Some people live in parts of the world where a small kite is a 15m and a regular kite is an 18 or 20. Many windsurfers who enjoy just riding along having fun, look on in appreciation and admiration as we can go blasting along in 8-10 knots on big gear rather than waiting for 18-20 knots.

Some of Airbornes deals on their website are really cheap ie 20m Kite for $199 K/O is super cheap and a small price to pay for fun on the water. True watermen appreciate all aspects of water sports.

Little John and Al were always turning up at Pinnaroo with Exiles on light wind days with their 20m kites and riding whilst we all sat and watched from the beach.

If it doesn't float your boat, thats fine, but don't ridicule others for what makes them smile and enjoy the sport. This sport is multi faceted and requires a broad, mature and open mind to appreciate all it has to offer.

Unless you've been there and know what we're talking about you'll never understand. It's impossible to know the scent of a rose unless you have first smelled a rose.

Good winds,

Hey Joffa

I happen to be fairly fat bastard 90kg on a good day :P

i finally got sick to death of seeing the fly weights, kiting in 10knts, and bought a 16 mtr Bow. Even tho its not as exciting as flying my 12 in 20 knts....

i came to the realisation that an average day of kiting is heaps better than not kiting at all.... plus in light winds on my 16 i,m more willing to try new tricks = less hurt

what ever gets you on the water, just go for it

quote:

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Originally posted by rokdoc

This is what I don't get from some postings....Lets go back to basics....what are we doing here.....Kite surfing....in physical terms we are transferring kinetic energy using a bloody great piece of material through 4 nylon lines to a fulcrum point on a body composed of varied degrees of inertial mass to alter the angle of force along a plane at a different angle to the initial direction of said force. The resultant energy transferance increases the kinetic energy of a mass at the end of a pendulous system giving rise to a biochemical response in a biological system creating an increase in the biological's production of adrenalin and endorphins which can be perceived as pleasure by an individual organism capable of self perception.......so who cares if you are not using the "latest and greatest"......bows, foils, c's whatever....if someone gets enjoyment from it who the hell are you to judge how they derive their enjoyment.......

BTW....I remember loving dinosaurs when I was a kid....so i'm happy to be playing with my Tyrannosaurus Rex....if you feel that it is archaic, well ....I'm having a blast!

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Btw, who let you out of your cage in the lab? Hope they lock you back up. No extra points for throwing around facultry terms here man. Furtermore, it's not a question whether or not they will get enjoyment out of it, I'm sure "they" will. All we're discussing is if it's worth getting a big (20m) kite for those (non-existing) lightwind days..

This is rokdocs handler.......he is now back in his cage and we have upped the meds.....disregard previous offensive post....Sorry for the big words Dave

Alright you guys STOPS IT! Geeze have a difference of opinion without getting personal and nasty.... It's kitesurfing not politics!

I'm happy and sad (depending on who you are in this topic) to report I have made the purchase. I took all your comments into consideration and with the extra motivation of blowing up the main bladder on my much loved 16m M80 (now in repair!) I have ordered the 20m M80...

I will report back on it's performance or lack of - as soon as I get the chance to use it! I expect it should arrive on Friday as the last 2 kites I ordered from REAL arrived in 5days by FEDX from the East Coast of USA, almost quicker than from Perth to East Coast! No tax or GST owing as I have recently done this twice before this year - anything under $1000 from US is import duty/taxes and GST free (free trade agreement with USA)

I am assuming from other posts I have read that this 20m C kite will pull similar to 16 bow (and yes without the super depower of a bow)and will service my needs in 8-15 knots and we get plenty of that on the Gold Coast!

Once again thanks for the lively debate everyone but remember guys we are all entitled to our opinions so lets differ or agree without getting our knickers in a knot...

fingers crossed for a breeze this weekend!

Jeff

PS. Thanks to Rokdoc for all your offline input!

If its light wind kiting you are after read this :-
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27260
and this :-
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16108
Why would anyone ever consider a 20M pump up when the Speed offers -
- no pump (have you tried pumping a 20M yet)
- no assisted launch required (you need that when ur the only one there).
- relaunches in less wind than you need to fly it (amazing but true)
- no assisted landing required (you need that when ur still the only one there).
Flysurfer Speed is THE light wind alternative - its made for the job.

Well guys....

have used the 20m M80 4-5 times already, 3 times in this last week gone (17th 18th and 19th of April) very light 10-15knot Northerlies at Jennifer Ave (lunchtime) with the tide going the wrong way...but was able to get back to point of origin almost each time and the 20m M80 while way bigger in feel to my 16m still turns well, I was also able to get some good boosts with surprising lift, it seems the 20m has much more pull at 12 o'clock than my smaller kites.

All in all I am very pleased with it and look forward to light wind downwinders out in non wind blown surf! What a bargain approx $380 delivered from the US with bar/lines and pump (in 5 days!!)...the special is no longer available but I'm glad I took the plunge when I did and now have the 20m there for light wind weeks like the one just past on the Goldie!

I must admit it was great fun cruising around the lagoon at Wave Break island on my own in glassy shallow water with nothing more than a ripple to bother glassy flat water! Would not have got going on my 16m M80 in those conditions and yes there is a big diff in power from the 16m to 20m.

Once again thanks for every bodies input on this topic, my verdict is thumbs up as have already got good use out of my purchase in the last couple weeks and look forward to getting out while others are sitting on the beach or worse than that - the walk of shame!

Good Wind to all... Jeff

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Originally posted by georges
I'd prefer 10 times my SB 12m2 with a home made plywood 147x47 flat board.
Dude, it goes upwind like nothing else, ask the guys at Kitebeach Brighton last Sunday doing the walk of shame while I was having fun . (I always bring this board when the conditions are average, most of the time it makes worth it pumping the kite).

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Hey Georges, Was out on Sunday too on 15m fuel & SX 137x39. No probs upwind at all. What time were you out? Was a fun day.

See ya,
James

LOL.... I spend half my time reading through crap to see where a discussion is going. Dave shut up, Joffa I got a 17m Slingshot 5line Machine. Turns quick and gives me more then enough power on the 10knot days. Yea big kites suck... but I can still do big floatie boosts in the surf with 10knots winds whilst everyone most people sit on the beach. Big kites are ok, they just take a bit of getting used to.

yeah was same down here, 20 to 30 knots with 2 to 3 meter waves.. oh hang on this is about 20 meter kites.. oops my bad

waveslave.....i meant to say I had a leak in my 12m....not the new kite!....Just wanting to know in general if it is cheaper to get bladders her or from US....Still haven't tried my 20....might end up a lemon...but at the price i figured worth the go.

Light wind days work with either a big kite or a board that planes quicker.

I use a 12m Nova2 with a nobile skimboard in circa 8-12knots