Fly Before You Buy

Kiteboarding Tips


Tip #21 - Fly Before You Buy


Demo gearLet's face it- for most of us, buying kiteboarding gear can be a fairly significant investment. And it doesn't help that there are so many choices in kites, boards, and even harnesses. How do you know you're spending your hard-earned cash on the gear that's best for you?

Of course, your local shop can suggest the sizes that best suit you and your riding area, and talking to other riders in person and on the forums can give you a good idea of the pros and cons of particular brands and models, but that still doesn't tell you what's right for YOU. The age-old advice to "try before you buy" truly applies here, and we highly recommend doing just that- try (or fly!) before you buy.

If you're new to kiteboarding, a lesson is the ultimate "try before you buy" for the sport itself. Before you even invest in the gear, you get to see if kiteboarding is a good match for your personal taste in adrenaline-pumping fun. If it is, you're now prepared to safely join other riders out there on the water, and if not, you've saved yourself hundreds on gear you'll hardly touch.

Snowkiting at Reeds LakeWhen you're ready to pick out new gear, whether for the first time or to add to your quiver, nothing beats going hands-on with the actual equipment you're thinking of buying. Kiteboarding events sponsored by gear manufacturers or local kitesurf shops are a great place to find gear available to demo. At the King of the Great Lakes kiteboarding competition, we had brand new gear from brands like Cabrinha, Naish, and Best available to try, and we also always have a nice selection at our Ice Fly on Reeds Lake.

Fly it- you might like it!

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