Hey everyone,
I've been an avid reader of this forum, there's some awesome info on here and it has been my go to whilst getting through my learning!
However, I thought it was finally time to ask a question, so here goes......Why are there so few training kites available second hand?
I've got past that point now and am riding happily on my quiver of 7m and 9m kites, however, I'd like my girlfriend to get into the sport and ride with me on the 7m (hence why I bought it in the first place - I've even already got her a board and harness!). I'd like to get a training kite as she's never flown a kite before and I don't want her to go straight out on a 7m!
Does anyone know where I can pick one up cheaply this weekend?
Thanks!
Hi DunkerT,
Ian is right, most people keep their trainers. They are so small and compact and handy to leave in the car to be pulled out any time the wind is light or a friend turn up.
Cheap trainers are few and far between and you get what you pay for. If you do buy one, buy a decent one, they last longer and fly better and usually have a third safety line. Ignore the 2 line jobs, too frustrating.
We get about 1-2 trainers traded per season. Just ante up and purchase one from you local retailer or book a lesson from an accredited instructor.
Enjoy!
DM
Thanks for the replies guys.
I've had a look around gumtree and nothing is popping up! Training kites just seem really rare.....
Perhaps purchasing new is the best option.....do we get discounts at any stores for being members of the forum....perhaps ActionSportsWA....? 
I wanted to get her flying a kite before her lessons so that she gets more out of them, at a minimum of $100/hour it's not very financially sound for her to spend 2 or 3 hours flying training kites around. I don't think it's something that she will take to quickly so could become pretty costly in lessons if she doesn't have some kind of idea before she goes.
Plus, as ActionSportsWA said, they're pretty handy to have around for when a friend turns up and fancies having a go.....so...any discount?
Hey Dunker T,
I have a 2m IMP Trainer kite going for $120 if your interested.. what area do you live in?
I have been looking for a while now for a second hand trainer kite, before I go for lessons. All the norm sites Gum tree, evil bay even in the USA. I then rang around the shops here in South East Qld, and came up empty on second hand units, but there is a shop that had new ones on sale the other week, From memory about $150.
I don't know about WA - Perth, but I hired a 2.5m IMP trainer in Sydney off Kite Power for a week and it was well worth the minimal dollars.
On reflection, maybe 2 or 4 hours on a 3 line foil kite THEN 20 to 30 hours on a small (3 - 5m) LEI 4 line kite with a harness would have been sweet in light airs IN the water.
Maybe some of the local WA IKO Schools could custom something for your lady and even with 1 hour basic instruction and a 1 week hire help you both along 
might be less than buying a trainer new
Trainers aint trainers - so be careful!! avoid at all costs the 2 handle ones and if it hasn't got the 3rd line safety is probably a fun like not a trainer kite!! Good trainers will be a bit faster than a real kite and yes have no depower - so peeps learn to fly the kite so that when you need to depower - you fly the kite to the edge of the wind window.
Ive seen some 2 handle 'trainer kites' on the beach - absolutely fly like a wasp on steroids !!- useless as a trainer!!
Grab a good trainer - most kite schools lend them out ahead of a lesson - and shout your buddy to a professional lesson or two - then you will have kites surfing bliss !!
Good winds
PS I have a an Ozone Imp 2.5m but the kids love it so much and I use it for precision flying practice so its a keeper!! So whos you nearest kite store - they'll have one sitting there ready for you !!
DunkerT
I had the Slingshot B3 trainer I learn on for 6 -7 years till it got nicked a couple of years ago, was flogged out from teaching mates n mucking around on light wind days so much it only just flew. Went straight out n bought a new one, Have taught the wife n more friends on the new one.
The reason that there is none for sale 2nd hand is that they so handy to have stashed in the car that you can't get rid of them. So buy a GOOD one and it will take years of punishment and will be one of the best buys you can make in the way of $/time used.
Booga
Select to expand quoteLambie said..
?????????.I use it for precision flying practice so its a keeper!!
what the hell is precision flying practice?
maybe i should be doing that????
U have to be kidding
$16.50
Ebayhttp://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-Dual-Line-Stunt-Parafoil-Kite-Rainbow-Parachute-POWER-Sport-Beginner-Beach-2M-/400640431835
A traction/ram air/ kite is a kite is a kite...
Select to expand quotesurfingboye said...Lambie said..
?????????.I use it for precision flying practice so its a keeper!!
what the hell is precision flying practice?
maybe i should be doing that????
Hahaha made my night
IMHO a trainer kite is a long way off how a real kite flys and feels, you've got to be quite aggressive with a trainer where you don't with a real kite , generation of pull is totally different as what you'll feel on a normal kite, safety is different, rigging,, etc etc etc all things that need to be taken into account, personally I'd spend the money on a lesson and skip the trainer, unless you want to have fun on a longboard or sup
I have a couple of spares in perfect nick if anyone in Brisbane area is looking. 2m Best. $50 will do.
Select to expand quotecauncy said..
IMHO a trainer kite is a long way off how a real kite flys and feels, you've got to be quite aggressive with a trainer where you don't with a real kite , generation of pull is totally different as what you'll feel on a normal kite, safety is different, rigging,, etc etc etc all things that need to be taken into account, personally I'd spend the money on a lesson and skip the trainer, unless you want to have fun on a longboard or sup
Ii had a 5m Traction kite (and smaller ones).Once i hit the water I did a backroll and toeside upwind in a week.
Fly a kite lots and lots and you will pick up kiting quickly and you WILL BE SAFER.
I'm in VIC and I lend mine out for $20 a month plus $150 deposit; for piece of mind. It's a 2.5m IMP dual line.
But it doesn't hurt buying one. My family friends, parents and I regularly use it. The younger ones have a ball on it when the wind picks up and when you can't get to the beach on a great 30-40knot day it's fun to have a beer and tell your mate to try looping it.
DunkerT.
I have a 3m inflatable leading edge kite for trainer purposes. Its advantages are that you use the same bar as normal kite and all the depower effects are same. It is much nippier than a standard size, but this has the effect of putting the student on high alert to the reactions of the kite, and when they move to a larger kite it feels sluggish by comparison. The handling skills have been sharpened on fast forward and progress on larger kites has a neat leapfrog. You can do safety procedure drills, all line rigging and inflaxktion procedures are applicable and it has just enough oomph to give the student a rough yank when sending it to power zone ie. a strong enough yank to kick in self preservation scare and confirm the instincts of where not to steer the kite.
Give me a pm and il let you borrow it for a weekend if you in Perth area.
Select to expand quotesurfingboye said...Lambie said..
?????????.I use it for precision flying practice so its a keeper!!
what the hell is precision flying practice?
maybe i should be doing that????
Like when the guy in the wing suit goes through th the hole in the wall.
That's the real definition
Quite a response, thanks guys!
Ended up buying a 2m air rush trainer from matty l - thanks for that bud, works great!
Pleased I bought it, we took it out over the weekend with a bunch of friends who all wanted a go (with varied results ). My GF didn't take to it too well, she was a bit scared of it so we're going to have to spend a bit more time getting her used to playing with it before we go out on the 7m.
Craggers - that's a very kind offer, I may very well take you up on it when she's a bit happier flying the trainer - I don't want to scare her off by going to big (.........that's what she said....... )
Thanks again for the responses! Really appreciated and very informative!
Thanks steve... Finally a voice of reason. I have taught with many trainer kites. I still have a 20052.5m kitesurfing trainer in perfect nick, but it wont teach you much about kitesurfing. Its aerodynamics are terrible. The new models as steve explained are first of all so aerodynamically superior to a cheap kite. The wrist strap connects to a front or y-line that depowers the kite instantly and then can still be recovered before it hits the ground....
These kites are so stable in clean winds, you teach how to self launch with the wind window, and how to land with a partner.Most importantly..Let go.
Trainer kites like the Ozone, and Best around 2.5m, the lines are tuned, the bar is tuned and they fly like a real kite. the reason no one sells these, is they are worth keeping or selling them for $150 less than what they paid for them.
pull right and the kite turns to the right, pull left and it goes to the left.
This is highly technical stuff
It takes approximately 1mn to master a trainer kite and since it doesn't even fly like a real kite, most of them have no depower on the bar as you are unhooked, it appears to be a lucrative business for unscrupulous businesses cashing in on peoples desire to go kiting (the real thing).
Spend your cash on a lesson or watch beginners vids on youtube for half an hour and you are already way ahead of anyone with a "trainer kite"
If you buy one, don't throw it in the bin after 5mn as it is still fun in crazy wind if you own a skate board.
Red thumb away
Select to expand quotesebol said..
pull right and the kite turns to the right, pull left and it goes to the left.
This is highly technical stuff
It takes approximately 1mn to master a trainer kite and since it doesn't even fly like a real kite, most of them have no depower on the bar as you are unhooked, it appears to be a lucrative business for unscrupulous businesses cashing in on peoples desire to go kiting (the real thing).
Spend your cash on a lesson or watch beginners vids on youtube for half an hour and you are already way ahead of anyone with a "trainer kite"
If you buy one, don't throw it in the bin after 5mn as it is still fun in crazy wind if you own a skate board.
Red thumb away
Same thing as with motorbikes I guess ("the real thing")? No need to learn to ride a bicycle first in order to get the muscle memory and equilibrium? pull right and the bike turns right, pull left and it goes left? Spend your cash on a Hayabusa and watch a MotoGP vid on youtube for half an hour and you are already way ahead of anyone who knows to ride a "bicycle"?
Bravo Sherlock. You are a "smart" guy.
Im sure this topic is nearly dead but felt compelled to respond to the precision flying thing (LOL) - When I can get the ozone IMP 2.5 m trainer back from the kids when its sub 10 knots and 2 light to kite I do have a ball with it !!
Up loops and down loops and flying the box and flying to mm accuracy helps hone my reaction time for wave sailing and other free ride fun - yeah I know I hardly ever look at the kite theses days - kind of instinctive based on the feel of the kite pull - but its better than sitting on the beach wishing!!
So to sum up - sure grab a cheap kite that will give a great intro to the sport (may not be the best entry point depending on your ability to grasp the basics) or get hold of a dedicated trainer that will teach you the stuff mentioned in the previous posts - OR - don't do a trainer at all and spend a motza on lessons ??
Either way - grab what you need and enjoy your kitesurfing !!!
