Nominations for the 2012 Darwin Awards are now open for submission.

I nominate redman33, there is no doubt that this dumbass will cause some sort of fall out.

Redman33, you are a dumbass. Please do some other sport. We don't want you, you are not welcome.... Go away.!

Why spend money on a trainer kite? Flying a trainer kite is included in your first lesson... from what I've read it's about 30 min or so flying the trainer depending I guess on how quick you progress with it and the school you go to.

If you go to your first lesson never having flown a kite before that might not be such a bad thing.

In any case you could spend as much as 300 bucks on a new trainer kite and it's something you probably won't use again once you're onto the regular kite. I guess they're handy if you're planning on showing other friends how to kite.

A 2.5m trainer kite can kick your ass in 20kts if you're not careful so you're not off the hook just because you're flying a "trainer" kite... you still have to know what you're doing.

Studying all you can about wind and weather in general before your lesson might be helpful.

I'm glad you've decided on a lesson... you'll make a lot of people happier and you'll save yourself a lot of time and money

Good luck.

Dude, read the guy's posts before engaging in name calling.

I've read yours. Dumbass.

Redman, welcome. There's plenty of stuff to teach yourself after you've covered the basics in lessons - you'll enjoy it more if you're confident that you can get yourself out of trouble and avoid collateral damage when it all goes sideways. (And it will. Oh yes.)

I am super glad you have decided to take a lesson. It will make you more part of a community....the reason I say this is because all of what you have said above will help you exactly zero.

Surfing. Wakeboarding. Snowboarding will only become important once you know how to kite. Before that it will help you exactly nothing.

The difference between surfing and kiting is that when you make a mistake surfing you eat some water, and be a little wiser. When you make a mistake in kiting, you'll end up in a tree.

Again kiting is easy. Easier than surfing...BUT you have to do it right the first time.

So again, thank you for listening. I have no count on how many times I've seen people almost die because they do not heed the warnings from x number of people. It is not fun.

You probably would survive learning on your own, but it would most definitely be more expensive both in time spent and gear shredded. Now you get to shred the instructors gear while he tells you not to.

.

Looks like I did not read that one post where Redman said he was going to take a lesson. Oops Sorry, Redman! My bad. I am glad that Mr. Weetabix posted this and Redman, yes, you are very welcome to our community. What I have noticed about new kiters is that the ones who get out there almost every day and ask a lot of questions, seem to get over the learner humps faster. Good luck and I hope there are many helpful people around you when you kite to get you through the rough spots!

Mr_Weetabix my mistake, I read his last post, and still did not see any sign of reason in it, I missed the one where he reluctantly accepted that taking lessons was the right thing to do.
I will retract the dumbass comment now but given his stubbornness I am still fairly confident I will not want to be on the same beach as Mr. Redman even after he takes his lessons.

Really? IMHO its all about kite control. tons of people have loads of boardsports experience and it does eventually come into play, but at first its all about kite control.

Not sure how time spent on a trainer or any small traction kite can be a negative.

I have to second Brent's comment above here. Time spent on a trainer in "appropriate" conditions will help you learn the much needed kite control. That doesnt mean take a 3-meter trainer out in 30+ mph winds. That is asking for trouble. Take it out in less than 15mph winds, and you'll be fine. If it is a 2-meter trainer, then you can kick that up for 20-25mph winds. Get a smaller trainer, and you can handle more winds. However, you WILL be better off flying a small trainer in lighter winds. In my opinion, you learn a lot more about kite control when you AREN'T being dragged around by the kite.

Good luck!