Good lite wind kite

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dusty_nz

21 posts

dusty_nz

WA, 21 posts

28 Feb 2006 10:21am

Well I am looking for a good lite wind (10-20 knot) kite for this utterly suckymodo season so far. I am a 95kg intermediate rider (small jumps and a few backrolls (woohoo)) and have two boards. A 146 lithium force and a 186 wipika board. My current kite is a 13m Venom. With this setup I can stay upwind (on the wipika board) at around 14 knots winds but have to work it.

I was looking at a 16m or 19m Venom or maybe an old Gorilla (cheap at $300). What does everyone think. Are there better lite wind kites than this. Would 19m be too big?

Paul

bondo

QLD

699 posts

bondo

QLD, 699 posts

28 Feb 2006 12:49pm

for a 95kg guy - you could easily ride a 19m. I ride an 18m (BFK) up to 20 knots and im 88kg.

ellery

VIC

187 posts

ellery

VIC, 187 posts

28 Feb 2006 2:21pm

19m would be great. Just spent Sunday riding with 2 guys that had just both bought a 19m venom. I've also got a 13m venom, but i don't like the arcs for lightwinds. I havn't fully mastered getting the most power out of them in low winds, so i'm getting myself a 8.5 blade III. It gets to a point where the extra material of a bigger kite is a downfall and a smaller kite actually performs better. If you want the best lightwind performance a fixed bridled kite is the best in my opinion.

James

GalahOnTheBay

NSW

4188 posts

GalahOnTheBay

NSW, 4188 posts

28 Feb 2006 8:15pm

pffft - light wind kites?!?!?!

time to get in the car / plane if you need anything bigger than a 16m...

tobes

NSW

1000 posts

tobes

NSW, 1000 posts

28 Feb 2006 8:17pm

Fixed bridled open celled foils like the Blade III have the most power per sq/m for sure, but get em wet and it's all over.
If money doesn't matter I would say get a Flysurfer Speed 17m.
Deftinitely the best lightwind water kite around.
I'm thinking of selling mine because it's too powerful for my weight, 67kg, I think I would be better off with the 13m. I get overpowered at about 13 knots!
There is a big Guerilla on ebay at the mo I think, 18m? Nowhere near as powerful, but cheap.
A while back I was thinking about getting a 13m Venom for when I'm overpowered on my 10m Speed. Shows how venoms are less powerful for their size. 19m Venom is your best option for an ARC I reckon. Try www.foils.nl/ for more detailed info.

ellery

VIC

187 posts

ellery

VIC, 187 posts

28 Feb 2006 10:50pm

So you've got a 10 and a 17m speed? Sounds great! I've heard big things about these kites. Good point about money being no option though! What's the turning speed like on the 17m, i know it's getting good reviews on other forums, just like to hear your views?

tobes

NSW

1000 posts

tobes

NSW, 1000 posts

1 Mar 2006 12:33am

hey ellery!
It turns like a bus, but pulls like a mack truck.

Started a bit of a review a while ago- www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10690

A few folks around these parts (puppet had a go!) saw what it can do on the monkey downwinder on a day when the wind dropped, hardly anyone made it to the end of the leg without a long walk, I put up the speed17 in I guess 8-10 knots and we had some fun low wind kiting, and no walking back up the beach! Still, it didn't outperform a 24m LEI on 64m lines

puppetonastring

3619 posts

puppetonastring

WA, 3619 posts

28 Feb 2006 10:10pm

I have seen the 17M speed upwind, riding waves & pulling moves in 8kts - nb with lots of witnesses not just me ! (maybe even 7 kts or less but I dont want to start another forum bun fight)
I have been *****ing around this ultra-light wind option for ages and still havent decided but IMO 4 sub 10kts Flysurfer is he only way to go - if for no other reason than you can relaunch them; 100% guaranteed; way below their workable bottom end. Least that way you can body drag back to the beach when those flukey sub 10kts inevitably turn into sub 6kts. Try water launching any huge LEI below its bottom end range & you will find your only option is swimming in.
I'm waiting to see what Sling Shot are about to come up with with the 16M Turbo but if it isnt something 'out-a-the-box' then the 17M speed will definately be my choice for the sub 10kt days (and theres lots of them - wherever you live)
just my 2c worth ?

puppetonastring

3619 posts

puppetonastring

WA, 3619 posts

28 Feb 2006 10:48pm

quote:
Originally posted by puppetonastring
I have been *****ing around

Since when does a cute little fluffy cat rate as censorship material

Some of the best times of my life have resulted from my interaction with cute little fluffy cats and Im sure everyone of them would be offended

to think that they were an unmentionable subject

And (btw, but to press the point) my mate Dick says that, despite the fact that he happens to have a big dick and is allowed to say so, even he finds the totally sexest anomoly here unpalatable

Here kitty kitty kitty - Daddy's lookin for you everywhere

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