for the record ... I am in the process of learning kitesurfing and it is an absolute BLAST! One caviat: it is dangerous. No playing around; please if you consider buying one and "winging it" ... spend the dollars and take a lesson from a professional ... I know that you think it is not applicable to learn to "ski / surf" as "I will be using this on a boat". Just to get used to the dangers and power of this extremely large beast ... take a lesson and save a live (your own and/or a bystander). These kites, inflateables or foils can dive at 35+ mph with 600 lb test lines at anywhere from 10 to 30 meteres (30 m is advised for learning) and can cut of a digit or two before you know it is looped around something. The flip side to the danger is the raw power when you dive it into the power zone. As someone above stated ... start small to figure it out. Several manufacurers make smaller foil versions to learn (but still very powerful) from around 1 square meter to about 5 square meters ... NOTE these "smaller" kites still pack a wallop and I would recommend just "tea bagging" or dragging around in water to learn. Take a lesson and try it out ... Very addicting and gives a new level to light air fun ... instead of plodding around in 8 to 10 mph .. you can plane / gybe / jump in same wind.

My 2 cents, Mac