previous topic :: next topic |
Author |
Message |
Dttt's
Since 16 Apr 2007
1 Posts
Oregon
New Member
|
Mon Apr 16, 07 7:21 pm What kite to buy? |
|
|
I was wonder what kite you would suggest for Newport/Florence. I'm 225lb and 6 foot tall. I was thinking 07 11m waroo but have heard mixed reviews of the quality. Am I crazy thinking a one kite quiver will work or should I bite the bullet and buy two kites. Thank for your help. |
|
|
registered

Since 12 Jul 2005
1319 Posts
tsunami
Sandbagger
|
Mon Apr 16, 07 7:41 pm |
|
|
If its a waroo 1 should be good and a seven is a good choice. Better get two sevens because it will get used alot and when it falls apart you will have another.  |
|
|
KITEADDICT
Since 13 Apr 2006
117 Posts
PDX west side
Stoked
|
Mon Apr 16, 07 7:57 pm |
|
|
that kite might work for you in maybe 20-35 mph. |
|
|
jahmbi

Since 28 Jul 2005
622 Posts
MORE HUMAN THAN HUMAN
River Troll
|
Mon Apr 16, 07 8:25 pm |
|
|
..... .... SLINGSHOT.. .....YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR....KITES ARE ALWAYS ON THE MOVE , WHICH IS GOOD OR BAD IT'S IS A LIVE AND LEARN ISSUE....TROLL _________________ It's Never To Late To Realize What's Important In Your Life.. |
|
|
dcrowe

Since 11 Oct 2005
265 Posts
hard to say, I was inverted
Obsessed
|
Mon Apr 16, 07 8:34 pm |
|
|
go small, 30+ is the norm in summer from Newport down. 7m!!!!!!!! |
|
|
Kataku2k3

Since 14 Aug 2005
3753 Posts
Los Angeles, CA
Videographer
|
Mon Apr 16, 07 10:26 pm |
|
|
With the wind varying so much, it'd really be best to go with 2 kites. One day may go in the low 20s, the next 35-40. I'm 145 and last year used both my Fuel 11 and 7 at South Beach. Sometimes underpowered, sometimes insanely overpowered... It's really hard to hit with just one kite. |
|
|
tonyb

Since 09 Oct 2006
973 Posts
Stevenson in the summer & SPI in the winter
Bolstad Clan
|
Tue Apr 17, 07 5:40 am |
|
|
If you're looking at the Waroo's I think a 7m / 11m quiver if it's that consistently windy there or a 9m / 13m combo. With the Waroo's you can easily skip a kite size and get good coverage. My personal favorite is the 9m Waroo.
And not to start a Gear War but I feel the need to defend the quality perception on the Best kites. They are as good as or better than any other kite out there - especially the '07 Waroo's with beefed up stitching and improved pulley's and bridle material. I've got an'06 9m and a 12m Waroo with over 200 hundred hours of riding each, no signs of fraying on the seams, pulleys work, bridle is fine, no bladder problems, etc... They hold up just fine if you take care of them. Carol has some '05 and '06 Nemi's that she rides constantly and has had no problems with them.
Our family (the Bolstad Clan), has 7 kiters in it, we own about 25 Best kites have a couple of the kids who are tough on gear (Grom/Shan), a couple who are learning and are also tough on gear - and everything is holding up just fine.
There was a bad batch of '05 Nemesis kites that had problems with splitting leading edge seams for a couple of months but they were replaced immediately by Best even after they were out of warranty. We were Best dealers for a while and sold a lot of kites in '05 and early '06 and we only had 3 out of about 50 kites that had to be returned. Since that time we have not had or seen any issues with quality.
Problems with kites are usually self inflicted - dropping it on the rocks, landing in thorny bushes, snagging on sticks - those types of things are not manufacturer problems but user damage. When your car gets a ding or a scratch you don't complain about quality issues - same thing here. I've sent an RRD, a North, a Liquid Force, a Slingshot, and a Best kite to Airtime (miracle workers!), for repairs over the last 4 years - all on account of doing something stupid.
You can buy Best kites from a dealer like New Wind in Hood River if you want to support your local shop and don't want to do it online. I think there is a shop in Portland as well that carries Best.
I think all of the brands sell good quality gear these days and all of the kites have positives and negatives to consider. You also have to factor in your riding style and the conditions you will be in. Try to demo something before you buy if you can. Read the magazine reviews, talk to people on the beach and do your research before spending your money. My top three to consider for kites would be Best, Slingshot, and North. (not in any particular order). There have been a few kites sold over the years (that shall remain nameless at this time!), that have been real dogs and had "issues" but I think most everything out there now is performing well.
Good luck and have fun!
Tony |
|
|
pjc
Since 06 Mar 2005
649 Posts
Addicted
|
Tue Apr 17, 07 10:50 am |
|
|
what i see at florence is guys who have sle kites bring 4 to the beach and guys who have c kites bring 5 to the beach. sounds crazy but it's what i've seen. big range of wind and the addition of waves makes it so nice to have just the right size. _________________ If you feel sleepy you need to be driving faster. |
|
|
pkh

Since 27 Feb 2005
6549 Posts
Couve / Hood
Honored Founder
|
Tue Apr 17, 07 11:00 am |
|
|
I wouldn't pinch pennies when it comes to the size of your quiver. I'd say 2 kites is absolute minimum for riding in NW, 3 kites is better.
SLE's do add range, but nothing beats having the right size for the conditions (especially if you are just starting.) 9m SLE's with a couple boards will work 75% of the time, but you will still miss out on high/low wind days. It takes a lot of effort to make a 9m work in light wind, though it can be done. |
|
|
Inept_Fun

Since 14 Apr 2005
1417 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster
|
Tue Apr 17, 07 11:51 am |
|
|
7 and 12m link should set you up good. If you get 2 boards as well you should be good to go. _________________ I heart dangling |
|
|
KITEADDICT
Since 13 Apr 2006
117 Posts
PDX west side
Stoked
|
Tue Apr 17, 07 4:46 pm |
|
|
I am 180lb's and my smallest kite is a 10 c kite. I ride it in 30+ whith my 136 sx. In the 20 mph range I use my 14 c. And 10mph range I use my 20 meter c. That covers me In all wind ranges. But I am looking to change my quiver this year and need to demo some kites. Im thinking warro, bullaroo or switchblade2. Maybe a 9,16 quiver. With some new boards. Who rides a 2 kite quiver and how dose it work for you. |
|
|
pkh

Since 27 Feb 2005
6549 Posts
Couve / Hood
Honored Founder
|
Tue Apr 17, 07 5:01 pm |
|
|
Does anyone else think that "What kite should I buy?" threads are pointless and should be moved to Kiteforum?
I think what type of kite (SLE / C kite / hybrid) or what size kite threads are interesting but giving everyone a chance to weigh in on their bias views seems a little retarded. We already outlawed Brand vs Brand threads... this is similar.
I'm always of the blanket response: Try it before you buy it. |
|
|
magicmaker

Since 29 Oct 2006
895 Posts
da Hood
Opinionated
|
Tue Apr 17, 07 5:46 pm |
|
|
pkh wrote: | Does anyone else think that "What kite should I buy?" threads are pointless and should be moved to Kiteforum?
I'm always of the blanket response: Try it before you buy it. |
agreed & agreed pkh, but, here is what i have to say on what type of kite you should buy. First do your research, everyone has an opinion on what brand they like the most, and part of the reason people prefer one brand over another is cost and availability. Another reason is technical features of the kite. Some people like the slingshot independant fifth line, some people like the north fifth element system, some people like the waroo bow kite, some people like the naish torch with the swept wingtips and their bar/lines over another brand. Some people like bow kites that are rigged in a 1:1 configuration to reduce bar pressure. Other people prefer hybrid kites due to the versatile nature of being able to use a bridle or ride it fifth line.
My advice to you on what type of kite to buy is this, do your homework, figure out if you like flat/bow, C or hybrid style kites, then research the technical features available to each make/model of a kite you're interested in. If you're not 100% sold based on the features of the kite and word of mouth, then you should definately try before you buy.
I think it would be easier to ask for opinions on one specific type of kite, as opposed to asking what kite should i get? because then you'll get first hand experience from people that have flown that kite as opposed to, i think this is best, or i like this brand the most..... i have a brand preference, but i'm going to refrain from stating it here, just to make my point that you should figure out what brand of kite you want to fly on your own. |
|
|
pkh

Since 27 Feb 2005
6549 Posts
Couve / Hood
Honored Founder
|
Tue Apr 17, 07 5:58 pm |
|
|
magicmaker wrote: |
I think it would be easier to ask for opinions on one specific type of kite, as opposed to asking what kite should i get? because then you'll get first hand experience from people that have flown that kite as opposed to, i think this is best, or i like this brand the most..... i have a brand preference, but i'm going to refrain from stating it here, just to make my point that you should figure out what brand of kite you want to fly on your own. |
 |
|
|
Mocean

Since 21 Sep 2005
343 Posts
Newport
Obsessed
|
Tue Apr 17, 07 7:31 pm |
|
|
You're gonna be sitting on the beach a lot with just one kite, or you'll be so overpowered that you'll be a risk to yourself and others. I live in Newport and can say that my most used kites are the 9 and 13 (I ride Fuels). Those 2 kites are about evenly divided for me. I'm 6'3", 205. A small kite is good to have for those 30+ days, and a big kite too (17) but if you use a surfboard you can probably get by on a 13. |
|
|
Mr.Onepump

Since 11 Sep 2006
66 Posts
Albany
|
Tue Apr 17, 07 8:05 pm |
|
|
listen to Mocean about conditions at newport, I rarely show up at south beach without seeing him out kiting. The last two years I have used my 13m and 9m fuels about an even number of times at newport followed closely by my 17m fuel. There are days especialy in the spring when you will need something smaller then a 9 however as the wind comes up to 40+. But if you know it's gonna be a realy windy day, you may be able to get there early and get some kiting in before you get blown off the water.
This year I'm switching to waroos' just for a change of pace, plus my wife seems to like the sle kites. I have a 7,9 and 13, the 9 is the only one I have used so far and I'm sure it will get by far the most use, but I'm looking forward to using the 13 on those lighter wind days and the 7 will come in handy when it's realy blowing.
Bottom line I would say 2 kites as a minimum  |
|
|
KITEADDICT
Since 13 Apr 2006
117 Posts
PDX west side
Stoked
|
Wed Apr 18, 07 4:09 pm |
|
|
I think getting opinions and advice on what people ride, sizes and typeis good. People have different ways of thinking, and may think of somthing you woulden't have. You cant demo every kite in every wind condition. So you might be able to narrow what size and type of kite you will demo. |
|
|
|