Hey all, looking to get my own gear after a few lessons and am thinking a 12m kite to go with a 140+cm board (no ideas for model board)I am around 85kgs and 6'1 tall.
the kite I'm thinking of is a Naish Park, something that might keep me going into the intermediate stage. Eventually I will look at maybe a 17m and 8m but can only afford 1 kite right now.
im looking to kite on the Swan River (Perth) and hope to be ready for the waves before the season ends. Have surfed and windsurfer for 15+ years so don't think I'm being overly optimistic?
anyway, 12m and a 140cm+ TT board for a newbie, good plan?

Yep 12m @ 85kg is a bit too big and will get you overpowered over 20 knots, which will happen regularly in peak season. I've seen too many average weight beginners with 12m kites just doing survival kiting in 23+ knots, just not fun.

A 10m is a better choice and would get you going easily in anything at or above 18 knots until 25 knots. Then in the future a 7m for over 25 knots and 17m for around 15 knots or below. A 12m would best cover the 15-20 knots range, when the 17m might be bit too much.

140 for the board is about as large as I would recommend. In the future you will probably enjoy riding smaller boards, but 140 is not too bad for a first board @ 85 kg and will make it easier to learn.

How quickly you progress to the waves will mostly depend on your skills and how frequently you get out and practice. I would also recommend taking lessons in deep water to best prepare you for this environment.

KiwiDave said..


I am a beginner also. I would rather be slightly over powered.

You also said you're still not going upwind. Being overpowered as a beginner automatically leads to a poor stance. Having the correct kite size for the conditions goes a long way in building the correct technique right from the start.

Phil27 said...
Cool, thanks for the answers..10-11m might be the way to go and I guess it also depends on what type of kite you choose, as in power delivery..with windsurfing a 5m race sail will have more power than a 5m wave sail, I guess kites are similar.
Any thoughts on the Naish Park I'm thinking of?

Dependant on year the park IMO is similar to say a catalyst, a switchblade or rebel would give you that xtra bottom end but still behave itself in the upper ranges, with people I've given lessons to have progressed quicker on a slower but more powerfull kite than a quick reacting lesser powered kite

Yves said...

Phil27 said..
with windsurfing a 5m race sail will have more power than a 5m wave sail

Don't think so, it's the other way around

Perhaps I should have used a larger size as an example, but I'm afraid that I am actually correct

Cauncy - thanks for that advice, so the Park is a little more twitchy? Is the Switchblade a good progressive kite still?A couple more lessons before I splash out yet but good to get some opinions now..

Sorry, that's what I meant by twitchy..I shall keep my eye out for a second hand Switchblade or maybe Park..then hopefully the season kicks in!

It's okay, let's agree to disagree..think about it for a while...and then agree that I am correct

Me too