hgrimberg wrote: ↑Sat Nov 04, 2017 12:18 am
I am still learning kitesurfing coming from windsurfing. I actually only want to use the kite when it is not windy enough for windsurfing so, I want a kite for when the wind is less than 15 knots. I weight 176 lbs. I purchased a North Neo 12 2017 but I am worried that it won't be enough for less than 15 knots... On the specs from North it was saying that it was better to choose 1 or 2 sizes less since the Neos were a lot more powerful than all the other kites from North. I was at first about to buy a Dice 13 but after reading that from North I chose the Neo 12. I still can change it since I still didn't use it... Any recommendation?
You also have to consider the board that you ride. Directional surfboard or twintip. You would likely get more low end out of a surfboard but there are also some big ass flat twin tips that plane up pretty quickly in light wind.
And of course, as you get better, you get more range out of your kite being able to move (sine) it around more, like pumping your sail windsurfing. Sometimes those big kites offer a diminishing return as they don't move as fast and are too heavy to really fly well. Youl'll notice the foilers are going to small single, no strut, or ram air foils because they don't need as much pull to be planing and the kites will fly in the light wind.
I personally think the big traditional kites are better for big people.
And it can depend on you beach. If you have room to go down wind, you can go out in lighter wind. And of course when you first start out, staying up wind will be difficult.
The windsurf foil boards look intriguing if you want to stay just windsurfing.
Otherwise I would echo what others have said, you will likely find you kitesurf more and windsurf less or possibly not at all after awhile.
Sometimes it is just the challenge of the thing and the feeling of making progress. Anyone who learned to waterstart and gybe windsurfing is not a quitter and relishes a challenge. I see a lot of the foilers who started out as light wind only are no out there in more and more wind.
So yeah, going down to the beach with your 12m and a bigger board and saying 15 knots, is kiting weather and a good time to learn sounds reasonable. I think a few of us got our start that way. But after awhile it might become 20 knots......