it on the floor numerous times. They really do pull when going fast and its just fun to fly. The down side is your not going to jump very high unless it is nuking, and then you have to know what you're doing.

[Marty Lowe]

I'm not sure which board to get. I have looked at the rip and session as well as some other boards. I'd take very seriously your recommendation or any other of our locals for my next board.

Smaller boards become a personal preference thing.
I suggest riding before buying.
My favorite board, is a mass production, inexpensive board that, when I read about it, I would have never concidered it, but after riding it, I fell in love.

Study the forums, weed out the "pimping" and try before you buy.

I've only bought a couple of boards without riding them.
They were all Jimmy Lewis, or Jimmy Lewis influenced design.
I've been lucky and liked them.

-Marty

[Kenny]

I love Jimmy Lewis custom boards, but they don't love me. Both of mine broke