Jonstone75 Posted February 26, 2011 Report Posted February 26, 2011 I got myself two kites a 12m co2 and a 7m yarga, lines and a directional board 300 quid ! I started last year and I'm up and down wind ok but someone told me my 12 is too big for me I'm 5.11 and about eleven stone I feel comfortable with it but it is a bit of a bitch when you do have to walk back with it because of it's lack of depower ! would I be better of with something smaller or do you think it's just lack of depower and also I could do with some suggestions on type of kites that had good depower but are a bit older I should look out for as I can't really afford a really new one Quote
OceanRodeo Posted February 27, 2011 Report Posted February 27, 2011 Look at a 10m sle 2008 onwards they tend to have more power size for size than your co2. + they have loads of depower. The more modern kites are so much easier to fly and relaunch. Quote
smackay116 Posted February 27, 2011 Report Posted February 27, 2011 Deffo go have a play with some new demo kites somewhere Stu Quote
garc Posted February 27, 2011 Report Posted February 27, 2011 I got myself two kites a 12m co2 and a 7m yarga, lines and a directional board 300 quid ! I started last year and I'm up and down wind ok but someone told me my 12 is too big for me I'm 5.11 and about eleven stone I feel comfortable with it but it is a bit of a bitch when you do have to walk back with it because of it's lack of depower ! would I be better of with something smaller or do you think it's just lack of depower and also I could do with some suggestions on type of kites that had good depower but are a bit older I should look out for as I can't really afford a really new one If you get a 9m, you might find you use the 9/7 combo and then ditch the 12m. 12 and 7 C kites is a big gap. You'd normally skip a size and go 12/10/8 or 11/9/7 but with the depowers there is a bit more overlap. You could probably go 11/7 waroo's maybe ? Flexifoil ion mark II ? What's the directional board size ? Bet you change that for a twinnie also. 130-135 x 40 will do it. '06 North Vegas had awesome depower for a C kite but then you'll need a 5th line bar and if you can find an '06 9m - you'll be v lucky I think. Trouble is, kitesurfing's not cheap. I just had to spend another £40 on some rope and a cleat. FFS. There again it's bloody strong rope. Quote
parksy Posted February 27, 2011 Report Posted February 27, 2011 Whoever said that the kite was too big for you was a bit of a knob, he/she should have said that the kite was a bit big for the wind that day. A kite with better depower will cover a wider wind range and so be safely useable more of the time. A kite with little to no depower will mean you need to use your head and chose wether it is safe to go out or scale down to a smaller kite. If you can afford it, chop in for a newer model or get a 10 to add to your collection. You can't have too many kites haha Quote
jetskipricey Posted February 27, 2011 Report Posted February 27, 2011 As i keep telling the wife you can never have to many kites :-) Quote
Jonstone75 Posted February 27, 2011 Author Report Posted February 27, 2011 Nice one I will keep a look out for a ten I recon ! do you think anything pre 2008 as having not enough depower on most kites ? Or is just particular makes have better depower Quote
crabman Posted February 28, 2011 Report Posted February 28, 2011 There's no way a 12 is too big for you! I weigh about 10st (when my wetsuit's wet!) and have flown my 12,5m Ion2 into the upper 20's! As has been said, either ditch your 12m and get a newer bow/SLE of similar size or get a 10m to fit in between. If you go newer than 2008 you're in with a pretty safe bet I'd say. Actually, looking back on your OP I reckon you need a gap filled rather than a new 12m. Get a 10! Yes, you need another kite. And guess what - after you get the 10m you'll need another Quote
simon1976 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Posted February 28, 2011 kites with less depower are a bit of a pain if you have to walk far and you are lit, it bugs me sometimes with the walk i have to do, as you get more comfortable with the kite then you will fight it less and will be less hassle. But yeah you still need another kite lol tricky when money id tight but i would always try and get a quiver of kites rather than different ones and another thing is generally as you progress you will, change what you enjoy out of a kite so your opinion may well change. Quote
PAUL0 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Posted February 28, 2011 a) you can never have too many kites ----- true b) parksy is spot on c) i'm 82kg and have a 14m When i was learning i found cabrinha switchblades were great as they are stable as, great wind range and good boost with decent depower I had a 10m and 7m which i could get out on in 16kts cos they have great low end. You need to try them really bud. A 10 is a good shout though Quote
russ_kent Posted February 28, 2011 Report Posted February 28, 2011 Many people use C kites for personal preference - they like what they perceive as the more direct feel. The downside is that you have to have more of them, and with the UK's fairly patchy wind patterns you find yourself having to come in and change them more often as the wind goes up and down during the course of a session. This is fine if you're a pro at a competition with people on shore to inflate them, rig them, and even bring them out to you - but a pain if you're just a normal rider who has to haul it back up the beach, land it, pack up, get out another etc. At which point sod's law says the conditions will revert to how they were for the previous kite you had out. Go and try a modern bow kite for an hour or two, once you get used to having to work the power more and the different technique for jumping you'll never look back. The feel is getting better, the gust handling is better and the wind ranges are stupid. Reasons for not using them are getting fewer and further between in most people's minds. As per Paulo above you can't go too far wrong with a modern-ish switchy, anything with the IDS system. I have a 14 metre for up to about 30mph because I weigh 15 stone and the depower on them is pretty crazy, but for you a 12 should be perfect for most conditions. I'd say do some overtime, flog the 12 and put the cash towards something newer, also to make the sums add up factor in the cash you didn't spend on a 10 metre C kite. Then keep the 7 for high winds! Quote
Benro Posted February 28, 2011 Report Posted February 28, 2011 Get a 10/12m 2008 cabrinha switchblade IKSURFMAG - Issue 9 - Free Online Kite Surfing Magazine Quote
Jonstone75 Posted February 28, 2011 Author Report Posted February 28, 2011 Cheers for your help people nice one ! I'm now gonna be on the lookout for 10m cabrinha 2008 ish I will keep the twelve till then though just so I have something to use in lower winds Quote
Benro Posted March 1, 2011 Report Posted March 1, 2011 Good luck mate. If you find one make sure the kite hasn't turned into a floppy sock. Ask the seller if its still crispy etc, my old switchblade went like that and ripped down the middle in the end. Don't let that put you off though. They are one of the best older kites you can buy. Quote
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