Great insights everyone, thanks a ton! Especially your points about top end, travel and bladder. Just grabbed a 2017 7m SB to take the place the 2011 6m+8m ... now to replenish the family bank account before my wife notices :nono: Anyone need cheap 4m 6m 8m SBs and 2017 Cab bars? :D http://kiteforum...

Probably good advice. Wondering if 1x new (7m) can cover range of 2x old (6m+8m). Issue is limited funds. Also bulk for air travel.

Hi Folks, which is better? 2 old kites or 1 new kite? If you could only afford one or the other. Would you do bigger quiver or better kite? Yes, newer kites often have more range ... but for any given windspeed there is a correct size, right? I'm trying to decide whether to keep 2x 2011 Cabrinha Swi...

My apologies. Make sure you get the "Pro-Lite Rhino Hybrid/Fish Double" and not the "Pro-Lite Session Hybrid/Fish". The Rhino is roomier and has thicker padding. The pictures I posted were of the Rhino. My Aguera 69cm wide 2011 race board fit fine in the Rhino but would not fit in the same size Sess...

Mr_Weetabix wrote:Being taken out by a seal and dumped in the ocean... I believe that this particular specialist wipeout is known as the "Bin Laden".

oops, almost spit my soda. that's that's the funniest thing I've read all week!

Possible to ride strapless? Yes if the board is large & floaty and your fins are short. Or if you're slogging along after the wind drops, sine'n the kite trying avoid swimming back. Fast & fun? Not really. You need the straps to ride it foiling onto the leeward edge. I can't flatten & heel it onto t...

Cheap? You can also get last years. Check your kite classifieds (kiteforum, nwkite, fksa, ikitesurf, bayarea, puget, kiteboardbc, et al.) for 2010 and 2011 race boards this fall as the race season ends. Not all of them are carbon eggshells. I ride mine hard in all conditions, up to 30mph and harsh c...

Instead of a bigger slower kite you could get a bigger faster raceboard. The latest round of 70cm wide IKA "box rule" boards are pretty awesome. Long fins, wide board, super efficient means you can get away smaller and fewer kites. Besides once you get these planing, apparent wind kicks in anyway. I...

Yep, though later ones (or at least my CR59) came with 27 front, 24.5 rear. Shorter fins work and are easy. They just don't have the same performance. Isn't performance the point of a raceboard :-) Yeah long fins can be a hassle. Saw video of Adam Koch losing a race this summer when he hit a sandbar...

All race boards are too big for a twintipper :-) But not that difficult to sort out if you start with coaching for the first hour or so. Yes, smaller boards like Aguera 53cm or race "inspired" twin-fin directionals like Cab Transport are easier but need more wind and don't drive upwind as hard. It t...