Yer Yer Here we go again I am a small package only 1/4 six pack 60kgs and wanting to know from people of same weight what do you use as a light wind . I thought of a 14meter . I am looking for as low as 8-12 kn range so a 3 strut light weight kite would be what iam after . So sick off sining an 11meter all the time in 11kn wanting some thing easer .
There is a plan behind my madness if I get a LW kite the wind will blow more than 12kns cause I got a LW kite . If it don't I will still be out there . A 17 meter zefer will not cut it for me as that will be to big .

All Jokes aside is there anything out there that suits as light people .

Just got the latest "Kite World" good reviews on big dog kites, bigger than your needs but these kites are pushing some crazy light winds.
Like you wanted a action in 10 - 15 wind range.
Just bought a 14m 2014 griffin TRX had one session in 12'ish knts last weekend. Got no link to griffin but does the job for good dollars.
Previous big dog kite is my BWS 10m which is still a great kite but just needs a bit more blow.
Depends on your budget but I don't think any 2013 / 2014 kites are bad.
The only thing that's bad is 8knts and small surf.

What Do you want to do in those winds. 8 to 12 even at your weight I'd still go a 17m hey. What board you using??
What type of winds? I may change that middle statement once I find out this info. What you of kite do you have now as well?

Then I can give you my two bobs worth.

Ok then!! smallish waves 1-2 ft max manly cutting the grass and exploring . Board is 138 x42 crazy fly with no concave in it or cardboard wave 150x 40 . At the moment 2012 cab switchblade 11 meter has been good but not enough for the light stuff .Can get going 10-11 kns with a lot of work and we are getting way too much of this light wind not to take advantage of it . Also was looking at a sector 50 but I do need a kite that will fly and launch at the low wind area . Was look at the griffin and tested one but not sure now what it was but found it not better than what I had it was to say anything was worst even in the better wind .I think it was an argo so I am not putting the griffin down just yet .

I'm a bigger guy at 95kg but I recently picked up a 17m core xr2.

I have had mates smaller than me try it out and the thing that impresses me the most about this kite is the wind range on it.

I can ride it with a 134x40 twin tip in anything from 10kts right up to 20kts (that gets a bit scary)

But the depower on it is excellent and it you can either make it pull like a truck or float like a bird.....

Not everyone is a fan of the bar system, but I can say for sure that this is one of my most favorite kites that I have owned.

Maybe look for a 15m or smaller if you are worried about the size.

I would check them out though.

Weighing in at 60 kgs I don't think I would go down the 17m track, I'd stick to a 13-14 sqm ,the TRX is a totally diff kite to the Argo,the 14 would prob suit you well it's a great all rounder ,surf/freestyle and very well priced,combined with one of your bigger boards it should do the job nicely.

Yeh the TRX would be worth looking into I agree, but I'd still look at the 17m. He's talking about 8 to 12 knots Radman...remember that. And in Boots!

8 knots has 4 times less power than 16 knots...Power the square of the difference.

It's not a linear relationship. he needs a 17m.

Should be over that way soon looking at whales with the youngsters, can bring the Epic Infinity V3 if you're interested in trying.

Select to expand quote

eppo said..

Yeh the TRX would be worth looking into I agree, but I'd still look at the 17m. He's talking about 8 to 12 knots Radman...remember that. And in Boots!

8 knots has 4 times less power than 16 knots...Power the square of the difference.

It's not a linear relationship. he needs a 17m.

He's 60 kg Eppo fark me I'm over 1 1/2 times his body weight, it makes a huge difference for his weight a 3 strut lightweight kite should rock with the board combo's he has.

Boots?

...Yeh you may be right...Still.....ha ha

yep I don't know now to eppo a 17 is big bloody big I think if it got up to 12 kn my little ass will be over the place and I mean liteurly lituraly arr f it you now what I mean . I don't wear boots just the big slip on thongs for me . I forgot that iam very good at the lite wind kiting can hold ground and track up wind as low as 10-11 kns in fact if I hold my kite upside down and it floats in my hand I can kite but it takes a lot of work making apparent wind with the sining .Thanks for the reply's hope to get to sunshine coast in a couple of weeks will organise a trx .watch it blow its ass off a win win for all if it dose

don't be offended though eppo I love your reviews and your import into this is taken onboard cause you cut though the crap and give honest answers with no bull . ps are some of the kite companies paying you if not they bloody should .

I'm Brisbane based now newly returned from working a couple of years in god's country WA.
Never needed a 14m before.
Your welcome to give my TRX14m a go dont know all the Qld kite spots.
Gets worse now its weekends only but let me know.

I'd add a 12m 2013 Ozone Catalyst to your list. I'm 78kg and run a 10m Catalyst as my biggest kite (yes, Melbourne tends to be windy or dead - not so many marginal days like Qld).

The Cats are very light, super punchy, relaunch and drift superbly, and although only a metre bigger than your switchy, it will have significantly more static pull and give much more drive on the upstroke of any sining (being lighter and more efficient) as well as needing much less bar input to turn.

Try a 14m too, sure, but at 60kg I reckon you'll be well impressed by the 12m. As others may have said, skill and board choice play a huge part in the low-end equation too.

Select to expand quote

suface2air said..

don't be offended though eppo I love your reviews and your import into this is taken onboard cause you cut though the crap and give honest answers with no bull . ps are some of the kite companies paying you if not they bloody should .

No mate I don't get any kickbacks, just see it as my contribution to the community that's all. I'm passionate about the sport as well, still after all these years. Know a lot of guys who are jaded about it now (started when I did) and I just don't get that hey.

Yeh djodjo is right the cat 14m (not 12) is worth a go. I keep going back to the point you want something for 8 to 12 knots. On your normal TT's which are inefficient at the best of times there is F ALL power over that wing in those conditions no matter how light you are. As i said you can't scale down from your normal kite and go, well it's 5 knots lower so I need such and such a size. The power drops to the square difference of the velocity of the wind.

Ride some kites and let us know.

Of course all this changes if you get a light wind efficient board, then the whole advice would change.

Let us know whose right!!! Ha ha LOL..but make sure it is 8 to 12 knots, don't cheat now...

ps try and fly a 14m cat and a 14m trx back to back that would be really useful info...

For 8-12 knots go big. I agree with eppo 17m!!!..... Sure your a small dude. But 8-12 knots is Sweet F all wind. You need POWER in light wind to have fun.

Plus I don't think there's a real big difference in top end from the 17 zep to the 14m 3 strut kites.

At my local beach the 17m zep and 14m kites are out in the same wind range.

Now if you want to go past 15 knots at 60kg's on a 17m you may have problems..... well same goes for a 14m.

PS wouldn't you want to be well powered and motoring in those light winds? Do it.

Ok so might have too check out the 17meters of kite (just sounds so big and scary) . Tell me one thing the shear weight of a 17 meter vers a 14 must be heaver or dose the extra weight is stuff all for the extra GRUNT that comes into play . Just a thought .

Which one of the big kite steers the fastest . What I have found that I have a swichey 11 not to bad (doped up bumbly bee)a 6 meter ocean rodeo rise that is like a wasp zipping around and an old dna 4 meter and it is like a wasp on steroids after you wacked the crap out of its nest . So with this in mind what are the new big kites like for there steering reponse (like a turtle on weed ) slow or not to bad I suppose it dose not matter that much because of its size they must be more like park and ride with out sining . Your thoughts or views Thanks Sam

If you want something a bit smaller you can go for a Naish fly (15m) or a Liquid Force NRG light breeze, i like the Fat lady best out of the three as its so much lighter in weight than anything else out there and still fast turning.

Select to expand quote

AllianceGear said..

If you want something a bit smaller you can go for a Naish fly (15m) or a Liquid Force NRG light breeze, i like the Fat lady best out of the three as its so much lighter in weight than anything else out there and still fast turning.

How heavy is the fat lady.

Select to expand quote

suface2air said..

Ok so might have too check out the 17meters of kite (just sounds so big and scary) . Tell me one thing the shear weight of a 17 meter vers a 14 must be heaver or dose the extra weight is stuff all for the extra GRUNT that comes into play . Just a thought .

Which one of the big kite steers the fastest . What I have found that I have a swichey 11 not to bad (doped up bumbly bee)a 6 meter ocean rodeo rise that is like a wasp zipping around and an old dna 4 meter and it is like a wasp on steroids after you wacked the crap out of its nest . So with this in mind what are the new big kites like for there steering reponse (like a turtle on weed ) slow or not to bad I suppose it dose not matter that much because of its size they must be more like park and ride with out sining . Your thoughts or views Thanks Sam

Well only a demo will tell ya that. You adjust accordingly. Try them all if ya can. Fat lady good man to. Fast turning, but too low aspect for me, light winds need some efficient built into the wing. You gotta find ya own poison man as each kite suites each rider and we will only give our opinions from that point of view, like I just did . Take ya time man you will find it.

Next crew will be chucking them all at ya. Infinity, big mamma,zeekos, Dynos, VXRs, even the cloud crew might chip in, then the 13/14m crew will be at ya...lithuims, renegades, rebels, gastras, VXs the list goes on and on.


Find out at first if a 14m will cut it. Try a 17m...doesn't matter really to a point. Then seriously think about what style you are after in those winds. Then email all the crew that fly kites (including on the forum and the ukkiteboarder sites) and ask them specific questions about each kite. Match them up with the reviews. Narrow and down then demo your little ass off.

You can't really tell by reading this forum, you gotta try.

Then while you are at it, also consider your board section. Personally I'd look for an efficient board in anything under 12, cause there is fck all power in those winds don't matter how small you are. You want to maximise efficient while staying true to your style.

We have tried a lot of light wind kites and the race kites are def good used with fast boards/race boards.

However, for the TT riders the racekites dont work as good because you have to build up speed to get their full potential.

Delta shape kites are still the most grunty kites i think.

I have a new light wind favourite. The Royal XTERA 15m- kite is super light, quick for a 15m and so powerful.

check it out:
http://www.royalkiteboarding.com/kites/xtera-2013


we have a 2014 demo 15m and id be keen to have some people try it and give some feedback. if you keen to try/demo send me a PM and we make it happening.

cheers

I was out at south Trigg a couple of weeks ago with a dude on a 21m fly surfer self inflating thingy. Now man, THAT was a beasty. Made my tidily little zephyr 17 look very manageable! I helped him land it, and looked more like a para glider than a kite. He was going really well on it in maybe 10 to 12 knots of wind. Reckon you should test one Eppo!

Select to expand quote

djdojo said..

I'd add a 12m 2013 Ozone Catalyst to your list. I'm 78kg and run a 10m Catalyst as my biggest kite (yes, Melbourne tends to be windy or dead - not so many marginal days like Qld).

The Cats are very light, super punchy, relaunch and drift superbly, and although only a metre bigger than your switchy, it will have significantly more static pull and give much more drive on the upstroke of any sining (being lighter and more efficient) as well as needing much less bar input to turn.

Try a 14m too, sure, but at 60kg I reckon you'll be well impressed by the 12m. As others may have said, skill and board choice play a huge part in the low-end equation too.

errr on the side of awesome and go the 14M cat...

better to have too much of a good thing when you're looking for it

than wish you had a bit more..

plus the cat has great range

Fck that!!

Those xtera look a nice profile actually.

Select to expand quote

eppo said..

Fck that!!

Those xtera look a nice profile actually.

I googled xtera and came up with a network comms company and a Nissan 4wd! What are you on about mate?

Select to expand quote

theDoctor said..

errr on the side of awesome and go the 14M cat...
better to have too much of a good thing when you're looking for it
than wish you had a bit more..plus the cat has great range

...yeah eppo, errr on the side of awsome and go the 14m cat dude!!!

Doesntatter what weight you are in 8 to 10 knts the simply isn't enough wind to drive the kite to make it dynamic, sure you'll get a ride on a specific board but that's about it, you'll simply not have enough wind passing through the kite

Agreed cauncy but of he has any chance its on a 17m.

puertz ya sht stirrer. Lol!

Select to expand quote

eppo said..

puetz ya sht stirrer.

Lol!

... your cat is my draft,,, just not one's cup of tea ehy!!!!

Junior kiter less than 60 klg has used my 16m NORTH DYNO and rips on Sb and TT So still try 17m Zep or other big kites

I'm 65 kg and with a 17 zeph after getting the hang of it never looked back