Been off the water for nearly 10 years due to location and kids, now looking to replace my old RRD C kites with something new. Not game to use the old ones now - they've been in storage so long I reckon they'd disintegrate mid-air! Been kiting since mid 90s (started on non-relaunchable foils, 90m lines and handles!), made my own boards etc. so not a complete noob but have been off the water and haven't had a new kite in a loooong time.

I like a mix freestyle/freeride/wave, get my kicks from big air and carving, not into handle passes and wakestyle. I used to ride quite powered up on a tiny board, but have mellowed in old age and parenthood so will go for something like 135x40 twin tip and skip the anchorman for launch now. I'm around 75kgs.

My question is if I'm buying one size of something like a North Rebel for use in Melbourne (Brighton, Hampton, Carrum, Peninsular) what size is going to keep me comfortable up to ~25 knots? North say the 11m is good to 12-29kts. Is that realistic. Or would I be better off on a 10m? I'm after something with a little more upper end range than my old 15m high aspect C kites.

Thanks!

Hi Pete,
I demoed the latest 9m Rebel about 3 weeks ago and I currently have the 12m out on demo.

I normally ride Ozone edges and have done so for the last 4yrs, so I am into high aspect kites and the same riding style as you have described as I also like riding very powered up. I am 96 kegs and mainly ride a 136 Jaime.

I was very impressed with the 9. It was so easy to be very aggressive with this kite, smooth power delivery (due to pulleys), turns and loops extremely tight and easy (much like the Neo), boosts very well as u would expect from a high aspect kite. Also had the clicker bar on the 9 which is easy to use and very clean with the trim hidden away, but i am not a fan of the North bar and lines or any other brand for that matter...u can't beat Ozone's bar and lines IMO. Also the new Rebels can now be flown using either 4 or 5 lines.

Now, the wind range....I flew the 9 in 25knts gusting to 29 and found myself very powered up at my weight and doing good 10m boosts so at ur weight I would suggest demoing both the 9 and the 10 if you can as they are grunty kites.

Personally, I prefer the edges because of their direct feel (no pulleys), both kites have similar characteristics but u will find in the bigger sizes that the pulleys create lag which takes a bit of getting used to....

Hope this helps...

Cheers

I had the Rebel. Very grunty. 11m would be a good size

Hey Pete, not sure if you've bought a new kite yet but I'm 5'7" and 62kg riding a 135x40 Twin tip. I was also off the water for a long time. My "go to" kite over the years had me comfortable in 14-20knots and seemed the perfect size, they were:
2003 C-shape 12m
2010 Switchblade 10m
2017 Switchblade 9m

so yes, kites have become more efficient over the years (and safer, better relaunch etc)

I also use a single strut 12m for the lighter days.
I won't recommend size for you since I don't know your area but hope the above info helps.