Good large flat kites exist?

[Skyway Scott]

The 15m Hyper type is awesome. No need for more "material".

[s29feb]

Sorry but the only awesome is the awsome SS Turbo Diesel 14m I have one and it turns/responds as fast as my 12m Shockwave but bloody pulls like a bloody train on bloody steriods!

Awesome Kite

[kitesuffer]

There is a reason the Nova2 12 is the largest. Fantastic kite from 13kn for me @ 85kg

[OzBungy]

The 16m Crossbow I is a perfectly decent kite provided you add some pulleys to the bridles to reduce the bar pressure.

Realistically, unless you are over 100kg there is no need to go to such a big kite for light wind. A 12m SB2 and a good sized, flat board is more than adequate for most light wind days.

[Guttorm]

For several days me and my buddy Bjørn got to try a Waroo 20, Contra 17 & 14 and Xbow 16 with mod.
On normal TT boards the C. 17 was the best for light wind kite for me (105 kg)
But on a SS Glide the the Xbow 16 was so much better for everything even on low end.

For Bjørn (85 kg) No matter what board he used the Xbow 16 outperformed the other lightwind kites on everything. Jumping about 30% higher in all wind conditions compaired to his Contra 14.

On a fast board as the Glide no experienced rider under 250 lbs can possibly like the slow Contra 17 or waroo 20 over the Xbow 16 with mod.
Contra 17 has slower turning, stearing power needed is the same as xbow with mod, less upwind ability, less jumping and dont like riding in strong wind. And finaly they make me feel big fat and slow. And all this with the same low end. If you think about getting a Contra 17 or Waroo 20 dont, buy a Glide or Door in sted and a used Xbow 16.
Guttorm 105kg / 230 lbs

[fat blokes can fly]

I think people get too wrapped up in having a big kite to 'pull them along' when in reality they need to learn how to ride fast with a medium/large kite rather than getting confused with there technique and going to by an XL kite.

I must be one of the heaviest guys that regularly post on this forum at 107kg. 6 years of riding and searching high and low for the light wind oracle. You can go that rought, I rode 20m rhino2 for 2years but I would be riding slow and really powered in flat water. In comparison last year I rode the 14m waroo & Best Float 135 as a one kite quiver from 12-26mph and I've never had so much fun riding.

In 2007 I now have a 11m PRO and 15m Waroo which is a fare bit more grunty than the 14m 06. I can't see how I could ever need a bigger kite. There are guys at my local spot who ride bigger kites and are alot lighter, they still can't get there head around riding faster. Yet I fly around when they are wallowing.

[Sea&Sun]

Most of the 16 sle kites I have tried seem awfully slow. I prefer a 16 C kite. I know most of the kiters who got 16 bows where not to happy and prefer a 12 bow with a larger board.

[BiteMe]

All depends on your local conditions.

Steady 10mph, sure you can generate apparent wind and maintain speed. Throw in surf, swell, and some strong current and it's hard to maintain the speed to go on a smaller kite. And then add in some lulls to 6mph and you'll be sinking on that small kite. So far the Contra 17m is the best kite I've found for riding in light winds

[Litewave Dave]

Just got a 17m GK Sonic.....1st one in the world. It will be on the Florida demo tour, so let's try it out.

Hopefully this is what we big guys need.

-LWD

[constantino7491]

i HEARD the contra and the xbow were amazing kites from a few people