Hi Guys, I've recently finished my ~8h lessons and was around 10 times on the water by myself. With 11m kite and 88kg standing on it I found it really enjoyable riding in around 18knots (middle knot on bridles). I'm struggling in more than 21knots, being overpowered a lot, speeding up, not able to stop, hard to edge to go upwind... And I'm not able to ride in less than (or equal) 15knots. I'm able to get up, in 15knots I would be able to stay on the water (downwind only) and constantly going up and down with the kite with no option to park it and sinking down.
Would you be able to recommend me kite's size for light winds? 10 to 15knots. Thank yooou.

I personally like 11m and 17m kite sizes for east coast winds. But others will have different views.

I run a quiver of 15, 10 and 7m works well.

@dave - How heavy are you and when are you using the 17m one? I'm bit worried that it's just too big for e.g 15knots 17gusts, or not?
@kemp - Same question for the 15m one. I'm guessing it would fit me from 12knots to 16?

Thanks guys

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GarySs said...
Hi Guys, I've recently finished my ~8h lessons and was around 10 times on the water by myself. With 11m kite and 88kg standing on it I found it really enjoyable riding in around 18knots (middle knot on bridles). I'm struggling in more than 21knots, being overpowered a lot, speeding up, not able to stop, hard to edge to go upwind... And I'm not able to ride in less than (or equal) 15knots. I'm able to get up, in 15knots I would be able to stay on the water (downwind only) and constantly going up and down with the kite with no option to park it and sinking down.
Would you be able to recommend me kite's size for light winds? 10 to 15knots. Thank yooou.

Board size is highly important
I'm at 83 kg a 135 board
At 10 knts as a beginner you'll struggle, not being critical just the norm,
Throw in the relaunch factor
And you'll be posting in the lost section
It's natural to be chomping at the bit in any wind ,
Now 13 to 15knts is 17mtr zephyr or brand similar, nice constant pull , good relaunch and general ease of use,
You could go smaller kite bigger board
But from my past exsperience I've always wanted a bigger kite than board

what size board do you have?
at 20kn your 11m will just be starting to get fun and into its windrange. you should be able to ride in 28kn and handle gusts over 30 once you learn to edge correctly.
it starts with good posture, by pushing your hips to the sky as you lean back. this will let you edge way harder and at the same time you can relax and save energy.

you wont have any problems on a 17m. just get guidance from the locals for suitable days and learn to edge well. it will help you get through the gusts. Actually to put it into a perspective. 21kn will be your new top end for the 17m

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UNcleHooked said...
what size board do you have?
at 20kn your 11m will just be starting to get fun and into its windrange. you should be able to ride in 28kn and handle gusts over 30 once you learn to edge correctly.
it starts with good posture, by pushing your hips to the sky as you lean back. this will let you edge way harder and at the same time you can relax and save energy.

you wont have any problems on a 17m. just get guidance from the locals for suitable days and learn to edge well. it will help you get through the gusts. Actually to put it into a perspective. 21kn will be your new top end for the 17m

Anyone with a good kiting background would tell you
BUY A NEW AENOMETER

My advice to anyone these days looking at building their first quiver is to spend the time and money investing in boards rather than kites. A good quiver of boards will easily add an additional 3 knots to the low end and 5 knots to the high end of any kite therefore meaning you can have a lot less kites in your quiver to cover the wind range which means a lot less bad decisions due to too much kite choice.(BTW I am 110kg rider.)

I have three very different boards with different characteristics but allows me to extend the range on all of my kites. Total cost of all three boards new are the same cost of a new 14m kite and bar but would allow you to have a three kite quiver rather than a 5 kite quiver. Good ROI IMO.

For example I would never have considered pulling my 14m kite out in anything less that 16knots but with my 150x55 I can get upwind on my 14m in 13-14 knots with the small board I can then generally hold that kite to 25knots if I choose to. As the wind picks up I just kite back into the beach and change boards it takes no less than 30sec to be back out on the water. If the winds at 18knots when I rock up at the beach I can pull my 12m out and kite on it to about 28knots with the same quiver of boards.

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GarySs said...
@dave - How heavy are you and when are you using the 17m one? I'm bit worried that it's just too big for e.g 15knots 17gusts, or not?
@kemp - Same question for the 15m one. I'm guessing it would fit me from 12knots to 16?

Thanks guys

I ride a best TS 15. It's an awsome kite for most sort of riding.
At 78kg with a heavy/ slow board I'm having fun at 13/14 knots and not over powered till about 20knots.
If you had a lightwind board you would get sub 10knots.
Iv got last years model for sale at $1000.

Thanks for your comments guys. I've got 144 x 43cm cabrinha board, what does it mean then? Board's size is ok? Not sure now.

As others have said. Its not the kite that's limiting you above 21 knots. Its a combo of the board is too big and you don't yet have the skill.

So look at a 135 x 42 ish board for 18+knots.

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cauncy said..

UNcleHooked said...
what size board do you have?
at 20kn your 11m will just be starting to get fun and into its windrange. you should be able to ride in 28kn and handle gusts over 30 once you learn to edge correctly.
it starts with good posture, by pushing your hips to the sky as you lean back. this will let you edge way harder and at the same time you can relax and save energy.

you wont have any problems on a 17m. just get guidance from the locals for suitable days and learn to edge well. it will help you get through the gusts. Actually to put it into a perspective. 21kn will be your new top end for the 17m

Anyone with a good kiting background would tell you
BUY A NEW AENOMETER

I have been around since 2006

Probably a bit early to start switching kites , if you are getting over powered on a 11m in 21+ knots (assuming you have de powered the kite) you are probably doing the poo-man with your butt hanging out and loosing your edge. You will need the bigger kite & board to help you get up but as you get better this changes quickly. Smaller boards and kites make it heaps easier to make ground. Do a bit more time on your 11m and get your arse in and shoulders back. It really changes everything.