I have this question in the front of my mind about kite size - and what to choose!!
Recently Ive got up and going on a Zeeko bullet wth a carver front wing - and loving the silence but do have a few touchdowns along the ways so height control is still an issue !!

I started out using my 14m bandit in around 12 to 15 knots but have found I had too much power - so now have used my 11m in the same conditions and it works well but in the gusts Im pushing the bar away. For some reason on my starbaord tack the speed just gets out of control (for me!!) but I think Ive worked out its a kite power and board angle thing??

So my question is - as Im comfortable now on an 11m where as before I THOUGHT I needed a 14 m - if I add 4 m line extensions to my 9 m Bandit 7 kite - will this be better in that 10 to 15 knot wind - or am I dreaming ?

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Lambie said..
I have this question in the front of my mind about kite size - and what to choose!!
Recently Ive got up and going on a Zeeko bullet wth a carver front wing - and loving the silence but do have a few touchdowns along the ways so height control is still an issue !!

I started out using my 14m bandit in around 12 to 15 knots but have found I had too much power - so now have used my 11m in the same conditions and it works well but in the gusts Im pushing the bar away. For some reason on my starbaord tack the speed just gets out of control (for me!!) but I think Ive worked out its a kite power and board angle thing??

So my question is - as Im comfortable now on an 11m where as before I THOUGHT I needed a 14 m - if I add 4 m line extensions to my 9 m Bandit 7 kite - will this be better in that 10 to 15 knot wind - or am I dreaming ?

If the kite stays in air and relaunches in 10 - 15 knts your gold. If it doesnt you need a kite that does.

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Lambie said..
I have this question in the front of my mind about kite size - and what to choose!!
Recently Ive got up and going on a Zeeko bullet wth a carver front wing - and loving the silence but do have a few touchdowns along the ways so height control is still an issue !!

I started out using my 14m bandit in around 12 to 15 knots but have found I had too much power - so now have used my 11m in the same conditions and it works well but in the gusts Im pushing the bar away. For some reason on my starbaord tack the speed just gets out of control (for me!!) but I think Ive worked out its a kite power and board angle thing??

So my question is - as Im comfortable now on an 11m where as before I THOUGHT I needed a 14 m - if I add 4 m line extensions to my 9 m Bandit 7 kite - will this be better in that 10 to 15 knot wind - or am I dreaming ?

A 9m Ozone Catalyst is my largest kite for foiling. 10 - 15kts is the range it feels good for me at 80kg. As a foiling newbie you may want a 10 or 11m for that range depending on your weight and kite flying skills. A LITTLE excess power is ok when learning, but as you've probably discovered, a 14m in 12-15 can soon become a runaway train when foiling.

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Lambie said..

So my question is - as Im comfortable now on an 11m where as before I THOUGHT I needed a 14 m - if I add 4 m line extensions to my 9 m Bandit 7 kite - will this be better in that 10 to 15 knot wind - or am I dreaming ?

Try it .... my standard line length is 20m on my kites, but I often prefer to go down a kite size and up my line length if I know the wind is going to increase or it's a bit gusty. The extra line length gives me longer moments of power when I need it for launches or sining.

My lines lengths are 20m, 27m and 32m ....... quite astounding the difference it makes. You will need to adjust the timings of your turns etc, because of the extra travel of the kite.

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Lambie said..
I have this question in the front of my mind about kite size - and what to choose!!
Recently Ive got up and going on a Zeeko bullet wth a carver front wing - and loving the silence but do have a few touchdowns along the ways so height control is still an issue !!

I started out using my 14m bandit in around 12 to 15 knots but have found I had too much power - so now have used my 11m in the same conditions and it works well but in the gusts Im pushing the bar away. For some reason on my starbaord tack the speed just gets out of control (for me!!) but I think Ive worked out its a kite power and board angle thing??

So my question is - as Im comfortable now on an 11m where as before I THOUGHT I needed a 14 m - if I add 4 m line extensions to my 9 m Bandit 7 kite - will this be better in that 10 to 15 knot wind - or am I dreaming ?

Try bro, and then you know.

9m without line extensions will be fine. After a while you will be able to hold power. But for now rig small.

Remember different things work for each of us.
I always used 20m lines for strapless surfboard but this just did not work anywhere as well for me with foiling.
I now use 27m lines for kites upto 10m. Mostly 6.2 and 4.8m kites.
However I can believe at times down to 20m for 10m plus kite for better response could work for me.

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warwickl said..
Remember different things work for each of us.
I always used 20m lines for strapless surfboard but this just did not work anywhere as well for me with foiling.
I now use 27m lines for kites upto 10m. Mostly 6.2 and 4.8m kites.
However I can believe at times down to 20m for 10m plus kite for better response could work for me.

Interesting . . . I used to use around 26m lines on those same kites but have settled on 23m even on the 8m.

Used to choose longer lines if wind was lighter end of wind range and 21m when stronger but timing takes short while to adjust to so for a while now have been using just 23m lines all the time and find it a good compromise.