Hi all
I had a shoulder operation 5yrs ago that put paid to my kiting, at the time I was riding a 12m Bandit but found it was really heavy on the bar pressure. Also had a Liquid Force and a Bandit at different times.

I was a pretty average kiter without much experience, just started doing downwinders on the Sunny Coast from Maroochy to Coolum and was starting to do back flips (with varying success). Biggest problem I think was trying too many advanced things without great skills.

Question is, I am heading to Indo to live there and there is a 3 month Windy season each year, I am looking to get a another kite (have a bi-directional board and harness already) but have no idea what has changed coming into 2014. I am 6ft1 and 85kg.

I guess I am looking for something that is easy to relaunch, has good pull and is intermediate fast through the air without too much bar pressure.

I just looked up a report for where I am going to live, it shows wind over 12 knots for about 50% of the time for the two main wind months, average of 9 knots, I think up to 20 knots on the windier days.

I'm 5 years older, lost more hair, put on more weight and still a kook.

eppo said..

What he said ^, but less weight.

Righto get in touch with jankie at bali kiteschool or something like that.

Also email puertz and eddiemorgs (find them on here), they both live in the sht wind capital of australia and frequently hit indo. Think eddie is close to your weight. They will know exactly what you need to demo, both kite and board wise.

Whatever you get it will need to be a fairly big kite quiver and a board that is fairly efficient in lighter winds with little punch.

The good news is both these have vastly improved since 5 years ago.

Thanks Eppo, that's great, I will contact both of them. Hadn't thought about the board, I am riding a cardboard Twin tip that's about 4-5 years old, sounds like board technology might have changed as well. I have plenty of surfboards as that's why I am moving there, but I remember it being bloody hard to do on a surf board... guess I'll have plenty time to practice when there though :)

eppo said..

Gotta remember not only are the winds lighter, they have less punch than our colder dense air. A 15 knot breeze here is very different to a 15 knot breeze up there power wise. Gotta compensate for this.

ps lose a few kilos would help...lol

Wow, had no idea the winds weren't as powerful at the same rate of knots!! I was watching a couple of guys kitesurfing there when I went over for my wedding about 2 months ago and was surprised these little light Indos weren't able to keep going, felt like at least 15knots.

As for losing weight, generally follow the Indo diet every time i.e. Eat, vomit, diarrhea for 2 weeks and 5kgs minimum have disappeared. Followed by 5-6 hours of surfing every day and after a month I am begging to put weight on :)