Ask him for a demo of a 7m before you unpack it. Rebels do have a good bottom end but yeah I'd be making sure first.

If you're used to an 8m kite I would probably stick with that, may give you more of a wind range. I don't have any experience with rebals though.

Yeah like pedleym says, get the size of kite you will use at home in 18kts which will be a 10.
7 is a good size to have in Perth middle of summer when its 25kts, but will be too small when you get home. We usually have plenty of 18kt days in Perth too but not so many February.
Sure the guys at AKS will change it for you and look after you.
Hope this helps

In my experience, having a kite slightly too small is harder to learn on than a kite slightly too big. Just make sure that you understand the dynamics of the trim strap so you are not overpowered. Learning to go upwind on an underpowerwed kite is very, very hard. Again, in my experience.

Well, if you were getting three kites maybe 6m, 9m, 12m. So if you're getting just one kite I'd go 9m.

TommyTbar said..

Hey new kiter here,
Just bought my first set up today, 2014 north rebel 7m and a north 133cm Jamie board and I think my kite is too small, I weigh 63 Kg and during my lessons used a 8 meter core in 17- 22 knot winds, told this to the guy at AKS and told me that the rebel was a more powerful kite so I should stick with the 7, but gut is telling me to return it (haven't used it yet) and get the 8 against his advice, I am moving back to the USA to Michigan and there average wind is around 18 knots on Lake Michigan in the summer, also as it is colder than WA, colder air is denser so that might make a difference, I know your supposed to have a range of kites but after the initial investment cost don't really wanna be buying another for a bit haha, do you think I should stick with it?

Hi Tommy,

I think you were probably speaking with Todd. If we use the info you provided us, and the graphs for the Rebel, I think you were sized correctly for the circumstances you described. North quote 18-38 knots for a 7m for an 80 kilo rider. As you are just over 60 kilo's, this means you decrease just under two square meters to compensate for your lighter weight (using the formula of 1sqm of canopy per 10kg of bodyweight). This should give you the comparative power of a 9m Rebel which has a wind range of 15-34 knots. Add to that that our wind over most of summer here has been 20-25knots, and also taking into account that you'll be using it in colder more dense winds in Michigan, the sizing was pretty spot on.

If you want to change the kite for an 8m, no probs, just bring the kite in and we'll exchange it provided it hasn't been used. The difference between a 7m and 8m Rebel in terms of wind range is only 2 knots.

To everyone offering advice on this sort of request, please quote what you weigh, what make, model and year of kite you are flying, what size board you ride and where you kite. All these factors make a significant difference to sizing. Kiting in Thailand in 20 knots and Hobart in 20 knots would be a difference in kite size of around 5 square meters. :-)

DM

P.s I'm a hefty 90kg but use my 12 up to 25 knots before going 9. Am yet to find wind I can't hold my 9 down in!!!