Kitesurf equipment

A first kit does not need to be good: it needs to be appropriate and safe. Top-end equipment speeds up nobody’s learning, and the wrong equipment gets in the way considerably.

If you are still deciding between new and used, prices are in the cost guide. This is about which to buy.

Kite: size is the decision

Kite size is measured in square metres and depends on two things: your weight and the wind where you ride.

Your weight	Wind 15–20 kt	Wind 20–28 kt
Under 60 kg	9 m	6–7 m
60–75 kg	10–12 m	7–8 m
75–90 kg	12 m	8–9 m
Over 90 kg	12–14 m	9–10 m

Because the Brazilian northeast season lives in the 20 to 28 knot band, an average 70 to 80 kg rider heading to Cumbuco or Preá starts well with a 9 m. In Jericoacoara, where it blows harder, a 7 m sees more use.

On kite type: to begin with, look for a delta or hybrid with three struts. They are the easiest to relaunch off the water after a crash — and you will do that many times. C-shaped kites, flatter at the tips, are for advanced freestyle and punish mistakes.

Bar: do not economise here

The bar is the safety item. It connects you to the kite and it is what you release in an emergency.

What to check, new or used:

• Quick release that fires cleanly under tension, without sticking. Test it repeatedly.
• Safety leash working, keeping the kite attached to you after release.
• Lines with no wear, splices or permanent knots.
• Compatibility with the kite: bars and kites from different manufacturers do not always match on line length and depower throw.

Safety systems have improved enormously in the last decade. If you find a good kite with a very old bar, buy a new compatible bar — it is the one point in the kit where saving does not pay.

Board: start big

For the first year, a 138 to 145 cm twintip with a soft rocker. The logic is simple: more area means it planes in less wind and forgives bad positioning — exactly what you need while the water start is not yet automatic.

Smaller, stiffer boards are for freestyle and for riders with fine control. Buy one now and you will spend months fighting it.

Directional boards, which look like surfboards, are for riding waves and come later.

Harness: waist, almost always

The waist harness is the current standard and what most people use. It gives freedom of movement and spreads the load well.

The seat harness, which wraps the thighs, rides up less and sometimes suits beginners or riders with a history of lower back pain — but it limits progression later.

Either way: try before you buy. A harness that rides up and squeezes your ribs turns a good wind day into a thirty-minute session.

What else is worth packing

Beyond the basics:

• Impact vest — protects the ribs and adds flotation. Always worth it.
• Helmet — mandatory while learning, and a good idea afterwards.
• Long-sleeve rash guard — the northeast sun at 2pm is not a joke.
• Repair kit — bladder tape, needle and thread. Weighs nothing, saves a day.
• Pump with a gauge — most kites come with one, but check.

Dedicated guides

Each piece carries its own decision, and these three have a full page:

• Kiteboards — size by weight and wind, twintip or directional, what to check used.
• Kite harness — waist or seat, hardshell or soft, and getting the size right.
• Bar and lines — the sport’s safety system, and the one item not to save on.

The order to invest

If the budget is limited, this is the sequence that makes sense:

1. The course. Before any equipment.
2. A trustworthy bar and lines. This is safety.
3. One kite in the right size. Just one, used.
4. A big board. Used is fine.
5. A comfortable harness. Try it on.
6. A second kite. Only once you know which days you are missing.

The classic mistake is inverting this: buying two new kites before finishing the course. Do the lesson hours first — afterwards you will know far better what to buy.

Frequently asked

What size kite should I buy to start?

For a 70 to 80 kg rider in Brazilian northeast season wind, a 9 m is the most versatile first kite. Under 65 kg, start at 7 or 8 m; over 90 kg, at 10 or 12 m. One kite already covers much of the season — the second size comes later, once you know which days you are missing.

How many kites do I need?

One, to begin with. Two cover almost everything — in Brazil, a 7 and a 9, or a 9 and a 12 depending on your weight. Three only makes sense if you ride somewhere with a very variable wind regime.

Which board for a beginner?

A large twintip, 138 to 145 cm, with a soft rocker. A bigger board planes in less wind and forgives bad positioning, which speeds up learning a lot. Small stiff boards are for freestyle and will fight you at the start.

Waist harness or seat harness?

Waist, in the large majority of cases. It is the current standard and gives more freedom of movement. A seat harness rides up less and sometimes suits beginners or riders with lower back problems, but it limits you later.