After completing numerous lessons and taking my new hobby seriously I listened to hours of advice and took the plunge to buy new kit.
I am 90kgs, 6ft 2, wanting to Kitesurf 3 times a week and get into the sport. Advised to buy a 2014 Switchblade 2014 package, 144 spectrum board. (Will kite at Botany Bay, NSW)
Is this the right advice before I spend nearly 3k?
Cheers
Veepers
U don't want a.New kite when u start kiting u will kill it . Get last year's kite at.a.superseaded price
I'm 74kg and ride a 11mt 2014 Switchblade as my general kite and am happy with the size although I could have got away with a 10, but the point I'm making is your quite a bit heavier and you're looking at the same size kite. There is obviously a lot more factors that determines the correct kite size for an individual but rather than me rehashing them here's a previous post about the subject.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Newbies-Tips-Tricks/Need-help-with-kite-sizing/
A good tip I got when purchasing my first kit was; go down to your local kiting beach and ask the guys, I'm sure they will be happy to give you some local advice. But be prepared to get some slightly different feedback, so then it's up to you so do your own research as well.
With regards to the price, I think there's a bit more negotiating to be done with that deal.
Good luck
Edit: I'm not saying an 11 is the wrong size for you but I'd do some more research.
Does sound a little steep for a beginner. But the switchblade is a good kite for a newby if you want to go second hand.
Look also (IMHO) for Blade trigger, Naish Park, Best Kahoona, Ozone Catalyst or Airush DNA.
These kites are (advertised) to be stable. I've only had experience with the switchblade, trigger, park and kahoona (or waroo...), but have heard good things about the others.
In my experience spending money is beneficial (beware of cheap crap) but 3k sounds high for a beginner set up unless in includes lessons.
Good luck
veepers,
1. Get a bit of advice from a couple shops re what board size and kite size you need.
2. Look at buying 2014 gear
3. Again speak to the shops they will be doing deals on 2014 gear now. If buying from a shop do not be afraid to buy demo gear. Buying demo gear can get you a good deal. This way, if the shop is half decent, they will sort out any issues you could have. Also demo gear is well looked after by the shops and the guys that demo it tend to know what they are doing so the gear is in very good condition.
4. The kite and board set up you need will be impact by what you plan on doing, what you are able to do, my guess will be freeride.
5. I have not had many kites but you would not go to far wrong with, catalyst, lithium or evo. Ozone, airush and north.
Good luck
A switch blade is nice kite to learn on.Its steady stable doesn't turn like a Ferrari .It doesn't front stall and has plenty of depower.Just be careful in its upper wind range as it has some serious grunt and can loft with hang time.Robby Douglas has the world kite board speed record on this puppy and has got very fast straight line speed.If you are going to pay top dollar for it ask if you can get the lines shortened to 20 m lengths with 5 m extensions.That way when the wind is strong and in the kites upper range you cans dramatically lower the power of the kite with 20 metre lines.You will enjoy this kite in lighter winds . That's where it's a good beginners kite.Definantly buy a kite , bar and lines and harness brand new.A super seeded model that's never been used before is a good way of saving a little coin.
With the board on the other hand you could get 2x 2nd hand boards for the same price as a brand new one.Get a larger board for light wind and a smaller wind hungry board for stronger wind.Board swapping is easy when the wind changes in strength .
2 boards and 1 kite with line length options will cover most of you wind range and stop you from having to buy another kite .Kites drop in value quick , but kite boards are strong and last and hold there value.
I hope that helps!
good luck!
Nearly $3,000 for one kite and one board seems a bit steep, you should be able to haggle it down some more, or as above go for superseded or ex-demo gear. Keep in mind what ever you buy will always be cheaper a week after you bought it but that's a week you will miss out on the water waiting for better price, so buy now :). And it will always be the wrong kite too, until you get a couple of seasons under your belt and know what style of riding suits you and you can buy your next kite (and the next' and the next, and the next...) to suit.
Mate, if i was you i would look a second hand stuff in the seabreeze buy and sell section.
Ther are some good bargins on kites that are a couple of years old. 3k is way too much.
you should pick up a kite and board for $1500. If you can, make sure you eye ball them first.
I would buy a 12 at you weight. And also look out for a 8 or 9, you are going to need it.
All the best.
A new 11m switchblade with bar and lines will cost around $2200 to 2400. Last years model a pinch under $2k. Too many variants in boards to comment.
Im an intermediate kiter and pull my safety every few months. A learner will pull the safety more often. Something to consider, the 2014 safety release system is a dog and way too difficult to reassemble with high chances youll get it wrong and then it wont release properly.
I love every thing else about the kite snd bar.
You've only been had if you've already bought the kit?
The switchblade is a nice kite but the safety is problematic. I've been putting up with the difficulty in resetting until I had an incident self landing the other day. The saftey line was wrapped around the folding toggle which releases the kite preventing the saftey from working. Fortunately I didn't have an incident on the water of I could have been in serious trouble, so figuring my life is worth more than $650 I went out and bought the 2015 bar straight away.
Also if you want to maximise your chances to get on the water you need two kites and this will happen eventually regardless of what you think now so trying to by a kite in the middle leaves you stuck when you go to buy your second kite.
I weigh the same as you and would be looking at a 12mtr and a 9mtr for most days on the water
When I started last year I brought a brand new 10m Ozone Catalyst (I'm 90kg) as part of a package. Everyone who I spoke to was saying if you got the money get a catalyst, if you don't then get a switchblade. I ended up spending the money and getting the catalyst was because I knew it would last me 4-6 years from beginner to advance.
Once you've got your gear and been kiting for a while you'll probably want another kite or board. The great thing about 2nd hand gear is the resale value is really good. If you buy a 2014 2nd hand kite for $1000-1200 now, you could sell it in a year for $700-900 and go buy another kite!
I'm actually looking at getting a 9m and a 12m as that will cover a really good wind range as aposed to just the 10m I got at the moment
New stuff looses its value faster than cars, if money isnt a factor go for it, but you will slam it alot get new board and harness but get second hand kite for first one.
That board size is way too big!
A 136 is much more like it for your weight
The average board size is 132 then up to a 136 for a bigger guy
Any larger is just less fun, not really any easier to learn on.
Here is an almost identical package for $2600. http://www.kitepower.com.au/intermediate-package.html
You could probably go to the shop and knock a bit more off.
You're talking about standard pre-purchase research.
1. Get the first offer.
2. Visit the manufacturer's web site and see the description of the gear.
3. Decide if the gear suits you (and is comparable to products from other manufacturers).
4. See what other shops have to the offer.
Go back to 2.
Don't forget to get a harness thrown in. Wetsuit? Booties?
Hey, I started in November and bought an 11m Switchblade 2013 (2nd hand), Gaastra xenon tt 145 x 43 (new) and an NP Mirage harness, all from a shop for $1,600 which might give you something to relate to - a good deal in my opinion. I still currently only have the 11m and am comfortable between 15-22knots
I do wish I bought the 12m so my next kite choice would be a 9m. I can hold the 11m around low to mid 20knots, fully depowered. An 8m is maybe a big stepdown as I have formed an opinion (right/wrong?) that this size is very twitchy. I think I could hold a 9m nudging 30knots but until that actually happens I could be proved wrong. How often is it 25-30 where you live? Not too often I bet..
Now I've had a few months action, I would go the 9m, 12m and a 16m eventually (if I had the choice again). I struggle in less than 15knots in the 11m, I am 6'1 and 87kgs to give you an idea. Perhaps a surfboard with some volume and better technique will help in <15knots but it is nice to have a little more power than not enough..go the 12m in my opinion
Hope that helps dude.
I bought my package January 2014 and managed to get a 9m 2013 RPM with the bar and lines, 2014 misfit (136 as I was told by my instructor to not get a board bigger than 138), NP bomb harness, Ozone Pump (Everything brand new), for ~2.5k . So I would say that 3k is too high even if it is brand new, especially if harness is not included. Ask around and let other shops know what each other are offering so they can compete with each other and give you a better deal. Otherwise listen to what Diamond2001 said.
Select to expand quoteSkipSkip said...
Once you've got your gear and been kiting for a while you'll probably want another kite or board. The great thing about 2nd hand gear is the resale value is really good. If you buy a 2014 2nd hand kite for $1000-1200 now, you could sell it in a year for $700-900 and go buy another kite.
What people ask for kites and get are 2 very different things. 2nd hand kites are worth bugger all. 50% of its value after the first season is fair but anything older than that and it's realistic value plummets. Throw in a professional repair, a couple of seasons of wear and tear and a bar that's a model or 2 old and you have a kite worth a few hundred at best.
That's why there are so many 2nd hand kites going unsold.
Select to expand quoteVeepers said..
After completing numerous lessons and taking my new hobby seriously I listened to hours of advice and took the plunge to buy new kit.
I am 90kgs, 6ft 2, wanting to Kitesurf 3 times a week and get into the sport. Advised to buy a 2014 Switchblade 2014 package, 144 spectrum board. (Will kite at Botany Bay, NSW)
Is this the right advice before I spend nearly 3k?
Cheers
Veepers
$3K!!! ???
Could you please PM me the name of the twat that made you this "incredible offer of the century", so I can avoid them like the plague!?
My purchases this year:
( first spend in about 3 years)
(9 years kiting)
8m ocean rodeo Razor $1650 complete
10m ocean rodeo Razor $1850 complete
Shinn Dundee TT 132. $800
North waist harness $280
Awesome gear that I'm super happy with
I demoed 10 kites ,6 boards and a few harnesses in the store
Everything was bought without consideration of price and still cheaper than your offer
Your price does seem over the top
Unless it includes unlimited lessons which was offered by some of our Perth shops a while back
Select to expand quoteVeepers said..
After completing numerous lessons and taking my new hobby seriously I listened to hours of advice and took the plunge to buy new kit.
I am 90kgs, 6ft 2, wanting to Kitesurf 3 times a week and get into the sport. Advised to buy a 2014 Switchblade 2014 package, 144 spectrum board. (Will kite at Botany Bay, NSW)
Is this the right advice before I spend nearly 3k?
Cheers
Veepers
No matter who you talk to everyone has an opinion on what's best. Mine is second hand is probably good for a newbie. You should be able to pick up a really good second hand kite 2013/14 with bar for about $1000. A good second hand twin tip for around $450. Knowing what's good and what's not is the trick. There are so many options that you would really need a knowledgable mate to advise. You can get a new 11m Switch Element and bar for $1011 delivered. I have all Switch gear and love it....but again you'll get all sorts of opinions
Did he tell you to touch you toes when he gave you the price, you could safely cut that in half with a near new or ex demo gear, and $800 ish for new, the buy and sell has loads of minimal use kit , IMHO most brands do great starter kites, safe and well put together, it's only when you come to sell them that you'll notice the difference between a lesser known brand and main stream brand
Or you could get this brand new set up for around half the price from switch_kites combo deal
1 year old second hand kite and bar - $900
Second hand board ripe for a beginner- $450
Total $1,350.00
I wouldn't mind betting that they are telling you to buy an 11m kite because that is what they have. I have found that even reputable kite shops have a tendency to tell me that what they have available is exactly what I need.
I recon you will have trouble finding a new 2014 kite in a 8m, 9m, 10m or 12m. Because these are the sizes that most people buy.
I also weigh 90 kg and started in Feb 2014. It is only now that my skills have improved a bit that my 12m is big enough when the wind heads down towards 15 knots. I have a 148cm spectrum board.
I went with Airush and am very happy with their kites. The 12m package was $2200 but the board in the package was too small (138 cm) so I ended up buying a second hand 148cm Cab spectrum board.
