Hey guys n gals - I'm based in Brisbane, been thinking of getting into kitesurfing. I'm totally new to the sport, so I'd love some advice on the following: How much should I expect to spend to get started (lessons + gear + other costs)? - Are formal lessons needed (or strongly recommended) around Brisbane / SE QLD? If so, any recommended schools/instructors? - What gear should I buy (kite size, board type, harness, wet-suit, etc) and what sort of budget should I set for that? - Where are good beginner-friendly spots around Brisbane (or QLD) with reliable wind, shallow water or safe conditions? - What are the main risks / things I should be aware of as a complete beginner (safety, right-of-way rules, weather/wind, gear maintenance)? - Are there any hidden/ongoing costs (insurance, travel to spots, gear repair, etc)? Appreciate any insights. Cheers
Don't, learn wing foiling instead, seriously. Not as dangerous and a much bigger wind range meaning you can go out on light wind days.
If you don't have wind sports experience, you want a few lessons and the instructor can tell you what gear to source. The gear shouldn't be too expensive when sourced second hand. Don't buy new as you outgrow it quickly.
Enjoy!
Sandgate is a great place to start if you are on the northside. lots of space and shallow water. just be careful about learning in water too shallow. would definitely recommend getting lessons, they will show you how to learn safely; check out Briskites or Surfconnect (I'm not affiliated with either). Second hand is a good way to get started; a board can be found for as low as $50 and will generally be fine. you need to be a bit more discerning on the kite; cheap kites (<$200) are generally cheap for a reason (very old, or have leaks); buy at your own risk. you could easily spend up to $1000 on a recent second hand model. Bar and lines will need to be in good condition to ensure that safety systems are in order (new expect ~800 plus; not too many come up second hand unless packaged with a kite), and a well fitting harness is also a must (from $50 second hand; up to ~400 new). wetsuits are optional; Brisbane is warm enough, so i don't bother.
for ongoing costs, maintenance is pretty easy; pack kite away dry and wash everything else well in fresh water; well maintained gear can last a long time. if you get a second hand kite some bladder patching may be required; <$50 to get the patches and glues. Insurance is available through Kiteboarding Australia membership www.kiteboardingaus.com.au/; not a requirement (disclaimer, I'm a member but not otherwise involved).
hopefully we see you out on the water
GPMS,
paste this link into browser and tick the shops section.
www.google.com/maps/ms?msid=216246232897544574554.0004ce1b19ac7c8f895da&msa=0
This gives shop location and contact details / web site.
it is easiest to learn to kite in relatively smooth water not open ocean beaches.
The shops which have survived all the water sport trends are well suited.
During lessons you will experience a range of weather / wind conditions.
There is a minimum wind strength to get enough power to get riding on a snow board style board called a twin tip. for arguments sake 15 knots. Before you get to this stage you learn to control the kite where 6+ knots is enough but likely under 20 knots of wind.
All schools should be providing an accredited training structure - give them a ring find out what they offer.
Plan on 3+ 2 hour lessons by then you will have a good idea of whether its for you.
I suggest getting familiar before over committing on a lesson and gear package.
If you love it you will likely end up getting 2 or more kites of different sizes say 9metre 12metre and 15metre to cover the wind range better. You can also get different sized Twin tip boards to suit conditions and your style (jumps tricks waves etc). A kite surf board, and way down the track perhaps a foil.
Foiling is the current buzz activity. It is very efficient once on foil you need way less power - this is great because you can get on the water in a wider range of conditions especially if wind powered..
There is a huge variety its not a one size fits all setup. You choose your power source. Surf - prone, Wake behind a boat, SUP with a paddle in surf or out to sea (google Molokai M20 2025 foil race - spectacular), a kite, a wind surf set up, a wing you hold, electric and more recently a form of kite on very short lines called a para wing.
If you ultimately want to learn to foil, using a kite as your power source then the learning curve is very steep.
I kite a surf board for down winders - Start at A and end up at B say 8-15 kms of fun.
I dominantly kite foil out to sea on unbroken wave swell. The kit for this can be endless - check out the Buy & Sell section.
Enjoy
Cheers
AP
Select to expand quoteptsf1111 said..
Don't, learn wing foiling instead, seriously. Not as dangerous and a much bigger wind range meaning you can go out on light wind days.
If you don't have wind sports experience, you want a few lessons and the instructor can tell you what gear to source. The gear shouldn't be too expensive when sourced second hand. Don't buy new as you outgrow it quickly.
Enjoy!
Don't learn wing foiling instead, seriously.
If you're keen to kite, kite. It's beats wing in almost every aspect.
Pffft - rather compare apples to apples. Kite foil goes just as low wind as wing foil - it's the foil doing the work in this equation. I have way more fun on light wind days than the wingers, I'm riding thru the lulls when they're not.
Learning to kite foil I suppose you start on a twin tip, then transition to foil.
With wing foiling, you're on your final setup already. You don't have dangerous long lines, can safely paddle back to shore in case the wind dies or something happens, and you can just launch on your own instead of needing someone to launch and land.
Even as a beginner, your wind range it much larger and you can safely practise in light wind, even if you don't get on the foil yet.
Light winds and beginner kiters, I've seen it many times, recipe for disaster.
It's up to you, by any means go kiting but I just wanted to make sure you consider more modern, safer alternatives, seriously!
Select to expand quoteptsf1111 said..
Don't, learn wing foiling instead, seriously. Not as dangerous and a much bigger wind range meaning you can go out on light wind days.
If you don't have wind sports experience, you want a few lessons and the instructor can tell you what gear to source. The gear shouldn't be too expensive when sourced second hand. Don't buy new as you outgrow it quickly.
Enjoy!
Pole dancing and lawn bowls are other safer alternatives to kitesurfing as well
Select to expand quoteptsf1111 said..
Learning to kite foil I suppose you start on a twin tip, then transition to foil.
With wing foiling, you're on your final setup already. You don't have dangerous long lines, can safely paddle back to shore in case the wind dies or something happens, and you can just launch on your own instead of needing someone to launch and land.
Even as a beginner, your wind range it much larger and you can safely practise in light wind, even if you don't get on the foil yet.
Light winds and beginner kiters, I've seen it many times, recipe for disaster.
It's up to you, by any means go kiting but I just wanted to make sure you consider more modern, safer alternatives, seriously!
Agree, kitesurfing is kind of dying, still a few about but nothing like 10 years ago. Winging is definitely the easier option and will result in more water time in the short term.
Kitefoil can get going in lighter wind than winging but it is a huge learning curve and probably the hardest foiling discipline to learn, we all struggled. Where winging can be self taught safely done quite cheaply, you can't self teach yourself to kitesurf, lessons mandatory.
And if you do go down the kitesurf route, don't buy gear, have lessons first, you will learn a lot.
Select to expand quoteptsf1111 said..
Learning to kite foil I suppose you start on a twin tip, then transition to foil.
With wing foiling, you're on your final setup already. You don't have dangerous long lines, can safely paddle back to shore in case the wind dies or something happens, and you can just launch on your own instead of needing someone to launch and land.
Even as a beginner, your wind range it much larger and you can safely practise in light wind, even if you don't get on the foil yet.
Light winds and beginner kiters, I've seen it many times, recipe for disaster.
It's up to you, by any means go kiting but I just wanted to make sure you consider more modern, safer alternatives, seriously!
Let's step back for a second. You're a WA windsurfer (going by your pic) and you've come into the SEQ Kitesurfing beginners forum to advise a beginner to pick a different sport. Can you see the issue?
You don't know anything about why they want to learn to kite, what the local conditions are like, or what would actually suit that person. Maybe they just watched king of the air and want to pull 35m high 200m long jumps one day instead of 5m jumps that dingers can sometimes manage.
Every kiter was a beginer kiter and in light winds. Just because you think it's a recipe for disaster, pfft.
Not sure why the location matters. I've spend long enough on the East coast to know that it can be frustratingly light winds there, hence I think the topic starter might be better off with a discipline that is better suited for those conditions.
I also find kiting dangerous, especially when people consider learning it without lessons as the topic starter asked about so I think my post was quite relevant.
BTW you're more than welcome in the WA Windsurfing forum
If I went to the WA windsurf section and started telling people to choose another sport because their gear is antiquated and unsafe, I'd get a ruder reception than you got here, of that I'm sure.
If you have a valid reason, don't think so. I tell people all the time not to learn windsurfing on old gear and don't go out with an old uni joint.
If someone would ask where and how to learn to windsurf in a low wind region, I'd also suggest them to consider winging although transitioning from windsurfing to winging is more natural.
Select to expand quoteptsf1111 said..
Not as dangerous
There's a lot of misconceptions and general BS that needs calling out. Seems like someone took one look at kiting in 2005 and judged it.
Kitesurfing is not inherently dangerous, certainly not any more than say skateboarding or snow skiing. Let's start with that. Modern kites have amazing depower range and standardised safety systems.Select to expand quoteptsf1111 said..
Light winds and beginner kiters, I've seen it many times, recipe for disaster.
... more modern ..alternatives
This is rubbish, every kiter began as a beginner kiter in light winds. Every single one.
Again I think you've looked at 2005 kites and not "more modern" kites. Select to expand quoteptsf1111 said..
I think the topic starter might be better off with a discipline that is better suited for those [east coast] conditions.
You think Brisbane is unsuited to kiting? OK. Maybe go to Sandgate/brighton/wello etc on most weekends and ask the crew there. For the record Sandgate has a million acres of flat shallow water and is way more suited to learning twin tipping than foiling. Select to expand quoteptsf1111 said..
you can safely practise in light wind,
You can safely practise at Sandgate in light wind. There's a huge open area and you can find the perfect depth to suit. Select to expand quoteptsf1111 said..
I also find kiting dangerous
We know this is the 3rd time you mentioned thatSelect to expand quoteptsf1111 said..
especially when people consider learning it without lessons as the topic starter asked about
Wrong, OP mentioned lessons right from the startSelect to expand quoteptsf1111 said..
I think my post was quite relevant.
pfft
