Okay, so this may be a stupid question, actually I'm pretty sure it's a stupid question but I'm going to ask it anyways.
I'm a beginner, I have a 10m kite and weigh 45kg (bought the gear of the guy who taught me), I keep checking the weather reports to see when a good time for me to head out is, and I see wind speed between 13-17 knots, which wud be perfect for me as a beginner, but than its has gusts anywhere between 20-28knots, which I feel is out of my ability. So do I go with the wind speed and ignore the gusts or....??
Cheers,
Not a stupid question - at least you're asking! A few things, that seems like a big kite for your weight, I def wouldn't be using it in anything over 20 knots. Gusty conditions are the most dangerous when beginning - they make launch & landing precarious, and also you won't be able to easily out-edge the gusts on your board. To answer your question, you need to be able to handle the highest wind speed on the given day so if it's gusting to 25knots I'd stay away until you're a bit more experienced. Good luck with it all, fun times ahead :)
Yes at 45kg you will be hammered in 28knot gusts on a 10. Essentially you need to rig a kite you can hold down in the biggest gust of be day.
For your weight that's probably a 6m
As above^^
I am 63kg and ride a 10m (14-22 knots gusting to 25)
Although I'm not quite a beginner (staying up wind, sliding turns, small jumps etc not a problem) I've stayed off the water for a few weeks on the sunny coast because the wind has been so variable and squalls comming through with very little warning. Also been working long hours BTW so there may have been a few opportunities in there I may have missed.
I would have thought a 7m or 8m would have been perfect for you (as a one kite quiver) or a 6 if you're going to keep the 10m for lighter days up to around 16-18 knots max.
My oppinion only, Hope this helps.
As above^^^^ my son is 38kg not far from you and he is smoken on a 6 meter half depowered in 18 kn i pull him up when it hits 18and above and send him out on the 4meter .
That is a problem easily sorted,
tell your mum about the danger of being overpowered,show her a couple of youtube vids of people getting wasted into buildings then give her 24 hours to work on dad.
Et voila, a new (or second hand) 6 meter kite which is much better suited to your weight in any case.
You can thank me later.
hello im 11 and 45kg too and i wouldn't kite with a ten. i kite with a 7m and a 5m but mate you cant use a 10m your gonna be way to over powered. Try using it in 15 knots or so but when it reaches above that don't do it you'll be way over powered.
i recommend a naish park or an airush flow.
P.S what size board are you using
cause im on a 122
Agree with all of the above....I am 48kg and don't have a kite bigger than an 8m. I use a 4m above 25knots, 5m above 20knots, 6m 15-20knots and 8m for anything less. I think I have used the 8m only two or three times...
Maybe go for a 6m for that wind range and if you get a big gust you will be able to hold it comfortably - I would not want to use a 10m for conditions like that.
Get something with a good low end as you will be using the kite in the bottom of it's wind range - I have Evo's 2010/2011/2013 and they all fly well in the wind ranges I gave for the size. Good luck!
Thanks guys, might look into getting a second hand 6m than. Yeppoon doesn't often get the big winds but lately that seems like all we have.
Kitersmini-> My board is a 132 Momentum
Cjai - back to your original question, the way the 'Bureau' (BOM) report wind speed is 'average' and 'gust'. I look at both critically before heading out.
Best wind for kiting is no more than 3 knots between average and gust - sweet!! But then the rest of us live in the real world and 5 knots between ave and gust is pretty normal for a sea breeze.
When you head out you will be kiting as some point in the 'gust' wind speed so you really need to choose a kite at that (gust) wind strenght that aint going to kill ya!!
We get some fronts through here in Vic that have the average at eg: 20 knots with gusts to 33 knots - thats a 3 kite range (in the one session!) for me so I just find something else to do that day. ( if I did go out I would need to choose a kite to survive the gusts and then would be underpowered for most of the time - s Hit session!)
So never go kiteing with only the average wind speed driving your kite size choice and ignore the gusts !!
Have fun !!
