Kite sizes for surfing

Would appreciate some advice from seasoned wave riders.

Ive been riding for about 1 year and weigh 80kg. Currently got a 9m rebel (which I really like) and a 12m park (which feels heavy and slow).

I've taken to riding waves and wont go back to flat water spots anymore (unless its 30knts+). Ive ditched the TT and ride my normal surfboards (ave 6') strapless. My riding style is basically surfing waves using wave power - rather than powered up by the kite. That said, I do like access to power to get around sections or immediate power to get out the back...

Ill be kiting in the summer southeasters or northerlies on the GC which average around 15-25knts.

Ive demo the dice 10 and 12 and liked it as it turned like a rebel. I dont like the park as it turns too slow and leaves me sinking at times when i need some power. Ive also had demos on the BWS 8m and the Reo (which felt good).

Bearing in mind my kiting skills are only as good as someone with 12 months experience and i know the 12m park will always turn slower than a 9m rebel...

I want to get some surf specific kite/s to overcome the obvious deficiencies Im finding with the Park. Question is if I sell the 12m Park what size surf kite should I get? I think I want to keep the 9m rebel in which case it would make sense to get a Dice but what size ?

Id usually be on the 12m 80% of the time but as Im in the surf now should I drop the size down to a 11m? or even a 10m.

chances are if its blowing over 30knts (which is rare) ill take the 9m rebel to flat water as the surf will be sh#t anyway.

In short I want to swap the 12m Park for a surf kite but should it be a 10, 11 or 12m ?

cheers

I tend to agree with Col here. If you are going to keep the rebel 9m which is NOT a wave kite but can be used in the waves, then you need a 12m I suppose. The rebel due to its aspect has a good low end and a good top end. On the low end side it would make sense then to get a 12 in a dedicated surf kite. There are heaps of really good ones.

dice, Neo, REO, religion, envy, Cabo, airush wave BWS pro (make sure its the pro), drifter, ....I can keep going.

If you keep the rebel then personally I'd stay with a dice or neo, as it has the same north feel.

80kg...what winds you looking to get down to? I know my mate took his new 12m dice out only yesterday arvo on a nugget and he's 85kg and was riding in next to Farq all. Get the four line bar, heaps more bottom end.

But that being said, have you got the most out of your gear as yet?

Also any 12m kite is kind of getting into that category where you do need to adjust for size in the waves. Anything from 6 to 9m to me is the better size for wave riding...

I use to use a 12 and 9m cabs years ago. Been using 10 and 8m fluid atvs for the last 4 yrs. I am 85kg and i ride strapless surfboard 95% of the time. These 2 sizes cover me from 13 to 35 knots. Surfboard is JC Stingray 6'0 x 19 x 2 3/16
Have just updated to 2014 Liquid force envys 10.5 and 8m. Would not go any bigger than 11m.

X'cuse my ignorance, but why is it pointless riding a 12m on waves?

Thanks guys I think Im getting some clarity here...

I am stuck with the wrong kites for what I want as a result of too many options at the time and not enough knowledge... The gear is in good condition but just not the ideal gear for what I want to do or not do. Things like:

- getting pulled forwards off the wave when Im trying to bottom turn back up the face,
- kite going really slack and falling when I head fast towards the kite on a take-off or reo off the lip and then a jolt forward when the lines go tight
- slow turning the kite from one direction to another while the tail of the board is sinking up to my knee and Im watching the next white-water heading towards me
- also immediate acceleration once I've climbed the white-water and I want to get some speed up to get over the next wave

(Im sure there is plenty of bad technique involved with a lot of this but some purpose designed kites cant hurt!?)


I probably want to start kiting at around 15-16knts and it doesn't seem to get much more than 25-28knts here on a regular basis (unless last year was not average?!).

What's prompted my question is that I see (and hear) most guys talking about 3 kite quivers that START at 10m and get smaller. Once it gets to 15knts Im struggling to stay afloat on a 12m! Is it that most guys don't bother under about 18knts ?? OR is it the answer I don't want to hear which is I need to learn to kite better in order to use a 10m in 15knts ???

Yeh that sounds like a rebel pretty much in waves...lol, i get in a lot of bother dishing the worlds biggest selling kite when I talk about wave riding, but I will stand and take the barrage as I have said time and time again, if you are fair dinkum about riding in the surf on a SB kites have moved on. Hence why North has a Neo and Dice...forget the rebel if you want to seriously wave ride...here comes the red thumbs... but you can suck my wang because you are incorrect.

Righto a 12m is fine for wave riding, but 10m and below (I maintain 9m and below myself) is far better for that specific style of kiting. Even with the 12m reo you have to adjust.

No, looking at your winds, and they look similar to mine, a 12, 9, 7 combo at your weight would be perfect...depending on the kite.

But the rebel needs to go my friend if you are fair dinkum. ...more red thumbs...wait for it...

Just forget your kites for a minute. Look at your board. A light wind orientated kiting surfboard, I just love my 6' X-Surf, will give a similar gain to low end as a larger kite & you still get the enjoyment of the smaller kite manouveribility. That's what I'd recommend.
cheers
Col

IMO sell both kites and get 7m and 9m religions, or 8 and 10m reo's

Ooh yeh...now ya making sense...lol!!!!

The other kites mentioned above are also very nice. But yeh I strongly agree with your intended course of action, especially the selling part.

But may I add...demo if you can. And feedback what you find, help others out as well who are also in your boat.

15-25? 10m should do most of that range.

local wave guys here typically run 12-10-8 quivers plus maybe a 6. reos

some 12-9-6 airrush

main: i ride on the tweed coast (so same conditions as you- probably a bit lighter). i weigh 75ish and ride a 6'0 strapless. i'm overpowered on a 10 bws noise from 17 knots up. i wish i'd bought an 8 instead.
if you only want the kite to get back up the line then an 8/9 should be fine for the goldy most rideable days. gcdave is spot on

Get a demo 10m & ride it back to back with your 12.

No not anymore plummett. The pro is a completely different animal.