Hey guys I'm about 70 kg and 5'10. I'm looking for a secondhand kite with a wind range of about 9 - 18 knots. So basically a light wind kite. What would you guys recommend. Thanks :)
Hi Dosra,
9 knots is getting into the realms of the special purpose light wind equipment, that's basically no whitecap kiting. There are few kites that will relaunch in less than 10 knots.
Finding such a light wind kite with enough top end wind range is not easy as most kite company's build their kites tough to handle abuse which means heavy which means lousy light wind performance.
Most kites around 14m will be OK for you from about 12 knots up to 18knots, to go below 12 knots I'd suggest the Ozone 17m Zephyr, it will do all of that wind range and do it exceedingly well, but you won't find one for 2nd hand anywhere as they are just released.
Today was a perfect example I was the only one staying upwind and blasting around, everyone else struggled to get out through the waves being WNW and it was 12-15 knots most of the day, and they were all on surfboards.
If you ride a twin tip, forget it unless you are considering riding 17m +
Good luck,
KH
Agree with Kitehard, 9-18 knot is a huge range for a single kite. I'd be looking at the board to maximise bottom end. Slingshot Glide is a no compromise light wind flat water TT, or a directional, I've got a 17.5" tailed Fish, only 5' 7" but it does really well in light wind.
Cheers
Col
Okay cheers guys
But i guess i would be mostly kiting in 10-15knots and some people have been telling me to get no bigger than 10m and some have been saying about 12 - 14 and there are no shops anywhere near me so i couldn't get any advice.
hey Dosra,
first question i have for you is where do you live, are we talking 10 - 15kn in north australia(less denser air thus less power) or 10 - 15 in tassie(extremely cold dense air, thus more power) etc,
secondly what board do you own if any?
are you kiting in a river mouth affected by tide, or ocean with waves and lots of water movement or stale lake water or flat mud flat chop? etc.
whats your experience? good kiters can get there kite working in less wind than beginners.
give us some more info and we will be able to help you out for sure.
11m slingshot fuel would work for you, i'm about the same size and i ride a 9m fuel in almost every condition.
Team that up with a 7m & your set for most conditions
ill be kiting on the coast of south Australia and I'm a beginner with little kiting experience.
Dorsa,
As Mkeb has said - more info:
Have you had formal lessons yet? If not recommend you do before you buy, and you can get help from http://www.saksa.com.au/ as to instructor locations, and I am sure some of the SA Kiters on the forum can help there too.
There is a very large selection to choose from, Bow, SLE, "C" - what have you used so far? What board have you used?
Are you are buying to teach yourself? - not trying to put a damper on it, but lessons are really important for you and the sport and would recommend Instructor advice and try before you buy, even if it means travel. SAKSA can help with locations etc.
Hope this helps, more info dude 
yeah i was planning on teaching myself how 
but watching some stacks on you tube im not so sure now
Try a bandit 3 10m, they have huge wind range. pair it up with a board around 132cm and you should be good to ride most conditions from around 12kts average wind speed
cheers for that waxman.
i would go to an instructor but there is no local and i would have to travel a fair way.
i rarely see anyone kiting where i live.
I'm really only looking for a kite for light wind because that's when i will mostly be going out in and i will be buying another smaller kite soon anyway.
Mate, just wait to you get a taste for kiting. I guarantee you will have a small kite and be loving the loving the 20 knot+ conditions.
Get a 11-12m bow/SLE or a 10m delta to start with. Learn the ropes, try a few other kites along the away. A 2 or 3 kite quiver will be ideal....and trust me it will happen...dont fight it
Hey Dosra,
If you are going to have to teach yourself i would strongly suggest you buy a 3m foil land based kite. spend 1million hours flying that thing before you try a bigger more powerful dangerous water based kite. From my understanding in SA the seabreeze has some real kick to it so i would suggest you should look at a 10m kite and a board which is at least 146 long. tie your lines to a tree, put your harness on and practice the quick release system on your kite. know it blind folded, that includes putting it back together again. grab a training video and practice one skill a day, learn to upwind body drag so you can recover your board and have someone watch you the whole time. pump your kite up hard!!! thats the most common mistake and take your time setting up. youre about to go through the school of hard knocks on a scale you cant comprehend. Have fun and be safe.
Dont give up it will come together eventually, I taught myself eons ago in north queensland, when as far as i can remember their were 3 of us in my area trying to learn. My mate died in this process and has the not so great honour of being the first casualty in oz so my advice comes from experience, hope it helps
Good luck and please feel free to call me for further advice at any time, especially if your on the beach scratching your head about something,
Mikey @ Noosa Kiteboarding 0404838773
mikeb
thanks heaps for the info mate i will take all of that in and be as safe as i can. the only reason i cant take lessons is because i live on an island which it will cost at least $300 plus the lesson cost every time i go to a lesson. i will defiantly make sure i know how to use the quick release properly!
