Help with kite size for my daughter

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simstat said...
[br]Hi brains trust.
Have had my 13 yo daughter flying a trainer kite for the last few months. She has it mastered and it is time for the next step. Closer to summer I will get her some professional lessons but wanted to get her started with basic kite skills over the next few months on the calmer days.

I have Ozones ( Zephyr, 12m Catalyst and a 9m Edge) so would prefer to get her the same brand so we can share bars and will be looking second hand, 2012, 2013 models.

Am thinking a smaller Catalyst might be good so at 65 kg and about 5'2", what would be a recommended kite size for her?
Also, what should I be looking at for board sizes for her?
We live in Mandurah so need something that will suit for the summer seabreeze.

Any advice welcome.

Stoked Dad.

... good on ya for getting your daughter into kiting, she's gunna love ya for it. My vote is a 7m and a 132cm board. Any smaller and the kite may get to quick and not be steady enough, power wise. Then when wind is lighter, she can take your 9 or 12 or even 17 when its really light.

Have fun and be extra patient with her, you don't wanna scare her off!

Robbie (stoked Dad too!)

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Just checked the Catalyst sizes again (thanks geloof) and thinking maybe going to sell off the Edge and go an 8 and 10 Cat. This way I spread my quiver a bit and give her some nice easy kites. Would an 8, 10 and 12 Cat be overkill?
The Edge would be a bitch to learn on.....can just see her blasting off downwind at mach 3 with the death grip

As for boards, any suggestions on brand and model in the 132 range mentioned above?

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simstat said...
Thanks for the feedback guys.

Just checked the Catalyst sizes again (thanks geloof) and thinking maybe going to sell off the Edge and go an 8 and 10 Cat. This way I spread my quiver a bit and give her some nice easy kites. Would an 8, 10 and 12 Cat be overkill?
The Edge would be a bitch to learn on.....can just see her blasting off downwind at mach 3 with the death grip

As for boards, any suggestions on brand and model in the 132 range mentioned above?

... I reckon that's a good spread for a 2 person quiver, might be over kill if the quiver was just for you and you were trying to spread your dollar further but for the 2 of you, good.

Thinking logically, if you get a kite thats too small, it may be fine for a session or 2 but really, are you going to be teaching in 20 knots + all the time.

Later on when she has more experience, sure, get a small one but not so much now for the early days. Too small and they get too dartie with poor power delivery, great for experienced guys but not good for teaching. Mind you, getting a small kites isn't a bad thing though, when its really on, you got the tools to hit it and she can watch and learn.

There are heaps of boards out there, I recommend you get a second hand board that "she" likes the look of, and something thats not too old, then when you are sure she's going to stick at it, go get a new one she loves the look of. Hopefully she will have an idea what she likes and so long as its got the "right colours", will feel a sense of ownership and stick at it.

I taught my missus and did the wrong thing in the beginning, put her on a kite too big and too high performance. She got scared off and didn't like it. 2 years later she had another crack at it, only this time I got a smaller less high performance kite that I knew I wouldn't use very often but also knew it was tame enough for her. Good move as it turned out, not too far later she wanted more power so I bought a bigger one.

Oh, and one more thing, don't skimp on the harness. Make sure you get her to try as many as you can get your hands on. Like a good pair of shoes, if she is comfortable then all else is going to be good.

Good luck and have fun.

Robbie

simstat, based on your criteria a Catalyst 8m is the only logical choice really. at 65kg she'll be in the sweet spot in a 20 knots seabreeze.

I taught hundreds of students with 2011 and 2012 Catalyst and I gotta say it's about as beginner friendly as a kite can get, very forgiving, slow and perfectly suited for lighter kiters as it's not a very grunty kite. I would go as far as saying she should have some of her lessons on this kite to get familiar with it and it's safety system.

After lessons, 12m Cat would be perfect for her for 14-18 knots and the 8m would kick in 18+ knots, so not much need for a 10m IMO. I had a skilled student with the same weight who rode a 2012 8m Catalyst and she struggled to ride powered and upwind in 15-18 knots. In those years the Cat's had weaker bottom end, therefore a 6m would be underpowered

Hope this helps

Christian

Hey Simstat, if you want to try her on a 8m Cat I can lend one to trial if you want? 6pack/ week rates

Really appreciate the feedback guys. Seems like a concensus is to look at an 8m although I did get some PM's saying a 6-7 might be the go if I am looking at the 2014 models. Better bottom end apparently.
Good point about the board. I am well past the trendy stage and the look of my gear is not an issue for me, but for a 13 year old girl, it's got to look the goods!!
Eppo, I had planned to go to speak with Jason ( I rate his business and opinion highly) but wanted to get some pointers from the brains trust too. Good to get some mixed input.
Plan to take it slow and steady and give up as much time as it takes to get her there. Being a pretty average kiter myself it's a guaranteed she will be showing me up in no time

Thanks again.

... oh, just remembered one more thing,,,,, get her a comfortable helmet too, no skimping on price either, what ever is a good one, get it ,,,, and then suggest for her to bling it up with a deadly paint job that she does all by her self,,,,,, giving her that feelings of ownership again.

Robbie

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cbulota said...
simstat, based on your criteria a Catalyst 8m is the only logical choice really. at 65kg she'll be in the sweet spot in a 20 knots seabreeze.

I taught hundreds of students with 2011 and 2012 Catalyst and I gotta say it's about as beginner friendly as a kite can get, very forgiving, slow and perfectly suited for lighter kiters as it's not a very grunty kite. I would go as far as saying she should have some of her lessons on this kite to get familiar with it and it's safety system.

After lessons, 12m Cat would be perfect for her for 14-18 knots and the 8m would kick in 18+ knots, so not much need for a 10m IMO. I had a skilled student with the same weight who rode a 2012 8m Catalyst and she struggled to ride powered and upwind in 15-18 knots. In those years the Cat's had weaker bottom end, therefore a 6m would be underpowered

Hope this helps

Christian

Great advice here, also a 6 in the correct wind is far too fast a kite IMO for a beginner, the movemt required is too great especially in water starts,, I always have found a slower turning kite with more static grunt helps getting up on the board , whilst not reacting too quickly, giving her time to react and redirect, you witness it all the time, also I've found this model of catalyst when tuned at the bar and wing tips could be tailored to the rider and conditions,

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simstat said..

Puetz said...

... oh, just remembered one more thing,,,,, get her a comfortable helmet too, no skimping on price either, what ever is a good one, get it ,,,, and then suggest for her to bling it up with a deadly paint job that she does all by her self,,,,,, giving her that feelings of ownership again.



Robbie

Thanks Robbie,

Off to get the basics tomorrow. Wetsuit, helmet, vest and harness. Can see it being an expensive trip.

She's pretty excited and me too.

... thats great man, all those things are the things that will work great no matter what brand kite you get,,,, cool as.

Have fun!

Robbie

I really don't think she will want anything bigger than a 6mtr.
my son doesn't feel confident with my 8mtr , he is still getting out on his 6 when the wind is only 10 knots.
Having only one kite means he can get used to working it in the gusts and he still holds it and stays up wind in 25-30 knots.
I have tried to get him to use my 7 , 8 , 9 , and even the 10 . But he still says HIS 6 is better.
He even commented that my 8mtr Best TS was too slow.
My opinion a PINKorPurple 6mtr. for western Australian summer seabreezes.