G'day, new to the sport and looking to buy a new kite, however, Im 105 kg, is there a particular size I should be looking for?
From what I know of Perth, its fairly strong wind so you could get away with a 12m with your weight. People can correct me if I'm wrong.
I would suggest a 12m would be a good kite to start with. Depending on board size, that will give you a wind range of 15-25kt in practice. A 132 to 136cm board will give you a wind range from about 18kt and will still be something that you want to ride when you have a couple of seasons of experience, where a bigger board will give you a slightly better wind range on the bottom end and be a little bit easier to get up and going on, but won't be as much fun later on. It all depends whether you want to upgrade your board after 12 months.
I am 110kg and currently ride 10m kites (Naish Cult and Flysurfer Psycho) most of the time using a surfboard or 133 twin tip.
The 12m will be a little more forgiving for learning.
You may also find a seat or better still, boardshort harness like the Dakine Nitrous work well for you.
Cheers,
Ben.
cheers guys, out of every one looking you guys are taking the time to help someone new to the sport, good one ya
You will need to be careful because not all kites are the same power for size, and it takes a little skill to get the best out of a smaller kite. Generally, once you get more skilful a slightly smaller kite is better.
If you can ride and stay upwind the best thing is to take a kite for a test ride. If not, then you need to ask the dealer for advice.
Think 12m as a starting point and maybe go up to 13-14m if necessary. The Cabrinha Switchblade in 12m will be plenty powerful enough.
For Perth, go for a 12m and make it a BOW kite - don't get a C. Spend as much money as you can afford on the kite, cos the latest models are really improved on 2-3 years ago. A 13-14m kite in Perth is a bit of a waste imo. You only get a few more knots lower range and its not really fun in that kind of wind.
Try and save money on the board, get a big one with a view to upgrading in a year or so (if budget allows). Also, you are more likely to lose a board than a kite when learning.
Seat harness is the way to go. Have fun :)
General rule of thumb
Weight divided by ten plus two=kite size for 16-22knts (perth seabreeze)
that's W/10 +2=KS for all those engineering types out there like me 
How about for both:
Kite size = Weight divided by (Wind strength(knots) divided by 2.2)
Wind strength as having power but not being overpowered. That is mid wind range of the kite. Round to the nearest number
KS=W/(KNTS/2.2)
Obviously depends on how grunty the kite is and size of board. Just general rule of thumb or somewhere to start for newbies
Thats wicked works for me and is spot on for all the kites i have in my quiver.
You got one for board size?
Gonna have to ask for contract rates for this work..... $125 per hour
Board size doesn't really matter so much. More goes on experience. Bigger board less experience.
Hello, i am plannign to kitesurf in my home country Algeria this summer of 2009. Its not very windy there, the average wind strenght is about 5 to 7 knots (7-8 miles per hour). However, one or twice a month it gets up to 9-10 knots (11 miles per hour). Will the kite work in the beach. What if i buy a large kite (please tell me which size i need to buy). Will it work???
I weight 60 kg
thanks
Cspice,
Agree with the other guys completely. I'm 100-105Kgs and have been kiting for about 3 and a half years (mostly in WA). Go the 12m, for a board though, it would depend on your experience in other board sports. If you haven't had a great deal, opt for a slightly larger board (135-142), if you are pretty good at surfing or wakeboarding etc though, I'd tend to lean a little more toward something 132-136.
Get amongst it and enjoy yourself,
D
Its funny this popped up, as I was just calculating power ratios the other day, comparing me at 74kg and my 12yo son at 45kg on our switchblade quiver 4m/6m/8m/12m with our twintip boards.
Making some pretty big generalisations...(board width, kite aspect, depower setting etc)
The drive provided by the kite is essentially the size of the kite x the speed of the wind.
( m x knots)
This is standardised for weight, to give a power ratio;
Power = (m x knots) / kg
So for me at 74kg in 15knots on my SB3 12m, my power is 2.4
For my son at 45kg in 15 knots on the SB3 8m, his power is 2.67
At 18knots, the power increases to:
Me: Power 2.9
Son: Power 3.2
So I can see why the little turd can out-point me in 13-14knots!
For comparing between kites, I guess it would be good to know the power at bottom end, mid range sweet spot, and top end.
For my 12m SB3, the numbers are:
Low End: 13 knots. Power 2.1
Mid range: 18knots Power 2.9
Top end: 23knots Power 3.7
For the 8m SB3
Low End: 19 knots. Power 2.1
Mid range: 26 knots Power 2.8
Top end: 32 knots Power 3.46
Interesting how similar they are!!
So the basic formula is Power = [kite(m) x wind(kn)] / weight (kg)
and for the SB3 it seems the bottom end is just over power=2, the sweetest riding is with power around 2.8, and by the time the power is up near 3.5 your are pretty much riding in "overpowered" mode.
So for these beginners wondering about kite sizes for people of various weight, you just re-organise the equations, insert the required power, and windspeed, and solve for kite size:
Kite(m) = [power x weight(kg)] / wind (kn)
So for our 105kg learner wanting his lower limit (power 2.1 ) to be around 15 knots
Low end: kite size = [2.1 x105kg ] / 15
= 14.7m
So you'd suggest about a 14m SB3 or something similar
For a mid range sweet spot of about 20knots, it also gives kite = 14.7m
would be interesting to see what numbers other people get?
neoniphon: You should try that exercise with wind speed squared.
Lift (or drag) is proportional to density*area*speed^2
Might get better numbers?
Jeez I'll have to twist another number for that!
...give me a couple of hours.... x 
= 
Wot the ???
All this and no-one has suggested that his/her professional instructor will advise what kite size & type of kite he/she needs.
Or that Scarbs is no place for a beginner. 
Cmon guys get real - forum advice like this is totally off beam, counter productive, outright dangerous etc. Its newbys rocking up to places like Brighton that are killing it for all of us. The ONLY advice any newby needs is where to go for lessons. And if the instructor then doesnt advise where to go (or better where NOT to go) you should have sent him to a different school.
Nice discussion on the maths/physics of it all though 
And welcome to the froth cspice. Youre gonna love it. Just do it right, esp to start with. You will find a list of qualified schools at www.waksa.com. Ask around if you want to get some low down on which one/s might suit you best.
indeed.....all beginners listen to puppet.
Puppet...have another beer mate, its friday.
whatthe: I understand the theoretical need for the wind^2 factor, but the empirical "feel" of the kite's power doesn't bear it out.
If you sub wind^2 into the equation
Power = (m x knots^2) / kg you get the following for my kites:
Sb3 12m
Low End: 13 knots. Power 27
Mid range: 18knots Power 52
Top end: 23knots Power 86
For the 8m SB3
Low End: 19 knots. Power 39
Mid range: 26 knots Power 73
Top end: 32 knots Power 110
According to this the power of the 8m in 32 knots is twice as big as the 12m in 18 knots...no way
also the power of the 8m in 26-27 knots and the power of the 12m in 23knots are approx the same....also no way
I reckon the basic equation
Power = [kite(m) x wind(kn)] / weight (kg)
fits the actual performance of the kites better.
Anyone else got a 2 kite quiver of the same make of kite that they have ridden enough to know the bottom, mid and top end of?
Tell us your weight, kite sizes, and wind range please?
Both kites 06 fuels. Weight 82kg
9m
Low 17kn = 1.87
Mid 20kn = 2.2
Top 28kn = 3.07
13m
Low 13kn = 2.06
Mid 17kn = 2.7
Top 22kn = 3.49
Numbers don't seem to match up too well? Maybe board size needs to be included?
I reckon the numbers aren't that different actually.
12m SB3:
Low End: 13 knots. Power 2.1
Mid range: 18knots Power 2.9
Top end: 23knots Power 3.7
8m SB3
Low End: 19 knots. Power 2.1
Mid range: 26 knots Power 2.8
Top end: 32 knots Power 3.46
Bottom end near 2, mid range just under 3, and max near 3.5
Your 9m is a bit out, but that may be explained by the fact that SB3's are more powerful kites than 06 Fuels for a given size, due to their flatter arc. 9m 06 fuel about same as an 8m SB3 I'd guess?
