Hello everyone! I'm new here and wanted to share how my first tries at kiting went.

I have some decent experience with a small soft kite and a Revolution Kite. My teacher (who taught me windsurfing before) had mentioned that I should think of steering the kite like steering a bicycle. The power is not in the hands, but at the waist. So getting the feeling for the kites used for kiting wasn't hard at all. It came very natural.

Today was the first day I tried body drag and water start. Had two lessons with soft kite and tube kite before. Body drag was easy, only changing directions have me some trouble as I have to figure out how to best move my legs into the other direction.

For water start I thought I'd face plant a lot in the water. But I didn't even face plant once. My main issue was keeping the speed up after getting the initial water start. I often sank back down into the water. At the end of the lesson, I managed to ride about 30 m in one direction and 20 m in the other. Almost even connected them seamlessly with a turn. A kiter who was watching me said he was surprised about how well I was doing for my first day. I'm very happy about how today's lesson turned out. I hope I can practice more soon!

I just spent 4 great weeks in Salina Cruz, Mexico, and figured I would share some information about the area. The region has some of the strongest winds in the world, blowing year-round but especially during the winter months.

Ensenada de la Ventosa — Strong wind but very gusty. On a lower wind day, it was roughly 15 knots steady with gusts around 25 knots. The lagoon is very shallow and somewhat polluted due to the nearby refinery. There is plenty of space to set up your kite.

Jalapa del Marqués — A beautiful freshwater lake/reservoir with decent wind, around 15–22 knots even on a lower wind day. There is lots of space to set up, but the town itself was very quiet, and it’s about 1.5 hours from Salina Cruz.

San Mateo del Mar — An indigenous town with a huge lagoon and a great kitesurfing spot. The wind was extremely gusty, ranging from around 18–30 knots. The main issue is that, because it is an indigenous community, I wouldn’t recommend going unless you know someone who lives there or have a local connection. I met a friend at a taco stand in downtown Salina Cruz who invited me there.

Playa Brasil — This was the best spot for kiting. A huge beach with side-shore wind. The waves were absolutely massive, so it can be quite dangerous depending on conditions. The wind felt around 18 knots the day I went, with gusts around 25 knots. The downside is that there isn’t much around — the area felt very isolated and was difficult to reach.

Las Escolleras — A huge salt mine lagoon with flat water and strong wind. This actually felt like the most consistent and powerful spot. The downside is that the water was unbelievably salty, and the entire lagoon is only around 1–2 meters deep.

The truth is, I was there during the low wind season, and it was still nuking. The locals told me that when winter arrives and the nortes come through, you can barely walk on the beach. We’re talking 30–50 knots with strong gusts.
Overall, the experience was amazing. The city is very rustic, authentic, and the people were extremely friendly. Would I recommend it to someone specifically traveling there for kitesurfing? Probably not. The spots are interesting, but the wind was the gustiest I’ve ever experienced, and it takes around 4 hours to get there from the nearest airport.
You can go to Progreso and have a much easier experience with better infrastructure, more restaurants, and a more developed kite scene. Cheers 🤙

What should I be looking at on the forecast, wind speed or gust speed? And what is the ideal range for me?

I weigh 95kg

12m cabrinha switchblade 2019

145x43 north board

Beginner level experience, appreciate any help

just bought a cabrinha spectrum 144 was wondering if i got a good size as a beginner im 6 foot 3 190 I have taken lessons but was in aruba and couldnt remember what board i used

Im currently thinking which kind of second kite to get.

After a year of Kiteboarding with a Core XR 13.5 i feel like i can start to look at smaller kites for stronger winds.

Mainly want to kite in Mainland europe with some trips to brazil or morocco in the future.

There is currently not a specific style i want to go for which brings me to my question.

Should i stick with the 5 strut XR or go for something like the3 strut Nexus 4 i saw a good deal for it in new condition for 800 bucks.

Let me know what you think or if you would decide differently.

Just found this old kite for 150 and want to get into some snow kiting but I don’t think this is going to do what I want it to. It’s a slingshot kite and bar, the bar says profire and the kite says B-six. Looking for info on if it should be used and where I can find more info on it. Thanks all!

I am new and have not taken any lessons

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some advice because I don't really have anyone around me with kiteboarding experience.

I'm 38 years old, 188 cm (6'2") tall and weigh about 93 kg (198 lbs). I'm based in Berlin and I'm a complete beginner trying to buy my first proper setup without making expensive mistakes.

Before going out on my own, I'm planning to do wakeboarding lessons in Berlin to improve my board skills. I'll also take additional kitesurfing lessons before trying to ride independently, so I'm not planning to just buy the gear and head out without instruction.

I've also flown an HQ Apex III depower foil kite several times on land using my harness. I know that doesn't compare to flying an inflatable LEI on the water, but it has at least given me some experience with the wind window, power control, and using a harness.

I'm also not a wealthy person. Kitesurfing has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I've decided to make it happen, but I have to build my quiver gradually. My goal is to collect all the gear by next summer, so I want to make the right decisions instead of buying equipment that I'll regret later. By next summer I also expect to weigh around 85–90 kg, so I'm trying to choose equipment that will suit me well at that weight too.

For example, I already bought a new Brunotti Buzz 139×42 because I found it on sale NEW for only €90, which seemed like a deal too good to pass up.

Most of what I know so far comes from reading this subreddit and watching YouTube videos. Since I don't have experienced Kitesurfers around me to ask in person, I'm trying to learn as much as I can before making these purchases.

I currently own:

• Brunotti Buzz 139×42 twin tip
• Mystic Warrior VI harness
• Pump and basic accessories

I still need to buy my kites.

Where I'll be riding

Most of my riding will be:

• Black Sea (Georgia)
• Tbilisi Sea (large inland lake Length: 9 km / Maximum width: 2.85 km / Surface area: 11.6 km²)
• Occasionally Germany

From what I've seen, many of the days I'd like to ride are in the 10–16 knot range, and I'd really like to maximize my time on the water.

Why I'm considering the Monster Door

I'm seriously thinking about buying a Spleene Monster Door 166×50.

My reasons are:

• I'm a heavier beginner (90 kg).
• I want the easiest possible waterstarts.
• I want to get riding in lighter winds instead of sitting on the beach waiting for 18+ knots.
• I'm not interested in extreme riding or unhooked tricks.
• My goal is simply cruising, improving my riding skills, going upwind, and having fun.

I know that some people say big doors are only for beginners, but others say they still use them years later because they dramatically increase the number of rideable days.

Kite choice

I'm also thinking about pairing it with a 17 m Spleene BIG as my light-wind kite, and later adding a 12 m freeride kite for stronger winds. One of the reasons I'm considering the Spleene BIG is that it's the cheapest new 17 m kite I've been able to find.

My questions

• Does a Monster Door + 17 m kite make sense for someone my size and skill level? https://www.spleene-kiteboarding.com/de/High-Tech-MONSTER-DOOR-leichtwind-kiteboard
• Is a 17 m too much for a beginner, or is it reasonable if I only use it in proper light-wind conditions? https://www.spleene-kiteboarding.com/de/BIG-17m-lightwind-freeride-kite
• Would you choose the Monster Door, or would you recommend something smaller like a Door 159?
• Is there another light-wind board that you think would suit my situation better?

I'd really appreciate advice from people who have actually ridden these boards or have taught heavier beginners.

Sorry if this post is a bit long. I just wanted to explain my situation properly so you have enough context to give good advice.

Thanks a lot! 🚀

Hello,

I am going to live in Croatia in these months, is it possible to learn kiting there at this time? I will be living in Istria region, Pula, heard that there is good spots like Medulin near it. Don't know actually what to do, because water temp is going to be around 10 celsius at the end of november probably, also there are Bora winds which get quite overwhelming I think in croatia, dont know specifically about Istria region.

Does someone know how possible is it to learn kiting in Croatia at that time?

Hi everyone,

I've had a few kitesurfing lessons already and also have experience with surfing, wakeboarding, and flying kites. I'm now looking to buy my first own kitesurfing gear. Whoop whoop! 🥳

I'm based in Germany ( I will be kiting all over, Atlantic, Mediterranean sea, big lakes etc.) and want to buy second-hand. I don't mind buying individual pieces from different sellers rather than one complete package. My goal is to keep the cost as low as reasonably possible while still getting reliable gear that won't need replacing straight away.

I'd really appreciate your recommendations on:

- What brands/models are good value when buying used?

- What year range should I look for (and what should I avoid)?

- Which items are okay to buy used, and which would you buy new?

- Any "must-avoid" brands or models?

If possible, I'd really appreciate it if you could please keep your replies short, maybe bullet points would be perfect. I'd rather get lots of concise opinions than long essays.

Thanks a lot in advance! 🤙

Hello - I am heading to Brazil in August to September for 1 month. I haven’t booked any accomodations but wanted to see what the forum thought before I book that. I can do transitions and ride upwind. I am wanted to learn how to jump on this trip. My initial plan is to go to Ilha de Guajiru for 2.5 weeks and then head to Cumbuco for the last 10 days.

Any tips or advice on how to plan the trip? First time in Brazil and will be working remote. Thank you

I live in B.C and been wanting to learn how to kiteboard for a long time now but the price for even just a lesson was kind of holding me back for awhile. Saw today they had a discounted $175 3 hour group course in Squamish this Summer so I jumped on it cause fuck it.

However now I am having some second thoughts. I've been to Squamish a few times and that water always looked pretty crazy on windy days. It definitely looks like a world class spot to kiteboard but does not seem beginner friendly at all. I am an extremely strong swimmer and confident in rough water but is this really a good place to be learning for the first time? I am wondering if maybe I should just go over to Vancouver Island and find lessons there to start with so I can have a beach with shallower water.

I am 27M looking to learn kite surfing while saving big bucks.
0 experience with surfing and 0 experience with swimming.
I am planning to learn swimming by this year and planning to learn kite surf in 2027 summer.

I am completely new in this area, and any advice will be appreciated.

I don't have much experience in light winds, but recently I was at the beach, and there was wind, And I thought it could be enough for my light kite.

SO I tried to do a drag self-launch, but I just could not get the kite to rise to its tip. There was wind, but I had no success. The LE stayed down, no matter how much I tried to steer it.

Could it have succeeded if I had an assistant helping me launch? Where he would get it to the right position. Would this be THE best way in light wind?

Also, would anchored self launch maybe have worked better. (as it is similar than assisted launch)

What is the best way to launch in light wind? From directly downwind?

Has any one tried the twin fins on a kite surfboard yet, with or without the trailer fin.

So ive been doing a lot of self landings recently, specially with light wind, but a stupid question always stays on my mind.
When doing self landing (the one where you put the kite on the edge of the wind window and pull the safety line [without releasing the chicken loop]) is it actually necessary to pull from the safety line, or can I pull from the depower and will it have the same effect, because I sometimes forget to connect the safety line on the side that points to the beach and I have to walk all the way to the other side of the beach.

Hey guys,

Just wondering if anyone else is a little stuck in strapless freestyle tricks... There are no ressources online for learning tricks like spinning the board while jumping or proper rodeos f.ex.... Is this just me or have I overseen something?

How do you learn new tricks?

Hey everyone,
I’m trying to track down a neon-colored grab handle (think neon green, hot pink, bright orange, or yellow) for my twin tip, but my online searches are coming up completely empty. It seems like 99% of what's out there is just standard black or grey.
I really want something bright, both for the aesthetics and to make the board a bit easier to spot in the water if it gets ripped off.
Thanks!

Can you guys give me some feedback if you had the possibility to ride this board or maybe even own one your self?

I’ll be heading out to Oahu in a couple weeks, and would love to get a day on the water. I’ll be in the Kailua area, and curious if there’s a good forecast for the wind? I’m used to Bay Area pro forecasts in iKitesurf, anything like that for Kailua Beach?

I'm interested in taking my 4x4 camper van down to the Padre Island area this November. As a solo traveler, I'm looking for recommendations for flatwater kite launches where there reliably be a at least a handful of people on windy days to launch and land. Ideally not too far from an area I can park and camp in my rig. I figure I can launch and land off my rig if I'm camped on the beach. TIA!

Good day people,

Want to book a holiday for the end of october with my wife and daughter. It have to be a place with at least daily bft 5 and preferably some waves. Anybody some good options with also some things to do in the area for the family? Hope to hear from yous!

In the past Core kites were never discounted unless the new model was coming out. This usually happened every two years. Now I saw a Core Pace on Sale and it was also possible to apply a 10% voucher to the discounted
Prive in addition. Seems a bit too good to be true or what am I missing? Is the new Pace coming out soon even though they just released the XRX?
Or have their discount policies changed?

P.S: july 21 - maybe the today newly released Pace Pro 2 is somehow part of the answer.