Need a quick bit of advice please!
I'm comming off a 10m Ozone XC light as my main kite and looking to replace with a C4 of simmilar size. I've heard you should go one size up as low end of C4 not quite as good
I'm 65kg with my main wind between 17 and 25 knots. Intermediate rider, does a bit of everything - really starting to enjoy unhooking, but still love playing in the waves!
I like the idea of going slightly bigger as I'm pushing my riding consistently - my main concern is will the 11m be as 'sweet as the 10m or should i sacrifice a little bottom end for the 'sweeter size' 10m?
Ps. my other kite is 8m XC
Cheers!
I'm 78kg and ride 12m and 9m 2011 C4s.
On my 140x41 50fifty (lots of rocker) I get going in about 15knots on the 12 and can hold it in 25 (booooost) but the really sweet spot for me is 17-23. The 9m gets me going in about 18, but just dredging. It's super fun from 22 to 28, and I can hold it without getting too messy up to about 32. (These are Melbourne knots, possibly a bit punchier than the same wind speed further North.)
So, given you have an 8m I'd go the 11, and then, when you realise how hard these kites rock, you can sit a new 8m C4 in there and have a great two kite quiver. (3m gap will give you plenty of overlap)
Enjoy!
I also way 65 kilos and fly in similar wind range, I use 11 m C4 2010. I've put a couple of extra knots in the rear lines about 3cm back from the normal larks head knot, and that seems to give me a little bit of extra grunt in low wind.
I also use a 7 m 08 sport for windier days....
Hey Zimbo shane! Long time no see.
I agree with these guys ^. go the 11. Had the 11m 2010 C4, sweet as.
well i am loving my 10m. at 83 pies i can stay upwind 16 knots and hold to 30. the sweet spot is 20-25.
ps i had a 8m light which i used 25-40. sometimes i'd use the c4 other times the 8m in the 25-30 knot bracket. depending on the gustyness of the wind. C4 is more dynamic, lifty and punchty with less depower. but its faster and more fun than the light.... relaunch is slow compared to the light.
I say 10m size then look for a monster for super ligjht wind. my 10m is my most used kite.
go the 11m. its a sweet kite in that size. good bottom end and also great top end.
an 11m for a 65kg bloke?? are you sure? What winds, and what type of wind does he sail in?
11m, could it be too big for the sweet 20-25 knots.
at 75ish KG I can go upwind on my 9m in ~15/16kts, but to be honest its mowing the grass at best really until 19/20kts
Go for a 9m. If you find its lacking low end you can add a 11m later on.
They are certainly not grunty kites, top end is awesome though.
Yep, chef tobes.
Been thinking about your dilemma, I don't think there's a wrong answer, 11 or 10 C4. Up to you really. I was on my 9 as soon as possible because i like the smaller faster kite, you weigh a bit less than me, so the 10m would probably be sweet. This season I just had a 9m 2011 C4, fine on a surfboard from 15 knots, but not enough juice for TT.
Maybe toss a coin?
Read the guys post that started the thread, his other kite is an 8M, so the 11M is the ideal C4 to compliment it. From experience the 11M will be a perfect match for the 10M he is looking to replace.
That formula is a bit wack, 80kg guy divided by 20 knots x 2.2 = 8.8M ( maybe unstrapped on a biggish surfboard, but no way on a TT)
Yep, it's got trim on both outside lines already, so you can use those to shorten the back lines by about 4-5 cms.
I always have those pulled in all the way though, and find that having a couple of knots tied in back lines gets me out a couPle of knots earlier.
I have had it out in over thirty knots (uncomfortably), but would say anything above 25 and for more fun move to something smaller.
At 65kg in 17-25knots I would go the 10m. I am 83kg and ride my 10m in anything over 22knots on a TT and ride my 12m in anything under 22knots.
^^^ Like Steve said, he's got an 8m to cover the higher end. He's not after a one kite quiver.
well for what its worth i think you guys are wrong suggesting the 11 for such a small bloke. i'm 80ish and use my10 from 18 knots. a 65kh bloke will be able to use a lot less than that.
Select to expand quotedjdojo said...
^^^ Like Steve said, he's got an 8m to cover the higher end. He's not after a one kite quiver.
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djdojo, wouldn't the gap between kite sizes in a quiver depend on the amount of wind range you want to cover (17-25knots in original post)?
I am no pro but would think the 11m for a 65kg guy in this wind range is not as ideal as the 10m especially unhooking etc. Maybe if the wind range was 14-25knots the 11 would be a better choice.
10m or 11m, either will be excellent but as he posted, looking to replace a 10m LightXC and for this, the 11m will have a very similar range. Zimboflyman, where will you be riding? Can you get a demo?
On a flat board like a lunacy or something you'l get a bit more low end, and conversely on a custom or such, adjust it higher.
Perhaps some of the wind range disparities stem from different locations. ie 20 knots at Melbourne = 25 at Brisbane for the same power ... and perhaps we have different measuring methods. I've calibrated to Fawkner beacon readouts to see what I was riding in post sessions on Port Phillip, so I think I'm pretty accurate for Melbourne wind range at least.
The light xc series wasn't very grunty. the 8m i had, had way less power than my 9m C4 which it was supposed to be "comparable" in power output.
I recond you should look size for size XC compared to c4. also take into account the C4 has alot smaller wind range than the XC which is huge.
the 10c4, 8m light combo i had was good.
cheers for all the feedback guy's -Much appreciate your time!
Either way, sounds like I prob can't go wrong. I can get to demo a 12m next week so will have a clearer idea after that.
I'm a Zimbabwean trapped in the cold grewness of the UK for now so Mostly I kite in cold frontal type winds so the air is denser and probably a bit punchier
As long as the C4 has that same 'direct' feeling as my XC light, I will be a happy man! I dig my XC so much and we've been through a lot together, 90km downwinders, big waves and soooo many fun sessions - but really looking for a bit more spark!
I'm guessing from the responses of people who know the Light XC and the C4 that the 10C4 and 11C4 are pretty simmilar, as the jury seems pretty evenly split!
Tobes - good to find you again - how did you know it was me?
oh yeah - for those ridden both - does the C4 have that same 'direct' feel as the XC?
comparable size C4 a bit quicker that XC???
c4 is more direct than the xc. more punchy, faster, more lifty, more fun! until you get into real nasty wind, then the huge depower of the light is better.
MAAAAANNNNN,,, I just gotta say - the C4 is amaaaaazing!
Had my first session on a 10m in around 18 knots and after the XC light, this thing is just so sweet!
Much more pop and much more 'crispier'
really light when unhooked but still plenty of feeling
can be quite tame (and sublime) when just cruising around, but as soon as you ask it to do something - you get quite a serious response! I can see a few spanking's comming my way from this thing but only when I ask for it
can also get a little 'heavy ' on the legs when the wind picks up, but thats to be expected with the C shape.
all in all - the best of both worlds - C shape with depower, but not too much.
relaunch was a little tricky for me - so i prob need to practice and just suss out the technique!
I can see why you said i will be looking to replace my 8m too!
thanks again for all the advice....
finally went with the 10m (2011) as the test run proved i can use it in around 15kn with my surfboard and I'm certain i will get the better top end than the 11m.
Merry Xmas all
Shane
I demoed a 9 the other day and all I wanted to do was loop it, but as I was I bindings I held back. Just bought a 9 yesterday and it's 30kts today, so a few loops might be my Christmas present
