Smaller kite and a bigger/ wider surfboard works much better in light winds.

Kite are like d******cks, "it ain't the meat, it's the motion."

Hey Gordnot,

Tightlines is right. Big kites (larger than 11m) and large waves are a recipe for trashed kites.

I only ride up to about a 10 in surf. I also don't ride in less than about 18-20 knots in surf if it is side shore as it's not really doable if you're running down the line with the wind.

My suggestion is to keep what you have and get a mini mal. A 7'6" or 8' mini mal will get you out in marginal conditions where you will have more than a fair chance at whipping a smaller kite around fast enough to get yourself in and out of trouble.

Even brand new it's $1000 cheaper than a large kite. It will also be excellent to paddle on when the wind isn't happening but the waves are.

Good winds,

gordknot said...

I'm just getting started. Have an old 12m Crossbow and a 9m slingshotT2. I'm looking to update the larger kite. I'm getting different stories on what size to get. Most tell me go for an 11m, like a Rev2 or Ozone, and just work the kite harder in lighter Syndey winds- benefit is i won't be overpowered and dragged downwind when wind picks up on the 13. Others say get the 13 for the extra power to ride upwind. I'm keen for surf riding so more interested in responsive turning, especially in bigger surf. Will the 13 be too sluggish? Maybe i should forget about trying to ride light winds in big surf- danger of overshooting kite??

At Palmy?

As others have said-go smaller rather than larger with the kite-biggest I ride is a 9M (78KG) on a 6'1" surfboard (no straps).

11m REV is awesome in the waves, 9m is even better -- ALSO, a bigger board will make a MUCH bigger difference than a bigger kite, no matter what the conditions. A 6'2" surfboard and a 9m REV will get you going easily upwind in anything over 15 knots. I also hear that the new 09 Griffin 9m and 10.5m are really good in the surf too but I haven't tried em.