I'm thinking of a future purchase and have not owned kites any bigger than 12m kites in a few years. I'm average size 82kg and looking for feedback on kites worth a demo. This year I am on my surfboard 100% of the time.
Been riding the BWS Noise since last summer and like the kites a lot. I bought the kites after a demo, thinking I wanted a kite that was good in the surf but still fun on the TT ... my now dusty TT.
Couple weeks ago I bought a 10m Reo. Things I really like about the Reo are the direct feel and responsiveness, smooth power delivery and short depower throw. This kite is very c-like. It is not as powerful as the Noise but you can work it easier and add more back-line tension if you want more power with no worries of stalling it.
The 10m Noise has all the low end I need but is slow and less direct. I've really been amazed at the low end, the way you can milk it and the light wind relaunch but I want something that I can throw around more.
I'm thinking the 12m Reo will be too close and not powerful enough. Want something in the 12m-14m size that is fast turning with direct feel. Does it exist? What are you guys riding? What should I look at? Again, surfboard only, direct feel, fast and responsive with decent low end.
Thanks
Tony
I'm 90+ at the moment and on a surfy I can get out on my wife's 10m Catalyst in 15-18. So you should be able to ride in about 15. I personally wouldn't bother trying to ride under 15 kts as the kites start getting to slow.
The Reo is pretty fast though (flown 6,8 & 10) so might be fast enough but I wouldn't expect a lot of difference between the 10 & 12.
I've found the next usable size up from a 10 is a 17 no good in the waves, but will get you going when no one else is riding. Hearing people using a 15 edge as a light wind kite also.
Nick,
Thanks for the response. I think you are spot-on about the winds for me on the 10m and I agree that there will be minimal difference with the 12m.
Also starting to believe that lighter winds and bigger kites are meant for a different experience, different type of riding. That said, I still want to ride in lighter winds. A 13m-15m kite is probably a good choice up from the 10m. 15m Edge seems like a 180deg turn from the Reo ... I'd lean towards something more all-around but I haven't ridden the Edge.
Tony
Yeh this is a really good question. Been thinking along the same lines. With the research I've done I will be looking into a 14 lithium. Apparently they are really fast and responsive, quite athletic. Look for comments by a guy called Mike Birt on the other forum. I've has email convos with him as well. He is like me, just hates the idea of bigger kites and never really owned or used one until he tried the lithium. Now he has one. Interesting comments rom him, from a rider with years of experience, I like his take on things. It's like listening to darren from aks, knows his technical side of things. But he's an airush guy of course so utlimately you have to demo.
He said what you said actually, it is a different experience and riding style with the bigger kites.
i have 6reo 10c4 and 13 edge.
yes the the edge is a complete 180 on the reo. you wont go down the line on a big edge very well at all.
But you can crank upwind and have a blast on the wave faces.
i'd run with kitepowers advice
Eppo,
I read some of those Lithium posts too. The 12m gets lots of praise and some say the 14m does not buy a lot more because you can work the 12m so much easier. I'll try to get a ride on these but I'm not crazy about the bridle length and number of pulleys.
Kitepower,
C4's are definitely on my list to try. I was kind of under the impression that the 13m was similar power to the 12m Reo. If that's the case then it would mean going to the 15m which seems really big but maybe that's the answer. I really liking the Ozones, short bridles, no pulleys, construction, easy inflate. Not a fan of the bar but who says you need to buy the bar (I didn't).
Plummet,
I do want to have a go on the 13m Edge but I'm thinking that's probably not going to be the answer unless I want to dig out my TT. Maybe that's ok too ... have some different fun.
How about I start a couple rumors:
1) There is a 14m Reo in Ozone's 2013 line-up ... highly unlikely
2) The 2013 Catalyst borrows some Reo DNA and the 14m becomes the ultimate lightwind all-around/wave kite ... more likely? It makes sense that with the success of the Reo, some of the design might bleed over into the other kites and the Catalyst is probably the best candidate to benefit from some Reo DNA. This might even be a better kite than a 14m Reo.
How's that for wishful thinking 
Try to get a demo of a 15 m Fury light ,best light wind kite I have ridden to date,I'm 91kg and can ride well powered in 10 and have had it out in low 20 thus far ,pulls harder than most 17m kites and you don't get hauled off the wave ,drifts like a dream balance is awesome you can run at the kite and it just hangs there ,bar is light no stalling,loops like a 12-13 ,well worth a demo perfect for surfboard in light winds.
I agree which is why I only owned a 17m core lw for a short time. Never had anything above 11m. But with my sector this opens up some racing style as well as a low end capable of getting out in the surf 10 to 14. Problem with say the 14 m as I found with the core, if you get a large range of wind on a certain day you can get overpowered very quickly, change down, the wind drops etc etc.
But also considering Bali next year, so need a 14m.
i have 15, 13,10,8,6... hhehehehe ahahahah....
anyway i thought about selling the 13 as i hardly use it sub 16 i go straight into my monster and over 16 i can use my 10.
but i've found the 13 more usefull over winter. on the days that are 13-15 knots but its also likely to spike to 20-25 easily i dont want to put up my monster.. the 13 is perfect.
in summer on those light days the 15m is definately the ticket. . . . . .
So my advice get the 12 and 17!!!
if you can change your mindset to fly a slower kite in real light winds yourl be riding when most are twiddling thumbs on the beach and you can have some really spiritual light wind sessions. and there can be some very clean waves. to be had.
