Are you asking for a 'technical' answer, or a 'how to handle my wife' answer?

For the latter, I'd go the kite, probably costs twice that of a board, gives you a fall back position back to the cheaper board if the kite doesn't fly with the missus. Plus if you get either now, then want to get the other later it's probably a better position to fight from.

Disclaimer: I'm 36 and never married, so don't take wifey advice from me. There are others here that have to beg their missus for new gear that can offer better, informed advice

You will get more out of a big board (+160 cm) or a surfboard than a 13m or 14m kite (which is what you would match to your 10.5m). Old big twintips are cheap as are old large surfboards ie +6'5''. Couple of hundred will get you there.

Although kiting is almost the cheapest sport I have done (other than running) especially considering how much bang you get for you buck and time on water (esp in WA).

You know you get $ for submitting to medical experiments.....(why don't you volunteer the misses).

Im 95 kgs too, my biggest kite is a 10m and the twinny I ride is 138 x 41. 16- 19 knots is easily coverd with what you got, maybe 14m if you are struggling to get going.

A surf board will only work if its flat in the tail otherwise the twinny will start earlier

As a related issue to this post, for 10 years companies have been saying that 'this' year their big light wind 17m kites work!

I don't think I have ever heard anyone who is not shop/brand connected confirm this.

Love to hear from any independents that i am just out of touch. In addition to this, if anyone can then ride a proper wave without outrunning the kite in (say) 12-13 knots, I reckon that kite would win a lot of friends.

My biggest kite is an 11m, and if I can't get out on it with a surfboard, i don't think it is worth kiting.

Make me a believer!

In the not too distant future , I feel the misuss is going to give me a dreaded ultimatum ..... "its either me or King George"..... I take this board out more than her. Trouble is , she's not aware I'm having a threesome. I'm also having an affair with a 2013 Zephyr. This combination has become an addiction. At 94kg I've got them both in the water from 12knts right through to 22knts. I also have a 12m , a little bit neglected these days, which combines well the King George from 15 knts. Depending on the $$$ you have available I would either trade in the 10m for a 12m. Or, keep the 10m for 20+ knots & trade your missus in for the Zephyr. Either way, you first need to consider investing in a Shinn King George 150 x 50. This I'm sure can be road tested at KSS, Scarborough . Although please note, once you've made the commitment you may also need to consider marriage counseling.

Hey.
I was in the same position as you last year in kg and wanting to get out in lighter winds with a TT. After HEAPS of research and demo'ing I went with the 17m Core LWXR and loving it.
You need the grunt of the 17m. Don't waste ya time with anything under that. I was really surprised by the wind range all the way up to 25kn. But struggle now a bit at that as I lost 10kg. Still ok up to low 20's tho.

Low end is what I bought it for and it was the standout model for me.

Out of the 17m kites I tested, to me it felt the most grunty and easy to fly in the light stuff. By that I mean very responsive to bar input so turns really well and has the park n ride power. 2 things that make this Kite fun and easy to fly. The zephyr was a close second but riding them back to back didn't have the low end of the core. Bar pressure was a bit less tho on the ozone.

One of the other demo days I had a spleene door and not losing ground in 8kn but found that board very lazy and boring to ride. Since then I have got a cab plasma and find I can ride that in sub 10kn now I'm getting a bit better technique and it's much more fun to ride. Hard to beat the door for real low end tho.

Well that was the 2011 model gear but now there are others for you to test like fatlady and the new ozones. But if your after a second hand Kite. Go the Core for sure.

Kitch

Def go for a big kite not a big board,I'm 95 kg and ride my 133x42 board in anything from 10 knots with my big kite,way more fun to have grunt in 12-18 on a small board than be working the crap out of a small kite while plodding along on a big assed board,yea it's def gonna be cheaper to get a big board but it's not the right call for your weight you just won't gain enough.

radman4 said...
Def go for a big kite not a big board,I'm 95 kg and ride my 133x42 board in anything from 10 knots with my big kite,way more fun to have grunt in 12-18 on a small board than be working the crap out of a small kite while plodding along on a big assed board,yea it's def gonna be cheaper to get a big board but it's not the right call for your weight you just won't gain enough.

Yeh honestly, I agree with radman here...Plod or be powered that's the choice.

kiter77 said...
Any of you guys using the Core 17lw tried using the 3m extensions that come with it? Is there much bottom end advantage using them or does it slow the kite down to much?

Just started using them.
I think there is a bit better low end as it stays in the power zone longer.
3 meters isn't that much in the scheme of things, but did make the difference on a real light day. Kept riding for another 2 hours instead of going home. So I'm keeping them on.

KEAW YED said...
Thanks for the advice guys, looks like it may be a new kite - even though I am not to sure about a 17m monster
I think I will need to wait for the 16 - 20 knot days and demo a few kites and boards to see what works.

Don't think 16-20kn are the right conditions for demo big kites. Any 17m will feel grunty and relaunch very easy
You want to try 10-12kn to really see the benefits of how the kite handles in the lighter stuff. You will also get lulls under 10kn and it's good to know you can get it back up flying.
Different brand of the new 17m I demoed just wanted to back stall and was an absolute pig to turn and relaunch in under 12kn but flied ok in 16kn.

Don't be at all worried about the 17m size. There is nothing scary or dangerous feeling about flying it until into mid 20's, but even then you can depower and edge hard, get back in and change over to your 10 or 12m.
Kitch