“I'm 85kgs and can hold the 13 down in 28knts on a 132flx.

Why do people make statements that aren’t true? I got this from another thread, it really annoys me that people say stuff that is possibly or even more likely actually going to get other less experienced people in trouble. They read things like this on Seabreeze and think it’s possible.

Holding a 13mtr Rev in 28 knots, what a load of crap!

Keep it real please!

(same with surf here in Perth, you almost always 1/2 the size people say the surf was, so you can get the right size)

Normally, this happens when a person see's a wind chart after and see's the gusts were hitting 30 knots. Woohoo, I can hold a kite in 30 knots! Not! Real wind is actually 25 knots with gusts of 30, so you're actually able to ride in 25, not 30. holding a kite in 30 would mean sustaining gusts of 35 and we all know most people couldn't hold a 13m in 35knot gusts.

Is it true that your only 60kg?

This is a bit of a grey area (the catchphrase of forum admin it seems). While it is quite possible for experienced riders to hold down stupidly large kites in strong wind, it's possibly not a good idea to go around claiming it in front of impressionable newbies in case they try the same thing.

Anyway, how much fun is it riding with so much power that you have to dig right in and go at a snails pace while the kite is almost touching the water so as to not risk losing an edge?

well in summer i was 60kg but i packed on 5kg from then

Riding a big kite in strong winds isnt fun, as much depower the ozone has, it is just too big above 28knts, and not that fun.

But riding an older 17m in that sort of wind is crazy go nuts, i only rode a larger kite cause thats all i had.

Hi guys,

Once you have been in the sport for a while you'll realise it's not how big a kite you can hold down that is imressive, but how small a kite you can comfortably ride with that shows the skills.

I see guys out on Crossbows trying to hold down 30 knots and they just look like out of control tools, they make me angry because these are the same tools who get into trouble and cause incidences.

Nothing, but nothing screams NOOB louder than somone with massive POO stance hanging on to a canopy which is backwinding inside out in the gusts. No style, no grace, no control and like a school on Easter Sunday .... No Class!

Keep it real. Small kites show kite mastery as you fly them quickly around the window and sllow you to ride the board with ease and control.

here's a secret for NOOBS, a small comfortably powered kite will always boost you way higher than a big overpowered kite. Every single time. Big canopies will give longer hangtime, but not height. I don't know about you, but I like to see 30 foot jumps of 3-4 seconds rather than a 5 second hangtime 6 foot off the water.

Unless you can control it fully sheeted in, in the average wind speed, it's too big!

Good winds,

untrue statements in kiting, I'm shocked!
Bomb proof?
light wind kite?
100% depower?
extreme sport?
where will it end?

Cabron said:
12m Switchblade IDS:

Details - see above

First thoughts: When overhead, not sure if just the colours, but this kite seems to have a very low AR. Looked like a parachute above me...laughs

On the water: Well it was never going to be as quick or twitchy as the 9m, however the kite was fun to fly, thoughts are Stable, Predictable, Smooth.
Comparing to last years SB 12m, the turning radius seems smaller, though not much quicker. Ate the gusts easily, with heaps of depower, and still steerable at arms length depower. Had to bring on trim depower at the bar at one stage, timing would have been when it kicked back up to 25-28kn, which seems a much higher wind range than last years 12m. Not sure about bottom end.

This is from your old mate in the gear review section. Note the 25-28knts on a 12m SB IDS and he aparently only slightly adjusted the trip strap.

DaveSpruce said:
Why drive around in a station wagon (12m) or truck (16m) when you can be driving a sportscar (9m)?

I totally agree with all of you on the big kite Vs small kite arguement. Perhaps you didnt read the bit where I said that my 9m was away getting repaired.

I would have loved to have been on the 9m that day but it wasnt available

gerard said...

“Why do people make statements that aren’t true?

Do you mean the ENTIRE review section? please be more specific?

and i am still looking for a 7m that fits my budget, that does everything including pump itself up and pack itself away when i am finished. there has to be at least 5 kites out there that can do that? surely?

Kitehard said...

Hi guys,

Once you have been in the sport for a while you'll realise it's not how big a kite you can hold down that is imressive, but how small a kite you can comfortably ride with that shows the skills.

I see guys out on Crossbows trying to hold down 30 knots and they just look like out of control tools, they make me angry because these are the same tools who get into trouble and cause incidences.

Nothing, but nothing screams NOOB louder than somone with massive POO stance hanging on to a canopy which is backwinding inside out in the gusts. No style, no grace, no control and like a school on Easter Sunday .... No Class!

Keep it real. Small kites show kite mastery as you fly them quickly around the window and sllow you to ride the board with ease and control.

here's a secret for NOOBS, a small comfortably powered kite will always boost you way higher than a big overpowered kite. Every single time. Big canopies will give longer hangtime, but not height. I don't know about you, but I like to see 30 foot jumps of 3-4 seconds rather than a 5 second hangtime 6 foot off the water.

Unless you can control it fully sheeted in, in the average wind speed, it's too big!

Good winds,

was that aimed at me daz i have learned from those days i dont even own a 12 anymore my biggest kite is a 9. im with you its not fun poo stancing kite on water snail speed then jumping by just pulling the bar in 6 feet for 100metres this was reminded to me monday i think it was trying to hold down a 12 atom. my house mates only kite and he is a begginer so i gave him my 9. really didnt have as much fun.. got a good work out though :) trying to out edge that kite

elizabethb said...

Then you get to choose... Kite or girl or [u]kiting girl

Hi Elizabeth,
Here's a thought.

Lets be honest,
Seabreeze.com is really kitesurfing-central here in Oz.
Right ?
The voice of Aussie kiting.
Kiteboreder mag comes a close second.
And you are the most (vocal) kitechic on Seabreeze....
the main female player.
So that makes you kind of famous.
Now, there must be a way of capitalizing on this ?
Or have you already ?
regards slave.

Paaatt! Shhhuusshhh.
I must tell the whole story.
I was so overwhelmed by Pat's gorgeous personality, charm and handsome looks, that I wasn't even paying attention to the lines... I DID however, suggest he check them first!

GreenPat said...

Should I mention here where Liz sabotaged my lines one day when she ran them out? She claims it wasn't intentional, but really I think she wanted me to death loop into the rocks...

HAHA 'Slave!

I may be 'vocal' on here, but most will inform you that once you meet me, I will have an opinion on some things., but nothing like the forum. So shouldn't the main female player (me as you said), go with the main male player!? Pat!?

waveslave said...


And you are the most (vocal) kitechic on Seabreeze....
the main female player.
So that makes you kind of famous.
Now, there must be a way of capitalizing on this ?
Or have you already ?
regards slave.

elizabethb said...


I was so overwhelmed by Pat's gorgeous personality, charm and handsome looks,

Which Pat are you talking about? Not this one, surely.

elizabethb said...

go with

Go with where?

Does anyone know if there has been a Seabreeze wedding before - this is all quite overwhelming really....

walshd said...

So whats the deal then?

“I'm 85kgs and can hold the 13 down in 28knts on a 132flx" This statement is not false and anyone that owns a 13 rev would know that the top end on these kites is very good and that 28knts is probably a truthful absolute top end range.

Now I dont want to encourage any learners to attempt this on the 13 rev unless they weigh over 100kgs, but that statement isnt False.

At this wind speed, the kite will be fully depowered and controlled by edging it to the edge of the window.

I'm not trying to encourage anyone to ride a big kite in these winds.

FYI: Best advertisde their nemisis hp 12m windrange as 10-28knts on their website. Dont you think that a noob buying this kite will expect it to be good in 28knts?

I own 4 Rev’s 7,9,11 & 13 and at a true 28 knots my 9 is starting to get a hand full let alone a 13? I’ve ridden the 9 up to 30 – 35 but it was crap you’re so depowered the thing fly’s poorly and is slow to turn.

I don't really care what Best say?

So I guess we will have to agree to disagree on the wind range of the 13?