you'd be the 1st person that has ever said I'm not bitchy!!!!! (I mean ever!! In my whole life) 
Hey Chook,
I learnt on a 'C' kite and now ride a hybrid. No is the answer to your question, 'C's are not as safe as bow/SLE. (hence why the schools all use them)
BUT, after you have learnt other skills and techniques through lessons, such as edging and kite positioning etc. You may find you like the 'C' kite feel, everyone's different
Also, your comment about the donkey dick. I'm of the understanding you should always launch with chicken loop and donkey dick in situ, ensuring one hand is on or near safety ready for any unexpected occurrence. If your safety is working properly, which it should because you need to check it regular. Then the kite's safety system should release when required.
IMO If you've had lessons and have kite control with a bow, get out there with the 'C'. Just be mindful of the public as your using a different kite for the first time. It won't take long to dial in the difference in feel. A 'C' kite may take a little longer to learn on due to relaunching, as they are a bit harder. Once you have perfected making her role on her back you'll be laughing.
Good luck and welcome
Disclaimer: Please don't kill yourself as this advice is only my opinion and I won't be held liable.
Hey chook, I'm relatively new at this sport and have both a new bow-style SLE and some older (read: cheaper) c-kites.
As some others have said, particularly for learning, bows/SLE's are definitely safer due to the amount of depower they have on-tap. Take, for example, one time I ran aground in shallow water and ended up on my butt on a sand-bar. Thanks to the depower in my bowkite, i was able to turn the power off very quickly and save myself some pain. Had that happened with my c-kite I would have taken a serious spanking as pushing my arm out to depower the kite would have had much less effect and the energy would have been dissapated solely by my contact with the sand and water 
The first time I flew my (2005 model) 9m c-kite was ~25kts and it was positively scary getting into the water as I didn't have the depower I was used to, and I would estimate I could have held my 11m bow a little more comfortably in the same conditions. Cliche'd images of people getting lofted inland were running through my head and I couldn't get into that water fast enough.
Bottom line: my bow takes less effort to fly, but I prefer the feeling and tend to have more fun on my c-kite (even though my body takes more punishment). Take it for what you think it's worth as I haven't been doing this for very long.
I reckon though that I'd have spent alot more time relaunching the kite as an absolute beginner if I was using a c-kite, and in hindsight may have got myself really hurt.
Thanks skinner and blaster and everyone, it has all been very helpful. Fingers crossed I get the hang of it relatively quickly and with the least amount of pain..... 
I can't wait to get good enough to ride with you guys one day!!!
Hey chook, is your kite the 5 line version? If not, look into retrofitting a 5th line to it. It makes relaunching and safety release a lot more 'manageable'. I learned on 4-line high aspect C-kites. Relaunch was a royal PITA, until I put DIY 5th lines on them. What a difference that makes!! If you crash the kite, just haul on the 5th line until the kite rolls over. No need to knacker yourself swimming like crazy to get the kite to roll 
If you use the 5th line as your safety, it's the same thing. Instead of the bar sliding up one line and the kite spiralling (and normally tangling your lines up), it slides up the 5th line (to a stopper) and the kite falls to the water in the relaunch position.
Give me a shout if you want me to elaborate on any of this.
Hey MyTChook.
Dont stress about the bitching following your innocent querie- it happens a lot!
It was a good question, after 1 and a bit seasons, I am still not clear on all the kite types and what their pros and cons are.
Lots of these guys get emotional about things, and its not about you, but because everyone is so passionate about their own perceptions of the sport.
My 2 cents- from asking everyone about things at the beach- so long as your C kite is less than 4ish years old with 5th line and chicken loop quick release, and you hook up your safety leash to a side line (preferably front line if you are at all worried), and you know how to do and practice the safety drills, then its a good kite if its good for you.
My experience so far- started on a hybrid/bow, have never got into big trouble, but tending to go to 5th line C's now, because I have had some good experiences on them. But who knows, might try a twinskin one of these days and love that too!
Go out have fun and be safe
Nic
thanks knickers. I can uderstand why ppl are so passionate about it, and I guess, "to each their own" like you say it's all about perceptions and preferences
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NICE PICS cwamit!!!!! Now I am REALLY pumped!!!! If he can be like that in less than a season, can't see why I can't (except for the fact I may be just a little clumsy and unco-ordinated) But we all start somewhere and like I said b4, I can't wait to be going at it like the rest of you guys!!!!!
. Also the fact that alot of guys here really really WANT to belive their newer kites are sooooo much safer/better/faster/more depower (for some reason, placebo?). I've only flown a hybrid for a few months now, before that only C-kites and I've never had any problems with depower, safety issues or anything like that... Funny huh... So don't be worried if you don't have the newest, latest, flashiest gear, you'll still be fine I assure you..
Same issue, different instructor.
I sold two "C" kites to a beginner a month or two ago. This included a 2006 13m Fuel with 5th line bar.
I only sold them on the basis of his assurances he would have lessons before he tried to fly the kite. Given he would be learning on the instructor's kites, I also offered to spend an hour or so with him to help set up the kite and go through safety/relaunch. (I have seen enough idiots end up in trees trying to fly kites with no idea).
Anyway, he has now completed the lessons and rang me to arrange my time to help set-up, etc. However, apparently he says the instructor told him that the kite is "unsafe"!
Now this has already been commented on above, but how on earth is a 2006 Fuel unsafe???? !!!!
Was it unsafe when released in 2006?
Does this mean the 2008 Fuel is unsafe?
Does this mean all 5th line C kites are unsafe?
Hi Guys,
Fully agree that there is still heaps of fun to be had on C kites as long as they have a fully functional release system.
However, on some older 'C' kites, the safety systems were not up to scratch or no longer in working order. These are the kites that you see sold super cheap or on Ebay that more often than not end up in the hands of a newbie trying to get a cheap entry point into the sport.
We have been running a promotion for our past customers for a couple of weeks now that we are now going to throw open to all.
We would rather these C kites are retired than finding there way in the hands of less experienced kiters - that is why we are offering $500 off the price off a brand new Airush Vapor when you trade in your old C kites -in any condition - until the end of November.
For the newbies that are looking for a cheap starter kite we have brand new 2005 Airush Pilots that we are selling for $649 complete including a lesson.
If you want any more info on these deals give us a call on 08 9244 4446.
Pfft?, Pfft??? DaveSpruce. c'mon....
Do you have any wonderful ideas? OR are you just gonna knock what a shop is offerring?.
Good on you Airborne.
Yeah no that's a REAL sweet deal. They'll give us 500 bucks off on a new vapor! That way i ONLY have to pay about 1500 bucks for a new vapor, what a fantastic deal.
And what's this with "However, on some older 'C' kites, the safety systems were not up to scratch or no longer in working order. These are the kites that you see sold super cheap or on Ebay that more often than not end up in the hands of a newbie trying to get a cheap entry point into the sport."
My kite is on ebay for 300 bucks and I still haven't been able to sell it even though it's in great shape, not a single repair or damage ever to it, comes complete with bar and fully working safety system! What does that mean not up to scratch? Doesn't that mean that they weren't as good as they could get back then? Cause you can't possible suggest we compare the safety system they had then with the ones that are implemented in todays (ridiculous) bars/kites.. It's like saying a car from before they had airbags, stability control, ABS brakes and all that is unsafe just because those features didn't exist back then...
Bottomline is that people got around fine in those cars/on those kites back in the day and it's not like people were dying left and right every other day. In fact I'm sure there are more injuries now with all these "super-safe" kites that basically fly/relaunch/depower themselves..
So now that we've answered that age-old question, who's favorite kite style is the safest. Can we get on with the point of the thread.
MytChook, grab your gear go to the beach on a day with some decent wind and ask someone with a kite that looks like yours and with as many lines as yours how to re-launch the kite, where the safety leash goes and how the safety system works. You'll find there's lots of nice helpful men on the beach that'll trip over themselves (and each other) to give you a helping hand.
Go out and have some fun.
