Hey all, I weigh about 100kg and am new to kiteboarding, very keen to get started.
My question is what equipment will i need to be in the 90+ catagory? Does the harness have to be 90+ or the kite 90+ etc.
Thanks
Hi Benspin,
I weigh between 93 and 96 kgs ... Depending on how much kiting I do 
I mainly ride in Botany Bay ...
I do get out in small surf ... Every now and then ...
I can tell you about my gear... ( I buy all my own gear, I am not affiliated with any shop or brand) ...
My main kite is a bandit 4 12 m ... Which I love !!!! It gets me going from around 16-17 knots.
I have tried 2010 or 2011 north rebel 12m (a mate of mine has one), which would be a good kite , as a main kite.
My light wind kites are:
Cabrinha 17m contra 2007 model
Bandit Dos 14m
I flew a friends Ozone Edge 17m, and it was an awesome light wind kite... I am thinking about buying one of these ...
Another great light wind kite that I have flown is the slingshot 17m Turbine
My high wind kite is a Slingshot turbo 3 , 7m ... Great when it is nuking ...
I also have a Rev 11m, which is a great kite when the wind is at least 20 knots
For boards, I have 3 main boards:
Nobile 555 134cm, I think it is 2010 model , this is my main board
For light winds I have:
Slingshot glide 149cm - great board , very loose ... Takes a bit to get used to , some of my mates don't like the loose feel though...
Nobile flying carpet, I think it is 160cm, a bit better bottom end, rides like a normal twin tip, where you can edge it ... ie not loose like the slingshot glide
I have ridden a North Race board recently (takes a while to learn to ride), but for light wind and upwind ... It is really good ...
I demoed an Airush Sector 60 yesterday, but it was not light wind yesterday , so I can't personally vouch for its bottom end, but it is getting great reviews... It was easier to ride than the North Race board ...
Hope this helps !!!
I'm 108kg and ride 13 & 10m kites around Sydney on a 137 twin tip starts around the 13-14 knot mark depending on currents and other variables.
for harnesses try on as many as possible and find one the fits right.
95-100kg, south of Sydney and I ride a 135 twinnie and 9m and 12m kites
Best investment I made was some ozone 500kg/360kg lines which have lasted far longer than most sets I've had.
Big guys are hard on gear and lines are normally the first thing to break.
I agree with Crazy Canuk and Trant in relation to kite sizes but we really need to know where you are going to ride and what the conditions will be?
Im 96kg and run with a 140cm twin tip, a 6'0 surfboard and a 8m and 11m kite combo, but different locations require different kite sizes, etc.
Without knowing anything else id recommend a board 136cm to 140cm for your size which should do you for a while, while you learn and isnt 2 big once your up and riding to hold back your development.
Kites given your a newbie id recommend probably a 12m to start with and then as you progress get a 9m as well. Some kites are gruntier than others tho so in some brands you could even run with a 11m or even a 10m. A 10m while wouldnt get you out in super lite winds would give u a bit better wind range and i know guys who are 100+ kgs and have a 10m kite as a 1 kite quiver and to be honest dont miss out on 2 many sessions. There are a heap of good learner kites out there so chat to all the guys in your local area to get a bit of a feel for what is good. The North Rebel and Cab Switchblade are 2 that i recommend to most learners as they are both really good all round kites but they are only the 2 i know of best. Im sure there are a heap of other good kites suited to you out there as well.
Harness you will be fine with most harnesses on the market. Just make sure its comfortable and fits snuggly and you wont have an issue.
Thanks to all very helpful info. I Live in Melbourne so will be looking to ride st kilda I guess unless anyone can suggest a better spot. Will also be doing trips to torquey often.
Thanks trant for the line suggestion I am Pretty hard on gear. Have done a lot of wakeboarding and snowboarding so very much looking at the freestyle side of the sport. Thanks again all for the info.
Another thing that is important when you are bigger , is board width ...
I remember some good advice I got when I was learning from Col (CJP) ...
He said to get a wider board ... which was great advice, and helped me alot ...
I purchased a second hand Airush Exile 135x47, I think it is a 2006 model or something like that ...
It helped me get going upwind ... 
Good Luck!
Around the 105kg here..........kite in Brisbane and Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
I ride a 12m Cab Switchblade and 17m Ozone Zephyr.
Twintips;
Everyday primary board - 135x44 (Shinn Monk)
Small waves - 143cm (Slingshot SX)
Light Wind - 166x50 (Spleen Monster Door)
When I started (Nov 2010) I was undecided between the 12m and 14m switchblade. Many recommendations from here regarding the best size for my location and weight, about 50/50 each way, I ended up going with the 12m. Shortly thereafter I got the Zephyr due to the crap season we had. The monster door and zephyr combo gets me going in next to nothing and I have enjoyed many a LW session being the only one out cruising around at sunset 
.
Plenty here will bag LW kiting and say whats the point, but I have found it has progressed my kiting skills immensely, and given work and family commitments, I wanted to maximise my time on the water and get out as often as possible.
I would say both my 12m and 17m get equal time on the water.
Your going to want a second kite fairly soon, its just a matter of whether you go bigger or smaller. For me, there are many more days I needed a bigger kite as days of 25knts+ where I would use a 10 or 9m are few and far between. In saying that though a 9 or 10m is my next purchase
I'm 105kg selling my kit would be perfect for you...
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Kitesurfing/Kites/~bx6a4/2011--10-metre.aspx?search=0cZFPRBE5LigGg01lD4DLQ%3d%3d
I'm around 93-95kg and have it has been over 10 years since I did the IKO course.
For your size, I would not worry too much on the notion of heavy weight gear.
Your main kite will be in the 12-14m range and your board will be between 39-41cm wide. Length is not really an issue.
Best to look for a kite with more wind range and a board with nice flex.
what those exact parameters are is totally something for you to decide by trying for yourself.
My 'go to' kite is a 10m and my Favourite board is 125 x 39cm.
I use my 12m as my light wind kite. and if the wind is below 13-14kts I find it gusty and variable so don't bother getting wet.
good luck
