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Weight 70kg kite SB 8m and 11m

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zamo27
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Weight 70kg kite SB 8m and 11m

Postby zamo27 » Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:47 am

I need advice on buying a 14m Switchblade.
I currently have 8m and 11m SB but prefer a light wing session where I can cruise around more then a 25-30knots jumping and speeding taking risks with an 8m.
I often get a good session in 12-14Knots with just adjusting the pigtails on the 11m
How valuable would a 14m SB be to my quiver or my preferred light wind kiting ? Is it a waste of €€€
I’m not bothered with foiling as I’m old enough to know I can’t allow myself the time to learn
Please advice
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grigorib
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Re: Weight 70kg kite SB 8m and 11m

Postby grigorib » Thu Oct 22, 2020 2:06 am

I think that 15m Contra will fill that spot much better than a Switchblade. Not sure if you can squeeze as much lowend fun out of 13m but for me at 90+ kg the 15m size was a golden ticket for lightwind riding. Given I often resorted to 30 or 37m lines and a door board. But I could ride in amazing light conditions.
The 14m switchblade would be a “heavy boy’s freeride kite” and it’s not the same as Contra
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Re: Weight 70kg kite SB 8m and 11m

Postby zlatko23 » Thu Oct 22, 2020 6:11 am

I am 70kg rider, used to own 7m & 10m Switchblades plus a Contra 13m. My opinion is that for light wind session you should go for dedicated light wind kite. As grigorib well pointed out SB is a "heavy boy's freeride kite", not a light wind cruiser for 70kg rider. I am able to ride my Contra 13m in 12-14 knots, so with 15m you will be able to go riding in 10 knots. I would also suggest exploring the world of strapless surfboard - in the beginning it gave me so much more fun out of light wind sessions as simple cruising around on surfboard, jibing, feet swapping were a lot more interesting and rewarding than just "mowing the lawn" with a twintip on big kite.
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Dirk
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Re: Weight 70kg kite SB 8m and 11m

Postby Dirk » Thu Oct 22, 2020 7:21 am

I have a similar set up, 73kg, 8m and 11m Naish Pivots (which I guess have similar power and wind range as the Switchblade). I added a 14m one strut Naish Boxer to it (plus a larger TT) and I am really happy with this quiver, as the 14m has been a session saver several times (it has more power than a 14m Pivot).

So my recommendation would be to get a larger one strut kite. I would look for one which is known to be working well also on a TT, the Naish Boxer would be one option but there are alternatives (not sure if Cabrinha has one).
For a kite in that size I like that they feel lighter and especially that they are very stable in the air in lulls.

zamo27
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Re: Weight 70kg kite SB 8m and 11m

Postby zamo27 » Thu Oct 22, 2020 7:49 am

Thanks for the advice. Would switchblade turn and react faster then the contra? Or does SB loose it’s play at 14m vs a 15 contra?

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Re: Weight 70kg kite SB 8m and 11m

Postby SolarSet » Thu Oct 22, 2020 3:18 pm

zamo27 wrote:
Thu Oct 22, 2020 7:49 am
Thanks for the advice. Would switchblade turn and react faster then the contra? Or does SB loose it’s play at 14m vs a 15 contra?
SB is slow kite in every size and in large size its even worst. I had 14m sb but I'm a big boy 92kg and it suited me fine for 14-20kts and had 10m sb for 18-28kts.

Get LW kite like Contra I would get size 15m, 8/11 & 15m seems like good combination.

grigorib
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Re: Weight 70kg kite SB 8m and 11m

Postby grigorib » Thu Oct 22, 2020 4:17 pm

I think the choice of 13 vs 15 in your case would be defined by waves/current eating away from kite size. You still can downloop and fly the 15m more than static yet 13 is a bit quicker.

If you’re riding flats and slicks - get the 13. Get line extensions for lower at of the lightwind anyways too

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Re: Weight 70kg kite SB 8m and 11m

Postby Flyboy » Thu Oct 22, 2020 4:34 pm

zamo27 wrote:
Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:47 am
I need advice on buying a 14m Switchblade.
I currently have 8m and 11m SB but prefer a light wing session where I can cruise around more then a 25-30knots jumping and speeding taking risks with an 8m.
I often get a good session in 12-14Knots with just adjusting the pigtails on the 11m
How valuable would a 14m SB be to my quiver or my preferred light wind kiting ? Is it a waste of €€€
I’m not bothered with foiling as I’m old enough to know I can’t allow myself the time to learn
Please advice
I'm not sure how old is "old enough", but if I were you I would look at foiling. It's true that there is a tough initial learning curve, but once you get over that hump foiling if very "elderly-friendly". It requires less effort than other forms of kiting & is way, way more enjoyable in light winds.
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grigorib
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Gear: Kites: Slingshot Rally 5/7/9/11m, Turbine 9/13m, SST 4/5m, UFO 3/5/7/9m, Flysurfer Speed4 10m standard, Flysurfer 2cool 6m, Peter Lynn Venom II ARC 16m

Boards: Spleene RIP 37, Flysurfer Radical6 138, Flysurfer Flydoor5 XL, Slingshot/Moses/RDB 70/90/101cm masts with 1200/860/800/730/600 kitefoil or 2200/1700/1400 wingfoil wings and 310/230/425 stabilizers, Naish MicroChip 80cm, 36" Woody, Slingshot Dwarfcraft Micro 100, MBS Comp 95x

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Re: Weight 70kg kite SB 8m and 11m

Postby grigorib » Thu Oct 22, 2020 5:11 pm

I’d say 85-90 could be a cutoff age for learning to foil

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Re: Weight 70kg kite SB 8m and 11m

Postby SolarSet » Fri Oct 23, 2020 3:05 pm

as soon as some mentions that he doesn't want to learn foiling it magically summons Hydrofoil Priest who will make sure to explain that you being sooo wrong and your life would be so much richer and happy with HF instead of TT :lol:


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