Agree with Greg that the Race Series has brought a new and exciting angle to the whole kiting scene - it's social, anyone can do it, and the equipment choice can make a big difference to the performance.
Imho the board is more important than the kite, but having said that you do want certain characteristics in your kite of choice.
The most important leg in the race is the upwind leg, this is where the race is won or lost. So you want a board and kite combo that goes upwind (at speed).
We've discussed general trends relating to your board and what you can do if you don't want to spend on one yet (= buy bigger fins)
Wrt your kite you'll want a kite that is fast through the window, but more importantly, sits far forward. This means it must have a flat canopy profile (from LE to trailing edge). In the Cabrinha range that is the Crossbow, in the Airush range it is the Generator C kite, in the Naish range it is the Torch C and so on - speak to your dealer about which one sits furtherst forward in your prefered brand.
Whether it is bow or C is not that important - there has probably only been about 5 C-kites out of the 70-odd entries and we currently have a Bow in 1st and C in 2nd - what is more important is that your kite sits forward and you are comfortable with what you ride.
I depower my Airush Generators by edging and forcing the kite forward (thats what it is designed to do) and this way I keep pointing higher and higher the more wind there is. This is opposed to letting power out by pushing bar away and thus letting kite drift back in window. Either method works (as has been proven) - as long as your kite is ultimately designed to sit forward.
Its by pure coincidence that the traits I prefer in a wavekite (fast forward flying) are the same that seem to work in course racing
But we're still learning and I hope everyone is having as much of a jol as I am sprinting around the buoys!
Peter Petersen
NAISH SUP Merchant - purveyor of Stand Up Paddle boards from NAISH....
082 658 7033