after being sick and tired of sitting on the beach in the wind watching me, my wife has decided that she has caught the bug and is going to give this great sport a go.she has booked in for some lessons(gets me off the hook and probably stops a lot of fights.) i want to buy her a kite as a suprise.at the moment my quiver consists of a 12 9 6,all crossbow3s. i think the 9 will be a bit big for her and cant see her going out in conditions when a 6 would suit. shes only weighs about 50 kg and we kite at st kilda, altona, inverloch with winds mainly between 15 to 20 knots. if anyone else is in the same boat and can suggest a good kite and size(if i buy the wrong one i will never hear the end of it.) the crossbows seem to have a heavier bar pressure than others so i think they will be no good. was thinking a swichblade 8 or maybe rebel8 but not sure if the rebels have the same depower as others.
switchblade 8 - would be perfect..... awesome kite, low bar pressure, super easy re-launch, plenty of depower, super easy to use, with heaps of windrange, problem is you will end up wanting to use it most of the time and will have to convince her to let you.
I am 46kg and kite at saint kilda aminly and surrounding places. I had a 8m switchy 3 which was perfect from 13-25knts and the best in 18knts. I sold it though so i could have a better unhooking windrange so i got a 6m and a 10m swithtacy 3's, which covers anything from 9 knts upto 35-40knts. But if you want one kite definatly the 8m switchy 3 because it is super safe has loads of grunt and loads of depower and also light bar pressure but not so light that you cant feel it. it is a really safe kite and is perfect for beginners and for unhooking and kiteloops.
so if you get her a kite make sure it is a 8 switchy.
i think the 9 will be a bit big for her and cant see her going out in conditions when a 6 would suit.
Don't know if there is anywhere to demo them over there but my suggestion would be an F-one Bandit 7.5mtr. Easy re-launch,safe,stable and good allround performer, IMO.
My advice try the T3 in the 7m super stable with easy water relaunch and light enough on the bar to be really fun with being to light.. Plus you have the below the bar safety system realy simple and easy to use.. Go demo or try would be my advice you want something easy to water re launch..
My Mrs rides 07 rebels which she quite likes, but she tried an 08 Waroo the other day and thought it was the dogs nuts for depower, light bar pressure and easy re-launch.
6 and 9 should be fine for her and she could probably use the bigger one when its too light for you to ride. She'll ride one size smaller than you so when you are on the 9m, she is on the 6m etc.
what does everyone think of the 08 flexifoil atoms. Only flown a few other older kites, but my 12m is awesome for reluanching, and has heaps of depower as well, its a great beginner kite, but it also holds itself well for boosting and upwind riding.
she decided...? she decided...? firstly, what the hell are you doin letting her out of the kitchen, and secondly, you never let the woman make the decisions, you let her 'think' she's making the decision, then, you lock her back in the kitchen.... oh man, i'm soooo gonna cop it
No one's bothered to mention the Ozone Instinct Light or Sport. Even though i no longer fly Ozone i'm still a big fan of them. Fantastic kite to learn to fly with, and brilliant for progressing as fast as your capable of.
Well why don't you go to the local shop grab a few different makes and models take her down get her to fly and relaunch each kite see what she prefers. Girls ride different to the guys.. Have fun :-)
After a couple of lessons then mucking about several times on various 6M > 10M kites my daughter - about the same weight or bit more ? - got herself a Slingshot 7M T2. Fantastic beginners kite. She hasnt looked back. Up and running better than ever before on her first day with her new kite. Really long runs out on her second day and long runs out & back on her third session. I have also flown the kite and found it super stable, responsive but not too fast and an absolute no-brainer to relaunch. Even my daughter with only a few hours up can just sit it on its tip at the edge of the window & leave it there till she wants it to go. Well worth trying - for sure. No idea of its range yet - all sessions around the 15/18kt mark.
All the kites you mentioned are great kites but my 2cs : T2 is definately a better behaved, easier kite for beginners than a Xbow. Probably similar but maybe a bit easier to fly than the Switchy - though Ive only tried the 12M. And, from what Ive been told by others, the rebels are too advanced for beginners.
Thanks for not getting too specific on the weight Dad... I would say definitely give the Slingshot a go, the T2 i have is awesome, i also demo'd the T3 which will be coming out soonish ? which is prob better in terms of lighter bar pressure..
