There are many styles of kitesurfing kites available. Each aimed at a different aspect of kiteboarding. With such abundance, it can be confusing to choose the right kite for you. To make matters more confusing, search for the best kitesurfing kite or ask online and you will get a hundred different answers from people who likely have a brand affiliation.

How to choose your first kitesurfing kite? The answer is simpler than you might think. It should always be an all-around kite. Every brand offers an all-around freeride kite. Usually these are 3-struts, sometimes 5-strut. They all have a few things in common.

They are easy to use and don’t ask much from the rider. They ride upwind easily. They have an easy relaunch. They have a large wing range. They are designed to do a little of everything.

A common misnomer is that an all-around kite is a jack of all trades and a master of none. Or that they are beginner kites. This couldn’t be further from the truth. As of 2024 most all-around kiteboarding kites perform at a level you will likely never outgrow. In truth, you will get better much faster and with less frustration.

Another mistake is thinking an all-around kite will hold you back in the pursuit of certain kite disciplines like big air, freestyle kiteboarding, or kitesurfing.

Aspiring new big air riders often choose a big air kite when they would be better served on an all-around kite. Confusing right? Let me explain!

An all around freeride kite is the most efficiant kite. Kites like the Airush Lithium, North Reach and Naish Pivot make progression easier and faster. Read that again and let it sink in. An all-round kite makes progression faster and easier.

Advanced kites require skills you might not have, they also can make compromises on other attributes such as wind range, relaunch, upwind ability, loft, or ease of use.

Elite Watersports has a kitesurfing school based in Tampa Bay. They choose to teach on freeride kites. Its good for their students and fun for the instuctors to use after a lesson. The school is usualy equipt with the Airush Lithium and the North Reach. 

Let’s look at the example of an aspiring big air rider. You want to learn all the basic tricks first. Kiteloops, board offs, back rolls, front rolls, heli loops, and down loops. An all-around kite is going to help you learn these things faster. I like the analogy of a stick shift vs automatic.

Advanced kites are stick and all-around kites are automatic. Elite Watersports Also has a retail shp based in St Petersburg Florida. If you live in Tampa Bay stop by the shop and speak with the team. They can help you decided the best first kite for you.  

It takes a lot to outgrow an all-around kite. Some riders competed in the Red Bull King of the Air event with all-around kites up until recently. It’s important to note that riders who have 10 years of professional experience were choosing freeride kites. This should bring home the point about how unlikely it is to outgrow a freeride kite.

It’s easier to jump. You can focus on learning new kiteboarding tricks. You get more loft and hangtime. You’ll have more airtime to practice board-offs and rotations. These kites won’t front stall or back stall easily. This means less time crashing and more time progressing and having fun. After a trick you’ll be able to get upwind faster.

If you fall, you will be confident you can relaunch the kite fast. Kiteloops won’t be as intimidating. Big air kites have powerful loops. You can use the same size in different wind conditions. Most all-around kites have a huge wind range. That means the same 12m kite will work in less wind than a big air kite designed to be lit.

I’ve been running demos for a couple of years, and I find most riders consider themselves big air riders. 80% of big air riders prefer an all-around kite. 20% prefer a true big air kite. The riders who need the big air kite are doing powered kite loops in strong wind with exceptional height regularly.

If you fall into this category, your mind is going to be blown with a kite like the Airush Lift V3, The North Orbit, or the Core XR PRO. If you’re learning fundamental tricks like how to kiteloop, board-offs, grabs, or front rolls, an all-around kite is going to make the journey fast and fun.

We live in a golden era of kiteboarding. The gear is incredibly refined. I've been kitesurfing for a long time and I do love to use special equipment when the occasion calls for it. When you're ready and committed to one discipline, it’s an amazing feeling to use a tool catered to that style. That said, I never feel like my Airush Lithium is holding me back on a day-to-day basis.

If you need help deciding on your first kiteboarding kite give Elite Watersports a call. We're happy to set you up with your first kiteboarding kite.
(727)-800-2202