BayAreaKiteboarding.com

Hi:

For years I wanted to kiteboard but family kept me from it. My wife recently gave me the green light to take it up and get gear (within reason). Alameda is the closest and easy to get to place for me and I hear its great for beginners. Of course I am planning on taking lessons (started last week but not enough wind to finish). However for me to go any further I have to buy gear.

The KiteShopI am learning from is giving me some good options on packages for all gear i need one is for a Naish Bolt 12M and another for a Naish Park 14m. The park is the best price but wondering if thats too big of a kite. My budget is tight so this would be the only Kite would have for at least the rest of the season. Im 5-8 , 200 lbs. Probably wont ride more than once or twice a week max. As I get better Im sure i'll be going to Sherman island and needing smaller kites.

Im leaning towards the Park but wonder if its too big? Any opinions on which kite I should go with?

Hey there,

Welcome! A 'green light from the wife' is always a good thing!

Alameda is notoriously light *most* of the time in the summer/fall. You'll want the biggest kite you can get on those days when there's really even enough wind to kite there.

But for elsewhere, as a beginner, a 14 will be too much kite.

A smaller kite turns faster. Turning the kite generates power. So as you get better at flying the kite, you'll be able to use a smaller kite. So that's one more vote for the 12 over the 14.

So I guess the question is: how much riding do you expect to do at sites other than Alameda? If the answer is 'mostly Alameda', I'd go with the 14. Otherwise, go 12.

Kirk out

P.S. While you're still taking lessons, use their gear!

IMHO 12m Bolt

The Bolt is more stable and turns slower than the Park, making it a better kite to learn on. Also, if the Park is a 2011 model then the low end is not very good and the 14m Park might not pull any better than the 12m Bolt in light wind. (They supposedly improved the low end for 2012). I have a pair of 2011 Parks - they are excellent kites but in light wind they almost feel a size smaller than they are. Go for the Bolt - 12m is an excellent size for the Bay Area at your weight.

12m imo

Not to pull the old "power of a 14 with the depower of a 10" but I agree with the others that the bolt 12m has the low-end of the park 14m and probably even the high end comfort factor in gusts of a park of a smaller size too...

In gusty conditions the park like many other light kites can get blown around like a lightweight toy where a bolt of the same size can feel rock solid. You are getting more kite out of the bolt in this case

Sigma is like a kite-frame on steroids - enjoy

Just FYI, you really are not going to have enough wind at Alameda to learn. Check out the attached image. It shows the number of windy days at Alameda. For a beginner, you really want a "">20" windspeed to have enough power to work with. On the attached chart, you can see that the times of year when Alameda has the most of those days is in the spring.

So, even if you buy a kite now, you may very well not get enough wind to actually use it until next year (IF you are planning to only go at Alameda).

I agree with everyone about getting the 12. It's the right size to learn on for your weight.

So what I would recommend is: If you really want to learn now, you need to plan to take multiple (and expensive!) lessons at one of the spots that is still windy, like 3rd ave or Sherman Island. If you are set on learning at Alameda (which I understand, I did that too), you'll have to wait until next spring to have enough wind to learn on.

... which dovetails nicely in to this recent topic:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11160

Kirk out

Joe w/ Norcal kites gives lessons in Bodega. It stays windy up there later into the year and its a good stomping ground after your lessons.

well I already committed to boardsport at Alameda just need to wait for next windy day for lessons. Once I get my gear can beginners kite at Sherman thats not too far for me