Beginning Kiteboard Gear

[Salt]

So I just posted to the classified section for this but I figure I should ask what stuff I should actually be looking for. I am just starting kiting and have taken a few lessons but want to get some of my own gear. I have around 19 years of windsurfing under my belt and am not 100% about switching to kiteboarding. I also am on a really tight budget. Anyway, I am looking for something that I can use with my longboard skateboard (aka something that won't be worth too much to lose to the concrete). I would also like something that is large enough to try some snow kiting.

So here's the basics. I'm looking for foil kite probably, 3m at least. I'll need a bar, line, possibly other things I don't know about. I am fine with fixing up the gear, I have sowing experience and am on a pretty tight budget. If any gear can be offered for a beginner boarder, it would be much appreciated. I don't need to buy everything together so I'm wondering what things I should be looking for to make items compatible.

Hopefully I can get some gear and experience to be ready for this spring/summer season. Thank you everybody for your assistance.

[rodeo clown]

Welcome to the forum Salt!
I came into kiting from windsurfing myself, so I know what you might be wanting.
First off...save yourself a lot of time and frustrations...take a lesson and find out if this is for you or not.
There were no lessons when I started this sport, and no de-powering kites.
It was truly brutal.
Kitesurfing was not intuitive for me, I learned that I was not a natural flyer.
It took me 4 months of trainer kites and 9 months of inflatables and big foils and a lot of bruises and close calls to self learn how to stay upwind...which is the bench mark in my book for earning the title "kiteboarder"
I'd hate to see anyone punish themselves like this when a good lesson can take you there very quickly.

I have a really sweet 3m foil from BKB that you are welcome to demo for a few sessions if you are interested by the way...I just need to make sure you are not going to throw the thing into the powerlines or innocent bystanders and ruin access for the rest of us. Lets direct this passion welling up inside you into something positive and safe that can stay with you for the next 20 years...that is what its all about bro.
Just wait...once you are riding, getting pulled across the water by a kite like some UFO...its gonna blow you away!
...send me a pm and I'll set you up!

Good luck dude!

[PinkVoldo]

I would use this summer as your learning experience. Take some warm, sunny, pleasant lessons on the latest gear, see what you like. If you're really looking to squirrel away some gear now:

Get (a) 12-16M and , 8-10M Hybrid SLE kite, 2007 or newer.

4 or 5 lines with a nice bar (50cm'ish) and (25M'ish) lines ( 2nd most important)

and a larger (>140cm), flatter, wider board (>40cm)

with good pads and straps (3rd most important),

and a HELMET (most important).

The DaKine Nitro Shorts harness is comfortable/ good to learn with.

An unobtrusive WW kayaking PFD is a good addition, IMO.

'Seems like lots of good money-saving options out there this time of year.

Say goodbye to the pole!

[Salt]

Thanks for the advice guys. As far as lessons, I have taken a couple of ground lessons and plan on taking water ones as the temp rises. I seem to be fairly good at it so far, at least the basic skills and I'm very interested in continuing. As far as what I'm specifically looking for, I want stuff that is dirt cheap and I can use for my longboard on concrete. This is why I was figuring a trainer kite that is possibly in need of some heavy work, which I'm willing to put into it.

Anyway, thanks again for the advice, I hope to be out there kiting a lot spring/summer.