Hi everyone.
Been kiting for 4 years now, traveling to different spots, mainly free riding but beginning to do some hooked in kite loops and a bit of unhooked free style stuff.
Weight : 65kgs
Have just signed up to this site today as im after your thoughts please.
I am just about to buy a new quiver of ozone kites, c4s. Always had them and really suit me. My main kite is a 9m .
I am throwing up 2 kite quiver/board options
Option 1
Twin tip ( already have )
Surfboard (need to purchase )
7m c4
9m c4
12c4
OR
Option 2
Twin tip ONLY
7mc4
9m c4
12m c4
17m zephyr
So im a bit stuck as to what to go with, bearing in mind im a bit of a light weight what would give me the best wind range
The way I see it option 1 with the surf board would give me that low end on the 12 ..not as much as the option with the zephyr but if I went that way I would be on a twin tip only, bearing in mind my weight would I really get that much out of the zephyr because at 65kgs when it starts to get in the top of its range I may be over powered at say 15 knots when this is a time I would be inclined to switch to my 12. So would I really benefit that much more from the zephyr because the low end I gain may not be enough to warrant the extra kite if that makes sense!
I guess what im saying is with 3 kites and 2 boards would I get a better/similar range to 4 kites one board.
Hope that wasnt too confusing!
Your help is appreciated.
Thank you
depends if you want to ride waves or not?
you'd have a really good low end on a surfboard and a 12.
up to you and your riding preference i guess...
Why dont you go option 2 and a cheapy 50 - 100 buck surfboard off gumtree to see if you like it. If you do, upgrade further on down the track when funds permit. I
No not 100% into waves. Going to stick to the mentioned riding style. Just after something that will get me a few extra days on the water. Think an el cheapo surfboard with the 12 would give me about the same rather then spending 2500 big ones on a zephyr to get me the same amount of time on the water.
Or do they really have that much low end that I could be boosting around in 10 knots on the twin tip and zephyr?
That 10 - 15 knot range is very frustrating. Too much wind to go fishing not quite enough to go kiting. Dont stress about it and use this weather to spend some quality time with rod and tod!!!
Option 2 or..... 7 and 9 C4 and Zepher. I reckon at your weight you might be able to go from the 9 to the zepher. Fill the gap with a cheap 2nd hand C4 if the gap gives you the ****s down the track
Do you have 2013 c4's?
If not try them first. Before you buy. I loved the older models and hated the 2013. bar pressure was way to heavy for me.
Yes plummet I have always had c4s. Obviously I will demo before I buy.
Did you not do this when you bought your 2013 ones ?
First of all the C4 has a bridle adjustment to lighten the bar pressure and add more depower, and secondly, it flies near the same as the old ones if you put it on the standard Ozone bar instead of the C4 bar. Don't know why people winge about this.. such a easy solution to just bump the bridle setting. The 2014 will be sweet I reckon at your weight 7, 9, 12 with a surfboard as well. For me, being a bit heavier, I would be more inclined to rock a 7, 10, 14 as I think that is the perfect wakestyle/freestyle quiver. 14 for wakestyle with grabs, 10 for straight powered passes, and 7 for big loops when it's nuking. The 7, 9, 12 should be that for you at your weight. Cheers dude.
2013 definitely has noticeably higher bar pressure than earlier versions. Probably more of a factor to think about for smaller guys with weaker forearms as the big guys don't seem to feel it as much.
I tried every method to try lighten mine - bridle, wingtip adjusts, bigger bar.. None of the adjustments really lightened it significantly enough for me so had to pass it on. Only flew a 13m however, so imagine the pressure would be reduced down through the sizes.
I guess the higher bar pressure is a product of the kite getting closer to a true C. Just be sure to demo the biggest size C4 you want for at least an hour to see if you can hold down the bar pressure for long sessions, day after day..
Select to expand quotedefault said..
2013 definitely has noticeably higher bar pressure than earlier versions. Probably more of a factor to think about for smaller guys with weaker forearms as the big guys don't seem to feel it as much.
I tried every method to try lighten mine - bridle, wingtip adjusts, bigger bar.. None of the adjustments really lightened it significantly enough for me so had to pass it on. Only flew a 13m however, so imagine the pressure would be reduced down through the sizes.
I guess the higher bar pressure is a product of the kite getting closer to a true C. Just be sure to demo the biggest size C4 you want for at least an hour to see if you can hold down the bar pressure for long sessions, day after day..
Yep i did the same tried alll the settings, even made my own settings. wider bar etc.
bar pressure was still to high for me.
Note. I have stuffed wrist from years of multiple mountain bike crashes. I need low bar pressure or my wrist aches. the 2013 c4 killed my wrist super fast.
Select to expand quoteDrury said..
First of all the C4 has a bridle adjustment to lighten the bar pressure and add more depower, and secondly, it flies near the same as the old ones if you put it on the standard Ozone bar instead of the C4 bar. Don't know why people winge about this.. such a easy solution to just bump the bridle setting. The 2014 will be sweet I reckon at your weight 7, 9, 12 with a surfboard as well. For me, being a bit heavier, I would be more inclined to rock a 7, 10, 14 as I think that is the perfect wakestyle/freestyle quiver. 14 for wakestyle with grabs, 10 for straight powered passes, and 7 for big loops when it's nuking. The 7, 9, 12 should be that for you at your weight. Cheers dude.
May be a stupid question or one that has been answered before but if this is the case what is the difference between the C4 bar and the standard.....only thing I've heard is that it has less depower or bar throw can't remeber which, but wouldn't have thought that would effect bar pressure assuming conditions were the same (i.e. kite trim isn't changed)...any thoughts?
^^^^ For 2013 the C4 bar had a few differences:
A bit less throw (=depower)
A larger chicken loop (for easier hooking back in)
23m lines
Agreed, for a given trim, none of these should affect bar pressure.
Steve (Kitepower) would be the guy to ask about the 2014 C4 bar.
Select to expand quotePlummet said..
Do you have 2013 c4's?
If not try them first. Before you buy. I loved the older models and hated the 2013. bar pressure was way to heavy for me.
Like I've said a few times Plummet, put them on a 50/54cm bar with normal depower throw, they are awesome kites, however I don't have a problem with the bar pressure, same with many riders I know.
@Default, the 13 for you sounds like it would be fine on the 54cm bar.
Select to expand quotenedflanders79 said..
Hi everyone.
Been kiting for 4 years now, traveling to different spots, mainly free riding but beginning to do some hooked in kite loops and a bit of unhooked free style stuff.
Weight : 65kgs
Have just signed up to this site today as im after your thoughts please.
I am just about to buy a new quiver of ozone kites, c4s. Always had them and really suit me. My main kite is a 9m .
I am throwing up 2 kite quiver/board options
Option 1
Twin tip ( already have )
Surfboard (need to purchase )
7m c4
9m c4
12c4
OR
Option 2
Twin tip ONLY
7mc4
9m c4
12m c4
17m zephyr
So im a bit stuck as to what to go with, bearing in mind im a bit of a light weight what would give me the best wind range
The way I see it option 1 with the surf board would give me that low end on the 12 ..not as much as the option with the zephyr but if I went that way I would be on a twin tip only, bearing in mind my weight would I really get that much out of the zephyr because at 65kgs when it starts to get in the top of its range I may be over powered at say 15 knots when this is a time I would be inclined to switch to my 12. So would I really benefit that much more from the zephyr because the low end I gain may not be enough to warrant the extra kite if that makes sense!
I guess what im saying is with 3 kites and 2 boards would I get a better/similar range to 4 kites one board.
Hope that wasnt too confusing!
Your help is appreciated.
Thank you
Another option at your weight would be to substitute the Zephyr with a 15M C4 in option 2. Yes, 3 kites and 2 or even 3 boards will give the best and most fun options IMO.
Everyone has an opinion.
Here's mine. I've been kiting about 12 years, from a surfing background.
I only really ride an unstrapped surfboard nowadays.
All I own is a 7 and a 9 (Slingy REV2s).
I'm 75kg.
Those two kites see me going in anything as light as you'd want to kite to as strong as you'd want to kite.
Again, just my opinion.
Select to expand quoteKitepower Australia said..Plummet said..
Do you have 2013 c4's?
If not try them first. Before you buy. I loved the older models and hated the 2013. bar pressure was way to heavy for me.
Like I've said a few times Plummet, put them on a 50/54cm bar with normal depower throw, they are awesome kites, however I don't have a problem with the bar pressure, same with many riders I know.
@Default, the 13 for you sounds like it would be fine on the 54cm bar.
I had it on a 50m with normal throw and hated it. Its my dodgy wrist the farks me. Any way as pointed out above this is not a thread about me.
I would suggest to mr flanders to try the cat out aswell. His description of riding style imo points more towards the cat as kite as apposed to the c4.
@kitepower. What boards would you recommend? Is a surfboard the way to go for what I'm after or a dedicated light wind twin tip?
I got some good advice in a lw tt but I was leaning towards a surf board because I would get the extra wind range and also different conditions.
Select to expand quotenedflanders79 said...
@kitepower. What boards would you recommend? Is a surfboard the way to go for what I'm after or a dedicated light wind twin tip?
I got some good advice in a lw tt but I was leaning towards a surf board because I would get the extra wind range and also different conditions.
Get the best of both worlds, something like a mako or alkita gives great wave and surf capabilities, no purist wave riding here but a great feeling, as for kites I wish i was 65 kgs, as id be getting insane air on an edge 7, nailing my tricks on a midsized cat or c4 wich I.learnt dangling off my sky hook zephyr 2013, finance wise go with what you think best not what others and retailers say, maybe look at other brands options
Select to expand quotenedflanders79 said..
@kitepower. What boards would you recommend? Is a surfboard the way to go for what I'm after or a dedicated light wind twin tip?
I got some good advice in a lw tt but I was leaning towards a surf board because I would get the extra wind range and also different conditions.
do you want to ride waves clean head high waves down the line? If so get a surfboard. If you want a light wind board to extend your riding get a dedicated light wind TT. It will get you going sooner than a surfboard. Many surfboards are worse than standard tt's for light wind.
You have to also consider equipment that takes you from 10 knts to low 22 knts. Although with your weight that would be 8-18. You want to extend time on the water & limit time changing boards & kites. I have four ozone kites & 3 boards & am totally sorted for all conditions & wind ranges.
Weight 90kg
2013 Zephyr
Shinn King George Lw twin tip. Sweet spot 12-22knts.
Airush Sector 60 v4 directional. Sweet spot 8-15knt.
2013 Catalyst 12
Shinn King George Lw twin tip. Sweet spot 15-22knts.
Airush Sector 60 v4 directional. Sweet spot 14-22 knt.
Shinn Monk Forever. Sweet spot 18-25knts.
2014 Catalyst 10
Shinn Monk Forever. Sweet spot 22-30knts.
Airush Sector 60 v4. Sweet spot 20-26 knt.
2013 Catalyst 8
Shinn Monk Forever. Sweet spot 30-38 knts.
Correct me if im wrong but on the 12 and a tt you should have no trouble going upwind at 15 knots
I weigh about the same and can go along on my 11 in 16knots
So anything below 15 would you really get tham much extra time. Say its 12 knots most days it picks up. Even then over the course of the year with a zephyr or a light wind board you might only get an extra few days on the water.
Just a thought. Stick with the 7, 9, 12 and tt
The money you save from buying a zephyr or another board use it to go away on a trip somewhere for a week where its gonna be cranking. That way you get the same amount of time on the water but in some different spots
Both my brother and I ride zephyrs with two TTs each.
The zephyr is our most used kite and we are powered at 15, cranking at 17 and smiling at 20!! that's the difference. But we weigh 82 and 75kg respectively. Best wing I have ever flown.
But at 65kg yeh I'd have to agree 12 is probably enough. Must admit matt has a point guys I know with a 12 don't miss many more sessions than us. But heck we just love to have too much power rather than just enough.
Its like he said at the start. What you say is true eppo with your zephyr by I tend to agree with ned from my own experience being a bloke that doesnt bother the bigger numbers on the scales! We could be out on a 12 and powered in 15+ knots where bigger guys may need the next kite up.
You really need to see if getting the bigger kite or even different board is going to be that much more beneficial. No point spending the coin to only get an extra day here and there. Work around what you would ride the majority of the time. I reckon one smaller kite and one bigger kite either side of that and you will be set.
As you say the zephyr may only give you those few extra knots wind range cause be buggered if I would jump on it anywhere from 15/16 knots up anyway
As someone has already mentioned maybe see how you go with 12 as your biggest and see if you really need anything else
My mate has an interesting quiver
2014 5m Ozone Reo
2012 7m Ozone C4
2013 9m Ozone Edge
2013 15m Adi Axis
