here an article and pictures from the latest issue of the http://www.kite-boarding.de magazine.
Vitali himself tested our new X-Shooter 155 and learned on it. His weight is 110 kgs and 2+ m tall.
It is his first time on the board and he is riding!!!
So no need to get big boards if a guy like Vitali learned on an 155 board.

Have fun

my g/f learned on a 141 pickle, and now she is ripping!

she has never even ridden anything that isnt a wakeboard.

you can learn on anything!

Vitali does wakeboarding in his sparetime, so that might have helped him with the board... and his weight with the forces of the kite

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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: http://www.kite-surf.com on 2002-07-04 22:22 ]</font>

I did wakeboarding before as well, but can't say it really helped me. Maybe I wasn't afraid of it and its lenght. If you are heavier, sure you need a bigger kite, but it also effects the board when you don't have enough pressure in the kite.

Go small!
Toby

Toby, guess who received his X2-16 today?

bitch


but I should receive mine today as well....

I am a little worried that the guy who "just learned" is flying the kite with one hand, in the chiken loop and looking away from it towards the camera with a pretty good angle on the chicken loop and walking at the same time carrying his board, with the kite low?. I think I better go get an X-shooter myself because if he learned all that riding on it must be a great board. HA. I have a little school in PR and most our students are riding and going on a board within the first hour or 2 of instruction. People who have wakeboarded or waterskiied have a big advantage over any other sport. Board size is important and we send our students on a slow 185 for the first time then progressively get smaller so that by the time they are sailing comfortably they are on the board they will always ride. Start small it takes alot longer to work out the forces needed to stay upwind, just look at Vitalli. Stay big you learn to rely on flotation too much. Get a board that goes slow and is stable for the first ride and you will be amazed how quickly people learn. Also students who have high confidence in the safety and instructon of the people teaching learn alot quicker. Safety and comfort of the student is key to quick learning, not the magical x-shooter.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Royce on 2002-07-05 14:18 ]</font>

I don't think it is the "magic" of the x-shooter. I guess you are missing the point, Royce.
It is just that you don't need too big boards to learn, like many people are saying (specially shops to sell more boards).
As to your experience with your school you must know what they can start with and what not, and that they don't need a 2+ board.

Regarding keeping the kite low while walking, there are many ways of being safer.
According to Rick's safety guidelines you should keep the kite like this, since having it in the zenith you can be lofted.

Cheers
Toby