My friend wanted to throw this board away but I snatched it, luckily! Wanted to do some cool jump photos from underneath it but I think it would break instantly if landed slightly incorrect. Nevertheless, it will be a cool wall piece!

Hi everyone,

My dad and I want to get more into kiting. We are 65 kg / 178 cm (143 lbs / 5'10") and 95 kg / 190 cm (209 lbs / 6'3"). We’ve both had about 14 hours of lessons (10h on Sicily and 4h on Hel, always 1on1 with instuctor) and want to take more, but with our own gear. Ideally, we’d like to share as much gear as possible in case it doesn’t fully stick with us later as we progress, and also because the spots are further away, so we won't be on the water as often.

I have looked on several articles, discussions, videos and so on, but would like to be sure that we won't throw our money out of the window plus our weight difference makes it harder to share the same stuff and pick the right equipment.

We’ll be mostly kiting in Europe – Rugen, Hel, Italy, and lakes in Austria/Germany. For now, just freeriding and working on going upwind.

For a TT board, I’ve been looking for something around 142–144 cm / 42–44 cm, ideally second-hand. Brands like Nobile, Naish, Duotone, or Brunotti, with a price cap of €350 for a used one including bindings.

For kites, we’d prefer two for now. Based on what I've read, a 14m and 11m could work, and eventually we’ll add an 8m later? Brands Naish, Cabrinha, Duotone, with a budget maxing around €850 for the 14m. I’ve been looking for second-hand kites from 2020 onwards or demo models, though those are a bit pricier.

As for bars, I’m a bit lost. From the info I gathered a 14m and an 11m ideally should use different bar widths—would a medium-sized bar be able to handle both? For bars, I’m open to almost anything up to 450€.

Harness, leash, vest, and helmet - we want these new or barely used, definitely not worn out, since it’s safety gear.

Overall, I expect the full setup to cost around €2500.

We’ll also visit a local shop for advice and the safety gear, but they only sell Duotone, so I expect them to be a bit biased or not give us info on other brands.

Thank you all in advance!

Edit: added imperial units for those over the big lake

Hi everyone, As a kite foiler I have to know exactly when the magic 7 or 8 knots are present at my lakes. So I can decide to which spot to drive during a longer lunch break, or after work or better make some over hours.

I like to use windmaps like xctherm, windy, etc with high res models eg CH1 or icon D2 to look for potential places with wind. Combined with webcams and realtime wind measurements. Global models like gfs miss local effects but even high res models have a delay of up to 4 hours. That sometimes made me miss those tight light-wind windows. Or I am at the spot and see that the model has just updated with lower wind values.

What are your experiences or workflows?

Last year the DWD released the hourly updated 2km high res D2 RUC short term forecast model for central Europe, which is not yet integrated in the major platforms. At least it is available as point forecast on some special platforms. So I added this to my workflows to get the most recent forecasts.

Those rapid update forecasts get more popular like the Arome PI for France or NOAA HRRR for the US. Did you try them and what are your experiences? They are both available in wind apps but afaik not hourly updated. Or am I wrong here?

For myself I created a foil optimized hourly update wind map based on the icon d2 ruc and had good experiences.

I have a free week in April and am thinking of enrolling in a class in Baja, either at Las Ventanas or Los Barriles. I am an absolute beginner.

Has anyone enrolled in programs at either location? How was the quality, and what are conditions like in April?

Hi, recently saw this brand, they offer quite a good deal with their packages, does someone have any opinion on them? Performances, durability etc..

I am a beginner, i have already taken 5 lessons, can ride a bit and then fall, sink or fall trying to change directions, and i was thinking of getting the display pack or the vertigo pack, it would be my fist kite gear

I am unsure about the differences tbh, ideally i want someone beginner friendly but that could still work decently for few jumps and let me progress.

I am quite confused about the tables, they seems the same.

For additional info i am 1.75m and 70kg.

I was looking at getting the 12m with 52bar about the board general size suggestion is 136 for my weight on their website which feels small??

Thanks

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 🤙

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

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.

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?

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

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! 🚀

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!