Postby kitkat » Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:09 pm
30 knots and over.Especially with gusty winds (strong wonds are always gusty,aren't they?)Usually when heavier riders use their 7 or 8 .Or even bigger.Sometimes,I will be faster on the water with my little baby then some much heaviers riders using their 8 or even 9.I am quite efficient with this kite,you'd be surprised.
Anyway you have to compare apples to apples: riders of the same weight,using the same kite.
I don't use this kite often,of course...but I use it and I am happy to have it.A couple of times in SPI,Texas.A couple of times in Magdalen Islands (a wonderful spot in Atlantic Canada,sometimes we get very strong wind here).And sometimes in Cap Hatteras too.
I am surprised that you never go down a 7 with your weight...But once again,it depends on a lot of things:steadiness of the wind (easier to handle a strong,steady wind then a strong,gusty wind;when the wind is strong anf really very gusty,I prefer a smaller kite,even if that means that I will be a little underpowered here ad there),kind of board you use,type of kite,kind of water,efficiency of the rider,kind of riding you do,etc,etc.
For me the SB 4 = pleasure and feeling secure when the wind picks up strong and can picks up even stronger while I'm on the water.
Cath.