11m faster kite vs 12m better low end

[yyusufoglu]

Hi guys, i am looking to get a new quiver and wondering what should be the biggest kite for starting wind range 15knots. I realise for anything lower, need to look into much bigger sizes / different board / foiling et but I am more interested in TT riding.

To give some background, i am weighing 67-70 kgs probably few kgs more with all the winter gear, riding a 136 tt, generally in colder wind conditions (NL), the other kite(s) i want to have in the quiver is a 9m and eventually a 7m. Currently considering the 5 strut kites, xr6/rebel/orbit.

For riding as from 15 knots or so, what is the opinion here especially for lighter riders regarding the 11m vs 12m size consideration?
Is the faster speed of 11m worth sacrificing the better low end you can get from a 12m?

Thanks for your opinions!

[Leon van Bergen]

Yyusugoglu, if you ask me an 11m is more than enough for your weight, i have a 7,9&11m and kite in the same dutch waters, am 78kg. Kites you mentioned have lots of low end

[yyusufoglu]

hey Leon, thanks vm for your feedback! That is good to hear especially coming from a rider in similar conditions. I am also leaning more towards the 11m actually!
You have a nice quiver - how are you liking the 21" Rebels?

[Havre]

I can't really comment much when it comes to 11 or 12 being most suitable in 15 knots at 70kg - since I am around 100 myself. Only reflection would be I can jump with a Rebel 13m in 15knots+. So I would imagine 11 would do the trick for you.

For me it would come down to:

A) How much power do you like to ride with?
B) How much overlap do you want between kites?

A) is a given - if you like power go for 12 - if not then 11 makes more sense.

As for B). 12 and 9 I would argue overlaps each other very nicely. I got similar kind of setup with 7, 9, 12 and 17m. For me it would be pointless to go 9 and 11 as 9 and 12 already overlap enough. But if you are not interested in kiting when you need a 12 then that argument becomes mute. And if you like to have kites closer together then 9 and 11 obviously is better than 9 and 12.

Don't think you could go much wrong either way. You might even want to consider 8 - 11 with only two kites. Depends on B) and how much you are willing to spend.

[PabloQ]

Estimated,
weight 70kg plus neoprene and harness. I use a TT 139 * 39 and I have a flysurfer soul as a headboard for winds between 10 and 28kn. In 10kn I go perfectly upwind. and in 28kn flying low. . I recently bought a soul 7m for winds over 20 and according to the manual it will take me up to 35 / 36kn. With that I have a very wide range for my 10/35 spot with two kites. Greetings

[nothing2seehere]

I got my 11 and 9 Rebels when a little heavier than you (78-80 kg) and 15 knots was the low end on the 11 with 18 knots the start of the sweet spot. It will ride in less wind.
That said I did once get caught out on my 9m when the wind dropped to about 16 knots and could still ride upwind and practice backrolls/frontrolls with a loop (so losing ground each run). The nice thing about the Rebel (and probably all similar shapes) is how easy it jumps in the middle of the wind range - not just at the top.

I'm south coast UK so similar but not the same conditions.

[Dirk]

73 kg, for Twintip riding my go to kites are 11m/8m Naish Pivot. Riding all year at the North Sea/Germany, so similar conditions to yours. 15 knots and I am happy on my 11m with my standard twintip (41cm wide). I can go lower with my larger Twintip, but for low wind TT riding I also have a 14m (Boxer).

At your weight starting at 15 knots an 11m delta-ish freeride kite like the ones you mentioned should work really well.

[sflinux]

I am 91+ kg and for me riding a twintip, I would always go bigger kite versus a faster kite. For me a twintip kite is all about low end grunt and power on demand for airtime. If the pull is too much and you can't go upwind, then you need a smaller kite. If the pull is too light, and you can't go upwind, then you need a bigger kite, or a more efficient board.
For a hydrofoil, I would go with the smaller faster kite (two sizes down from my twintip kite).
For a surfboard, I would go down one size from my twintip kite.

[Leon van Bergen]

hey Leon, thanks vm for your feedback! That is good to hear especially coming from a rider in similar conditions. I am also leaning more towards the 11m actually!
You have a nice quiver - how are you liking the 21" Rebels?

And you won't regret it!
The 21 ones are mindblowing, way faster, more direct than my 2019's. way easier to loop them.

[yyusufoglu]

I can't really comment much when it comes to 11 or 12 being most suitable in 15 knots at 70kg - since I am around 100 myself. Only reflection would be I can jump with a Rebel 13m in 15knots+. So I would imagine 11 would do the trick for you.

For me it would come down to:

A) How much power do you like to ride with?
B) How much overlap do you want between kites?

A) is a given - if you like power go for 12 - if not then 11 makes more sense.

As for B). 12 and 9 I would argue overlaps each other very nicely. I got similar kind of setup with 7, 9, 12 and 17m. For me it would be pointless to go 9 and 11 as 9 and 12 already overlap enough. But if you are not interested in kiting when you need a 12 then that argument becomes mute. And if you like to have kites closer together then 9 and 11 obviously is better than 9 and 12.

Don't think you could go much wrong either way. You might even want to consider 8 - 11 with only two kites. Depends on B) and how much you are willing to spend.

Thanks for the feedback Havre. Yea going for 12/9 would have been the easier choice but with my weight this does mean i am riding bit too overpowered.
Of course the board technique also plays a role here as well. With your setup with 4 kites, i can understand that 9-11 wouldn really fill the wind ranges so well.

8/11 is quite tempting especially looking at cost aspect. On paper, could still cover me up to 35knots or so. 11m from 15-25 and 8m from 25-35knots.
The only thing that makes me doubt is whether there will be a small gap in the range when its blowing too much for the 11m, (probably somewhere between 22-25 knots) will the 8m feel too underpowered? Tend to think 9-11 overlaps better, especially when a 7m eventually added. Also an idea to improve my board technique to hold the 8m in higher winds as well 8m is definitely an attractive kite size!