Hey guys, need a bit of help. I'm looking for a lightwind kite. I'm 95kgs, have a 6m, 10m and 12m. Thought about getting a 17m.
Can anybody tell me something about airush kites in that size?
Lithium? And I heard that the vxr 17m must be pretty nice as well. Have no chance to test them, but I wanna stay with airush.
So if u fly those kites or have any other airush kites that work in lightwind conditions, please help (-:
I'm riding on a twintip, but also looking to get a surfboard. Not really sure what kind of board to get and what size for me? No experience in surfing, but kiting for 3 years now. Thanks for your help guys

If you want really light wind kite look at the Lithium Zero - its the 19m strut less kite. I am 110kg and was out kiting in 7knots on it and was pretty powered. Only problem is you are not going to get the best top end range on it and you are likely to overpowered in 10 knots on it.

The best light wind kite that offers the best wind range is the Ozone Zephyr. At 110kg I can get up and riding in about 12 knots on a surfboard and I am powered enough at 15 knots to jump on my normal twin tip. I can hold the kite to around 21 - 22 knots so the top end is amazing on the kite and allowed me to drop my 14m kite from my quiver so I know go straight from my Zephyr to an 11m Switchblade once the wind hits around 22 knots and can hold that up to around 31 - 32 knots.

I hope this helps.

i am 110kgs and have spent a fair amount of time on the big airush kites. but i don't ride a twin tip in light winds. i use a sector 60. to be honest a board like the sector should be your first option over a big (huge) kite. they are cheaper and really open up your light wind options with your existing kites.

the lithium zero has buckets of low end. have a read through the thread on it in the reviews. lots of info on it there.

before the zero i had the 17m VXR the 1st gen version. it was a powerful kite too. significantly better upwind and top end control. but it was much slower on the turn, as you would expect being a very hi aspect race kite. relaunch was harder too.

the 2014 14m lithium was the most fun kite of them all in light winds on the sector. had the ideal combo of grunt and agility had me having fun in 10/12 knots on the sector.

from the UK kite forum the new 14m varialX has been reworked and sounds like an amazing kite for twin tip rider in light winds. worth a demo if you can.

Here is the post about the Lithium Zero in the Reviews section

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/2014-Airush-Lithium-Zero-18m-kite-no-struts/

elhucko said..

JayP said...
i am 110kgs and have spent a fair amount of time on the big airush kites. but i don't ride a twin tip in light winds. i use a sector 60. to be honest a board like the sector should be your first option over a big (huge) kite. they are cheaper and really open up your light wind options with your existing kites.

the lithium zero has buckets of low end. have a read through the thread on it in the reviews. lots of info on it there.

before the zero i had the 17m VXR the 1st gen version. it was a powerful kite too. significantly better upwind and top end control. but it was much slower on the turn, as you would expect being a very hi aspect race kite. relaunch was harder too.

the 2014 14m lithium was the most fun kite of them all in light winds on the sector. had the ideal combo of grunt and agility had me having fun in 10/12 knots on the sector.

from the UK kite forum the new 14m varialX has been reworked and sounds like an amazing kite for twin tip rider in light winds. worth a demo if you can.

Thanks for that. Just did lots of research regarding a board. I have no chance to demo anything at all. Welcome to Tasmania (-:
Being in tasmania also means that the wind changes quickly and you might get some gusts. So I thought that I'm better up with a 17m vxr v2, cause more struts and more stable to pull a big guy and handle gusts compared to a big lithium? Or am I wrong? But as you said, the board is what its about, too.
And what about a sector?

Airush Sector 60 is an incredible board. I can get going in 10 knots with my Lithium 12 kite. Fantastic upwind, and not as hard to ride as a raceboard. I would get one rather than buying a very big kite at nearly twice the price.

Being a heavier guy the 14m lithium would be something to consider as you are heavy enough to get it around the wind window. But you would need to couple it with an efficient board like a sector To maximise any gain.

VXR may be an option but the VX and the VXR are very efficient kites, better suited to lighter riders. You may find yourself pushing to the edge of the window a lot.

(Email a guy called Mike Birt in the UK, he also advocates the importance of weight and kite choice and understands these airush kites better than anyone I know).


Even a 14m lithium and a north nugget would be a good combination. Remember the sector is a cross over race type board, do your research here, I personally didn't like the feel at all. Or the 14m and a large cypher if you want your boards to be airush as well.




to the he 80kg guy 15 to 17 on the zephyr is where you are starting to really have some lit fun!!!

Hey Lofty- by the sounds of things you have a 14m kite. I do think if you bought a 17m with good wind range - this being the "key pre-requisite". (Not all 17m kites are created equal). Then even if you can only hold the 17m to 18knots which I could imagine you could you should be able to jump straight onto a 12m from 18 on up to around 25+ which means you could ditch your 14m.

Add a surfboard or sector or light wind twin tip at 80kg and you should be getting out in about 11knots.

Ditch the 14m plan, don't spend a grand on a fast big board (unless you like going fast and straight) just get the biggest 2013, 2014 lite wind kite. You will get more for your money with versatility to choose your style of kiting with what board you are familiar with.

kitebt said..

Hey Lofty- by the sounds of things you have a 14m kite. I do think if you bought a 17m with good wind range - this being the "key pre-requisite". (Not all 17m kites are created equal). Then even if you can only hold the 17m to 18knots which I could imagine you could you should be able to jump straight onto a 12m from 18 on up to around 25+ which means you could ditch your 14m.

Add a surfboard or sector or light wind twin tip at 80kg and you should be getting out in about 11knots.

Thanks for that BT. My sentiments are the same. Well here I come Ozone! Woohooo

I wouldn't pay $7000 for a board

elhucko said..

Well, 7000aud for a 2014 nugget good nic,
Or 1200usd for a 2014 new airush 17 or 18m vxr v2
Or both? (-:

A

I have a sector 60 and Nugget. And the nugget is my go to board for almost everything ....... much smaller than the sector, still goes up wind exceptionally well, is a very light wind option,great jumping chop/small waves and is great in the surf.

I definitely recommend getting a nugget first before you buy a big kite, it will add a few knots to your bottom end.

How does the Nugget compare to the Choptop ? Has anybody got experience on both of these?

Thanks!

Good call...saves 50 percent of all sessions for a guy I ride with. Have fun.

I thought the problem was the kite not staying up in the air. Nugget is not going to keep your kite in the air or any other board. A lighter kite will keep it up in the air. Look for a one or two or no strut kite that is super light. My ozone 19 edge race kite will stay up in air were others fall.

Strutless or one strut may be the way to go but, will it go upwind well. I used to own airush One 12m. It would fly at 6 knots and stay up but will not pull much. You need grunt but also upwind ability or you will be walking. I am also 90k and have demoed many lightwind kites (8 to 17 knot range).
Your goal would be to demo as many kites as possible using a regular twin tip and find out which one will give as much upwind and fun at the same time. The Zero might be the one but first try some others first before buying, edge, dyno, fatlady, v3, etc. They are all different , some pull like a truck, some turn on dime but you may find yourself downwind walking.

I like the vxr v2 18m it sounds very much like my 19 edge which I choose as my best lightwind kite I've ever owned. Light wind is light so go big or go home.