Rebel Quiver, help appreciated.

Hi guys.

I am thinking about buying a quiver of rebels.

I weigh about 90 - 92 kg.
I have a 135 - 42 Shinn Monk board.

I was thinking of buying a 9m and a 12m to be able to comfortably cover a wind range from 13/14knots up to about 25/26knots

however I got advised to go for a 7m and a 10m to cover the same?

I am just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this?

Buying three New kites is a little out of my budget but I was even thinking maybe getting a new 7 and a 10 and then a 2010 or 2011 12m?

Thoughts? (my apologies for the double post in the newbies forum)

IMO i would stay with your original idea, I'm 83 kg and I currently have an 8,10,12 & 14. I mainly use the 12 & 10 for MELB conditions where I kite about 3 times a week. The 10 is fine for me up to about 18-23 knots and the amount of times each year that the winds get into the 23-28 are few and far between.

I have used the 8 about 6 times in 18 months and I 'm not that keen on it as I find the boosting/hang time is greatly reduced with the smaller kite as is the wind window.

I really would only considered using the smaller kite if i was riding my surf board. As mention in the previous post the De-power range is wide in the Rebels, at least the 2012 models, that you can get away with a slightly larger kite. At the other end of the scale they have quite a bit of low end grunt which helps out on the lighter wind days.

If i was only able to have two kites and considering the wind range we get in MELB I would go with the 9 & 10
.

Just wondering what sort of kiting you are doing.
Flat water, Surf, or a bit of both.
Tricks, and what level are you at.

Type of winds, Steady or gusty.
12 is a good light wind kite, but I haven't flown this years, soon to arrive.

9 meter is a terrific kite with good wind range.

Reason I ask about conditions is that you might consider a Vegas in the smaller kite, if you are in really gusty winds when its cranking. This years is meant to be pretty good with better up wind ability than last.

(i'm weighing in at 90 kg)

Second hand rebels, I think the 2011 is the best kite of the last 3 years series, but 2012 has the adjustable back line settings.

Rebels are grunty but I don't see anyway that you could get to 13 knots with a 10m at 90kg's. You've got more chance of falling pregnant through wind pollination unless you're riding in a 8 knot current. I have the 2012's and I can do 15 knots at 80kg's with my 10 and I know how to ride light wind. Sure you could ride in less but I reckon you'd battle to be doing anything more than trying to hold your ground. Personally I think a 12/9 would be the go for your weight, 11/8 if you really wanted to push it, but I can't see you battling to hold a 9m in 26 knots at 90kg's so I'd go as big as possible on the bottom end.

The alternative to consider if you want to keep your low end and have a higher top end is is to go with a 11/8 new and then get a second hand board like a north nugget which will increase your bottom end by 3-4 knots and be heaps of fun. Its easier to swap a board if the wind dies than to pump a new kite.

hey i ve got a 11 metre 2012 for sale with a bar. great kite. ive got 7 new ones comming next week so its got to go $950 sean0419647484

I'm 80kg and find that 12 and 10 are what I use 95% of the time. For those cranking days I pump up my 7- if you wanted to increase your high end a bit- I think that the 9 and 12m combination is at least what you would need. and I can take my 12 to 20kts, granted it's not a rebel, but based on the feedback regarding their de-power range, you'd be flying in most winds between 14-30kts.

Before I switched to ozone's i used an 8m & 12m rebel in pretty much all winds except very light stuff

I weigh 90 kilos and ride a twin tip FYI

For 2012 or 2013 Rebels I would say 12m and 8m Combo

I'm an experienced rider, and for me I ride my 10 up to 25 or little more than I'm on my 8. Don't ride a surfboard much. Only way u will know is to test ride the gear. Go to a demo day. U can only get so much info from reading up about them. All comes down to how it feels for you.

Saffer said...

mitch88 said...

Hey I reckon for your weight I would go the 12/9 combo. I have a 10/8 combo and I weigh 80kgs. I can hold my 10 in up too 30 comfy and my 8 in 40 comfy. It will get going on my 10 in about 15 knots up. Hope this helps

You probably want to clarify wind ranges before making comments like that. Quoting gusts is not realistic and I'll challenge any 80kg rider to go out and be comfy on their 10m in a sustained 30knot wind (i.e. 30 knot gusting to 35knots). Quoting gusts is dangerous. It gives inexperienced riders the wrong idea of what conditions they can take their kites out in.

Demoing a 9m on sunday! (if the wind pulls through)

At the moment, judging from all the comments: 9m and 12m seems the way to go.

All though the idea of a 7m and a 10m + a North Nugget board sounds good too for the main reason that I have an excuse to also buy an extra board but also because of the small, agile 7m which would probably be a hell of a lot of fun.

I just wonder if there really would be enough days in summer to take out a 7m with my weight.

there will probably be more light wind days (12m) than 25knot+ days for the 7m

11/8 was my blend down here in mandurah a few knots less than perth, but i was a few kg lighter.

But saffer is right, the 11m while bloody nice (used it 75% of the time), just that tad too slow.

The 10m in its sweet spot would be an ideal size and enough canopy to still go huge and be forgiving on the drop. You need to buy 3 kites I feel...lol

Got three kites and three boards, covers most.