Hey Guys,
Looking for some advice on kite sizes here, I bought a 12m ride based on recommendation of my kite school I went through
I am mainly in St Kilda atm
I am 6"6 and around 80kg mark, i was out last Sunday 26 - 20 knots and it was awesome but at one point it felt pretty full on when there was some strong gusts.
I am thinking about a second kite and am thinking a ride 9m.. what sort of wind range would be could on this kite, or would a 8m be better?
I guess the 12 is good to around 25 max, also something to consider would be the weather moving into autumn and winter, is there stronger wind around?
So any advice on a second kite would be awesome - also i have 2013 naish universal bar and lines, so a canopy that will work with that would be preferred
cheers
I think and 8 would suit. But I guess it depends on the kite.
I'm 93kg and ride and 8m Switchblade on anything over 20knots up to around 33knots any more and it's a bit of a handful.
a 12m and 9m mix is pretty 'standard' in Vic. I'm not saying it's right, but it's standard (And what i have).
As Potter (!) said, 8m would be a good option as well, providing the kite in question has decent power (please correct if wrong, but something like a North Dice or Core GTS?).
Whats the weather like in the bay in Autumn, would a 9m be overpowered, would an 8 be better is the wind range crossover to big?
Select to expand quotehandydragonfly said..
Whats the weather like in the bay in Autumn, would a 9m be overpowered, would an 8 be better is the wind range crossover to big?
I'm speaking from limited expeirence (1/2 seasons of winter) but last season, in my opinion, it was actually quite light (12m territory). At least when ever I had a window to get out it was.
Some people live for squall kiting, which is where one waits for a storm to roll in, and kite the front of a rain storm. The wind is extreme, very unpredictable, and best avoided until you have a few years under your belt.
Your current manufacture will publish recommended wind ranges for your current kite. The applicable wind range will differ based on your weight and board, but use it as a guide and calibrate your own experience to the wind range. I.e. if the website says it's good to 22knots, and you went out in 18knots and were over powered, then you know you need to shift the applicable range down.
Then look at the same range for a 9m and an 8m and see what's applicable at the top end. From my perspective, anything over 30knot wind is best avoided, as when it gets to that, it gusts massively. That's just my opinion.
So what quiver should you build.
At 80kg your pretty close to my 82kg.
2m gaps are ideal and decadent
So
12,10,8,6
3m gaps are workable
12,9,6
4m gap will give you a big whole in the middle where you are either under or overpowered.
ie 12,8.
The problem with the 8/12 combo is the gap between your kites will be right in the best wind range around 22-26 knots will be getting too powered on the 12 and too boring on the 8.
So..... Consider what you ultimate quiver might be and build around that.
If you think ultimately yourl go for 2m gaps the buy an 8m with a veiw for adding a 10m and possibly 6m later.....
If you choose 3m then buy a 9 and at a 6 later when you are ready for the silly winds.
Of course at some stage you will want a bigger kite than the 12m. then you can jump straight to a 17 from your 12m.
Do you really need all these kites? the addicted you become the more you want to go out and the wider range of kites yourl need to support your addiction!
i agree with plummet, but i lean more to a 3m gap (even though i have 2m) especially when starting out. its much more cost effective and modern kites have good wind range. so go for 9 then get a bigger one for light wind.
im changing my quiver now to the same kites with 3m gap, well 9 12, then 17. i was finding it difficult to go from a edges to C4's regarding turning speed.
Still depends on what kites you are riding....
Plummet:
22-26 knots on a Switchblade 8m is far from boring in fact 25-26 knots is about the perfect sweet spot and I'm 90kg (Ive lost 3kg over the last few weeks)
kites with a more traditional C kite shape will require more kite........ ie: when its 22-26 my mates will be in 10m Fuels or Vegas
So thats why i say it depends on which kites you are using... In Melbourne generally a 12m and an 8m ( or 10 and 14m for a more c-shape ) is the perfect two kite quiver sure its great if you want three or four kites to add more but if your budget is limited to 2.
12m from 15-22
8m from 22- low 30's
My ideal quiver with money being no object would be 6,8,10 and maybe a 17
yeah you want a 9m. a standard 9m will get you up to 30 knots but you will also want a 7m if you want to kite right through a melbourne winter. 12m and 9m is a good set up for a beginner
