This one has been overlooked too. I have a mate up here thats 100kg and he loves his 14M Ozone Catalyst

I have 19m Edge and that is pretty good in light wind (but SLLLLOOOOWWWWW).

But I think the 18m Chrono smacks it's arse. Just don't attempt to drift!!!!!!!!

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GriffinKites said..
Looks like I should finish off the strut less 14m and 17m kites...

Just a quick reply to the TRX 17s comments above ( and other sizes ) low end has been massively improved with a new upgradable 2016 bridle coming out in the next week and bar pressure is lighter.

If you have a older TRX you an upgrade your 2013 2014 2015 TRXs with the new bridle to get considerably improved low end, better top, faster turning and lighter bar pressure Or you can mod your bridle using the plans online.

I am seeing with a few next seasons kites that kite designs are not changing a lot, but bridles are being improved and tweaked.

I like the idea of being able to upgrade your kite with a new bridle mod every year or so as most people keep there kites for 2-3 years anyhow.

Details are on the website forum under TRX, all the best,

A direct link please to the bridle plans without going via Google?

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Loftywinds said..

GriffinKites said..
Looks like I should finish off the strut less 14m and 17m kites...

Just a quick reply to the TRX 17s comments above ( and other sizes ) low end has been massively improved with a new upgradable 2016 bridle coming out in the next week and bar pressure is lighter.

If you have a older TRX you an upgrade your 2013 2014 2015 TRXs with the new bridle to get considerably improved low end, better top, faster turning and lighter bar pressure Or you can mod your bridle using the plans online.

I am seeing with a few next seasons kites that kite designs are not changing a lot, but bridles are being improved and tweaked.

I like the idea of being able to upgrade your kite with a new bridle mod every year or so as most people keep there kites for 2-3 years anyhow.

Details are on the website forum under TRX, all the best,

A direct link please to the bridle plans without going via Google?

As requested, http://griffinkites.com.au/forum/trx-2015/1062-trx-bridle-upgrade-from-2013-2014-2015-to-2015-5

I had a Core XR2 17 sq.m and got the GTS3 size 15 (wieght 85 kg 6'3" 15 years experience) I ride directional boards and find that the GTS3 size 15 has about the same low end as my previous XR2 size 17 model, but with slightly more agility. Still feels like a huge kite and fills the 8-12 knot wind gap, where after I would take a size 10 out. Not a fan of big kites due to their relatively slow movement, due to it requiring a lot of anticipation/planning before making a move on a wave.
My lowest wind range that I have managed to stay up wind with was ranging between 8-10 knots.

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GriffinKites said..
Looks like I should finish off the strut less 14m and 17m kites...

Just a quick reply to the TRX 17s comments above ( and other sizes ) low end has been massively improved with a new upgradable 2016 bridle coming out in the next week and bar pressure is lighter.

If you have a older TRX you an upgrade your 2013 2014 2015 TRXs with the new bridle to get considerably improved low end, better top, faster turning and lighter bar pressure Or you can mod your bridle using the plans online.

I am seeing with a few next seasons kites that kite designs are not changing a lot, but bridles are being improved and tweaked.

I like the idea of being able to upgrade your kite with a new bridle mod every year or so as most people keep there kites for 2-3 years anyhow.

Details are on the website forum under TRX, all the best,

I read your post about strut less kites a while back and I would be interested to know more, I would also be keen to get a go on a big TRX, are thee any demos available in WA, I see a couple of your kites around here but not a lot of them do you have any dealers/reps in WA.

Damn look at all those yellow arrows on the WA wind readings right now, I wish I already had my big kite

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JacobMatan said..
Damn look at all those yellow arrows on the WA wind readings right now, I wish I already had my big kite

The race lads will be down this afternoon, and most afternoons during winter if there is bit of wind. Attadale or Melville.
Stop by and say hi :)

I have a 2014 17 metre Contra and am 95kg riding both twin tip or strapless surfboard depending on the conditions. I have to say that although initially I really liked this kite I have found myself using it less and less. With true light winds of 12 knots I am up and going but just mowing the lawn and battling to stay up wind, as soon as there is enough wind to do any thing fun you're battling to stay upwind due to the immense power on the gusts (even at my weight) and you're better off on a 12m.

If you have really constant wind strength and good surface conditions then yes its heaps of fun but otherwise its a real battle.

If I just rode flat water and had I light wind specific twin tip I can see that this kite could be really good and I suspect other 17 metre kites are similar. But for fun freestyle tricks and light wind wave riding I honestly think a 14 metre with a good low end would be better for me at my weight riding on ocean with rips and typically gusty winds.

Not the best advert I know but if anyone fancies buying the Contra off me that give me PM

I like the 17m Cloud a lot. You should give it a try if you can. But, the Airush sectors with a 12m kite will get you out in really light wind. I'm 100kg and when I can't do anything with my surf board, I take my friends sector out and fly up wind. You can get swept back surf type fins for it and it'll turn a little better then the race style fins that come on it.

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NitrousOxide said..
I have a 2014 17 metre Contra and am 95kg riding both twin tip or strapless surfboard depending on the conditions. I have to say that although initially I really liked this kite I have found myself using it less and less. With true light winds of 12 knots I am up and going but just mowing the lawn and battling to stay up wind, as soon as there is enough wind to do any thing fun you're battling to stay upwind due to the immense power on the gusts (even at my weight) and you're better off on a 12m.

If you have really constant wind strength and good surface conditions then yes its heaps of fun but otherwise its a real battle.

If I just rode flat water and had I light wind specific twin tip I can see that this kite could be really good and I suspect other 17 metre kites are similar. But for fun freestyle tricks and light wind wave riding I honestly think a 14 metre with a good low end would be better for me at my weight riding on ocean with rips and typically gusty winds.

Not the best advert I know but if anyone fancies buying the Contra off me that give me PM

Agree with NitrousOxide here. I have a 17m Contra myself and I find the gap between being powered enough to have fun and being overpowered is very small.

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AndyHansen said..

Plummet said..
At your weight don't **** around. Go 17m +.

Spot on Plummet. its always a bit of a laugh hearing 14/15 refereed to as a light wind kite especially for TT. Foiling perhaps then yes.
See so many of guys that pump up and have a tough time trying to get going on 14/15 while others are out on 17,18,19m kites on TT having a blast. boosting, crusing going nuts. check out attadale almost any light wind day during winter.
The sooner people get over the fear/hate/issues with large kites, the sooner they can go out and enjoy twice as much time kiting. Even on the race boards/foils we still go big 17/18/19. it should be no issue to any kiter to fly 17/181/19 on a TT.
We loop the S#!t out of them in every direction for tacks and gybes, so there is no issues there.
There heaps of racers with large inflatable all selling, check SB sell section, kites are great prices, send a note and ask to give one a try. you wont be disappointed.

Tend to agree . If you are are going to bother go 17+ at your size and bearing in mind you like to be powered up. The big kites these days have a great wind range and you will not notice much difference in turning speed between a 15 or 17.
I happen to have a zephyr. It drifts a bit and turns well. Not sure about the rest.

But my experience has been the board you choose also makes a big difference. A board like the North Nugget will give you so much more choice. If your 10 flys , then you will still enjoy times in the waves more on that board rather than going to your big kite.
Going out on the zephyr and the nugget in waves has also been a blast . I reckon the board is the deal breaker but happy to stand corrected.

Cheers.

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eddiemorgs said..

AndyHansen said..

Plummet said..
At your weight don't **** around. Go 17m +.

Spot on Plummet. its always a bit of a laugh hearing 14/15 refereed to as a light wind kite especially for TT. Foiling perhaps then yes.
See so many of guys that pump up and have a tough time trying to get going on 14/15 while others are out on 17,18,19m kites on TT having a blast. boosting, crusing going nuts. check out attadale almost any light wind day during winter.
The sooner people get over the fear/hate/issues with large kites, the sooner they can go out and enjoy twice as much time kiting. Even on the race boards/foils we still go big 17/18/19. it should be no issue to any kiter to fly 17/181/19 on a TT.
We loop the S#!t out of them in every direction for tacks and gybes, so there is no issues there.
There heaps of racers with large inflatable all selling, check SB sell section, kites are great prices, send a note and ask to give one a try. you wont be disappointed.

Tend to agree . If you are are going to bother go 17+ at your size and bearing in mind you like to be powered up. The big kites these days have a great wind range and you will not notice much difference in turning speed between a 15 or 17.
I happen to have a zephyr. It drifts a bit and turns well. Not sure about the rest.

But my experience has been the board you choose also makes a big difference. A board like the North Nugget will give you so much more choice. If your 10 flys , then you will still enjoy times in the waves more on that board rather than going to your big kite.
Going out on the zephyr and the nugget in waves has also been a blast . I reckon the board is the deal breaker but happy to stand corrected.

Cheers.

Agree with Eddie re board being the deal breaker in light winds and I reckon kite choice will always be individual.

Been escaping vic winters and going to Bali for last 6 years and trying to find my right mix of kites and boards for the lighter tropical winds and a mix of flat water and waves. In the past have taken various 12,14,17 kites and various size/types of boards.

last year took the zephyr and a Wainman 12 with 5'8" board and 140 TT, used the zephyr and TT most of the time and the boss a few times, just don't have the skill in the waves with the zephyr like the Darwin crew have, I still find the zephyr too slow in waves but I'm used to Vicco winds and smaller kites in waves. The 5'8" board was narrow and low volume, nothing like the nuggets so not suited to the Bali light winds.

this year I'm taking the trusty Zephyr but also a Wainman 15 with 6' board and 148x47 carbon TT, I reckon the 15 will suit me better over there In the waves, the 6 footer is wider and more volume than the 5'8" I took last year and the 148 TT will be a huge benefit on the low wind days.

I tried the Wainman 15 for the first time yesterday (demoted one once in 2010 and liked it but didn't have funds to buy it) in about 12-14 knots shifting SSE-SSW with a few holes in it, 2-3 ' waves on a 132 TT, used the 132 to see if I could stay upwind in the Bali like conditions ( 4 other kites out, 3 on foil boards and one on a surfboard) ) the 15 easilly cruised upwind and I actually had it depowered about half the trim line, plenty of grunt and turned really well in the waves and the light winds, I reckon with either the 6' board or 148 TT the 15 will really suit the Bali winds and waves, turns so much faster than the Zephyr with ability to drift but the Zephyr will still be fun to blast around Sanur lagoon and maybe Lombok bays. Next kite down in my quiver from the 15 is an 11, not sure if I'll take it too.

im around 82kgs.

Only 9 weeks to Bali , catch up at Putus

Having said I have a blast on the zephyr and nugget I found in light wind that if my dice 13 flew I preferred it and the nugget over being way powered up on the zephyr with the nugget , obviously because the kite was a lot faster and because the nugget tends to load up to its top end very quickly.
This combo always surprises me.
The width if the board allows so much more tolerance in light skinny wind if the kite flies ok , where a normal sb shape can tend to bog down quickly.

I am 80 kGS.

Yeah surfer62 - some of the guys from Darwin do a great job in waves in our conditions. I guess we have become specialised in tropical kiting in waves. Sort of pretend wave kiting anyway.
Bit sad but true!

But its still a great sight to watch Puetz caving it up on a 18 m Dyno + nugget.

Might see you at Putus. Late July / August?

Hoping on wind. None in Nias.

Hey thanks for some of these comments guys, great reading, I was thinking about going for a 17m Contra but some of the things mentioned have confirmed I should change my board and even more positive comments for the Nugget are great to read, think I'll go for it.

Was also looking at the Sector 60 but I don't want a pure light wind solution, it's for here in the UK in chop and waves so the Nugget sounds like the one I'm going to order in the next few days and for now I'll keep my 9m and 12m Switchblades - Cheers all!

Nice write up! Interestingly you don't mention the 4 big names I was looking at, maybe I was looking in the wrong place :)

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FlipFlop said..
Interestingly you don't mention the 4 big names I was looking at, maybe I was looking in the wrong place :)

Considering the write up is by a shop, and only for kites they stock and sell, its not that interesting

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Dahh said..

FlipFlop said..
Interestingly you don't mention the 4 big names I was looking at, maybe I was looking in the wrong place :)

Considering the write up is by a shop, and only for kites they stock and sell, its not that interesting

Yep it isn't rocket science figuring out I have written it as a shop owner Dahh but at least I'm not hiding the fact. Same can't be said for many others on here.

Ah I'm naive and that didn't even occur to me, I'd say thanks for pointing it out but it came across a little rude.

Yes, I have an Ocean Rodeo Flite 14.5. Great kite, flies like a 12 and turns fast.

Combined with a North Nugget I can kite in 10 to 15+ knots. Combined with my Sector 60 I can kite in 8 to 12 knots.