For those on this forum who thinks it too macho to kite in lightwind then no need to respond.

For those of us who enjoy getting out on the water in light wind I thought I would start a post to poll what peoples favorite light wind combo of kite and board are for lightwind.

I am 110kg and my favorite combo is my 2014 Zephyr and Shinn King Gee 150x55 board. I can do most free ride tricks on this kite I can do on a smaller kite. I can get out in 12knots and kite with this Combo up to about 17 knots. At 14 knots I am pretty powered and can do pretty much anything I can on a smaller kite.

I also really enjoy my Zephyr and Airush Choptop 5'8" board when I feel like dumping the twin tip and cruising on a directional.

What's your favorite light wind combo?

For super light wind I use a best ts 15m with a skin board, can get out in 10knots. Get have fun in 12knots with a wakestyle board.

I actually enjoy lightwind kiting.

A bowl of nuts and a Belgian beer

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cauncy said..
A bowl of nuts and a Belgian beer

I did hear you like liking salty nuts cauncy

2 years ago it was a Flysurfer Speed 2 15, then a speed 3 21 with a 170/50 door. Now I'm riding foil boards with kites between 12-15m. I honestly prefer glassy, <15 knot conditions.

Shinnster and 10m Ozone Reo.

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kitebt said..
For those on this forum who thinks it too macho to kite in lightwind then no need to respond.

For those of us who enjoy getting out on the water in light wind I thought I would start a post to poll what peoples favorite light wind combo of kite and board are for lightwind.

I am 110kg and my favorite combo is my 2014 Zephyr and Shinn King Gee 150x55 board. I can do most free ride tricks on this kite I can do on a smaller kite. I can get out in 12knots and kite with this Combo up to about 17 knots. At 14 knots I am pretty powered and can do pretty much anything I can on a smaller kite.

I also really enjoy my Zephyr and Airush Choptop 5'8" board when I feel like dumping the twin tip and cruising on a directional.

What's your favorite light wind combo?

Peter Lynn Synergy 19m, 20m lines and with 146cm homemade board (very little rocker). This is really a great setup and I can get going in 5 to 8 knots. I am overpowered in 12 - 15knots.

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KIT33R said...
Shinnster and 10m Ozone Reo.

Actually just picked one up from action sports,
A quick reacting kite with medium to low lift was my thinking
Sounds a great combo for a shoreline shore break dwinder
Havnt set my pads yet
I'm thinking heel pad front and rear for purchase or aggressive turns and middle section
Bit different but it'd surely allow for more powered carves?

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loftywinds2 said..

kitebt said..
For those on this forum who thinks it too macho to kite in lightwind then no need to respond.

For those of us who enjoy getting out on the water in light wind I thought I would start a post to poll what peoples favorite light wind combo of kite and board are for lightwind.

I am 110kg and my favorite combo is my 2014 Zephyr and Shinn King Gee 150x55 board. I can do most free ride tricks on this kite I can do on a smaller kite. I can get out in 12knots and kite with this Combo up to about 17 knots. At 14 knots I am pretty powered and can do pretty much anything I can on a smaller kite.

I also really enjoy my Zephyr and Airush Choptop 5'8" board when I feel like dumping the twin tip and cruising on a directional.

What's your favorite light wind combo?

Peter Lynn Synergy 19m, 20m lines and with 146cm homemade board (very little rocker). This is really a great setup and I can get going in 5 to 8 knots. I am overpowered in 12 - 15knots.

Thats pretty short lines for a light wind kite?

18m Chrono/17m Cloud + Liquid Force Foilfish ..... 7/8 knots
18m Chrono/17m Cloud + skim board ...... 9/10 knots
18m Chrono/17m Cloud + 23 inch wide surfboard ...... 9/10 knots

I do like light wind kiting. Very peaceful and not a lot of traffic.

2016 Zephyr and my 2009 North Ginzales 150x42.
Gets me out in 12-13kn.

I actually really enjoy the light days. Usually only one out, peaceful and cruising.

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cauncy said...
A bowl of nuts and a Belgian beer

A pint and a plate of nachos

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cauncy said..

KIT33R said...
Shinnster and 10m Ozone Reo.

Actually just picked one up from action sports,
A quick reacting kite with medium to low lift was my thinking
Sounds a great combo for a shoreline shore break dwinder
Havnt set my pads yet
I'm thinking heel pad front and rear for purchase or aggressive turns and middle section
Bit different but it'd surely allow for more powered carves?

Heel pads sound like a good idea. I put on a full length deck pad (Supwarehouse) before the Shinnster pads were available. Definitely better than wax.

Zephyr and North Spike 153x46cm

100kg in 10-20knots.

I like a consistent light wind, the water is flat, no whitecaps so you can go fast and still boost.

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cauncy said...
A bowl of nuts and a Belgian beer

One for the purists


How would a foil board go as a table to enjoy my fave beer
As a super lightwind option

Solo 15.5 meter with a 9 feet mailbu surfboard from7 knots.

12m chrono.

5-15 knots kite buggy
10-18 knots landboard
10-18 knots 145x45 TT. If I switch from TT to mutant I can increase that top end to 22 knots.

Most fun in the light wind is 15 -16 knots on the landboard. some crazy ass glides with pillowy soft landings.

Here is a light wind idea I have been pondering:

- What is better for riding in as low wind as possible (assume equal sizes); a 5 strut, 'freeride', high-ish aspect ratio (such as switchblade, edge, rebel, etc), or a 3 struct surf kite (eg drifter, neo, reo, etc). Given that the surf kite should turn faster (can work the kite through the window faster to generate speed), stay afloat better through the lulls, BUT is less efficient as a wing because it isnt as rigid like the 5 struct will?

What do you think?

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CJ2478 said...
Here is a light wind idea I have been pondering:

- What is better for riding in as low wind as possible (assume equal sizes); a 5 strut, 'freeride', high-ish aspect ratio (such as switchblade, edge, rebel, etc), or a 3 struct surf kite (eg drifter, neo, reo, etc). Given that the surf kite should turn faster (can work the kite through the window faster to generate speed), stay afloat better through the lulls, BUT is less efficient as a wing because it isnt as rigid like the 5 struct will?

What do you think?

Both on said size and board
But one would require double the input ,
Apparent wind
Did a big dwinder in very light winds on a 11 mtr Vegas approx 1 month ago, had to fly the day lights out of it , but it worked , only kite to the end inc a wave and freeride kite, the speed of kite was a big factor especially on inward tacks with a pushing swell something a high aspect kite doesn't like

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kitebt said...
For those on this forum who thinks it too macho to kite in lightwind then no need to respond.

For those of us who enjoy getting out on the water in light wind I thought I would start a post to poll what peoples favorite light wind combo of kite and board are for lightwind.

I am 110kg and my favorite combo is my 2014 Zephyr and Shinn King Gee 150x55 board. I can do most free ride tricks on this kite I can do on a smaller kite. I can get out in 12knots and kite with this Combo up to about 17 knots. At 14 knots I am pretty powered and can do pretty much anything I can on a smaller kite.

I also really enjoy my Zephyr and Airush Choptop 5'8" board when I feel like dumping the twin tip and cruising on a directional.

What's your favorite light wind combo?

Im in at 107kgs and use a 2014 zephyr and a underground tahee 152x52 it is almost a copy of the king gee.
In the process of learning on a choptop.5ft 8in.

24m golden 3 with woody valley peak2 :D

20 m Cabrina 2003 and a 16ft sailing cat hull

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CJ2478 said..
Here is a light wind idea I have been pondering:

- What is better for riding in as low wind as possible (assume equal sizes); a 5 strut, 'freeride', high-ish aspect ratio (such as switchblade, edge, rebel, etc), or a 3 struct surf kite (eg drifter, neo, reo, etc). Given that the surf kite should turn faster (can work the kite through the window faster to generate speed), stay afloat better through the lulls, BUT is less efficient as a wing because it isnt as rigid like the 5 struct will?

What do you think?

There is no question the high aspect kite will kick the low aspect kites arse in light wind. No question at all. None.

The higher the projected aspect ratio the better upwind performance. The better upwind performance the better light wind performance.

Then if you want next level light wind performance again you need to step into a high aspect foil. My 12m chrono has superior light wind performance than a 17m zephur!

These new no strut kites seem to tear it up in low wind.

Any truth in this?

After numerous trips to light wind Indo locations and a couple of zephyrs, a 17 Griffin and various boards have settled on an 11 edge and 148x47 Axis Ultra on the flat or 15 Wainman and 6' sb for waves.

Bugger all bottom end difference between the 11 edge and 15 Wainman but the edge is a pig in light wind waves, that's not its thing.

Probably a better 15 than the Wainman available but picked it up for a song and it does the job ok, turns like a 12

I think its also important to note that the board is way way more important than the kite!

Got a cheap epoxy 5'8" fish and a 14m TRX griffin.
makes small surf and a light northerly doable

14 mt Cloud and foil 6 to 8 knots
10 Reo and foil 10 knots

Foiling on calm waters has it's own very special beauty that I am really enjoying, especially when there are no waves around.

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Plummet said..

CJ2478 said..
Here is a light wind idea I have been pondering:

- What is better for riding in as low wind as possible (assume equal sizes); a 5 strut, 'freeride', high-ish aspect ratio (such as switchblade, edge, rebel, etc), or a 3 struct surf kite (eg drifter, neo, reo, etc). Given that the surf kite should turn faster (can work the kite through the window faster to generate speed), stay afloat better through the lulls, BUT is less efficient as a wing because it isnt as rigid like the 5 struct will?

What do you think?

There is no question the high aspect kite will kick the low aspect kites arse in light wind. No question at all. None.

The higher the projected aspect ratio the better upwind performance. The better upwind performance the better light wind performance.

Then if you want next level light wind performance again you need to step into a high aspect foil. My 12m chrono has superior light wind performance than a 17m zephur!

I hear what you say Plummet, but high aspect kites have greater parasitic drag due to the long frontal area and projected surface friction making them slower to turn and hence less able to build apparent wind. So, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that why surf kites will drift because they are more efficient in light wind having a high internal volume. I'm not sure "The better upwind performance - the better light wind performance" equates.

I think the lightness and cross sectional shape of foil kites has a lot to do with their performance.

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Plummet said..
12m chrono.

5-15 knots kite buggy
10-18 knots landboard
10-18 knots 145x45 TT. If I switch from TT to mutant I can increase that top end to 22 knots.

Most fun in the light wind is 15 -16 knots on the landboard. some crazy ass glides with pillowy soft landings.

15-16knots is not considered light winds, more moderate than light.

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KIT33R said..

Plummet said..

CJ2478 said..
Here is a light wind idea I have been pondering:

- What is better for riding in as low wind as possible (assume equal sizes); a 5 strut, 'freeride', high-ish aspect ratio (such as switchblade, edge, rebel, etc), or a 3 struct surf kite (eg drifter, neo, reo, etc). Given that the surf kite should turn faster (can work the kite through the window faster to generate speed), stay afloat better through the lulls, BUT is less efficient as a wing because it isnt as rigid like the 5 struct will?

What do you think?

There is no question the high aspect kite will kick the low aspect kites arse in light wind. No question at all. None.

The higher the projected aspect ratio the better upwind performance. The better upwind performance the better light wind performance.

Then if you want next level light wind performance again you need to step into a high aspect foil. My 12m chrono has superior light wind performance than a 17m zephur!

I hear what you say Plummet, but high aspect kites have greater parasitic drag due to the long frontal area and projected surface friction making them slower to turn and hence less able to build apparent wind. So, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that why surf kites will drift because they are more efficient in light wind having a high internal volume. I'm not sure "The better upwind performance - the better light wind performance" equates.

I think the lightness and cross sectional shape of foil kites has a lot to do with their performance.

Thats exactly what I was thinking. I think the high aaspect kites work better for upwind performance in 'park and ride' mode or when not too much 'working' of the kite is required. In my experience they turn too slow and to get the initial speed that you require in light wind.