I'm pretty new to kiting but am progressing well; no mishaps, transitioning, starting to jump. I'm 54, 90kgs and have duotone gear; 9m and 11m neo on a big tt 151x44 Gonzales board. I'm thinking of adding a bigger kite for those nearly days, around 14 knots. In the duotones it looks like the juice is the right kite. But for my weight is says for me to get a 17m! I was thinking a 13m. I'm not likely to foil anytime soon as there is so much to learn on a tt. Any suggestions appreciated.

Have a look at the Naish Boxer 12 one strut or similar- heaps more fun than 17m

Surfboard

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Bowerboy said..
I'm pretty new to kiting but am progressing well; no mishaps, transitioning, starting to jump. I'm 54, 90kgs and have duotone gear; 9m and 11m neo on a big tt 151x44 Gonzales board. I'm thinking of adding a bigger kite for those nearly days, around 14 knots. In the duotones it looks like the juice is the right kite. But for my weight is says for me to get a 17m! I was thinking a 13m. I'm not likely to foil anytime soon as there is so much to learn on a tt. Any suggestions appreciated.

There are heaps of days where all the locals where I live get out and have a ball on Ozone Zephyrs some days they are 7-8 of us all on 17m or larger inflatable kites, one local even has a 19M Edge and he gets a lot of use from it he weighs a few kgs less than you.
You've already got the right size board for low wind TT riding, all you need now is an appropriate kite.

Ignore the comments about big kites being boring, and just accept that for those people maybe they are and maybe they are a fair bit younger and have different needs and expectations?

There are a lot of Zephyrs up here, but there's also a couple of Juice, Cab Contra's, Core's and OR Flite kites that will get you out there in sub 15 knots conditions.
For lighter riders 14/15m size kites work with a similar size board. I'm 75kg and have got a 14M Ozone Alpha V1 and Enduro V2 that get a lot of use on surfboards and TT.

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Ozone Kites Aus said..

Bowerboy said..
I'm pretty new to kiting but am progressing well; no mishaps, transitioning, starting to jump. I'm 54, 90kgs and have duotone gear; 9m and 11m neo on a big tt 151x44 Gonzales board. I'm thinking of adding a bigger kite for those nearly days, around 14 knots. In the duotones it looks like the juice is the right kite. But for my weight is says for me to get a 17m! I was thinking a 13m. I'm not likely to foil anytime soon as there is so much to learn on a tt. Any suggestions appreciated.

There are heaps of days where all the locals where I live get out and have a ball on Ozone Zephyrs some days they are 7-8 of us all on 17m or larger inflatable kites, one local even has a 19M Edge and he gets a lot of use from it he weighs a few kgs less than you.
You've already got the right size board for low wind TT riding, all you need now is an appropriate kite.

Ignore the comments about big kites being boring, and just accept that for those people maybe they are and maybe they are a fair bit younger and have different needs and expectations?

There are a lot of Zephyrs up here, but there's also a couple of Juice, Cab Contra's, Core's and OR Flite kites that will get you out there in sub 15 knots conditions.
For lighter riders 14/15m size kites work with a similar size board. I'm 75kg and have got a 14M Ozone Alpha V1 and Enduro V2 that get a lot of use on surfboards and TT.

Yep.. Just listen to the Ozone Distributor tell you how good the Zephyr is.. Ignore any other suggestions. Zephyrs a dinosaur.

Hi Bowerboy,

A 13m kite in 14 knots is a bit too small for a 90kg rider, even on a large-ish Twin tip. I would suggest at least 14m. a 17M kite is not a bad option too, which will cover from 10 to 15 knots and maybe 1-3 knots either side of that with a bit of experience. For most twin tip riders, in sub 15 knots, you will be happy to just be able to ride and go upwind. Big kites are slow and not as much fun regardless of which option you chose, you just have to adjust your expectations. Consider getting a single strut kite which will best for anything sub 15 knots.

The picture below is one of my students (95kg) last week in just 12 knots riding the school's 17m Airush One. It's a beginner friendly light wind kite that costs under $2k brand new. I use it myself for ultra-low wind hydrofoiling 6-9 knots or for cruising around on a TT in 10-15 knots. Does feel a bit overpowered in 15-18 knots but that's when you would start to use the 11m you already have.


hope this helps

Christian

I'm still on my first kite (10M Neo) and barn door board. Maybe it's just my local conditions, but when the wind is too light for my 10, it seems the wind is also unreliable. So I'm wondering if a bigger kite is even worth it. I know something lighter would probably do better when the wind's on the low end, and maybe in combination with a lighter kite, go up a size or two, but would it give me that much more time on the water if the wind's not reliable at low speed? Seems the best it might accomplish is when the foilboarders are still out but the twintips have come in.

Guys, for what it's worth, my Number 1 priority in light wind is relaunchability. There is nothing more frustrating than downing your kite and having to say goodbye to your session because you cannot relaunch it. Also - there is a relationship between kite weight, relaunchability and turning speeds generally in light winds.

I'm the same weight as you, and kite down to about 10-12 kts on a twintip, but seeing as you mentioned you are never going to hydrofoil, I would recommend you get a 1 strut around 13 - 15 size. The one struts tend to have fantastic response for their size in light wind and relaunch . If you want to stick with duotone, then a 13 mono is going to pull significantly harder than an 11 neo , the 15 mono pulls like a freight train, good to get up in next to nothing, but I would probably switch over at that size to something with a higher top end than a 1 strut, like a 15 or 17 in the light material ( new juice ) , or possible the 14.5 meter ocean rodeo Alula Flight ( I haven't ridden these but the weight and reviews seem positive and it flies in the lightest of winds for a tube kite )

If I didn't have an 18 meter Dyno sitting around, I probably would have purchased an A series Flight 17 meter to fly when I couldn't do much on the 12 mono, which is around the 8 - 11 kt range.

Checkout some of these reviews

Sub 15 knots on a TT is an expensive hunt to boredomville.

First you buy monster kite. Thats expensive and slow AF.
Then you realize its still not enough so you buy a barn door board thats just awkward and massive.
You can now mow up and down and punt some tiny jumps on a over slow bus of a kite.
Ultimately its expensive and boring AF.

The actual answer for sub 15 fun is foiling. The thing is you dont need any new kites. Just get a foil board and start learning.
Then when the wind gets to fun TT winds Switch to TT.

Thanks for all your advice, much appreciated. I ended up getting a 2019 17m juice in the Easter sales as all my gear is duotone.I used it at port botany on Friday afternoon when the wind dropped to 14 knots or so. There were only foilers out at this stage and one guy on a tt with a big ozone non inflated kite. I really enjoyed the juice, heaps of power, I had to have it depowered . Obviously very docile, but lots of fun and very easy to use. It went easily upwind and it gave me a fun, fast session that I wouldn't have got with my 11m neo. I am only just learning to jump, and can't do kite loops etc so I can't say what it would be like for an experienced rider, but it seemed to turn and trim very nicely.

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Plummet said..
Sub 15 knots on a TT is an expensive hunt to boredomville.

First you buy monster kite. Thats expensive and slow AF.
Then you realize its still not enough so you buy a barn door board thats just awkward and massive.
You can now mow up and down and punt some tiny jumps on a over slow bus of a kite.
Ultimately its expensive and boring AF.

The actual answer for sub 15 fun is foiling. The thing is you dont need any new kites. Just get a foil board and start learning.
Then when the wind gets to fun TT winds Switch to TT.

Agreed, foils are great fun and are a great challenge in the lighter winds... however some people, for whatever reasons, choose not to foil. Like shallow waters for instance. As the O.P. said he won't be foiling anytime soon, there's little point in saying his TT will be "boring AF". All kiting is great, and only boring if you make it so! Enjoy your new kite Bowerboy!

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Plummet said..
Sub 15 knots on a TT is an expensive hunt to boredomville.

First you buy monster kite. Thats expensive and slow AF.
Then you realize its still not enough so you buy a barn door board thats just awkward and massive.
You can now mow up and down and punt some tiny jumps on a over slow bus of a kite.
Ultimately its expensive and boring AF.

The actual answer for sub 15 fun is foiling. The thing is you dont need any new kites. Just get a foil board and start learning.
Then when the wind gets to fun TT winds Switch to TT.

And foiling your just going for a sunday drive. not a lot of excitement in that

I'd like to foil one day, but for now I'm loving learning twintip!

Can't go wrong with a Juice for your needs. You might however get away with a 15m with your board at your weight. The Duotone description of what kite size to go is a bit confusing in my opinion.

I miss my Naish Raven 16m. Nothing quite like a big high aspect C kite, especially for learning unhooked tricks as they are so slow and grunty. I have an older Zephyr but there is too much of the Edge DNA in it for me and I'm thinking of trying to find something else 15+m with square wingtips, might even go back to a full C... (other kites are Enduros now)

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Bowerboy said..
I'd like to foil one day, but for now I'm loving learning twintip!

If you do get a little bored with your 17m a Ram air kite will likely reinject another level of enjoyment. A good 12 to 15m Flysurfer or Ozone second hand foil kite should be around some where. A lot of kiters are scarred of them without good reason but for lightwind tt'ing they are the best choice in my opinion.
It does take a little learning but it all makes you a better kiter, and more armed for a wider variety of conditions.

Ok, im 61, 100kgs 190cm and kiting for 4 years. My "normal" kites are 10 and 12m switchblades and 145-140 twintip. I love to jump.

Play around with different board sizes on your new big kite, as long as you can build speed and hold an edge you can build energy in the system and jump regardless of kite size. Sometimes i prefer a smaller kite and my door and vice versa.

I dont love my 19m edge and my 17m zephyr but i can twintip and go up wind and jump when only foilers are out. They have saved my butt in Bali and Central America.

Never take anything bigger than a 14 into the surf.

Most of all have fun and remember how lucky you are to be kiting in your 50s!!

I hover around 93kg. Kiting since around 2004. My light wind kite of choice is the Flysurfer Boost 2 15m. It had a trailing edge bridal which helps it float almost as good as a foil kite. Im having a lot of fun on it when people on Zephyrs are mowing the lawn. It really is different.
17m Zephyrs have always been a bit of a dud.
13m edges are good, but you want a bit bigger kite for the super light wind. The the 15-19m edges are a bit too slow turning (latest models could be quicker)
17m Core XR's are powerful and fun
15m Flysurfer Sonic3 are awesome, so much apparent power and speed, but expensive and lots of bridals, can also be a handful landing in strong winds. However you wont stop grinning riding this machine. I would go for the 13m personally
17m Blade are a bit trucky, pulling down wind when overpowered (this narrows your wind range)
The new Juice I hear good things about and will be trying it out in a week or so.
North Mono 15 I have used a fair bit and not overly impressed. It will definitely stay in the air in the lulls and drift well, but that about where the positives stop there for me.

If your looking at the Juice, get the 17m. Having a bigger gap in the bigger kite sizes is OK. Also look at getting a smaller board.
its easier to have a 2nd board down at the water and changing that, instead of blowing another kite up. Plus your legs wont burn when trying to edge harder
These are just my opinions after owning many many kites. So just read into it however you like.
Kitch

Current quiver
2021 4m Peak4
2021 9m Orbit
2020 11m Orbit
2016 15m Boost 2