Light Wind Kite

Rider: Weight,Level ,intermediate,
Style: Freeriding, Freestyle
Weather: 10-16 knots
weight :100 kg

hi all

i'm for a long time want to get a kite for light wind

i found a epic infinity v3 with a good price ,but after serching the forum read that the kite has alot of problems so i'm thinking to change to fat lady v3 ,but since i dont femliyer with both kites
i want to hear your response.
to make the best choice and to buy the sutiable kite for me

Thank you

Amnon

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amnonshlomo said..
Light Wind Kite

Rider: Weight,Level ,intermediate,
Style: Freeriding, Freestyle
Weather: 10-16 knots
weight :100 kg

hi all

i'm for a long time want to get a kite for light wind

i found a epic infinity v3 with a good price ,but after serching the forum read that the kite has alot of problems so i'm thinking to change to fat lady v3 ,but since i dont femliyer with both kites
i want to hear your response.
to make the best choice and to buy the sutiable kite for me

Thank you

Amnon

Considered both kites you mentioned and went with an ozone edge 15.
Great light wind kite and do use it in the surf.
Not the quickest turning but you can't have everything
Have read a few posts where they say the 15 edge has the same power as a zepher.
Best light wind kite purchase I have made so far.

I tried/owned the 17m Fat Lady, 17m Griffin TRX, 17m North Dyno, 19m Ozone Edge:

I found the Dyno seriously grunty but slow (I put this down to my experience at the time, and might feel differently now).
I found the Fat Lady not as grunty as the Dyno but much faster turning and reasonable for surf.
I fount the Griffin TRX as grunty as the fat lady but much faster turn again and very good in the surf.

The 19 metre ozone edge pulls like a Mack truck, turns slowly but gets me out in almost nothing. Have used it in small surf.

Sold the dyno, loaned the fat lady to a friend and use either the TRX and Ozone for light wind flat water and surf.

This is exactly what I'm wondering about, It seems this time of year it is often < 12kn

I tried the Cabrinha Contra, and it was pretty just in the air at 8kn(I tried the 15m) but you couldn't do anything with it. After seeing that I can't see that the 17m would do much better... The only other option that I can see for REALLY light winds (I really want to be going in about 6kn) is going for a really nice foil kite.

I have been eyeing off the Flysurfer Speed 4 21m, and from all the videos it looks like it's the goods... I would be really interested to hear from someone about how they have found it, from reading other forums they seem to love it. Infact it has the nickname "Cable Park" because it just pulls. It also seems like people use it to 15kn, and at that range you can easily pull out a 12m LEI.

I would be interested to hear your ideas...

OR Flite 17 or 14.5

I have an infinity V2 and it's a great kite. did my first backroll kiteloop on this one. with a LW TT or a big SB you will be well powered at 10 kts.
At 75kg I can't hold it past 16kts, you could take it a kt or 2 higher with 100 pies.

I rode the V3 in super light winds and was very impressed. It's 1\2 a metre bigger and felt quicker to turn in these conditions.

But 2 weeks ago at a surf break I was hoping to get the 12 out but had to get the big kite. B4 I went out I took photos, and then I got on my m8's 17m Flite.
This thing rules. In 10 kts I can do a 10ft high front roll with a loop on cue. Mental fun. Was riding a 146 King Gee, not a true LW board, more a bigboy TT.
Pulled off a couple of darkslides with a loop at the end. All these moves are fairly new to me so I was stoked.
There was a video online of some guy complaining about the kite jellyfishing or folding. I can honestly say he must have not done a valve up or had a leak in a strut hose or something. This kite is as rigid as you could want and very predictable and easy to dial in. You would be looking forward to 12kts with this kite.

Got back on my V2 and was bored as. Nowhere near as fast or steady. Couldn't land or even feel comfortable attempting either of those 2 moves.
I'm lining up the 14.5m as I have a bigger TT so i'll have 9 - 14 kts covered with this kit. My 12 will do 12 kts on my 159 TT in the surf, but I'm sure the 14.5 and the shinny will rock out heaps better.
If you get a go on one of these Flite's I seriously doubt whether you'd bother with anything else if you're ready to buy something for next week. There's too many tanks out there to disappoint and this one is head and shoulders above the pack. Zepher's don't have the low end or size, edge's are slow, so are contra's, Core xr2's and 3's don't go upwind, ( they turn well but the V2 kills them for UW) I don't know what ''issues'' you were talking about re the infinity's. they can wear through bridle lines but that's easy fixed. and you can see it coming so as not to get caught out. My V2 has never had a single mark or repair. Stay's pumped hard, flies reasonably.

If you can afford it, get the Flite m8

17M Flite if you really want to have fun in 10 to 15 on a TT. The a Flite 17M turns fast, boosts great and flys like your riding a 12M kite. Try one !

The guys that really nail light wind conditions at my local use foil boards. One guy uses a foil kite with a foil board and can pretty much fly directly into the wind in as low as about 10knts (maybe less but thats what I've witnessed)

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amnonshlomo said...
Light Wind Kite

Rider: Weight,Level ,intermediate,
Style: Freeriding, Freestyle
Weather: 10-16 knots
weight :100 kg

hi all

i'm for a long time want to get a kite for light wind

i found a epic infinity v3 with a good price ,but after serching the forum read that the kite has alot of problems so i'm thinking to change to fat lady v3 ,but since i dont femliyer with both kites
i want to hear your response.
to make the best choice and to buy the sutiable kite for me

Thank you

Amnon

Looking for a freeride/ freestyle kite at 100kgs from 10 to 16 knts would be limited, I'm at 85kg and for me a zephyr came alive around 13/14knts, if you go bigger you sacrifice a lot of qualities you want for your riding,IMO I'd struggle to point any kite in your direction at said weight and winds,

Thanx for the info
But i just read on kiteforum that the infinity v3 is not so good
Also found video review form " average joe " on YouTube
That the bottom line is to stay away from it
is this real?

You should look at the ASV XR kites.. Incredibly grunty and still fairly nimble in the air.. Flys in almost nothing...

I have an 18 for sale which I would do a great deal on.. Only used a few times...

There is an Infinity V3 demo in Perth WA if you want to try it, it is a 16m kite.

The flite 17 is a great kite, turns really quick for a big kite, it is the fastest lw kite I've seen but it has grunt too. Fun kite but if you're going sub 10 knots then you need to spend time on technique, and cash on gear. Not sure why if you're in WA?
The flite is awesome 10 to 16, depending on board.

Demo the infinity, it's the only way for you to know if you like it or not.

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amnonshlomo said..
Thanx for the info
But i just read on kiteforum that the infinity v3 is not so good
Also found video review form " average joe " on YouTube
That the bottom line is to stay away from it
is this real?

Select to expand quote

cauncy said..

amnonshlomo said...
Light Wind Kite

Rider: Weight,Level ,intermediate,
Style: Freeriding, Freestyle
Weather: 10-16 knots
weight :100 kg

hi all

i'm for a long time want to get a kite for light wind

i found a epic infinity v3 with a good price ,but after serching the forum read that the kite has alot of problems so i'm thinking to change to fat lady v3 ,but since i dont femliyer with both kites
i want to hear your response.
to make the best choice and to buy the sutiable kite for me

Thank you

Amnon

Looking for a freeride/ freestyle kite at 100kgs from 10 to 16 knts would be limited, I'm at 85kg and for me a zephyr came alive around 13/14knts, if you go bigger you sacrifice a lot of qualities you want for your riding,IMO I'd struggle to point any kite in your direction at said weight and winds,

100kgs and 10 - 16 knots ? Big foil kite - done deal. you should pm Kamikuza and ask him about his Flysurfer Speed 3 21. I'm sure he is heavier than you and would be happy to share his views on what your options are. I can demo you a Speed 3 21 anytime you like.

I'm 95kg and use 2014 14m Naish park. Really good in 10knts up. Try to demo kites before you buy. Your local shop would have kites to demo.

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ausmick said..
I'm 95kg and use 2014 14m Naish park. Really good in 10knts up. Try to demo kites before you buy. Your local shop would have kites to demo.

Allow me to be the first to call shenanigans on that. 95kg/10kts/14m doesn't add up unless race or foil board.

Ok then maybe 12kts- 15kts few white caps . Still demo kites first.

Someone is going to have to try out the Switch Helium 18 Can't wait to hear some reviews of this 3 stut kite

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ausmick said..
I'm 95kg and use 2014 14m Naish park. Really good in 10knts up. Try to demo kites before you buy. Your local shop would have kites to demo.

also ask your local shop if they've an accurate aernometer, not the one ausmicks using

I have the 19m Core LW...what a brilliant kite! Exceptional build quality and great bar. I weigh in at 106kg and had it humming along the other day in 8-12knots. This is my first season so I am not a wealth of knowledge when it comes to kiting, however I can comment on the size of my smile when I get off the water. Super smooth, very stable, park and ride machine. Not yet into the whole big air thingy yet but from what I have heard this thing floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. Mates who have used it have also been very impressed.

Would love to try the 17m at some stage.

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snalberski said..
The guys that really nail light wind conditions at my local use foil boards. One guy uses a foil kite with a foil board and can pretty much fly directly into the wind in as low as about 10knts (maybe less but thats what I've witnessed)

Same down my spot. When the wind is low there are only 3 guys out. 2 on big flysurfers and one foilboard on a 10m Dyno.

When he crashes he goes down hard though

I roll a 13m edge at 82kg it gives me a low end similar to a zephur. So yes a big edge is good. But don't crash it in light wind. the edges are a bitch to relaunch once windy.

I also agree with James. A big arse foil is awesome in light wind. They chew up and spit out any lei for power/m2 and glide time in the light winds. An 18 speed will slaughter a zephur in light wind...... A chrono is even sillier again....But harder to fly.......

Another big plus to monster light wind foils. No pumping. Unfold, unroll lines and boom....

It's probably worth repeating that in light winds so much comes down to skill. The best light wind kite for a person with light touch on the bar and the board will be totally different than the best light wind kite for a person who lacks feel and just expects to sheet in and go. This is as true for big guys as for lighter riders. Obviously heavy guys and light winds require larger kites but if you rely solely on grunt to get going, you'll soon find yourself in poo-stance and struggling to hold ground because the grunt becomes drag as soon as you're up to speed.

The alternative to grunt is efficiency. Apparent wind angles move forward more for a given board speed in lighter winds than stronger. Thus, in light winds you're effectively riding "upwind" all the time, so as soon as you're up to speed you can't afford much drag.

The gains in fun and range that you can get by working on feel will far outweigh gains from just pursuing a grunty light wind kite.

And the same skills that help you get the most from an efficient light wind kite will also reduce the chance of dropping it and facing a swim home.