11m faster kite vs 12m better low end

[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!

I know 8 - 11 is quite common among girls (many probably some kg lighter than you, but still in terms of gap it is not uncommon). The gap in % is smaller for 11/8 than 17/12. Obviously not the same for all kites etc., but I rarely if ever feel that I have a problem with a gap between 17 and 12.

When I'm replacing my quiver I won't replace my 17. I was planning to buy 3xOrbits this winter with the biggest being a 14. With 11 and 8 as the two others. Obviously never made the final decision. I have never in my life been overpowered to the extent that I wanted to go down from my 9 - so I was also considering 9 - 11, but not because of the gap, but because I'm not sure how often an 8 would hit the sweet spot.

Just my 2 cents. I don't think anyone can take that decision for you. I got friends who doesn't like to be overpowered (much) and therefore prefer to have kites with smaller gaps. It would be unfortunate of course if you find yourself in a situation where you are using your 11 when you would rather be on a 9, but you only got an 8.

Thanks for your comments! I think with my weight, it will be difficult to avoid getting a 3rd smaller kite. Today i was overpowered even with my 7m when it was gusting up to about 40 knots. Barely holding my edge thinking how i would not be coping if i had an 8m So I will most likely end up with 7-9-11 quiver

[yyusufoglu]

I am ~70kg weight, riding 9m&11m Ozone Enduros. Plus I have 13m Cabrinha Contra on the larger side of my quiver. I would say riding a faster, lighter kite like Enduro makes a for a lot more fun on the water. I am using the 11m Enduro instead of the 13m Contra always when I can stay upwind with it(about 13+ knots). But admittedly there have been days when my 13m Contra saved me from just sitting on the beach.
I can also compare 9m Enduro to my (sold)Switchblade 10m - again I caught myself preferring to ride underpowered on 9m than using the slower, gruntier 10m Switchblade.
So I would go for 9&11m combo instead of 9&12 - you barely will feel the difference in low end and will be having more fun in my opinion.

Thanks Zlatko23, i may also add a bigger lw or foil kite in the future but for now 9-11 for TT riding in windy NL i will also be sizing down from my 10m which i sometimes find a bit slow

[rw30]

sure 3 kites will always overlap more, + having 7M will add you some additional range at the high end, but all that at higher cost (than 11+8 combo), so it's your call what do you prefer.
I'd definitely go with 12 / 9 / 7 if I were you (I'm having 7 myself being 95kgs.... 7/10/14 is my quiver)
11+ 9 + 7 - 11 and 9 are too close in my opinion, I'd rather have more low end with 12
11 + 8, with your weight, will limit your range in high end (and I've heard you guys get 30+ knots pretty often there in Netherlands) with your weight

edit:
P.S. well, yea, you just saying the same in your last posts you've just written (about high end).
Or else, if you don't like much (or don't need to go out in ) light wind, then 11 + 8 + 6 maybe

[SolarSet]

70kg - 6/8/11
80kg - 7/9/12
90-100kg - 8/10-11/15(foil kite?)

That would be my quiver for big air kites at different weight.

[yyusufoglu]

I am ~70kg weight, riding 9m&11m Ozone Enduros. Plus I have 13m Cabrinha Contra on the larger side of my quiver. I would say riding a faster, lighter kite like Enduro makes a for a lot more fun on the water. I am using the 11m Enduro instead of the 13m Contra always when I can stay upwind with it(about 13+ knots). But admittedly there have been days when my 13m Contra saved me from just sitting on the beach.
I can also compare 9m Enduro to my (sold)Switchblade 10m - again I caught myself preferring to ride underpowered on 9m than using the slower, gruntier 10m Switchblade.
So I would go for 9&11m combo instead of 9&12 - you barely will feel the difference in low end and will be having more fun in my opinion.

Thanks for your feedback Zlatko!

[yyusufoglu]

70kg - 6/8/11
80kg - 7/9/12
90-100kg - 8/10-11/15(foil kite?)

That would be my quiver for big air kites at different weight.

Thanks Solarset, my friends who are around 10+15 kgs heavier than me a usually go with 7/9/12 quivers. Would make sense that i can ride out 1 size less.

[yyusufoglu]

sure 3 kites will always overlap more, + having 7M will add you some additional range at the high end, but all that at higher cost (than 11+8 combo), so it's your call what do you prefer.
I'd definitely go with 12 / 9 / 7 if I were you (I'm having 7 myself being 95kgs.... 7/10/14 is my quiver)
11+ 9 + 7 - 11 and 9 are too close in my opinion, I'd rather have more low end with 12
11 + 8, with your weight, will limit your range in high end (and I've heard you guys get 30+ knots pretty often there in Netherlands) with your weight

edit:
P.S. well, yea, you just saying the same in your last posts you've just written (about high end).
Or else, if you don't like much (or don't need to go out in ) light wind, then 11 + 8 + 6 maybe

Thanks rw30. i am leaning towards the 11+8 (and will probably keep my old 7m to have that high end for windier days) although i am a bit concerned about the low end of the 8m!

[yyusufoglu]

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!

I know 8 - 11 is quite common among girls (many probably some kg lighter than you, but still in terms of gap it is not uncommon). The gap in % is smaller for 11/8 than 17/12. Obviously not the same for all kites etc., but I rarely if ever feel that I have a problem with a gap between 17 and 12.

When I'm replacing my quiver I won't replace my 17. I was planning to buy 3xOrbits this winter with the biggest being a 14. With 11 and 8 as the two others. Obviously never made the final decision. I have never in my life been overpowered to the extent that I wanted to go down from my 9 - so I was also considering 9 - 11, but not because of the gap, but because I'm not sure how often an 8 would hit the sweet spot.

Just my 2 cents. I don't think anyone can take that decision for you. I got friends who doesn't like to be overpowered (much) and therefore prefer to have kites with smaller gaps. It would be unfortunate of course if you find yourself in a situation where you are using your 11 when you would rather be on a 9, but you only got an 8.

Thanks for your comments! I think with my weight, it will be difficult to avoid getting a 3rd smaller kite. Today i was overpowered even with my 7m when it was gusting up to about 40 knots. Barely holding my edge thinking how i would not be coping if i had an 8m So I will most likely end up with 7-9-11 quiver

Difficult choice for me between: 7-9-11 or 6-8-11. I share your concern re. how often the 8m will hit the sweet spot!

[Kitedicted]

I have the same dilemma. Currently have 11/9. It works pretty well since the wind is rarely too much for the 9. I'm considering 11/8 as well but a bit worried that the low end of the 8 will be too low so I will be "stuck" on the 11m more often. Even if the 11/9 overlap a bit it still means I can get on a smaller kite sooner and more often. I won't need anything smaller than a 7 so 11/8/6 makes no sense to me. So to me it's either 11/9/7 or 11/8. Tricky decision

[knotwindy]

How often will you use the 7? How often will the 8 be too much?
If you will almost never use the 7, how about 11, 9, 8? Closer gaps but gets you off the biggest kite earlier and keeps you on the right sizes most of the time. Who cares if the numbers are too close if it works better? My friend has 9, 7, 6 and thinks it perfect. As the sizes get small, the gaps can too.