13/15 to 25/27 knots,twin tip.

just on this, is there any website where you can plug in the stats (ie kite brand, size, weight, latitude, board size) and then it spits out an approximate wind range?

I use Cabrinha 11m Crossbow (am 73klg) and my son uses 12m Switchblade (85klg) and we can comfortably go out in (Vic) 15knots to 30knots. Anything over that and we both drop down to 8m. Maybe get a 13m so you have greater wind range.

i second bennie. i'm 80kg and in 30 real knots my 8m switchy is lit, and my 10m is far too big to be fun. sure, you could maybe survive 30 knots on a 12 switchy in a major poo-stance with the kite at lunch, but that's not kiting, that's just getting in the way.

last week at brighton there were a couple of kooks out on 12s when more experienced guys were on 8s and 9s. they were just surviving, but by the looks on their faces not having fun, and the one who could stay upwind was just an annoying obstacle to the rest of us.

seems to be some myth perpetrated by melbourne schools/shops that for an average sized bloke a 12m bow is a one-kite solution (and maybe in some places it is, but not melbourne). strangely they all seem to have bright yellow prodigy boards as well. (nothing against cab, i love my switchys) i have, on a few 25knot+ occasions, declined to launch such characters and have suggested instead that they have a look at the skills (high) and kite sizes (8 or 9) of the people already on the water before embarking on their 12.

sure, some kites have more top or bottom than others, but the laws of physics still apply. 11 square metres = lots of lift and lots of drag. great in 18 knots, a handful in 25.

Yeah i'd agree with Bennie too, I'm 65 and ride 11 till 25 knots after that it's no fun, you just end up mowing the lawn.

ric said...

13/15 to 25/27 knots,twin tip.

This is my experience too, with 2 boards I can get this sort of wind range, but at 27, its starting to get hectic and I'd be better on a 9 or 10M. I'm about 78kg wet.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve