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Beginner kite and body weight query

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Created by iken1985 > 9 months ago, 3 Dec 2012
iken1985
WA, 4 posts
3 Dec 2012 10:16PM
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Hey everyone,

Its my first few lessons out and I've went out and got myself a 8m North 2011 Kite (i'm 70kg). However I went out on a 20-22 knots day and was dragged and unable to walk. Should I start out with lower wind days say 12-15 knots or should i just go to a 7m kite?

arloj
WA, 237 posts
3 Dec 2012 10:23PM
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Hey bud,

I only started a month ago but im going comfortably albeit with a few Learning curves.

I weigh 65kg, i own a 9 and 6m naish park, I can use the 9 until around 22kn then it's getting hairy and I'm using some depower. 6 is good for anything above that,Hope that helps

*note I'm still green it's my opinion an I'm still learning about the winds.

KiteBud
WA, 1615 posts
3 Dec 2012 10:51PM
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One of the first things you should've learned during your first lesson is that anything below 15 knots is a waste of time and will inevitably be underpowered and end up with your kite down in the water, not relaunching and further dramas... Even 15 knots is marginal and will take a while for you to get going easily on your 8m kite.

So at 20-22 knots, 8m kite and 70kg you're talking perfect conditions, well powered but not overpowered (25 knots or more would be overpowered)

Your kite may feel overpowered due to uneven line lengths (center lines longer than the back lines), so make sure you tune your lines so all lines are the same length, this is a common issue especially if you bought a used kite and the lines have never been tuned...

iken1985
WA, 4 posts
4 Dec 2012 7:33PM
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cbulota said...
One of the first things you should've learned during your first lesson is that anything below 15 knots is a waste of time and will inevitably be underpowered and end up with your kite down in the water, not relaunching and further dramas... Even 15 knots is marginal and will take a while for you to get going easily on your 8m kite.

So at 20-22 knots, 8m kite and 70kg you're talking perfect conditions, well powered but not overpowered (25 knots or more would be overpowered)

Your kite may feel overpowered due to uneven line lengths (center lines longer than the back lines), so make sure you tune your lines so all lines are the same length, this is a common issue especially if you bought a used kite and the lines have never been tuned...


thanks mate, i'll have a go at it and I'll let you know how i went with it. Cheers for that, it really makes sense now as I was being dragged around like a dirty ragged doll and it wasnt pretty.



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"Beginner kite and body weight query" started by iken1985