10 knots definitely. 9 knots probably. 8 knots maybe but don't count on it.

Hmm. I'm no physics expert, but I think maybe "big guy big board big kite big fins" is theoretically faster than "small guy small board small kite small fins". Same as it is with windsurfing, if not more so, since there's less physical constraint on how big you can build a kite than how big you can ...

I hate messing with those ball seals! If I have to separately inflate a bunch of struts I definitely want the simple one-way pinch valves on the nipples. And a pump with a pressure gauge. Come to think of it, a simple one-way pinch valve on the leading edge bladder would be nice, too, so as not to h...

I'm actually more interested in the pro racing than the pro freestyle. Watching racing, I kind of understand speed, angle, gear, and tactics, so I can relate to it. Watching freestyle, I'm impressed with the talent but I have a hard time relating because it just looks like a blur of complicated, gym...

Hmm, yeah, 70 cm max width sounds reasonable for competition.

100 cm has turned out to be a good limit for formula windsurfing, and if 70 cm for a kiteboard is "relatively" even wider than that, it should be plenty even for big dudes.

I hate bladders in general. So easy to fail, so hard to fix.

Last month I got so fed up that I sold both my LEIs and bought a used foil.

Sometimes I hate it, too, but overall I'd say I hate it less than the LEIs.

Let us know how it goes on the wing when you get a chance to try it.

Another option would be a twin-tip that's bigger but not "door" style. I learned on a 179 cm Litewave Freeride that I still ride. It's like, the easiest kiteboard ever to learn on, easier than a door because it handles chop and both light and strong winds really well. Should be used boards like it o...

You know the Spleen 159 will work great because that's what you learned on, but I think any 150 - 160 cm flat-rockered door style board would do the trick. I would get a used one so you can afford it without having to sell your current board. That way you can ride the door in light wind and switch t...

Hey Kamizuka! My 210 lb buddy was always suffering on his old 13 or 14 when the rest of us were on 12s. But then he got a 2009 Cabrinha Crossbow 16 matched with his Litewave Wing 153 and now he's one of the light-wind guys, with about a 10 or 11 knot minimum; even a bit less than that with the Secto...