Video · Kiteboarding basics
Getting Started in Kiteboarding: 5 Trainer Kites Compared
With Brian Brenner, Partner at Green Hat Kiteboarding · June 15, 2018 · 2 min 57 sec
Not sure which trainer kite to start with? Brian Brenner walks through five of them: the HQ Fluxx, HQ Rush, HQ Rush Pro, HQ Hydra and Ozone Uno. He covers how size changes the wind each kite suits, what sets the two-line and three-line kites apart, and which ones can fly over the water.
Wondering if you even need one before lessons? Our guide covers what a trainer kite teaches, when it's worth buying, and when to skip it: Do I Need a Trainer Kite Before Taking Kite Lessons?
What you'll see
- How kite size matches the wind
- Why all five teach the same basic skills
- The HQ Fluxx and HQ Rush, the two-line kites
- The HQ Rush Pro and HQ Hydra, the three-line kites
- Why the HQ Hydra can be flown over the water
- The Ozone Uno, the only inflatable, and why it needs its own bar
Featured products
Key takeaways
- All five trainer kites teach the same basic skills of flying a kite.
- Smaller kites suit higher winds. A 3.5 or 4 meter kite is better in super light winds.
- Three-line kites make relaunching easier, and the HQ Hydra can be flown over the water.
Transcript
Read the full transcript
Trainer kites and sizes
Brian Brenner: Hi, I'm Brian with Green Hat Kiteboarding, and today I'm going to go over trainer kites and just give you little differences, or why you might want to choose a different trainer kite. These four trainer kites all come with control bars. The Ozone Uno does not come with the control bar. First we have the HQ Fluxx. We have the HQ Rush, the Rush Pro. We have the HQ Hydra, and we have the Ozone Uno here.
You're going to see different sizes when choosing a trainer kite. Some kites come in different sizes: 1.8 meter, 2, 3, 3 and a half meter. The smaller kites are going to be better for higher winds, like 15 mile an hour winds or higher. And then, say, a 3 and a half meter kite or a 4 meter kite is going to be better in super light winds, like six, seven mile an hour winds, all the way up to 15, 20 mile an hour winds still, but they'll be a little bit better for these super light winds.
All these trainer kites are going to teach you the basic skills of flying a kite. They all have a little bit different features, which may help your trainer kite experience be a little better, but they're all going to teach the same skill.
The two-line kites
First we have the HQ Fluxx here. It's a two-line kite.
Next we have the HQ Rush. This is also a two-line kite. It's a little more durable kite, a little bit easier to relaunch, and it's also going to come with this safety leash.
The three-line kites
We have the HQ Rush Pro. This one's got even better material, so it's going to be a little more durable during crashes. It's a three-line kite, which will make it much more easy for relaunches. It does have a leash as well.
We have the HQ Hydra. This kite is a three-line kite as well. It has a leash, and this kite actually, the cells close on it, so you can actually use this over the water. This one could be flown over the water. It'll relaunch. It's not really ideal for riding with a board, but for body drags and stuff you can. It's a great kite.
The inflatable option
Last we have the Ozone Uno. This is an inflatable kite. It's the only inflatable kite of all the trainer kites. It does not come with a bar, so you would have to purchase a regular four-line control bar separately. It does increase the price of the overall trainer kite, but in the end you'll have a control bar that you can use once you go to purchase a full-size kite.
The Ozone Uno, it's best to fly it over the water. You don't really want to crash it on land. So if you're going to be flying a kite on land, I wouldn't recommend the Uno. But the Uno could also be used on super windy days or for lighter people.
FAQ
What size trainer kite works for which wind?
Smaller kites are better for higher winds, like 15 mile an hour or more. A 3.5 or 4 meter kite is better in super light winds, around six or seven miles an hour, and can still be flown up to 15 or 20.
Do trainer kites come with a control bar?
Four of the kites in the video do. The Ozone Uno doesn't, so you buy a regular four-line control bar separately. You can keep using that bar once you buy a full-size kite.
Why choose a three-line trainer kite?
Brian says the three-line HQ Rush Pro is much easier to relaunch. The HQ Hydra is also a three-line kite, and both come with a leash.
Can you fly a trainer kite over the water?
The HQ Hydra's cells close, so it can be flown over the water and will relaunch. The Ozone Uno is also best flown over the water.
Can you ride a board with the HQ Hydra?
Brian says it's not really ideal for riding with a board, but it works for body drags.
Is the Ozone Uno a good trainer kite for land?
Brian wouldn't recommend it on land, because you don't really want to crash it there. It also works on super windy days or for lighter people.
Picking your first trainer kite?
Tell the shop your size and where you'll be flying, and we'll point you to the right one.
Talk to the Green Hat team
