Hi,
New to this forum. looking for advice . I am 83 kg and have a 12m Slingshot Rally (and some smaller Ben Wilson kites for heavier winds) The Rally seems a great kite but in lighter conditions it falls easily where others on water seem to have kites still in air. Was considering a 2011 13.5 Griffin or 2014 14m Griffin for those lighter winds. Is there much difference between the 2011 Griffin and 2014 new model? Would it be best to step up to 14m and not 13.5m Thanks !
Hi,
I have a 2013 14m Griffin Argo. I'm about the same weight as you and find the kite, although a great kite, isn't a super light wind kite. From experience over the past year I need a steady 14kts minimum for it to be enjoyable. When it gets overpowered it gets rather draggy too. Its a fanstastic kite for boosting and has some great hang time. I'm comfortable on it from 14 - 20kts. My mate has the 14m TRX, also a great kite, turns faster but same light wind characteristics.
Select to expand quotePirateDunk said...
Hi,
I have a 2013 14m Griffin Argo. I'm about the same weight as you and find the kite, although a great kite, isn't a super light wind kite. From experience over the past year I need a steady 14kts minimum for it to be enjoyable. When it gets overpowered it gets rather draggy too. Its a fanstastic kite for boosting and has some great hang time. I'm comfortable on it from 14 - 20kts. My mate has the 14m TRX, also a great kite, turns faster but same light wind characteristics.
I prefer 17m kites for light wind 8-20kn and I'm around 87kg.
If your not keen on 17m My mate does ok on 14m catalyst.
I agree with the above comments as griffin are good kites but the Argo is not the greatest in light wind.
i have a 16 meter 2014 nrg i can mow the lawn at 8 knots on a light wind twin tip slow kite At 10 knots the kite is great and you can start jumping at 14 knots i land the kite
Thanks for great feedback
So moving on from Griffin for light winds, I guess I need a 14m+ and so far light the comment from castill0jf for his NRG
Any other recommendations? Thanks
I like the core 17LW matched with a cab plasma for my light wind days. heaps of static grunt and can get out a little earlier than the zephyrs, but i think the zephyrs are slightly more fun to ride.
blade fat lady is another
slingshot turbine
north dyno.
prob the 5 best for you to demo
ooh!!! ozone edge 17 or 19m is a good option too, but could be issues relaunching in light wind. anyone got experience with this?
could try the perter lynn fury lite 14m or 19m, mate uses this in light winds and gets big air hangtime
Cant go wrong with a 19m Edge!
Great from sub 10 knots and well manageable well into the upper teens.
Easy to relaunch in even the lightest wind, with a trick of pull a steering line and a opposite center line... kite will swing to the side, roll up and fly away.
I am the same weight give or take and i use a Core XR2 LW 17M and my regular twin tips 134 or a 136 no dramas. can even hold it down getting on close to 20knots good kite set it to the fastest turning speed and it responds great for 17M's !
It's more about the board.
From what I've seen, you can take any decent 12-17m kite with a $1200 race board and go nuts in very low wind speeds.
Select to expand quoteSeaking2 said..
Hi,
New to this forum. looking for advice . I am 83 kg and have a 12m Slingshot Rally (and some smaller Ben Wilson kites for heavier winds) The Rally seems a great kite but in lighter conditions it falls easily where others on water seem to have kites still in air. Was considering a 2011 13.5 Griffin or 2014 14m Griffin for those lighter winds. Is there much difference between the 2011 Griffin and 2014 new model? Would it be best to step up to 14m and not 13.5m Thanks !
what wind do you want to ride in
what board ie tt or directional or race
most important what do you want to achieve
Light wind with kite means, best kite that will get me back to my start launch area at the lowest possible wind.
Just get the biggest high aspect kite or go home. There is no alternative like for example, what is good for me will do for you crap or big board is all you need crap. If you are going to spend good money on light wind kite get the kite that will work up wind at the lowest knots possible. That means Ozone Edge 19m, North Dyno 18, In other words large race kites. Don't be afraid that experience is needed with these kites or they, turn to slow to have fun ****, because we are looking at slow wind that we can barely kite in and make our own fun. You will learn to relaunch them because you have to before a shark bites your ass off trying. I should know I have the 19m Edge here in Kailua HI. I am now the only one kiting with a raceboard or hydrafoil at the lowest possible knot. I am the only one with a twin tip up wind not walking. I do jumps at 8 knots. I know I have owned many good kites called good light wind kites but I would still walk, flite 17.5, fat lady, turbine 2011, infinity v1, and demoed v2, fat lady 2013. All new 2014 light wind kites are trying to get up wind better. There is no magic pill. That means higher aspect.
Hope my rant helps. Just a little science helps, with a little common sense. Go lowest with kite and board that will get you back home. Then if wind picks up be the first with a twintip while others are still on race board.
I forgot to mention my other kite is 8m, and 11m and then I go to my 19m edge. Big jump from 19 to 11 because my edge can handle high end of 18 knots at 90k. Seeking2 you will be spending a lot of money on a kite next size up like a, 14m, just to get two or three knots more. You will need to figure out your maximum knots at 12m. If it is 14 knots or lower then we are talking light wind. I wish i could afford to buy a kite for ever 5 knots but my arms would get tired pumping so many kites.
Forget what i said above if your replacing the 12 to get a 13 or 14. Then I would get a north Rebel, higher aspect with versatility.
Sorry again with the rant.
Select to expand quoteSeaking2 said..
Thanks for great feedback
So moving on from Griffin for light winds, I guess I need a 14m+ and so far light the comment from castill0jf for his NRG
Any other recommendations? Thanks
Mate. Just get a Ozone Zephyr 17m. You will not regret it. Best light wind kite out there right now.
Select to expand quoteKazan said..Seaking2 said..
Thanks for great feedback
So moving on from Griffin for light winds, I guess I need a 14m+ and so far light the comment from castill0jf for his NRG
Any other recommendations? Thanks
Mate. Just get a Ozone Zephyr 17m. You will not regret it. Best light wind kite out there right now.
to say it's the best light wind kite i would disagree, depends what you want to do . for me i would say my 19 edge is the best kite but that's personal pref . i have flown the 2013 zephyr but for me and what i want from a light wind kite the 19 edge kicks the zephyr
Select to expand quotedusta said..Kazan said..Seaking2 said..
Thanks for great feedback
So moving on from Griffin for light winds, I guess I need a 14m+ and so far light the comment from castill0jf for his NRG
Any other recommendations? Thanks
Mate. Just get a Ozone Zephyr 17m. You will not regret it. Best light wind kite out there right now.
to say it's the best light wind kite i would disagree, depends what you want to do . for me i would say my 19 edge is the best kite but that's personal pref . i have flown the 2013 zephyr but for me and what i want from a light wind kite the 19 edge kicks the zephyr
Again, it depends. What winds are you talking about? Sub 5 knots? Then yes I would agree with you. Zephyr doesn't really fly in under 8 knots unless you do a lot of kite controlling. The Edge? Meh... somewhat similar, but slower IMO. And of course you're talking 19mt! Forget it!
Select to expand quoteKazan said..dusta said..Kazan said..Seaking2 said..
Thanks for great feedback
So moving on from Griffin for light winds, I guess I need a 14m+ and so far light the comment from castill0jf for his NRG
Any other recommendations? Thanks
Mate. Just get a Ozone Zephyr 17m. You will not regret it. Best light wind kite out there right now.
to say it's the best light wind kite i would disagree, depends what you want to do . for me i would say my 19 edge is the best kite but that's personal pref . i have flown the 2013 zephyr but for me and what i want from a light wind kite the 19 edge kicks the zephyr
Again, it depends. What winds are you talking about? Sub 5 knots? Then yes I would agree with you. Zephyr doesn't really fly in under 8 knots unless you do a lot of kite controlling. The Edge? Meh... somewhat similar, but slower IMO. And of course you're talking 19mt! Forget it!
edge and zephyr have a completely different feel.
what winds am i talking about 6-12 knots i would be on my 19 edge , 12-18 15m edge , 18-24 11 edge and 24+ 7m edge .
Zepher and airush sector for jumping boosting and rolling in light wind.For up wind blasting an edge with a race board.For downwinders core X-R light wind.
Select to expand quotediamond2001 said..
Zepher and airush sector for jumping boosting and rolling in light wind.For up wind blasting an edge with a race board.For downwinders core X-R light wind.
Succinct and pretty good diamond!
I have been recently flying several light wind kites. As everyone says, it's about style. I can get out on a 12 Argo and a Sector in 8 knots. I would think that almost any 12 on a sector will get you going in that wind speed. Not really the right combo, but you can get going.
The new Zeph is a FUN kite, super smooth, not doggy or trucklike, predictable but slowish looping. Would be a fun kite to jump when the wind does pick up.
Rode the Fat Lady as well, big pull, very trucklike, no excitement at all. Can go lower than the Zeph.
I have the 17 TRx (2014) and takes only slightly more than the Zeph to get flying, but turns much quicker and builds power differently. Slightly trickier to fly as well, but once you understand how it generates power it's all good. I forgot to mention that I am 83 kilos. Mostly ride a surfboard.
A kite I have not tried but would like to is "The CLoud" by Maui Board designs. Strutless, very light, and SUPER agile. Would be good to get some input from anyone in Oz that has flown them. I have seen them in Hawaii and they seem to go pretty well and turn on a dime.
My advice is to go to a busy beach on a light wind day and watch , you will see some kites out performing others , this is what I did and went for the cabrinah contra 17 m
One swoop of the kite and just park it , combined with a light wind board and you will be trucking up wind and gaining ground upwind , good for boosting aswell , check it out online or try to demo one , you won't be disappointed
Yes! I like jumping with my Sector because sometimes I get really constipated and I like sector fins to tear my butt hole open wider.
Really I only use my sector as a last resort. I rather have a bigger kite (19 edge) and twin tip any day.
Agreed riding a sector sucks massive wang. Give us a TT or a SB. But hey some crew like driving fast in a straight line.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
Agreed riding a sector sucks massive wang. Give us a TT or a SB. But hey some crew like driving fast in a straight line.
Hmmmmm, Each to their own el presidente.
High aspect kites are superior for going up wind and boosting . Especially in light wind! .Race kites boost so well and are exellent for geting back up wind to pop another,but when back rolling with big air I have found the edge to be very technical compared to the zephyr.The zepher is a better freestyle option and the edge just out edges the zepher in boost hieght and hang time.
I have taken core xr lightwind 17m on a twintip for a demo and it nearly riped my shoulders out of my sockets.I have bad shoulders from riding old 2008 switchblades.It has the best bottom end for scull dragging static grunt ,but if you want to get up wind I found it to be hard work and the bar pressure is quite heavy.
If its 6-10 knots and the swell is up its a good option for a downwinder.Slow but your still in the water doing something instead of wishing you were.
