What kite to buy?

alleycat · Since 29 Jun 2006 176 Posts Portland Stoked

You weight about the same as I do, therfore, you will need a kite on average about 2 meters bigger than anyone else is flying. Plus to complicate things more you will need three boards. I am probably going to get some flack for the three board comment but I have tried to go out many times on a small board and a 9 meter with out success. Simply by increasing the board size by 15 cm makes a world of differnence. So the three boards will be a 136cm, 150cm and a surfboard. The kite sizing industry wide tends to size thier gear for an individual that weights in at approx. 77 Kg. I feel that once you get over the 95 kilogram weight barrier you have to put more thought into the sizing of the equipment that you are riding. Simply put the more you weight the more power you need to get going and this includes the need bigger to get up on a plane. A 7 meter kite will be a waste of time for someone of your weight (unless you plan on kiting in 80 km/h wiinds). Don't take my word on it though like a majority of the posters on this site have told you, test fly a kite before buying it. May I suggest that you focus more on the size of the kite than the make or brand of kite.

I guess we should see this as an incentive to loose a little weight so the kite will not have to work as hard.

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

I would say blowhard is 225++ and he rides his 7 the most and rides a 5 frequently his biggest kite is a twelve(his walking litewind kite) Laughing

. I don't know that a 7 would be a waste of time unless you are not going to ride Florence. Newport usually blows 5-10 mph less than Florence when it is nukin' 35-40 mph. You could listen to someone who doesn't ride there or mocean who rides there alot. I ride Florence and have pretty much every size slingy and two boards to switch between.

The less kites you have for the area the less likely you will be able to ride every time. Soon there will be no shortage of ridable wind days but sometimes its 12mph sometimes its 35mph.

If your going waroo buy 07, 06 were not put together as well.If your only going to ride a few times a year no problem, but if your going to be addicted and ride 4-5 days a week go quaility. And as a beginner in Florence you will be puttin it down in big surf and swimmin with the sharks. Mostly florence is a slingy stronghold . A set of 05 or 06 slingers will hold up well and be cheap.

there are no right answers to this and best warros are good kites.

like tony said 7-11 quiver and maybe a set of short linees on a bar.

good luck