Rider: Weight,Level:intermediate-advanced
Style: Wake, Freestyle
Weather:10-15knts

hello all,

Im in need of some advice. Ive recently moved to Darwin from Adelaide and need some advice on kites.

Im looking for a kite with really good low end that can still be used as a good freestyle, wake style kite. Ive got a 135x45 Len10 board and I Love C kites. But it would seem that you cant get a C kite with that kind of low end without forking out for the new fuels.

I only have $500 to work with. Music Student. Ive been looking around and it seems that North are the way to go.

But i really have very little idea on light wind riding.

So what good kite, couple of years old, could I get on a budget that will suit my needs?

Thanks for your help Dave.

p:s looking forward to come cyclonic megaloops :) hopefully not bust my knee again.

10-15 knots in Tropical winds for $500?

Buy a half dead Zephyr on seabreeze, they're the best light wind kite or find another sport like fishing!

Pick up a big old C-kite and enjoy the good old days of kiting. Something in the 15-17m range from ~'04-'05.
It'll cost you next to nothing and will teabag you when it hits 17kn. Some of my most memorable sessions have been on kites like the old Flexifoil Storm III 15m and an old Slingy Fuel 15m.

The other thing to look at is your choice of boards. I'm guessing your 'Len10 board' has a fair whack of rocker in in which is parasitic when it comes to power, which won't be helping your low wind range. It might be worth while picking up a bigger flatter (faster planing) board for light wind use.

len10 boards are flat as so it should be sweet.

Yeah your board will be fine - The Lunacy's are so flat and wide it's got a ton of area to get you going.

I'd go and find a 15m Fuel, 15m Octane (the old school style from 05 i think) or if you do enough searching, you might even find a 19m Fuel... Maybe a 21m Spectrum 2 or a big North Rhino - there was plenty of big C kites around back in 04-05... You could pick one up for $300-$500 in great condition with a bar now...

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Rhys Porter said...

Yeah your board will be fine - The Lunacy's are so flat and wide it's got a ton of area to get you going.

I'd go and find a 15m Fuel, 15m Octane (the old school style from 05 i think) or if you do enough searching, you might even find a 19m Fuel... Maybe a 21m Spectrum 2 or a big North Rhino - there was plenty of big C kites around back in 04-05... You could pick one up for $300-$500 in great condition with a bar now...

We have a 17M Turbo Diesel, and also some 15 and 16M C kites, nothing over $500 complete with bar and lines.
Send an email to info(at)kitepower.com.au or call 02 95296894 to find out what we have.

I love C kites but isnt it true that just cause your kite is bigger that doesnt necessarily mean its going to give you better low end?

Bigger doesnt always mean lower wind range.
So if I have to get a hybrid I will. I can sacrifice a little ;)

Im looking at a 16m '08 switchblade 3, '07 or '08 Rhino 14 or 16, Rrd Type 9 16m, '07 naish torch 18 metre, or maybe an '08 12 m rebel. And preferences?

I do want to be able to do handlepasses...More like danglepasses. And I dont wanna spend all my time walking back upwind.

Len10 boards are extremely flat and nice and wide...I think theyre a great light wind option. I know more about light wind boards than kites.

or a t3 slingshot turbo '09 14m? Would that be any good for wakestyle?

Hey sales people....

You reckon a 15 or 17m fuel will actually fly and relaunch in 10-15 knots of Darwin wind??

10 -15 knots at Port Douglas even a Zephyr wouldn't fly enough to relaunch or handlepass.

Tropical wind is hot, fat and gutless like riding a bike with flat tyres..

At least offer a money back guarantee to a student on a budget

Like seagulls fighting over a chip

My Names Dave too!!!
two Daves dont make a right.

What are these povo bums using over in port douglas? you guys have similar conditions.

I was there last year for 2 months teaching for Windswell.

So different from temperate wind.

Some days we'd have all our kites pumped up and still not use them.

Always went 3 or 4m bigger than what we would use at Caloundra.

You'll struggle at sub 15 knots.

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Bigwavedave said...

I was there last year for 2 months teaching for Windswell.

So different from temperate wind.

Some days we'd have all our kites pumped up and still not use them.

Always went 3 or 4m bigger than what we would use at Caloundra.

You'll struggle at sub 15 knots.

... go see Geoff at Fun Supply, he's got a few second hand kites!

funsupply.com.au/

What do you weigh? If around 70Kg a 10.5 GT with the lunacy should do it.
80Kg -90kg you will probably need around 12 knots.

85kg.

I very much doubt a 10.5 would do anything in these winds.

Im gonna invest in a mountainboard. thats for sure.

I think Im gonna go with a 16m switchblade 3 2008.

16m switchblde or 16m crossbow

I would be looking for an 18m 2006 Torch. Probably get one dirt cheap by now.
Perfect for what you want.

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Bigwavedave said...

Hey sales people....

You reckon a 15 or 17m fuel will actually fly and relaunch in 10-15 knots of Darwin wind??

10 -15 knots at Port Douglas even a Zephyr wouldn't fly enough to relaunch or handlepass.

Tropical wind is hot, fat and gutless like riding a bike with flat tyres..

At least offer a money back guarantee to a student on a budget

Like seagulls fighting over a chip

+++1. 18-23 Kn at Port Douglas, Couldnt even go upwind on a 12m 07' Rhino, could just hold my ground. In Perth Id be using my 9. Borrowed a landboard off a cool guy and it was fun when the tide was out. Definately look for a hybrid type kite with as much grunt as possible. The board is soo flat and will plane on a fart as you know.

Good point, tropical winds need to be factored in for everything from flying to relaunch.

Basically anything 15m+ I guess with LW next to its name.
5 strut or less for reduced weight.

under $500 is going to be tough.

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BrisKites said...

I would be looking for an 18m 2006 Torch. Probably get one dirt cheap by now.
Perfect for what you want.

Probably the only other sensible recommendation on here.

If you've never flown in the tropics you have no idea.

Kiting in 20 knots is like 10 knots. It's fat, it's wet, it's slow and it feels like a hangover on a Sunday morning.

It's so funny seeing people recommend 10.5m kites.

They wouldn't even launch under 15.

If the wind id under 15 in Darwin ...... go to the pub!

Ive got a Airush Generator 15M.

Pulls like a mac truck.

you can have it for $300 with the bar.


the kites in sweet condition and its in adelaide.

got a 13.5m GT you can have. pulls hard in light winds

Thank you for all your advice.

Ive ended up buying an 18m Torch 2007 for $200 :)

Will post how I go and what me windrange is for any who are curious.

If you need replacement valves, try
www.kitefix.com.au

Well,

As i said I ended up buying an 18m metre 2007 Naish Torch for $200. Bargain.

Tried to get out yesterday but the deflate valve came off, got a new valve from Geoff at fun supply....and I had a Great session in 12-15 knots today

I really enjoyed it and Im glad I stuck with C kites. Its a big kite and takes a bit of effort to get it to turn but I dont mind, it is supposed to be exercise ;)

Was cruising upwind in the 15 knot gusts.

Got to see a croc and to throw some raleys and stuff in little tidal creeks...Fantastic day.


So for anyone looking for a Freestyle kite for unhooked tricks in low wind, get yourself a big arse C kite.

Ill be getting a 14m Rally Next....but that can wait.

Great fun.
Thanks for the advice.

I should add, I dont recommend Noobs going out and buying a big C kite at ALL!!!!! when these things get a gust into them you've gotta know what your doing and you've gotta be very good at edging.

There are plenty of much safer alternatives out there for learners still reasonably priced. But you blokes(and sheila's) who know what your doing, you dont need to go buy a $1000 kite to get out in light winds.

my 2cents.