G'day guys, Im updating my kites to switchblade IDS and i am unsure about what sizes to get. Im looking at getting 2 kites.
Weight: 70kg
Boards: 5"5' Rocketfish & 133 Cab custom
Locations: Sydney, mainly Northern beaches & botany area
I'd go for an 8 & 10. I think the 8 is the best kite in this years SB range (followed closely by the 10).
What about 2 kite quiver for WA conditions, surfing & freestyle and some unhooked
Wind range from ~ 15 kn to 30 kn
Weight 75-80 Kg
tar
Mf
Quit hijacking my thread. I was concerned with the overlap but I think the 6 would be too small. Not sure what to think about the 12. Any comments on it compared to the 10?
hey lex.
i ride SB3s (8m and 10m). 75kg.
there is heaps of overlap btwn the two.
id go 8m and 12m.
the 8m will be great for the waves
and the 12m for park n ride unhooking.(as ur avatar shows you obviously can)
tim
I think definetly 8 not 6 in sydney (I have one and ride it only 10% of the time if that) I agree with timmm (about park and ride with the 12) and that there is some overlap with the 8 & 10 thanks to alot more depower with the IDS range.... But the turning speed is way different betweeen the two kites. Forget about the numbers printed on the side and have a go on a 10 lex and see what you think. The 10 should get you going in 12knots. If you can demo a 12 back to back with the 10 you should have it sorted.
I am about 78kgs and between me and the mrs we have 12,10,8 and 6. The 10 and 8 get used the most. The 10 gets you going almost as early as the 12, the 12 feels a bit heavy and sluggish compared with the 10 so rarely gets a run out. I have used the 8 in gusty 30-40knot winds and it has been fine, so I would say 10 and 8 for sure. Never tried the 6 as it has never been windy enough.
Hi Lex,
Im about your weight maybe a little more and I find that the sweet spot with 8m and the sweet spot with the 10m is far enough apart that it makes it worth while having both.
If the winds up and there are white caps im generally on the 10 and if its really windy im on the 8. I never use a wind mtr so im not going to quote knts.
The 8m can handle most winds we get in OZ,unless of cause your wanting to unhhook and do the same tricks that you do in lighter winds in 30knts then you need the 6m.
I only ever use my 12 if im standing on the beach scratching my head considering if its even worth while going out.Wich can be a lot of the time!
I could not live without out all 3 here on the sunnycoast.BUT... if I had to for my weight I would go 8 and 10.
I could not stand missing out on those super windy day's when the ocean is really turning it on
its sessions on those days that stick in your mind for ages and you do not want to miss.
My 2 cents
Regards
Luke
I've got the SB3 12m and SB2 8m and live in Melbourne, weigh 80kg.
The 12 and the 8 give heaps of range and there's a fair overlap in the middle. There's not really enough overlap to be comfortable on those strongish days with holes in the wind. The 12 is a bit too powerful if the wind is strong and there's lots of chop. It gets hard to set the edge to get really huge jumps (smooth water and strong wind is another thing completely. 
)
Lots of times I am wishing for a 10 to be perfectly powered and going big on those stronger choppier days.
A smaller board or a bit more rocker might make the 12 a bit more user friendly on strong choppy days. It's fine if all you want to do is ride around and do moderate jumps.
mmmm thankyou all fr your replies but i still am undecided. 10 & 8 would be good because i can always use the 10 and the surfboard on thoes light days. Then again i still prefer wakestyle riding. Ahhhhh what i wouldn't give for an 11m
Anyone want to sell one of those 6m kites that rarely get used? I need one to teach my kids, and I am not going to do it with a brand new kite.
If so, email me at rscaife@westnet.com.au
Seems like an epic conundrum you've got here Lex!
Might be worth having a demo on a Crossbow IDS 11m?
I've got SB3 12m / 8m, 74kg on a 135x40TT and a surfboard.
I've had a quick ride on the SB IDS 8m in 25-30knots. Haven't ridden the 10m unfortunately. I've heard from some people that the SB IDS was a tad less powerful than the SB3, but that's only rumour.
I'm pretty happy with the range I get out of a 12m/8m combo, but I tent to ride mainly in 2 locations with 2 pretty different wind regimes (Magnetic Island 15-20kn and Lizard Island 22-35kn) and the 8m mainly gets used at Lizard and on the surfboard at Maggie. For sure the smaller kite turns quicker, but I don't find the 12m turning a problem, as long as you are sheeted in a bit and have some power in the kite. Just wrench away! 12m is fun from about 14/15kn upwards, or 12kn on the surfboard.
I do use a windmeter and a 21knot average is about when I'd change to the 8m, for TT riding. You can hang on to the 12m in 22-27kn but its on max depower and the turning is crap by that point, great for sizzling boosts but not much else. The range of the 8m is comparably wider, sweet spot 25-28kn, and 31-35kn is about the point at which I hit max depower and lose steering
As Luke said, you'd probably be riding the 10 most of the time and then use the 8 if it gets really windy. Don't worry about the overlap. Don't bother with the 12 for your size.
i would go a 8 & 12M IDS, the 12 is the best 12m i have flown in years so much faster than last years manly because of the separate bridal (more direct feel as well, smoother on the power delivery) and yes the SB3 has a bit more grunt in it than the IDS this is because of the alterations they made to the bridal to make it turn when the bar is fully out and to accommodate the new IDS safety system. the 12 will get you out in the lighter winds and will be solid for the wakestyle wont move around in the sky to much and will be good for passes and low powered tricks (which everyone should be doing, none of this angle of the dangle BELOW 45!!!) if you use the 8 bar it will stay SUPER SOLID!!!
hope this helps.
G,day lex,
I used to live on the northern beaches, now living on the central coast(gods country). i weigh 80 kg so slightly more than you. I ride a 12 m sb 3 and a 9m omega. I can tell you now that my 12m gets 3 times as much use as my 9m if not more. Sure the 9m is more fun but that goes without saying its 25%smaller.But the 12 is still an awesome kite. I know a few people about my weight that only have 10s, but on those 12knot days, (that we get heaps of) I can be cruising upwind on my lightwind board having a blast, while they are on the beach, or struggling to maintain there position. I am sure the 10 m is a better kite than the 12 but when you live where we do, you need a genuine light wind option. The 12 fits the bill for me. If you are prepared to ride a surfboard you could probably get away with a 10m. Anyway thats my 2cents worth.
Btw I have heard that the sb ids kites dont have as much bottom end as the sb3's, but turn quicker.
