The kite size sounds perfect i got a 8m nemisis and they are good kites...

I think the issue is kite control, maybe you need to pull in a little depower, keep the kite still. As a general rule if you cant walk backwards your overpowered. Anything up to then your ok, but as a begginer you want a bit less. Perhaps the wind was stronger than you thought? You definately wouldnt want to go smaller as i think most people would agree that the 12m kite is pretty much where all the best kiting is had on.

Where do you live? Go into more details about the dragging and the position of the kite. The more detail the more people can help you

Good Luck and Keep Trying.

i live on the sunshine coast (1hour north of brissy) ,it was lingering around 11-14 and gusts from 15-up to big 23 knots it came to 23 knots for about 20 minutes or according to the METAR reports.

it was a souther and i was just body draging in this lagoon (in maroochy river) i would go accrod and then start walking back at my kite facing out to sea (around 8- deegres to wind direction) i was walking aroudn the sand with the dunes andi found myself on full depower being pulled up the dunes. the guy i bought the kite from will show me some more about it in a week or so.

DUDE - GET SOME LESSONS..........

ye ive had a lesson and a quick one with the guy i bought the kite off

Realplayer,

I would recommend that you get at least one more lesson to allow you to full understand the control of the kite, what to do in a situation like this where you are pulled downwind and over a sand dune. This could have ended in a serious accident, so consider yourself very lucky. For yours and others safety, another lesson is an excellent idea. If you cannot find anyone who will do a lesson at this time, send me a pm and I'll point you in the right direction.

In 11-14 knots, a 12m will fly, it shouldn’t be pulling you downwind like it did in these winds. My 16m is perfect for these conditions, and I would still be underpowered in 11 knots, and I am 52 kgs. 15-23 knots gusts if you are on the water you would be able to hold this easily. 15 knots is nothing for a 12m kite. As a newbie, on your 12m anything above 19/20 gusts is a bit much for this size until you are able to control it more successfully etc.

For my weight of 52kgs, my 16m kite is perfect in just 13 or 14-16 knots. My 12m is sweet for 16-18, 10m is the best allrounder kite for me in 16-21/22 knots, and my 6.5m is perfect for 24-27 knots. All with a 140cm Labrat board.

Elizabeth B8 – Wello Kiter

Ah realplayer, that's excellent, and extremely nice of him Glad you have another one lined up.

As you will be kiting with other kiters, get to know the locals around where you kite. They will help you out, and over time you will learn what kite is perfect for you in certain wind strengths.

This is another good way to judge the wind; if if your mate who is 87kgs takes his 12m out, and you're about 68 kgs, you'll be taking your 9/10m instead etc. I know where I kite, if the wind is hard to judge (as it is in certain directions or high winds), if the guys are taking out their 9m bows, or 9 C kite, I need to be on my 6.5m because it's obviously about 24+ knots, whereas if they are on 16m's, I either take the 12m or my 16m depending on how consistant the wind is and how powered they are etc.

Sometimes it's just good for you to sit and watch on a day and observe what they are taking out in certain conditions etc., and where they launch/ their routine, set-up etc.

Goodwinds, be safe and have fun

Elizabeth B8 - Wello Kiter

The serious riders at our spot ride 8 and 12m, and sometimes take their 16m out if they want. The 8 and 12m (about 68-75 kgs) gives them a wind range of 16 to 30 knots on a 132. The 8m you will find once you get more experienced, will allow you to get out in about 23-28 knots or thereabouts depending on board size.

The brand and if you like the kite is completely up to you. Everyone can throw their 10 cents worth in to what kite is the best and which is best for you, but kite size and brand is a very individual choice, and when you come to buy another kite, ask to have a demo of one before you buy it. Say for example a Cabrinha, Best or a Naish kite, demo one first, because the Best, Cab and Naish all have a completely different bar and safety system etc.

Feel free to drop me a line if u want a hand with anything mate.

Goodwinds

Elizabeth B8 - Wello Kiter

or maybe u r just a noob and need some experience. cos i have seen u fly my 9m and quite frankly u suk

or maybe u suk and crashed in a tree and extremly lucky u didnt tear it

jarrod my kite is to pro for u, u might wana think about taking kite insurance out coz ull probably dy somehow

i dont need help from someone who crys when the go on the tower of terror

quote:

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Originally posted by Spacemonkey!

You said it rained and that shrunk your kite... unlikely.

You either didnt pump it up enough in the first place or you got a slow leak in the bladder.

Either way a flat kite can cause you to get dragged and is quite possibly a good explanation. You know its too flat when it jellyfishes in the air. Basically the tips look like they want to cave in. When i had a leak in my leading edge and i was too underpowered to keep upwind was dragging me quite violently when i was walking back up the beach flying it. Its because when the kite collapses sorta it drifts into the power zone then fills out and surges to the side.

Solution is either get apressure gauge or just feel other peopls kites to get an ideaof how much to put in, i normally flick the leading edge or try and bend it. It should feel pretty hard. If the leading edge bends too easy then you need to put more air in it.

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Quite possibly the problem with your kite is that its buggered and needs to be binned.

put that thing out of its misery dude.

i only bought it like 4 days ago.......

o well im sure itll serve me well once i get the jist of it