Hi guys and gals
I'm new to this page and fairly new to kite surfing and advise would be greatly appreciated.
I fly an Flexifoil Ion 5 10.5m that is probably not the best kite to start off with. Every time I crash it in light medium wind I can not get the damn thing off the water without less than 10 minutes struggle and being pulled along to hell and back.
i want to change my kite to an user friendly beginner kite with easy relaunch that I can buy a smaller size to teach my girl with and use in stronger winds.

I have heard tons off hype about North rebel, F one Bandits and basically every kite out there but all seems to use marketing gimmicks instead of telling the truth.
Can anyone advise a beginner kite that wont murder me and not make me fill the Swear jar in one session please?

Regards
J

Feel your pain. A friend of mine had flexi ions and it really was pain in the ass to relunch it

i'm sure that almost every newer sle kite you buy will relunch much much batter than that.
I rode triggers last year, they were very forgiving and relunced was efortless.
Try to damo some kites. Loke for more wave orientated kites since they are more stabe and relunch easilly.

Hi, try the Blade Trigger 2012 or the new 2013, the kite is super easy to relaunch, if there is medium wind or strong wind, the kite almost relaunch without your help. with ligth wind, only pull one fo the directional lines and you are again with the kite in the air..

for sure you can doubt in my opinion, but give it a try and see by yourself!!

If you want easy relaunch in light wind, just don't by a Bandit, trust me
Above 10m it is a real pain to relaunch in very light wind, compared to other kites (rebel, evo, rally, rrd vision, etc)

Hi hybridnuke,

If you want a good starting kite that is pretty alround to and will not dissapoint you nor your girlfriend, have a look at the Switch kite '' ELEMENT''...l am absolutely sure it will fullfill all your needs and wishes you have written down.
So It wont hurt you to have a look and some reading here:
http://switchkites.com/products/kites/element.html
Cheers
Dude

If you want easy relaunch, user friendly handling and all that simple stuff then you are probably best off considering a lower aspect ratio kite, from BEST that would be the Kahoona.

A lower aspect ratio and a curved leading edge are both going to make relaunch easier. a well designed bridle rather than a simple direct connection should help give a wide wind range and help with stability in gusts.

Pretty much all the kites out there from decent brands should be up to the task, pick one that you like the look of and can afford. Also consider as a beginner you are going to hammer your gear, so buy from a brand known for good back up and service- there are lifetime warranties out there if you know where to look.

yes low aspect 3 strut kite is what you want.
ozone catalyst is another to put on your list.

But if your being dragged for 10 mins while trying to relaunch that suggestes enough power to relaunch any kite easily (unless theres briddle snags). So i suggest you look at your technique for relaunch. you may be doing something wrong.

Almost all kites can be relaunched within 1 min in winds 15knots +.

Cabrinha Convert 9m.... Easy and "cheap"...

Regards

Genoves

All of the above are good options.

I would recommend my kite, the StarKites Taina. Also Core GT is a good nice friendly Kite. North Rebel is always a good bet or the North Fuse.

Blade trigger, I would also check out Epic kites.

But you will be pretty safe with any new bow kite. As most brands will be aiming at this style of kite as this is what a lot of people look for in a kite.

Good luck.

Stick with the Flexi and learn how to relaunch it, it's very simple. They don't relaunch like beginner kites, you need to pull the front lines then let go to get the kite to roll back slightly, then pull on one side of bar and kite will relaunch