Kiting in 50-60 knots

[edt]

plus 2x 4" kook proof connectors on the back lines (making the back lines longer).

That is a slightly odd way to set up a kite. It would be more normal to have 4x4" kook proofs so it's all equal. The 5m would be perfect at my weight. Right now I fly my 7m fuel up to low 40 knots. I like the new (2014 or 2015) envy a lot too for high winds and that comes in a 5m.

[Frank82]

The problem with 5m kites is that they are great for wave riding but not so much for boosting, sure you'll go high but you drop like a brick. Maybe the dedicated storm kites like the OR Storm are different but I prefer to stay with a 7m for boosting in overpowered conditions (40-45kn gusts).

[Starsky]

At 175 in boots I can't hold down a 7m fuel in true 40 knots.

[geir]

30-40 knots over here feels plenty!

Up north here in the middle of the Atlantic me and my friend are the only ones out with the windsurfers above 30 knots. Our low pressure cold wind is very much on/off so we find the OR Storm the perfect weapon of choice. Before that I was using a 6m 1st gen OR Razor. Now that's an angry bee compared to the Storm. Didn't think I would ever feel a 5m kite slow turning, but the Storm is exactly that, which I think is perfect for a high wind kite. Good amount of depower and more import handles the lulls really well. Probably something to do with being really rigid with a fat leading edge I suppose and some more factors I don't know how to explain (like that strange kink in the leading edge).

Anything less and the 7m Prodigy is out.

On a side note, can somebody clever confirm or explain to me why I feel the icy wind up here is a lot more powerful than warm places. Have tried that on holidays, usually end up rigging too small.

Geir

[Frank82]

Cold air is denser, thus more weight per m3. The warmer the air the more it expands and thus less weight. The difference isn't that much though, usually people make a big point out of it but when it's blowing 30kn the difference is 2-4kn max (roughly).

[edt]

At 175 in boots I can't hold down a 7m fuel in true 40 knots.

go on the donut diet, after you gain 30 pounds it will be easy

[alamos_kiter]

... why I feel the icy wind up here is a lot more powerful than warm places. Have tried that on holidays, usually end up rigging too small.

Geir

As Frank says, density is higher, and cold front winds are gustier, which gives a punchier impression. At sea level, air of 0ºC is 15% denser than air of 30ºC (1,3kg / m3 vs. 1,15kg / m3). This is quite a bit.

[geir]

Thanks guys, knew I could rely on your knowledge to confirm this. Today we had a good session on 7-8m kites in 5° C. Drysuit season is upon us now - not too bad if you have the equipment

[Frank82]

Thanks guys, knew I could rely on your knowledge to confirm this. Today we had a good session on 7-8m kites in 5° C. Drysuit season is upon us now - not too bad if you have the equipment

Drysuit season is still 1-2 months away for us in western europe, at least the beaches aren't crowded that time of year

[richie-kiter]

My wight is 98 KG, so i can handle a lot , and iam kiting for 14 Years now. I was never this much overpowered before in my life and i lost the edge more than once during that ride.

The nearest Weatherstation showed 35kn and guest up to 50kn, i do not now how good this numbers where, but i fall of my chair when i checked the stats in the afternoon after geting home.

Had a session yesterday with 30kn wind gusting to 36kn, this on my 9m c-sle kite. I was on boots (you can hold your edge better compared to straps) and just doing big jumps and some loops and I was completely maxed out, in the gusts I had to dig my edge in very hard or go for a jump. If the wind would be 40kn+ there would be no way to handle that 9m, never lost control during regular riding though, was always able to edge to dump power.

Handling a 9m fuel in gusts of 50kn can mean 3 things: it wasn't 50kn gusts, you weigh over 100kg, you were way overpowered (like you kind of said).