I'd go for the 14m for sure, you'll get a better wind range with it for your body weight. When rigging the kite, it will fly the best when you put it at 12 o'clock & all four line are nice and even (tight). You should spend time to get to know your kite. See how it reacts & feels when differently rigged in the same wind speed. So if you have someone with you launch it and see how it feels then bring it down and make some adjustments then try it again, keep doing this until you find what works the best for you. When you have really loose back lines it means the kite will not react as fast & will turn a bit slower & have less power.(if your flying it like this you need a smaller kite for that wind speed) If the back lines are too tight the kite will be over powered (flared wingtips) and will not fly as good. It sits further back in the wind window & means its harder to edge upwind.(if you have it set like this it means you need a bigger kite for that wind speed). So spending a few minutes tuning it makes all the difference. Hope that helps you a bit.

Jags,

Some info from someone heavier than you (100 + gst):
I have a 12m kite which was my beginner kite. If the winds are just in the green, then i can get along, but i do have to sine the kite to keep the speed up. If the winds drop below 17 kn I find it almost impossible to keep edging.

i can stand without being lifted off my feet with that 12m up till about 30kn, after which i just get dragged, and have to depower the kite - and then bring it in.

I reckon u'd be right with a 12 from about 16 - 26kn, of course that depends on how big ur board is, but u prolly will get a bigger board also - less u want to get real mad real quick cause you cant start planing.

In almost all conditions i rig all lines up to the middle knots, xcept for when its real windy and i rig the front to the middle knots and the back to the knots furtherest from the kite so i have a bit more depower ability.

This is just what works for me. i'm sure other will have their say

if ur learning stick with the 12 - its always cool to have a smaller kite for when it blows, and those lighter boys just sit on the beach and watch.

have fun choosing - it's always hard with such a big range.

robbo.

thanks for all the help so far . another problem i am having is that you cannot get leasons fast enough .i have to wait till the 23 to get my next leason . so am trying to get some kiteing in before that . if somebody know where i can get a leason before this date please tell me .i don't think $85 is a lot if it stop you from ending up in a tree or behind a car .

thanks for the help puppetonastring thomo gave me your number and i was going to call but do not know if i should get the same kite as my brother or a 14m also dont you have a board for sale and is it bigger than 148 . at the moment i am useing a 148 vari