G'day all.
Can anyone tell me if it's possible to have a one kite quiver, or is it the impossible dream?
I'm looking around at the myriads of kites out there to determine what's gonna be the best first kite for me, obviously I want to get the best wind range I can out of a single kite to begin my kiting adventures with.
My quest for a single kite to begin with is not due to a reluctance on my part to buy more than one, rather my understanding is that it'll take me a while to determine what sort of kite I will want later on to suit the type of riding I'll end up falling into most.
At the moment I'm most interested in free riding & hopefully getting some freestyle going (still haven't figured out what new school is 
) rather than waveriding.
So what do you all reckon?
Is a one kite quiver realistic?
I noticed a few years ago, a few manufacturers were pushing towards large wind range single kite designs; what happened to those? was it just a pipe dream?
Don't know if this should be in the newbies thread, it kind is and isn't a newbie question.
Cheers. 
I have in the past had a one kite that does most.I would think in WA a 9m would be best then later you could add a 6 or 7m.I find the 9m kite dont take much more than a 12m to get going.That is for me 84kg twin tip and surfboard.
The last 3 years i have mainly used a 9m and 7m quiver.2008 rebels and now 2010 rebels.
Thanks, makes sense.
It's a bit hard trying to figure out the best size to get being that I'm 93kg, will be getting a twin tip.
From your figures, I'm guessing I'd need a 10 minimum, maybe an 11?
I'm more like 78kg and use a 9M about 85% of the time on the East Cast-I would think at your weight a 9M (prob. more likely) or 11M on the West Coast would do you for a large portion of the time (no doubt others from the left coast will have a better idea).
But yes, it is possible to have a single kite quiver for MOST of your kiting.
The problem of having a one kite quiver for a newbie is that to get the maximum form it in the top and bottom end can take a lot of technique and skill and can take years to master, so i would recomend a 2 kite quiver for anyone new to the sport as this will give you maximum time on the water. you see a lot of newbys try to buy just one kite but in the end find themselfs wanting a bigger and a smaller kite.
So i think realy if you want just one for WA conditions get a 8/9m hybrid or delta kite then latter on you could add a 11/12or13m to get the largest wind range. Check out what your local kiteshop sells as these kites will have the best backup and local suport. Most new kites can handle various styles so dont be to worried about getting gear and feeling it is limited to just one style.
I definitely want to have two kites at least eventually, heck, I'd love to have a dozen
Trouble is, I need to make the right choice on a kite to pull my lump of a weight around for the first kite.
So if you guys reckon a 9, I'll look for one with a bit of a rep for pulling heavy weights 
I'm not so much of a newbie to kite flying, been flying stunt kites for years, one of my favourite past times was taking the kite to the beach to swoop dogs, man I used to run that thing along barely clearing the ground, then up over the dog who always missed it's jump grab at the kite, then back down for a swoop pass, ahhh that was always fun...but I digress.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've only had one lesson so far (next two are booked!) & I found controlling the kite to be very similar to my past kiting experience, I'm confident that it'll just be a matter of time to get the feel of the kite I end up buying.
Putting that together with a board however is another matter...
I could be overthinking this all, but I've decided to rent a few kites first to get exposure to as many different sizes & brands as I can, hopefully that'll sort me out.
But I'm so obsessed with all this, I want my own gear like yesterday man!! 
My wife's gonna kill me soon, I've got the bug & spending way too much time (in her eyes) looking up kites, kite classifieds, kiteboarding tricks & techniques, and more kiting kiting kiting
Is it always like this the first time? 
A 10m bow kite and a largish twintip or a strapped surfboard will get an 80kg rider out in 15-30 knots.
But, getting the most out of an underpowered kite is an acquired skill. Most newbies waste about 2m worth of power on the kites through choking the kite and riding too slow.
Also, I'm sorry to say that your stunt kite experience will count for not much at all. It might save you half an hour in the learning process.
All brands, and all models within brands, are not the same. Some 10m kites are closer in power to 8m kites of a different brand.
The best way to choose your kite is to go to the local kiting spot and watch the locals. Check out the most common kite (size, model and brand), then check out the most kite used by the competent riders.
You want to be able to go to a local store and buy a kite off the shelf. That way, when you have problems you can sort them out with a quick visit to the store. Dicking around with internet specials might save you a few bucks but you will be on your own if you have problems.
I am particularly partial to Cabrinha kites in general and to the Crossbow and Switchblades.
8m Cab SB, you can probably get more out of the 8 than a bigger kite,it moves quicker so you can create more apparent wind when cond. are light,and they have enough settings and trim variations to handle the stronger conditions.
the stunt kite experience may help you a little with your new found love by you having knowledge on kite behaviour to some degree, so def use this knowledge to your advantage but what i think gorgo was trying to point out is that it may not nessacarily transfer to complete knowledge of kite behaviour once u add in some board skills and possibly rough seas or gusty conditions or an overpowered situation. a one kite quiver is def possible here in wa as i have done it myself, as long as u chose the right size for your weight on your particular board choice for the average wind speed at your local spot u'll find that you'll be able to get out most days, it'll be the days when its really nuking that u'll be sitting on the beach thinkin 5h!t i need a smaller kite...
as mentioned before, do some research at your local spot and shop around for your options and advice.
happy winds.
I'm 93kg and have only ever ridden a 12m Ozone Light XC with a North X-ride 144. From wind as light as 15 knot right up to 30 
. One kite quiver all the way, any one else has too much money. WA conditions
Mate,
It really depends on your local conditions and weight more than anything else....
If your in perth, its bloody windy and a 10 or 9 should be fine for the summer beach breezes, maybe a tad light for some of the winter eastilies,
conversely if it's light where you are, the biggest I would go is a 12, and get a board to suit
Nick
I'm 95 kgs
only have a 8.5 vapor this season(not by choice)
ride it from 18 to 25 knots strapless on surfboard
25 to 35 on twin tip
handles it all well
that said, if I had the money I'd have 3 to 4 kites
8m RPM, surfboard and twintip for WA conditions. Selling my 11m Rev 2 dont use it anymore.
I could have sworn this was going to become an argument on the hydra's wind range
93kg buy a 12m for WA. Just get out early, before the wind screams in at first and get used to it. I have only ever had a 9m(80kg) and its pretty frustrating at times with not enough wind, you do really need a couple of kites.
Others may disagree but i rekon its better/more fun if youve got bit to much power than not enough. One kite, two boards way to go.
Some interesting feedback here, thanks!
It's good to hear what the average guy on the water is riding with & with what a lot of you are saying it seems I'm not too far off the mark.
So it seems that if you choose right & get a good combo of kite & board, you can get away with a single kite quiver.
Of course kites are such great toys, in an ideal world why would you just settle for one?
I'll have a dozen please
And if there are any kite manufacturers out there looking to sponsor a rider, I'm more than happy to be your man.
Think about it; what a great angle to market your kites- sponsor a newbie into a champ kiteboarder!
No?
Oh well, it's nice to dream...
So what brand and size are you looking at?
Slingshot Fuell
Flexifoil Hadlow Pro
Naish Torch
All good kites if you are looking at going pro strait up.
hey mate I have a one kite quiver this year i've gone for a 9m Bandit3. It's absolutely CRAZY!!![}:)]
I'm 85kg and i ride freestyle in almost any wind from 15kts. I used to ride other brands and I find the 9m B3 has just as much bang as other 11's and 12's out there. The other guys at my riding spot all have 12's with good de-power, but i just can't see the point of sitting behind a huge kite like that and cruising they're like an armchair in the sky!
You can produce a hell of a lot of apparent wind with a bandit and they have great top end be sure to test ride one of these
i punted on a 9m bandit and surfboard as a quiver
pity its been soooooo windy this season, should have gone a 7m bandit and surfboard (i'm 75kg)
next season going for a two kite quiver
So Poida & Yeehaa, would you reckon then that me being a bit heavier than you two, I should go for a 10m?
sebastian is out there now on a 9m takoon and its 40 gusting 45 on the graph (stk) and has been for 30 mins now. he is about 72 kgs and can use that kite from 16 knots, thats a pretty sick one kite quiver :P haha
Yeah I rekon for 93kg I'd go for a 10 or an 11. It really depends what wind your looking to ride in too, but you should get out in 16kts on and 11. This would apply for a delta shape like the bandit, some other bows will require more wind so they will need to be a bigger size. And you need to ask yourself- what winds am i going out in? I'd be talking to the locals
You can get away with a one kite quiver, and I have done a number of seasons with only a single kite at various times.
However, if you have only one kite, and you get properly addicted, you will miss out on some of the sweetest sessions. Both because you don't have a kite that can hanle the conditions, or because the conditions are outside of the sweet spot of the gear you have.
I have three kites 13-10-7 and I can ride in any wind conditions from 10 to over 40 knots and have the sweet spot well covered. It is so nice to be able to ride and not be worried about being over or underpowered or pushing the safe limit of my kites.
A 12-8 combination gives a similar useful wind range but the sweet spot is a little harder to maintain.
You also want a couple of boards so you can mix and match.
