Hi everyone,
I'm only in my first season, but happy to be ridding and staying upwind most of the time.
With winds really dying over the last week, I've been thinking on getting some light wind equipment to complement my Naish Park 12m and Naish Motion 138
The other day I tried an oldish North Phantom board with my Park 12m, and was ridding in 10 to 12 knots. Couldnt really stay upwind too much but was better than not kiting at all.
I've also seen a few specials going on light wind kites, quite atracted by the Naish fly, but have also seen people swear by the Zephyr.
My question is... is it better to get a light wind board for my current kite or a bigger kite for my board.... I'm aware I'm probably going to want both, but I'm not sure I can justify them to the wife in one go.
Opinions?
I would just go buy a skim board. I have always got one on the car just in case the wind dosn't get up. You will find as long as your kite can stay in the sky you should be able to keep upwind. Great for practicing strapless tricks, small wave riding and gybes.
Definitely a light wind board, something like a north nugget and you will stay upwind in 11 knots. Anything around 8 to 9 knots you will need both kite and board. Have had 17 meter kites in the past but 14 is now my biggest with a 21.5 wide fish surfboard but the nugget will do better.Hope this helps.
I use a w18 speedball shinn, that goes great in the light stuff, more I use this board the more I enjoy it.
light wind board is the go, they are cheaper and will still get you going in light winds (you could go lighter with both a big kite and a light wind board)
i recently bought a AXIS Patrol, and love it. i was kiting the other week in 10-15 knots (its not super light winds but still pretty light) on my 12m Ozone Cat and my patrol, at times i had the 12 fully depowered and i was rocketing up wind. This was the first time i had used the board so i came in and grabbed my slingshot misfit to have a bit of a comparison. While i was fully depowered and riding straight upwind on the AXIS i had to fully power up and was really struggling on my misfit.
in conclusion, i chose the light wind option as it was cheaper at the time (got the board on sale) and i do not regret my decision i can get out in 10-15 knots now, while my mates sit on the beach :)
Select to expand quoteMaxiy said..
light wind board is the go, they are cheaper and will still get you going in light winds (you could go lighter with both a big kite and a light wind board)
i recently bought a AXIS Patrol, and love it. i was kiting the other week in 10-15 knots (its not super light winds but still pretty light) on my 12m Ozone Cat and my patrol, at times i had the 12 fully depowered and i was rocketing up wind. This was the first time i had used the board so i came in and grabbed my slingshot misfit to have a bit of a comparison. While i was fully depowered and riding straight upwind on the AXIS i had to fully power up and was really struggling on my misfit.
in conclusion, i chose the light wind option as it was cheaper at the time (got the board on sale) and i do not regret my decision i can get out in 10-15 knots now, while my mates sit on the beach :)
and what weight are you, and what size is the patrol to the misfit
Yep, agree that the light wind board is your first point of call. We get lots of light wind days on the Sydney Northern beaches so we need to be well prepared here otherwise we just miss lots of days on the water. You need a board with flat rocker and big width to get you going. I am thinking of selling my older light wind board, a 2010 Nobile XTR 143x48, having recently upgraded to an even more extreme light wind board, the Flydoor 170x50. PM me if you want more details.
If you're satisfied by mowing the grass, a bigger board may suffice in light winds. Generally light wind boards aren't very exciting.. If you want to kite like you do when powered in stronger winds and get decent pop..The only way is with a bigger kite.
I've got a Flydoor XL too. Well, 2 actually - a version 2 I kinda broke stuffing into the car but have been riding for 2 years anyway and a version 3 with the center fin. Took the ver. 2 to Thailand and gave it hard time beach starting and grinding over the coral but it's still going strong. The ver. 3 feels odd with the center fin, and more draggy with the extra finnage, but goes upwind well. Basic rotations are doable with the Flydoor and they jump fine... even got my first real I'm-in-a-half-pipe! wave riding on the 'door2.
However, my Axis Limited 140x43 doesn't really give up a lot on the bottom end. Sure, I'll be walking back upwind when the 'door is holding ground but (usually) there's simply no power in the wind to really do anything anyway. And it's easier to do it on the Axis :D
Light wind though is the definition of the law of ever diminishing returns... you REALLY want to chase the limit, you have to throw money at the problem and get ALL the gear.
You might want to try a free-race board like a North Nugget or Airush Slayer for cruising around on... might be able to get away without a new kite too.
Controversial I know, but have you considered wake boarding when the wind is light? You could probably bag a lot of time for the cost of a light wind kite/board.
my kite gear
14 meter Ride from Naish with 32 meter lines and SUP 11 feet . Because of the Ride is 3.5 K I can kite in very light winds. Below 9 knots I am
only mowing the lawn. But the feeling of gliding over water is better than do nothing.
When the wind is above 10 knots I can ride on the twin tip 145x45 cardboard glide.
Just remember warm wind has less power than cold wind. Don't know why but I can tell the difference.
A second hand board is about 400 to 600 and a second hand kite is from 800 to $ 1400.
cheers
I recently demo'd this odd looking board - Litewave Wing - www.litewavedesigns.com/products/kiteboards/2013-litewave-wing.html
I used my 12m kite in 12kn and @ 95kg I was up and going in no time, I've tried several LW boards and this is the only one that doesn't feel like a big board. Granted you know it is there but it carves and turns like a much smaller TT. I have now bought the 153cm version and with my 15m kite I can ride when there is no white caps. I am extremely time poor and like to go when I have a spare afternoon so I can't be too picky with the wind
On Tuesday this week I went out 12-14kn and there was 2 blokes at my local doing jumps and rolls on them, when we were packing up I realised that of the 10 kites out - 8 of the were using a wing...
And as mentioned, boards are cheaper and last a lot longer than kites, so for me it is a no brainer, get a LW board.
I agree with the numerous posters who recommend a lightwind board. I have a 14m kite and a North Nugget and it works a treat in the low teens. The board is a huge part or the equation. A few guys at my local have Zephyrs but they never seem to have them out unless its super light (below 13knts). I can only assume they are too powerful for that wind range. I think with a 12m and a Nugget you should have no troubles in as low as 13knts
Select to expand quotesnalberski said..
I agree with the numerous posters who recommend a lightwind board. I have a 14m kite and a North Nugget and it works a treat in the low teens. The board is a huge part or the equation. A few guys at my local have Zephyrs but they never seem to have them out unless its super light (below 13knts). I can only assume they are too powerful for that wind range. I think with a 12m and a Nugget you should have no troubles in as low as 13knts
An average weight rider like me (76kg) can easily handle a Zephyr to 17/18 knots, and probably a bit more if the rider is experienced. However if the wind is blowing consistently above 15/16 knots, I'd definitely choose a smaller kite, unless the wind was holey or predicted to drop.
The biggest factor to light wind kiting is the board, I've got a Cabrinha Stylus 1.65 x 48 and it can keep me mowing from 8-10 knots on the Zephyr, and similar with a 12M Chrono foil, but the Zephyr is the easier and better kite for 90%+ of riders.
Recently, this week I've been out kiting with several others on various kites and board combos, none of the people on 12M inflatos and boards in the 1.35-1.45 range can stay upwind below 15 knots. The only riders actually staying upwind in 10-15 were people with 14M or larger inflatos/foils and larger boards.
The Cabrinha Stylus rides really well from sub 10 knots to well over 15 knots, while some very large "door" type boards are quite horrible to ride above 14/15knots, try to demo first, or talk to owners.
I can ride my 5'10' Cab skillet down to 10-12 knots with the zephyr or 12M Chrono, prefer minimum of 12 knots, but lulls to 10 are ok provided there is some periods of 12 to allow me to hold ground. Winds of 10 knots and lulls below, definitely require a 17-19M Lei or foil AND a large board. Directional semi-race boards also work very well for sub 10 knots, things like the Airush Sector 66 ( I have one) and Cab Stylus and race boards all go well under 10 knots, but you don't want to be crashing kites under 10 knots!! 
100% agree with the stylus recommendation ,I have the 165 and it's a real game changer , it's very light and easy to jump ,back roll etc 'm a heavy weight and often the only one out riding upwind on light wind days , I also have a 17 m Cabrinah contra which is also a very nice kite , gets me upwind with ease very nice kite and board combination
Select to expand quotesnalberski said..
I agree with the numerous posters who recommend a lightwind board. I have a 14m kite and a North Nugget and it works a treat in the low teens. The board is a huge part or the equation. A few guys at my local have Zephyrs but they never seem to have them out unless its super light (below 13knts). I can only assume they are too powerful for that wind range. I think with a 12m and a Nugget you should have no troubles in as low as 13knts
maybe they a bit woosy, 13 knts is perfect for the zephyr at 90kgs, still very stable around 24knts just gets seriously heavy on the bar and legs
Select to expand quoteiggypop said..
I'm a heavy weight
That's why the big board is easy to handle... you (we) got the weight to make it work. Little guys have a harder time on them, in my experience.
If I did it all again I'd get a Nugget or Sector...
Get an older airush sector 52 for around 3 or 400 dollars.They are far superior up wind and are good for boosting in the light stuff compared to any light wind tt.
Possibly the best value light wind board you can get is a sheet of 12mm marine ply 135x45-48cm with a couple of foot straps bolted on. The foot straps are optional, just put a good coat of wax on if you want to go strapless.
Curve the sides a bit to make it look like a kiteboard. Whack a coat of paint on it. Bolt the straps in the centreline. Go riding. Fins are unnecessary. You will rocket upwind and the large planing area will be like using a kite 2-4m larger.
Hi Gorgo,
I've saw a guy the other day on a homemade board so know what you are talking about...
I'm not sure I have the time or the skill but certainly worked for the guy...
Race boards use longer fins which create lift and give insane angles up wind.The sector uses a combination of edging and medum to long fins.I have seen some of these home made boards which are fantastic in shallow water ,but no match to a race board for speed and performance..A free race board is great for jumping because you get extra speed which creates apparent wind which creates power through the kite.
Select to expand quoteINTHELOOP said...
the original monster door by Spleene ;)
Is a ****e board, feels like your lining up an a380 when landing your jumps, ok on butterflat water though, crazy flys, fly boards and shinn king gees are a much better all rounder, sorry marv
Thanks everyone for the tips.
Sounds like a board it is.
Now to wait a few days for some light wind and demo a few of the specimens mentioned here.
Cheers.-
Yep I agree the landing is more difficult and rolling too on the sector.But when my w18 speed ball just wont give me the airtime i need in sub 12 knots the sector always saves a big air sesh!. get the light wind board first for sure and then keep your eyes out for some 17 m light wind kites on second hand on seabreeze.
