go to the pub and wait for 20+kn, much less than that and time could be better spent doing something worthwhile imo that is

Hi Ahchoo,

Being a bigger boy, you need pulling power and easy relaunch. The Core XR LW is one of the easiest to relaunch in 10 knots. Zephyr will also relaunch in 10 knots, but can be a bit tricky in anything less. The LW from Core is a no brainer in winds as low as 7-8 knots and can be coaxed up in even less with some skills and experience. The Delta shape allows the kite to rollover really easily and it almost relaunches itself.

The two kites are for different jobs really. The Zephyr has top end wind range as well as good low end power from apparent wind effort, but this requires some skills and experience. Zephyr has excellent upwind ability and is nice and light on the bar.

Core LW 17m is pure sheet and go grunt, no mad skillz required. It has a more restricted top end and doesn't go upwind as well as the Ozone, but is great for pulling twin tips in low winds.

Best advice as always is to demo both and see for yourself. No lack of light winds around at the moment.

DM

we should put em all back to back today robbie... when that crankin 8knt northerly comes in...

T one said...

we should put em all back to back today robbie... when that crankin 8knt northerly comes in...

... good idea, see you at the surf club!

T one said...

we should put em all back to back today robbie... when that crankin 8knt northerly comes in...

How fast can crocs swim

wdric said...

T one said...

we should put em all back to back today robbie... when that crankin 8knt northerly comes in...

How fast can crocs swim

faster than a dyno relaunch in 8 knots...

Achoo choo train

All the above advice can be good

BUT ! at a 100kg

without a really good specific lightwind TT 0r race board - your gonna go nowhere, did everyone forget the other half of the equation ??????????? and with a good board you can use a 'smaller' kite.

17m ozone zepherr, probly the best light wind kite, easy relaunch and pretty fast tuning for its size too

BurkeyBoy said...

For a big guy, can't see why you would bother with light winds. That said, I would look at an F One bandit 3. A delta with lots of grunt but also quick and responsive with good relaunch. I regularly fly mine when similar size guys are struggling with XBows bigger than my B3. Worth a try.

Hi Burkeyboy,

I think you are missing something here, it's called relativity. If you are 75-80 kilos, you can get going in ~13 knots on a 12m kite no problem, so for you, light wind is sub 12 knots.

If you weigh in at 100+ kilo, then light wind may well be 15 knots. A big, powerful, light wind kite will get big blokes planing and having fun in winds down to the 12 knots level, and below with the right board.

This brings them onto an even playing field with guys in the 70-80 kilo weigh range so they can get more from their lighter days of kiting. It's not all about riding in 7-8 knots.

Lets face it, there are lots of 12 knot days which aren't even on most kiters radar because they don't have the gear to make these days fun, but believe me, 12 knots is a hoot on a 17m kite.

Cheers,

DM

... long live the CKC hey Tone! I dont think we'll ever get the chance to do that again and get away with it un-harmed, 100kg on a 4m and 120kg on a 7m.

Back on topic, for a big guy like me, a kite has to be stable under big loads. I have been using my Core in stronger winds (when we've had them) and I find that I can over load it and the tips 'curl' in. It seems that bridle kites do that with me under them, where as the Rebels don't at all. I haven't loaded up the Dyno to see how it handles it but I don't really want to either as thats not why I got the thing.

It takes alot for me to overload the Core. I've seen Tone do it to his Zepher and it is usually when we are kite looping (which the Core does good by the way IMHO). Stability is high on my list of thing to look for in a kite. How they handle high loads.

Which brings me to my point, would the Griffin 17, Taboo 17 or Slingshot 17, Epic's Infinity remain stable when pushed a little. I believe the lighter guys can't push a kite like I can. So what I like will be different to what a small guy would like.

When a kite does the 'curling tips' they become unstable and steering gets harder and lift lowers, the kite feels like sh!t basically. I hate that. I think that if you can load up on a kite you can get more power out of it and therefore the light winds are more fun. If a kite is stable under the likes of me, then surely its going to be good or better for a lighter normal weight person.

Anyway, I'm rambling, try 'em all and then you'll know for yourself.

cheers,

Robbie

i'd give the 14m B4 a go if you can. I've had a couple good sessions lately on my 12B4 where i got goin as early as lightweights and guys on 17m cores, i'm 94kg. Demod the 14 and it's got more bottom end and was the only kite out along with my 12 that day. If ya want something cheaper secondhand, try find a bandit dos 14 still one of best lightwind kites. Some of the new lightwind specific kites should be good get a run on whatever you can.

umm, just wondering, how come there is not much noise regarding the Taboo 17m?