Hi Jen,

Great Idea to buy a second kite, 2 kites is ideal for max water time.

I would go 9, normally a 2 metre gap is good, as you go higher in the kite Size the difference can get bigger no probs, and then 3 Metre gap works.

For instance at 80 Kilo I like 7,9,12. so 2 metre and then 3 metre.

That's my 2 cents worth.

Ill jump in here too because ive got the exact same question,
I currently have a 10m C4 and 135 board (87kg) and borrow my mates 8m Cat when the wind gets too big. But i want a kite for the lighter wind days, should i go for a 14m (something like the enduro or switch nitro) or go big and get a Zephyr? A kite where i would be comfortable around 15 knots.

mrodda117 said..
Ill jump in here too because ive got the exact same question,
I currently have a 10m C4 and 135 board (87kg) and borrow my mates 8m Cat when the wind gets too big. But i want a kite for the lighter wind days, should i go for a 14m (something like the enduro or switch nitro) or go big and get a Zephyr? A kite where i would be comfortable around 15 knots.

From a 10 Metre Ozone C4 at 87 Kilos I would go a 13 or 14 max, actually I would say a 12 metre Edge.

But you need to talk to the local guys at your beach, cause from what I got in W.A. was it either blows or it dosnt, 135 board is pretty small too for your weight.

Hi Jess, I'm about 62ish kgs and have a 7 and 9, the 9 gets me out at 15 - 22knts and then above 20ish i'll go the 7, i can probably get riding below 15knts but the "fun factor" is minimized, also this is riding on a board with boots if i use my straps board 15knts will be alright, i find the main problem with riding in light winds is relaunching the kite, sometimes i'll struggle to relaunch, i think if i where going to buy a low wind kite a would get a 10m as the 9 and 7 are have a pretty overlapping wind range, maybe something to think about.

10 IMO is a good size but model of 10 is another matter on power and especially relaunch as a beginner, you also mention 17 knts range, it won't be, you'll likely drop at times to 13/14 then spike to 19 poss 20, this is where you may struggle a tad as you mentioned a few posts back you were struggling with board control, on donuts post which is a good point , relaunch isn't as instant in lighter winds but also hugely different on brands, some of the more efficient kites take more finess to relaunch but have great bottom end , also do you want to sit your kite (park it) or are you kite skills up to constantly flying to deliver power, there's also a lot of difference between brands turning speed, some a slow with a nice power delivery some are quick and gutless requiring that kite movement,some will point upwind better than others as you also mentioned you had a few issues keeping upwind , few things to study in your search,
Here's a couple
Rally
Switchblade or siren( girls model)
Lithium
Catalyst
Rebel

Yep. Bigger kite would work.

Other things that I have found help (most have been mentioned).

Bigger board or flatter board (less rocker). I have a board with less rocker that is better in light winds than my bigger board with greater rocker.
Longer lines. I find this helps getting going as it has a bigger down stroke, but this might just be my imagination. You can get line extensions fairly easily.
Improved riding stance. Shoulders back, hips forward, using the kite to lift your weight off the board.

I used to not be able to consistently ride in anything less than 18knots on my main kite, but now I can ride as low as 14 knots, staying upwind and jumping using the same kite. I'm not expert but these three things have worked well for me.

Have fun

Play around with line lengths too. I have a 19m,25m and 32 m line set up.My kite quiver is a 7,10,and 17m . I have 2 surfboards a mutant and 3 tts.Im a board collector and going to a 2 kite quiver once my 10 m dies.

Go a 10 and buy a cheap second hand fish style surfboard as well.

With your weight, you will end up being able to kite in 12knots on the surfboard and 10.