Salty. Steve from KSS has a 17 ATV LightAir and he uses it almost all the time, even in 18 to 20knots. He reckons it's strong enough to park and ride and not have to worry about diving the kite for more power etc. Maybe have a chat to him, as I think he is selling it too!

Personal opinion bro, go get a 14M

Anything lighter than a 14M can handle is good wind for lawn bowling.

I have kids, I'm more selective than I used to be about when I go out. If I wasn't married and didn't have kids, I'd have a 20m as my largest and a 5m as my smallest to increase water time. Having extra kites isn't a bad thing.

Thanks all for the advice.

I guess due to various life realities, I only get certain windows to go kiting, as castill0jf said, I like the idea of it as being insurance to go. Nothing worse than getting gee'ed up for a session only to realise when you get there the wind isn't playing ball...

Thanks Saffer, I hear you. I guess I'm slowly building up to the 5-20m quiver, kite at a time! I'm on 3 at the moment, and looking to expand.

SaltySinus said..

Thanks all for the advice.

I guess due to various life realities, I only get certain windows to go kiting, as castill0jf said, I like the idea of it as being insurance to go. Nothing worse than getting gee'ed up for a session only to realise when you get there the wind isn't playing ball...

Thanks Saffer, I hear you. I guess I'm slowly building up to the 5-20m quiver, kite at a time! I'm on 3 at the moment, and looking to expand.

The issue with having a large number of kites is whether you enjoy riding them. As an example, I had a 7/10/13 combo of 2012 Rebels. The 13m was so slow compared to my 10m that I didn't enjoy riding it as much and I had more fun riding my nugget with the 10m and it gave me the same bottom end. The dice is a faster kite so if I shift to those, I'll probably go back to a 13/10/7 but as I said, I'm more selective. When I was younger, I would have looked to maximise water time, but I also played more sports where now I play less sports and I have kids. I still play other sports, but if it's sub 13 knots, I'd probably rather be on a golf course or spending time with my daughters than mowing the lawn on a kiteboard. Ultimately, it may seem strange for people who don't have kids, but they grow up quickly, you have a short window and with work during the week, you spend as much time with them as possible, or at least I do.

If we had a cable, then sure, I'd be there in lighter wind when I get a break but it doesn't exist. If we had a slider park, then big kites would probably be heaps more fun, but again, we don't have it so you literally are stuck mowing the lawn and doing fairly basic tricks.

Hey Salty, I have a 2012 17metre Zephyr and it is the best thing I have purchased. I ride it with a twin and a surfboard. Then I have a 10 and 7 Rebel. Sounds like a big leap but I just change boards. I have only purchased a new board once. All of my boards have been ex demo or last years boards.

The Blade 17mtr Fat Lady is also a great kite. But it does not have the top end of the Zephyr. The 2013 Zephyr is a VERY VERY GOOD KITE, I will wait till someone sells it second hand. I have not bought a kite over 900 bucks and seabreeze is unreal for thrifty buggers like me.

Thanks guys for your considered response... really appreciate it!

I'm considering selling my 12M. I've use it only once since Jan. My 10M cab works great in 20knots. So yeh my point is you may get to use it twice a year.

decdok said..

I have a 16m NRG only reason just for insurance purposes on the light wind sea breezes so you don't have to sit on the beach waiting with everyone else :D

Do you use it much?

Today I arrived at Altona at 630 pm .. kite until 730 pm. Winds average 10 knots. Kite 16 NRG 2014. Second time is being used this week. Today I was able to jump, go up and downwind .

SaltySinus said..

Cheers Kazan. And silly question, is that KSS Altona branch?

How's the landkiting going? Still scaring dogs?

Hi Salty. Sorry for the late reply. Yes, that's right KSS Altona.

I envy you guys actually. Up here in the tropics, my 14mt Cab Switchblade is perhaps the only kite I use even up to 20 knots and we've hardly had a day above 22knots. I went out on my 10mt Fluid ATV once and it was a struggle to keep her up even in 15knots. 15knots down your part of the world would be more than enough for my 10mt kite. However, I did purchase some beauties 2nd hand foil kites - HQ Montana 5 12.5mt and Flysurfer Psycho III 8mt. Both those kites are amazing in 15 to 20knots and the HQ has massive boost.

I have had a 15m Fluid Light Air last season, worth every cent. I have changed this year to the 14m NRG and will see how she goes, but will never be without a big kite now!

I believe Steve at KSS has a couple of big kites in a the moment, both new and used.

Exactly decdok...had a great session on my Zephyr at Brighton earlier this week....everyone was packing up as they couldn't stay upwind, so I had it to myself. Today I regretted not pulling my Zephyr out. I was on my 12 and I couldn't stay upwind as the wind died after 7 pm. Often the last hour of daylight the wind dies in the bay, which when I often try to get a quick session in before dinner after work. Life is better with a large kite if you would rather be out more than you are. The Zephyr doesn't feel like the monster that it looks when you are flying it. It is easier to hold down at the high end and it is more manoeuvrable than people realise.

Nice!

Hi Bakz, I have read many good things about the new Zephyr. With the flying carpet and the Zephyr you will be the only one on the water on light wind days. I will say hello next time.