Which one would work better in light winds (I´m 77 kg):

12m C4 kite and Nobile XTR 143x48 board, or 132x40 board and 17m LW kite?

So I already have C4 12m and 132x40 TT, but thinking should I get a bigger board (only TT) or 17m LW kite (wife doesn´t let me buy both of them ...).

2011 kites that are on my mind: Core Riot 17m, Slingshot Turbine, Epic Renegade Infinity

Many thanks for your help.

Depends on your skill and style. In my experience it takes more skill to ride a big kite with a small board, but you get more in the way of boosting and pop, so long as you can stay upwind.

So long as your 132x40 doesn't have too much rocker it should handle a bigger kite OK.

Obviously the board is the cheaper (and more durable) option and for basic cruising will undoubtedly get you more low end and upwind ability.

On the kite side, a 12m C4 is not that grunty and you may not need to go all the way to a 17m, especially at 77kg. A 13 or 14m flattish kite will have a lot more low end.

If the kite gets too big for the board you end up with a very narrow wind range and will struggle to stay upwind. With a big board and a 12m you'll get going early but will lose boost and hangtime.

I have no definitive answer, just these indicators. Incidentally I'm the same weight as you and ride a 144x46 stella in light stuff.

Hello Brendan,

Thanks for the info . BTW, what size of kite do you use with your 144x46 board?

Thanks again for your help.

The one big benefit of a bigger board is its easier to switch if the wind gets stronger. Deflating and inflating a kite can be a mission if the wind dies or lifts and then does the same thing an hour later whereas switching boards takes less than a minute. If the wind is sketchy I'll often put my spare board on the beach and switch to it if the wind picks up.

You don't get the boost with the bigger board but its nice for playing around with surface tricks like backroll kiteloops or transitions.

I think dojo's and saffers advice is pretty spot on. Personally I would go the bigger board . I have a 132 flx and a slingshot glide 149 x 146 and the difference between the two is massive. I can be cruising upwind doing small jumps on the glide when I can't even get going on the flx.

Having said that for absolute bottom end a 12m kite will never match a 17m, but at 77kg a 12m and a light wind board or a biggish surfboard should see you kiting in 10-12 knots.

Definietly bigger board and smaller kite....XTR is amazing board, but I wouldnt go for such big size as143x48.....140x46 is plenty, Im 83 kg and my biggest kite is 10.5 with that board I can start at 12 knots........XTR rides in chop !!!and jumps well when the wind picks up !!!.

Farang, I run a 12m SB3 on the Stella. It is a grunty kite, way more projected area than a 12m C4.

Incidentally the stella is now for sale as I just can't justify kiting all the time and it gets me out in barely a fart of wind, (and I'm saving for a new 8m).

Many thanks to every one for your help . There are three big boards I´m very interested in: Slingshot Glide (149x45.5), Nobile XTR (143x48), and Epic Oxygen (135x47). Any recommendation about those light wind boards (Nobile is the biggest, 2nd Glide and the smallest is Oxygen) - guess that Nobile 143x48 would take me on water earliest?

Many thanks again for your great help

Nobile also has their Flying Carpet which is their specific light wind board instead of the XTR which is meant to be for heavier riders and 'extended wind range'.

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Farang said...

Many thanks to every one for your help . There are three big boards I´m very interested in: Slingshot Glide (149x45.5), Nobile XTR (143x48), and Epic Oxygen (135x47). Any recommendation about those light wind boards (Nobile is the biggest, 2nd Glide and the smallest is Oxygen) - guess that Nobile 143x48 would take me on water earliest?

Many thanks again for your great help

I'd put money on the glide having the best low end, but It doesn't handle choppy conditions so well. The glide is a pleasure in flatish water, but if you ride choppy conditions more I would look at a board with more rocker and slightly bigger fins.

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bennie said...

Farang said...

Many thanks to every one for your help . There are three big boards I´m very interested in: Slingshot Glide (149x45.5), Nobile XTR (143x48), and Epic Oxygen (135x47). Any recommendation about those light wind boards (Nobile is the biggest, 2nd Glide and the smallest is Oxygen) - guess that Nobile 143x48 would take me on water earliest?

Many thanks again for your great help

I'd put money on the glide having the best low end, but It doesn't handle choppy conditions so well. The glide is a pleasure in flatish water, but if you ride choppy conditions more I would look at a board with more rocker and slightly bigger fins.

Tend to agree. Not sure if I'd go much larger that Nobile. The problem with big lightwind boards is they feel big which makes it harder to do surface tricks. My personal weapon of choice is 140x43 and that works pretty well for me (80kgs) with a 13m Rev2.

airush protoy exile. 135x47. there's one in the ads.