In these days of economic recession (or might I say “recovery”), more and more aspiring kiteboarders are inquiring about cheap or discounted kiteboarding gear.  In this article I will discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of investing in a second-hand kiteboarding package, as well as recommending ways to go about finding a deal on the internet, in your local kiting community, or even making a purchase from your very good “friend” who may or may not be trying to sell you a lemon!  Beginner kiteboarders should still know this, however-  The very best way to ensure safety, fun, and shortening the learning curve is to invest in NEW kiteboarding gear, purchased from a trusted retailer that is covered by manufacturer’s warranty :-).

The first thing a new buyer should do is ask, ask, ASK!  Get advice from kiters in your local kiting community, read reviews, do a little research on different types of kites, learn the history of the sport, and the advancements in the technology.  All too many times we get students who show up with their own kiteboarding gear they just purchased on eBay for $300.  Then when it comes time to set up the equipment, turns out it’s a 20.5m C-kite from 2001, with a two line bar, and no chicken loop.  The student then asks, “So I got a good deal on this right?”.  Oh man, oh man…  (BTW, if you are reading this and have no idea what I’m talking about, please send me an email before you make an expensive mistake!  I’ll educate you thoroughly

Once you do a little research and figure out what size kite, kiteboard, and harness you need, then you could check out the online sources.  I usually would discourage this type of equipment hunting for an inexperienced kiteboarder, so it helps if you get some help and advice from a kiteboarding expert who will know a good bargain based on images, description, and online seller qualifications.  My favorite sites for selling and buying used and demo kite equipment include- iKitesurf, eBay, Craigslist.  I like Craigslist because it encourages sellers/buyers to deal locally and you have the chance to inspect the kiting gear before you buy.  iKitesurf’s Buy/Sell section is great because you can find more options to compare and contrast.  eBay is usually a good way to find the cheapest gear, but it can be difficult for the buyer to guarantee quality.  Online transactions can be very sketchy, so use caution!  ALWAYS transfer funds using Paypal or a secure credit card processing system.  If there is a problem with the kite, you can usually dispute and get your money back.

Finally, let me include a bit of advice on how to check the condition of demo or used kiteboarding equipment.

Kite

-Pigtails:  Check the wear of the pigtails, the point at which the kite lines attach to the kite.  Judgements can be made based upon how much fray in the spectra or color loss of the SPF coating.  The wear of the pigtails can often tell you how many times the kite has been flown.

-Kite Bladders:  Always pump up the LEI kite bladders and let it sit for 1/2 an hour to make sure the bladders hold air.

-Pinholes and tears:  While the LEI kite is inflated (and with the sun overhead), crawl underneath the canopy and check for sunlight coming through little tears or pinholes, which otherwise would not be apparent by looking over the top of it.

-Strut seams:  Check the seams of the LE strut for stretching or sewn areas coming apart.  If this is the case, the kite has probably been stressed from multiple H-bomb crashes. My favorite! :-0

Control Bar and Lines

Signs of a used bar are obvious.  Most kiteboarding control bars will last forever, but the lines will always need to be inspected on a continual basis.

-Lines:  Check for fraying, knots, and loss of color in the lines.  Kiteboarding lines need to be replaced every 6 months or so anyways, so if they don’t look like they are in the best of shape, it’s probably a good idea to get a new set.

-Depower/Throw:  This is the thick line that runs through the control bar and connects the front lines to the chickenloop.  It’s important to check fraying on this line.  If the bar you are inspecting has a worn line, ask if there is a replacement part or spare that comes with.

-Safety:  Make sure that the safety line is in good shape.  There should also be spares included for this as well.  A good safety system is a leader line that connects your leash to one of the front lines, so the kite will completely depower and flag out once activated.

Choosing Kiteboarding Gear can be a tricky thing if you’ve never done it before or if no one has ever told you what to be looking for. There are a few things you should think about before your first/next kite gear purchase. Considering thinks like ability level, riding style, riding conditions, wind conditions, and body weight/size can be very beneficial when selecting your kiteboarding gear.

Ability level should certainly be considered first since there are certain kites designed for different levels of riding. For instance in our line of kites that we carry, we offer the EH Beast which is better for a beginner and the EH Rippehr that we only recommend for advanced riders who feel very comfortable on the water already. However there are kites that are simple enough for beginners to use but at the same time may have a characteristic that an advanced rider is looking for in a kite.

Riding style is something you should also be thinking about. Are you on the water to relax and free ride or on it to take out some built up aggression on a wave face? There all all types of riding stlyes and that is why there are different kite designs to choose from. Someone who is looking for big boosts with great hang time will probably choose a different kite than someone looking to attack the waves with a surfboard. The EH EZE and the EH Rippehr are both great kites for intermediate/advanced but offer different benefits for different riding styles. For example, the EZE may be better for a rider looking for long, “floaty” airs where as the Rippehr may be better for a rider looking for an aggressive, fast kite with huge airs.

Riding Conditions should also be considered when selecting gear. Are you riding in choppy water, flat water, waves or a mixture of all these conditions? This may affect your decision about board type or board size. If your constantly riding in choppy water than you don’t want to go too small when selecting your kiteboard size. If your in constant flat water everyday than give me your location so I can come ride! You can’t really make a wrong choice in the type of board that you select. You’ll probably base your decision on your riding ability or style. If you ride at a location where you are dealing with all of these conditions than I would suggest you look for a board that has a “hard” edge, slightly larger fins, a wider nose and tail and a small amount of rocker. From my personal experience of riding in all of these conditions I found that the EH boards perform extremely well in all of these conditions. I’ve had other boards in the past that only ride well in one condition which can get annoying when you have to bring several boards to the beach every time you kite.

Wind conditions are another thing to be aware of when trying to find the gear that works for you. Do you have light winds, strong winds, steady winds or gusty winds? If you get a lot of light winds you’ll want to look for a slightly larger kite or one that is specifically designed for light wind riding. For stronger, heavier winds it would be better to look for a kite that has a “higher aspect ratio”. This means that the width of the kite between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the kite is considerably less than a kite with a “low aspect ratio.” Higher aspect kites can handle strong gusts better than a kite with a “fat” canopy can.  It is good to know that some kites fly differently in certain types of winds.  Some people may like certain characteristics that others may not so don’t think that just because the wind is strong that you have to ride a high aspect kite. Some people may like riding a lower aspect kite but you won’t know unless you are an experience rider.  

There is always something to think about before you find the gear that is right for you. Make sure you consider some of the things that I’ve discussed before purchasing gear if you want to spend more time on the water and less time on the beach.  If you have any questions you can contact us and we’d be happy to help you out!