small wave kite = storm kite?

[nicor]

I've researched storm kites before without much luck so I thought I'd try throwing this out there in case anyone has a good view.

I’m currently looking to switch out my storm kite - 30-40 knots. It’s a delta style kite, but the main problem is that is inverts when there is high wind with no tension on the lines. I just don’t feel its safe from this perspective. So it has to go.

I’ve considered many types of kites but really the criteria is (in no particular order) 1) stability 2) depower 3) comfort in high winds. I’m not looking to do freestyle in these types of conditions, I will likely be surfing lake style waves.

My sense is that a wave style kite might be really good, like 5m or 6M Reo, Drifter or Dice, but not really sure if my logic is correct. The truth of the matter is we do not get these conditions very often and no local shop has demos in these sizes. As this is the case I can only go on rider reviews.

Can anyone let me know their experience with waves kites in these types of conditions?

(note: My best kite to date for these conditions was my 2011 7M C4, but I sold it with the rest of my quiver last year )

[waynepjh]

I find that when the winds gets around 45 mph any kite will want to invert or seem like it when you let out to much bar. I feel the length of the lines make a difference. The longer the lines the more bow there is from the wind hitting the lines. short lines seem the way to go cause my 5 meter ozone light was dangerous with 23 meter lines and great with 20 meter. Had great sessions in 50-60mph wind. jmo

[irwe]

Ocean Rodeo Storm 5 m should work.

www.oceanrodeo/products/storm

Not affliated with OR

[plummet]

I have a 6m reo (2012 model so its about as powerful as a 5m 2014).

It is an awesome storm kite. HEAPS of depower at the bar. holds wads of power. 30-40 knots is a dream. I've had sessions on this kite when others have hated the conditions and I have loved it. Its so easy to fly. Way less punchy than your 7m C4 and way more depower.

It doesn't have much lift. But when you hit 35 knots... there's plenty of lift to keep you entertained. I've held 50 knot gusts with this kite!....

But the reo is only 3 strut you need to pump it HARD in the insane winds or it can fold. Personally I think a dedicated storm kite should really have 5 struts.

[Peter_Frank]

What do you mean by "storm" kite ???

You can IMO not really kite in a storm, with current kitesizes most brands offer, unless you are really heavy, or totally overpowered and survival only, if you are lucky

A storm kite for the average weight kitesurfer (75-80kg) should be around 2½m2 max 3 if it should be in its sweet spot on a TT

Brands make small kites for waveriding mostly, and not too small, as the worldwide "market" = sale isn't there.
Becaue some live in areas where 4 and 5m2 are not used often.
Others, like here, use these sizes relatively often - as for waveriding you use a 5 and 6m2 a lot (7 being the most used size here in waves)

This leads me to believe, that when you talk about a "storm" kite, you live in an area where 5m2 is not used much ?


Remember, a storm is over 50 knots (48-55) and this is average, so the gusts are much higher !

So for me a storm kite would be a 3m2 kite maybe.
Which I dont need as I dont kite in storms...

But I've missed a 4m2 many times, as it works fine on a waveboard in just over 30knots only, but I can just manage with a 5 almost fully depowered so that is an okay compromise, eventhough overpowered

On a TT you can hold these sizes in somewhat more wind of course.

Peter

[NHKitesurfer]

I have a 3.5m Best Kahoona which I've used during blizzards on the snow and it's a sweet kite for these conditions, handling gusts up to 60mph (I weigh 205#) and sustained 45 knot winds. It's for sale in the Second Hand section, asking $400 for kite, Best Redline Bar, pump, leash and bag. Been used a handful of times. Unfortunately when it's blowing that hard during a blizzard visibility is non existent at times, thus the need to sell it.

[RickI]

small wave kite = storm kite = shroud?

What Peter said.

Sustained high winds, if you have the skill, experience, gear and are feeling lucky are one thing. High erratic winds with major lulls, huge gusts and direction changes common to squalls and thunderstorms is quite another. You might do the former if you are setup for it in all those ways. The later is a pain in the butt at best and could mess you up but good at the worst. They have amounted to a bad last session for too many kiters over the years.

.

[Robsw6]

I have used a 6m Slingshot Key in 45-50knots (I'm 95kgs) and to start with I hadn't sorted the bridles out & was underpowered, after re-tuning the kite, it was v stable and manageable. Ok jumps, wave riding was just about achievable. Overall enjoyable.

[edt]

nicor your logic is spot on. btw technically a "storm" is beaufort scale 10, 48-55 knots, which is too much wind to kite, you are talking about a "gale" which is beaufort scale 8 or 34-40 knots.

You want a kite that is stable in the air, the worst thing is for a kite to drop out of the sky during a lull then when it hits the power zone a gust powers it up and you are lucky if you don't snap a line.

it's definitely difficult to tell which kites are best in a gale, yes the kite is the same, but it's like all the worst aspect of a kite are magnified by 10 a kite which is slightly twitchy turns into a bumblebee that wants to kill you, a kite that jumps a tiny bit back and forth in the wind window becomes almost uncontrollable.

I know I have never felt any kite as smooth in a gale as the north rebel but that's not a wave kite, and besides 5 lines are not my thing. But even in high gusty winds it always felt really stable and predictable.

That's what you want, predictable. Depower is a lot less important than having a kite that is solid in the air.

I use my fuel 7m in gale conditions.

sorry never rode the drifter or dice yet so I can't comment on those brands. why not buy another c4?

[wadoepotatoe]

+1 for OR's 5m Storm. Sheds gusts like mad, holds power in the lulls, super stable, and built to take some serious carnage.

-Wade.