Hey guys 80kgs, 180, intemmediate kiteboarder
Just starting to heavily get into unhooking, landing raleys, unhooked backrolls among some other basic unhooked tricks. But I have realised that when overpowered you can't really unhook so I'm looking to buy a smaller kite. I currently have a 202 10m Vegas but I'm just wondering what are the characteristics like when unhooking on small kites? I've ridden small kites before and noticed how fast they are in the air, but never unhooked in high wind on a small kite. If unhooking on a small kite sucks anyway then I feel I may as well buy a 7-8 meter rebel so it's more comfortable, or if unhooking is just as good on a small kite in light wind then ill buy the Vegas. Thanks!
small kites can be a bit twitchy but there's no reason you can't unhook.
i reckon a good idea is to cut the bar down as far as possible to slow the steering and reduce the twitchy feel a bit.
hey mate, have a 10m 14 and a 7m 012 vegas and am a little bit ahead of you on the progression front weighing 75kgs. like you i got very comfortable playting with the 10m and was hesitant to unhook with the 7m for a while but like you mentioned when you are learning, being over powered while unhooking isnt a sensible approach.. this gets less noticeable when you advance abit (im not sure if you get better or just less sensible!) and only having a 10m will limit your unhooked fun after about 22knots!
When it comes down to it its all in the set up, i fly my 7m on a short bar and slow wing tips 22+k, my 10m on a largee bar and slow wing tips 17-22k and my 14 on a large bar and fast wing tips 14-17k all on wakestyle and they all pretty much unhook similarly. Obviously they have different flying characteristics but ina bout 15 into your session you are dialed in and very little changes on how you approach your tricks.
However i will say the 7m vegas's wind range is poor and it is very limited to what it can do when in the air compared to say a rebel, also when the wind is blowinf 25+ which is whn most get their small kites out its usually time just to have a big boosting session or hit the waves instead of practicing those mobes.. But if you like unhooking in all conditions then my advice to you is maybe get the 8m being 80kgs.
owen.
ill also add that even though the wind maybe higher and the kite fly's faster, crashing out is no worse and maybe a little lighter as there is alot less.. lets say "torque" than when flying my bigger 10m or 14m. thats is when crashes hurt
Dude, I used to have a 7 Vegas and now ride 8m Vegas. 8m is so much easier to unhook with.
Sorry if I sound like an idiot, what do you mean when you talk about a short bar? I assume you mean short bar and lines? And fast wing tips?
Short bar... as in most kites have 45cm bars for their smaller range of kites (50-60 for 10m-17m etc), some people cut down larger bars to make them say 40cm, makes the kites less twitchy and lighter because you can't get as much leverage on the handles.
^^^^ don't get how you and jake ride those tiny bars? Bar pressure becomes a killer even when I ride my 45 on all my c4s. Both my elbows feel like they're gonna drop off!
Hahaha, Actually I made a little lie, I've been using a 15inch as well. But I think the fact that I have a larger chicken loop might help. Also I tend not to ride underpowered so I'm not swooping the kite all the time.
What size C4's do you have? Small sizes are pretty quick.
Upgrading from 11m to a 12m with a 9 and 7 as well. Coming off a custom onto a pop.
