I've currently only got an 8m kite (airush Lithium) and find myself often feeling a bit overpowered (in Perth). My current board is a 135cm airush xpact and while I'm loving the combination at 20 knots or less, it's a bit uncomfortable in higher winds and rough chop. Would love some ideas on what size most girls (~60kg) upgrade to. I'm not jumping (yet!) but happily staying upwind, getting most transitions down etc. Don't particularly want to shell out for a 2nd kite yet if I can help it. Thanks.

Hi tmurray,

At ~60kg, you should be riding around a 130 by 38.5 or there abouts. It also depends upon your skill level and where you ride, if in butter flat water, you can go shorter and if in choppy water a bit longer wont hurt.

Unfortunately, you can't do Perth on only one kite properly unless you make your other board a surfboard, and go down a size in kite. You realistically should be on a 6m for stronger winds. There are better kites for girls than the Lithium. The immense power and long de-power throw make keeping that beast under control almost impossible as a girl with shorter arms than a guy, especially if it is gusty or strong.

PM me for a couple of better options that you can demo. I guarantee your riding will improve.

Cheers,

DM

My ex was about 60kg she was on a 131 board and changed down to a 124cm board. ( it was possibly a 126 cm board can't quite remember )

Her riding improved dramatically over just one session.
( she was far more comfortable and felt far more in controll, was able to really dig her edge in when popping and helped her charge upwind )

I am 83kg and ride a (2011) 131 nobile NHP I ride this with an 8 m switchly from around 17 knots ( a bit boring ) to 35 knots ( hold down heaps of power). 3 years ago at about the same weight I was using a 128 cm board

try to demo a few smaller boards from your local shop at least one and see if you like it, it could just be the magic remedy.

The x-pacts are great boards, but they were designed for advanced freestyle and pretty stiff and unforgiving, especially if too big for you. They are not known for soft landings..... But do have very good control at speed and huge pop and flex when pushed. They have razor edges and when paired with my VapIII (sitting way forward in the window) and fully powered I often think I am heading directly upwind....

I am 100kg's and ride a 138, and I consider that on the big side, so a 135 would be way to big for you except in lighter stuff. They were current tech in 2009 so not quite old school just yet, so I don't think it is technology that was the problem but an unsuitable size and possibly shape for what you need.

Glad to hear you have found a board to suit though, nothing worse than gear that holds you back.

Gee harry - that's a bit harsh!!
Got some advice here, some advice out in the real world and some advice at AKS, then tried a few boards and found one that solved the problems I was having and am super happy with it - hardly a massive tactical error, more a matter of asking the wrong question to begin with.
Good picture though.

tmurray said...

Gee harry - that's a bit harsh!!
Got some advice here, some advice out in the real world and some advice at AKS, then tried a few boards and found one that solved the problems I was having and am super happy with it - hardly a massive tactical error, more a matter of asking the wrong question to begin with.
Good picture though.

it wasnt harsh at all I was simply stating that facts .............

at 60kg a 134 board is too big.

it is about the standard size for an 80+kg rider or for using boots......

At a guess id say the advice you got came from the person or store that sold you the board.....

I am a great believer that at the end of the day if you are happy that is all that matters,

wether or not that board slows your progression is a different story.

peace..... sorry to sound harsh Im trying to help. [:&x29;]

Opinions are like arseholes - everybody has one. If everyone took all the advice offered on this forum they'd be idiots. There is however some good advice - can be hard to distinguish the good from not so good. Also, just because a person has a huge amount of posts doesn't mean they necessarily know what they are talking about.

I do agree that a shorter board would have been a good option, but the North Soleil is narrower than the x-pact (1cm). Many other factors also like flex, outline, bottom shape need to be taken into account. Never seen this board.

Good on you for testing boards and finding one you are happy with for your local conditions - as per HP's advice

James