| When shopping for a trainer kite, some believe that an | | | | shape. This bladder can burst if the kite is crashed |
| inflatable style kite is a better choice than a foil; after all, | | | | severely. Considering that trainer kites tend to be |
| they are more like the kiteboarding kites that are used | | | | crashed often and are used primarily on land, |
| on water. Although buying an inflatable might at first | | | | purchasing one with an air bladder can bring a lot of |
| seem like a smart move, there are key differences | | | | headaches - and added expenses. |
| between the two styles that might change your mind. | | | | - Foils are easier to learn on. |
| Here are the top three reasons why I recommend a | | | | Launching and landing a foil kite is easy to do and can |
| foil trainer over an inflatable one: | | | | be done solo. In addition, three and four line foils can be |
| - Foils are less expensive. | | | | re-launched backwards, eliminating the constant need |
| Foil trainer kites are less expensive than inflatable ones | | | | for a helper. |
| for a number of reasons. First, they are much simpler | | | | At the trainer kite stage, safely launching and landing |
| to make. Foils are composed of nylon squares that | | | | an inflatable requires two people. Also, every time the |
| are sewn together - a simple feat when compared to | | | | kite is crashed it must be manually re-launched - a time |
| the complicated air-bladder installation an inflatable | | | | consuming and irritating process. |
| requires. | | | | At this point some may argue that an inflatable kite |
| Second, foils can come in two, three, or four line | | | | gives beginners a more realistic start in kiteboarding, |
| setups - ranging from cheapest to most expensive, | | | | since they are identical to the kites they will use on the |
| respectively. Inflatable kites must come with four lines, | | | | water. This is not necessarily true. A trainer kite's real |
| meaning that you can't choose a less expensive, two | | | | purpose is to learn how to fly a kite properly - starting |
| line version. | | | | on dry land. A beginner's priority is to learn kite handling |
| Finally, a foil trainer does not require the use of a | | | | basics, and to master the introductory skills required to |
| harness like an inflatable one does. In order to use an | | | | fly larger kites. Starting on a more fragile, difficult to fly, |
| inflatable properly, including its safety system, a | | | | and potentially frustrating kite is not the best way to |
| kiteboarding harness must be used. Buying one adds | | | | achieve this goal! |
| an extra $50-$100 on top of the price of the kite. | | | | Starting with an uncomplicated and durable kite will |
| These three differences can drive the price of an | | | | save you money, and will help to develop your skills |
| inflatable trainer kite to more than double that of a foil. | | | | faster than otherwise. After all, a rookie jet-fighter pilot |
| - Foils are more durable. | | | | does not learn to fly a fighter plane on a |
| Foil kites are very durable. Their construction is simple | | | | smaller-but-just-as-complicated version of that plane. |
| and easy to reinforce, making them very hardy kites. In | | | | Instead he starts on a simple aircraft, one that might |
| addition, their open cell design allows air to escape | | | | not remotely resemble an advanced fighter, but one |
| when the kite is crashed, preventing a surge of | | | | that still teaches the fundamentals that he needs to |
| pressure from damaging it. | | | | know before upgrading to more complicated aircraft. |
| Inflatable kites, on the other hand, have a delicate air | | | | Learning to kiteboard is no different, which is why I |
| bladder that must be pumped up to give the kite its | | | | suggest that you start with a foil trainer kite. |