Rider: Weight 80kg,Level (intermediate)
Style: Freeriding, Surf, Wake, Freestyle
Weather: 10-17 knots
just wondering if anyone has used 15m and/or 17m 2005-6 fuels?
i am considering buying a light wind kite, i weigh about 80kgs.
is the upwind and boosting of the 17m good in 10-17 knots???
which would be best, i like riding powered up
thanks
This is 2010. You have to compare against what is now available.
I had a 2005 15m fuel. I'm 75kg. I found it a frustrating kite then. It had the grunt alright, but it didn't stay in the air well enough in light wind & there was no way it would relaunch in sub 10knot. Any modern kite would leave it for dead, get a bow/hybrid style for light wind, for the awesome range & much lighter weight for the projected area. You would need to be given a 2005 kite for free to even consider it!
cheers
Col
I ride an '05 15m Fuel as my light wind and it gets me going from ~13-14kn. I'm a smidge under 80kg. Anything under 13kn it's incredibly frustrating as whilst it fly's and still generates a bit of grunt, it's so huge, slow and awkward that's just not worth using. That said they are pretty cheap and plentiful these days so i would actually recommend having one in your quiver.
With a smooth and solid 14-15kn it's great fun for wakestyle stuff. As i said, it's so slow that you can throw yourself into all sorts of moves and the kite hasn't move more than a couple of degrees.
Having recently had a couple of sessions on a Flysurfer Speed 3 19m i can say without a doubt that if your serious about a light wind session, get one of these. I was powered and riding in 9-10 knots, and overpowered in 14kn.
Light wind kiting is more about just getting wet and hopefully staying upwind, the 15m fuel definatly wouldnt be the first choice but if its all you can get your hands on for a good price you may find you get out a few kts earlyer than with your normal kite. I have never had much luck boosting in light winds even with a big kite but for just mucking around with some unhooked moves is good fun.
thanks everyone for your comments.
picked up a couple of cheap kites to play around in light wind.
was mainly looking for something to practice unhooked with!
hopefully i can get used to unhooked riding soon.
cheers
