Big Air advantage to being heavy?

[nothing2seehere]

In my imaginary world where I can boost 15m regularly, is there an advantage in being heavier for big air?

Here's my thinking. At 80 kg on my 9m my sweet spot is 25knots and I get lovely soft landings as there is loads of canopy above me. Some time ago I sold my 7m kite as it used to drop me a lot faster and landings were dependent on finding that sweet spot and I just used to skip the twice yearly 30+ days. Since the start of lockdown I've lost quite a bit of weight so now my 9m is too big to be my smallest kite and its got me wondering if dropping to an 8m or 7m would still give me the soft landings or if I need to hit the protein shakes to bulk up again (cheaper than a new kite but on the other hand, who doesn't love a new kite) .

So the question is, does a 65kg person on a 7m kite get the same loft/float from the kite as a 80kg person on a 9m kite?

[Tone]

I think there is an optimum weight. I reckon 80kg to 90kg is about right. At that weight you're likely to be strong enough to hold down a 8-9m kite in 35 to 40 knots.

At 110kg, I struggle to get much past 16m (woo measured) and that's been on my 10m edge in 30-40 knots.

Big air is down to being pretty overpowered, having very strong legs and core matched with perfect jumping technique.

@nothing2seehere - I am not suggesting you ride in stronger winds, stay within your comfort zone for sure, however 25 knots is not a huge amount of wind for a 9m, i'd agree it's a sweet spot for general riding but to get really high you're looking at adding another 5 knots.

[nothing2seehere]

I probably should have made clear that this is a hypothetical question - mostly. I'm more interested in how kite float/loft sizes down with weight. I don't have the skill to be safely landing 15m boosts or the time on the water to get my skills up to being able to hit those heights really.

My wind measurement is normally based on the average speed. So 25knot days will have 30 knot gusts. 30 knot days will have 36knot gusts and so forth.

[Abaltasis]

115kg here.
Usually hitting the 13 to 15 meter range on woo with a 10meter Dice.

From what i have seen its not about the weight of the rider but the kite size.
The best kite for big jumps is probably the 9 meter. As its very fast so it makes more apparent wind and goes to the top of the window faster,
and also it is big enough that has enough float.

Also about the landings. Its more about the technic and less about the kite. Even with a 5 meter kite you can land softly if you heliloop it at the right time.

So i think that even with smaller kites and rider weight you CAN jump really high and land soft, BUT it is probably EASIER to do it with a 9 or 10 meter kite.

[Havre]

Cool question. I have no idea, but might we see heavier riders doing better going forward if bigger kites are getting faster?

If you can turn a 12m "Aluula" (or whatever new lighter and faster kite) as well as today's 9s - and today's 9s are already at the "perfect" turning speed (hypothetically speaking) - meaning anything faster just become incontrollable - then would a heavier rider be able to compensate for the force needed to lift him/her higher with loading it more?

That might be a completely clueless way of looking at things, but with my almost 2m and around 100kg I would love it if it was so

[Toby]

115kg here.
Usually hitting the 13 to 15 meter range on woo with a 10meter Dice.

From what i have seen its not about the weight of the rider but the kite size.
The best kite for big jumps is probably the 9 meter. As its very fast so it makes more apparent wind and goes to the top of the window faster,
and also it is big enough that has enough float.

Also about the landings. Its more about the technic and less about the kite. Even with a 5 meter kite you can land softly if you heliloop it at the right time.

So i think that even with smaller kites and rider weight you CAN jump really high and land soft, BUT it is probably EASIER to do it with a 9 or 10 meter kite.

in which winds speeds do you get this height?

[Abaltasis]

With my 12m kite i cant seem to go higher than my 10m kite even if i am MUCH more overpowered.

Maybe with an aluula could change this... Pity that it costs as much as a car.. XD

[Kerplow]

There is another angle to look at this. There is a reason why people do not megaloop kites below 7m - it simply do not catch them. Sure lightweights would probably be ok, but its risky.

[Abaltasis]

in which winds speeds do you get this height?

Hey Toby.
I use my 10m at wind speeds around 30 to 35 knots.
I can hold it towards the 38+knot mark... But my jumps dont get higher..
Around 31-33knots i can hit constantly the 13-14 meter height.

My problem is that with my weight i cannot kite with my 10 meter if its less than 28-29knots.... So i cant train for big kiteloops safely...

[Kamikuza]

Back home, there's a few people with Woo's and on days when we're all getting the same heights, the lighter guys are getting slightly more hang time... say 7 or 8 seconds when I'm getting 5 or 6. I've managed to grab the top spot at two locations, but only just...