Kiteboarder’s of all different skill levels can benefit from owning a Kiteboarding trainer kite. Buying a Kiteboarding trainer kite will actually save you money in the long run, because the better you are at flying a trainer kite before your lessons, the more value you will get out of them. After your lessons  you can use it to help learn advanced flying skills, plus it’s great for teaching your friends and family the basics.  As a new Kiteboarder it is a good idea to fly any kite as much as possible, to help everything become second nature.  A great way to do this is by logging the hours on your own Kiteboading trainer kite.

This buyer’s guide briefly describes both foil and leading edge inflatable (L.E.I.) trainer kites:

FOIL KITEBOARDING TRAINER KITES

Most beginners fly the kite alone the first time, or without much instruction.  The easier the kite is to set up and fly the better, so a simple 2 line kite which has nothing to adjust is always a good choice.  There is no pumping involved and foil kites  tend to be less expensive than the L.E.I. Kiteboarding trainer kites, so these tend to be the popular choice.  The smallest foil trainer kites are 1.5 m (sometimes they are called 2m) and are a bit too small to really get the “feel” of the power. The “true” 2 m kites generate enough power to give you the "feel", without yarding you.  The 3m kites generate a lot of power and require the use of a safety leash.  Most foil kites are designed to be flown on land, which gives them increased durability.

As a novice to advanced rider you will use your foil trainer kite more than you think, even after you own your own full sized kites.  It is so easy to setup and requires no pumping, so it can be used to progress your skills with very little effort.  Because you know how to ride you won’t be looking for that extra power from the kite, you will mainly be looking for stability and ease of use.  In addition to learning advanced kite flying, the trainers other purpose is to teach your friends the basics before their lessons.

LEADINGE EDGE INFLATABLE KITEBOARDING TRAINER KITES

As a beginner you shouldn’t be flying one of these kites alone for the first time.  Ideally you need professional instruction or supervision  because they generate more power, have more lines, more adjustments, and require pumping before they will fly properly.  Basically, they are mini versions of the larger kites you will be using to ride, flying similar and producing really good power. They require the use of a harness, relaunch from the water very well and have all the depower adjustments like chicken loop and power strap.  Crashing on land can become an issue as they are designed for use on the water.  In addition, extra adjustments without proper instruction can lead to bad habits, and can cause your kite to fly poorly.  Ideally these kites should be used by schools and instructors for their “ground class” and are flown under the guidance of a certified instructor.

As a novice to advanced rider you will already own your own kites.  Most people in this category won’t take the time to set up, and pump up a trainer kite  when almost the same effort is required to set up a regular L.E.I kite.

*above pricing is in Canadian dollars and is based on a range of kites in each size

** the LEADING EDGE Kiteboarding trainer kite is available in "true" 2m foil only