How should I select my equipment for a trip like this?
Choose equipment that is in very good condition, not more than three years old, and that you are very familiar with. If you have old gear, it’s time to upgrade, but not right before you leave for Brazil! Take the opportunity to get familiar with any new equipment well before your trip so that you’re not sorting out new gear in a new country. Similarly, take the time to do any maintenance or replacement well before your trip. Bring spare parts too — an extra bar, at least one spare kite valve, some line, that sort of thing. Since you are going to a new place and likely kiting farther and longer than you will have in the past, you want your gear to be 100% dependable!